Electric door lock

Abstract

The invention discloses an electric door lock which comprises a pressing module and a driving module, and the pressing module is provided with a door hook and a locking mechanism which are installed on an electric appliance door cover and an electric appliance machine body respectively. On one hand, the driving module can electrically and inwards pull the door hook to enable the door hook to be further inserted into the locking mechanism and press the sealing strip after a user manually closes the door, and on the other hand, the driving module can electrically and outwards push the door hook to assist in door opening, and the operation hand feeling of the user can be improved while the sealing performance of the sealing strip is considered; and the phenomenon that the electric appliance door cover cannot be automatically opened is not easy to occur.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of household appliances, in particular to the technical field of door locks for household appliances. Background Art

[0002] Many household appliances (such as washing machines, dryers, and washer-dryers) require door locks. When the appliance is running, the door lock locks the door cover to prevent the user from manually opening it. When the appliance is finished running, the door lock unlocks, allowing the user to manually open the door cover. In addition, to prevent water seepage, a sealing strip is generally installed between the appliance door cover and the appliance body.

[0003] For some handleless door cover designs, push locks are usually used as door locks. However, existing push locks often have the following problems: 1) The manual door closing operation force is large: In order to completely compress the sealing strip, the manual door closing force needs to be equal to the door lock reset force + the sealing strip elastic force and friction resistance; 2) The manual door opening force is large: When manually pressing the door, the manual door opening force must also be equal to the door lock reset force + the sealing strip elastic force and friction resistance; (not marked on the figure) 3) The automatic door opening function is prone to jamming or failure to open: On the one hand, the appliance door cover is prone to drooping due to its own gravity, causing the door hook to contact the door lock housing and generate a large friction force. On the other hand, the sealing strip has a strong adhesion force on the door cover, which ultimately makes it impossible to guarantee 100% automatic opening of the door cover by relying solely on the door lock reset force. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to solve the problems in the prior art and to propose an electric door lock that can improve the user's operating feel while taking into account the sealing performance of the sealing strip and is less likely to cause the appliance door cover to fail to open automatically.

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention proposes an electric door lock, including a pressing module and a driving module. The pressing module has a door hook and a locking mechanism respectively installed on the appliance door cover and the appliance body. On the one hand, the driving module can electrically pull the door hook inward after the user manually closes the door so that the door hook is further inserted into the locking mechanism and presses the sealing strip; on the other hand, it can electrically push the door hook outward to assist in opening the door.

[0006] Preferably, the appliance door cover can be manually closed, manually opened, and electrically opened when the door is not completely closed.

[0007] Preferably, the driving module includes a door opening auxiliary swing arm, which can force the door hook to move in the door closing direction when swinging in the forward direction and can tilt the door hook when swinging in the reverse direction to synchronously give the door hook an upward lifting force and an outward thrust.

[0008] Preferably, the door opening auxiliary rocker arm is provided with a driving rod at a corner which is driven by an electric drive body and moves linearly.

[0009] Preferably, the locking mechanism comprises a push-open drive plate with a lock slot and a push-open operating plate with a positioning pin, the push-open drive plate and the push-open operating plate can move relative to each other during the process of inserting the door hook into the locking mechanism so that the positioning pin moves along the lock slot from the door opening position to the door closing position and keeps the door hook in the door closing state; the driving rod can move upward after the user manually closes the door to first use the lock tongue to drive the door hook to continue to move in the door closing direction to the door locking position and maintain it, and then connect the locking block with the push-open drive plate to limit the movement of the push-open drive plate and lock the lock tongue; the driving rod can move downward when the door is electrically opened to first make the positioning pin directly disengage from the lock slot and release the restriction of the push-open drive plate and then apply an auxiliary door opening effect to the appliance door cover.

[0010] Preferably, the lock slot is heart-shaped, the door opening position is located at the tip area of the heart shape, and the door closing position is located at the concave area of the heart shape.

[0011] Preferably, the locking mechanism is built into the housing, the door hook can be inserted into the housing along the lock opening, and the locking mechanism also includes a reset torsion spring, which can give the lock tongue an elastic tendency to move the locking part toward the lock opening.

[0012] Preferably, the lock tongue can rotate as the door hook is inserted and use the outer protrusion to push the push-open drive plate to move relative to the push-open operating plate. A positioning spring is also installed between the push-open drive plate and the outer shell, and the positioning spring has an elastic tendency to push the push-open drive plate close to the lock tongue.

[0013] Preferably, the lock tongue, return torsion spring, push-open drive plate and push-open operation plate are contained in the inner shell, the inner shell is hinged in the outer shell, and a return spring is provided between the inner shell and the outer shell, and the return spring has an elastic tendency to push the inner shell to rotate and bring the locking part close to the lock mouth.

[0014] Preferably, the door opening auxiliary rocker is in a 7-shape and rotates along a position near the corner to achieve forward and reverse swinging. The electric drive body includes a motor and a screw rod. The screw rod is driven to rotate by the motor, and the drive rod is threadedly connected to the outside of the screw rod and is slidingly connected to the outer shell.

[0015] Beneficial effects of the present invention: 1) By adding a driver module, the driver module can be used to electrically pull the door hook inward after the user manually closes the door, so that the door hook is further inserted into the locking mechanism and compresses the sealing strip. This eliminates the need for the user to manually fully compress the sealing strip (the elastic force and friction resistance of the sealing strip at this time are less than the elastic force and friction resistance of the sealing strip in the prior art). This can significantly improve the operating feel (taking the manual door closing process as an example, the manual door closing force only needs to be equal to the door lock reset force + the elastic force and friction resistance of the sealing strip, which is more labor-saving), while also taking into account the sealing performance of the household appliance; 2) By using a door opening auxiliary swing arm that can swing forward and backward to force the door hook to move in the door closing direction or tilt the door hook to simultaneously apply upward and outward forces to the door hook, it can not only ensure the effortless sealing of the appliance door cover, but also prevent the appliance door cover from being unable to open normally due to sagging when opening the door; 3) The drive module can also utilize a drive rod to engage the locking block with the push-open drive plate when locking, thereby further restricting the movement of the push-open drive plate, thereby making the use more reliable; 4) By using an inner shell hinged to the outer shell to house the lock tongue, return torsion spring, push-open drive plate and push-open operating plate, and using the return spring located between the inner shell and the outer shell to push the inner shell outward, the manual closing and opening positions are moved further outward, further ensuring that the user does not need to manually tighten the sealing strip.

[0016] The features and advantages of the present invention will be described in detail through embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 This is a front view of the electric door lock of the present invention in the door opening and releasing state; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the pressing module of the electric door lock of the present invention when the door is opened and released; Figure 3 2. It is a cross-sectional view of the push-to-open drive plate of the electric door lock of the present invention when the door is opened and released; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the pressing module of the electric door lock of the present invention when the door is manually closed; Figure 5 2. It is a cross-sectional view of the push-open drive plate of the electric door lock of the present invention when the door is manually closed; Figure 6 This is a front view of the electric door lock of the present invention in the automatic closing and locking states; Figure 7 2. It is a cross-sectional view of the pressing module of the electric door lock of the present invention when the door is automatically closed and locked; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the operation of the driving rod of the electric door lock of the present invention when the door is automatically closed and locked; Figure 9This is a rear view of the electric door lock of the present invention during the electric door opening process; Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the drive module of the electric door lock of the present invention during the electric door opening process; Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the pressing module of the electric door lock of the present invention when the door is electrically opened; Figure 12 2. It is a cross-sectional view of the push-open drive plate of the electric door lock of the present invention when the door is in the electric open state; Figure 13 It is a schematic diagram of the movement of the positioning pin for manually pressing the door to open when the electric door lock of the present invention is in the electric door opening state.

[0018] In the figure: 1-housing, 11-locking port, 2-pressing module, 21-door hook, 22-lock tongue, 221-locking part, 222-external protrusion, 23-reset torsion spring, 24-push-open driving plate, 241-lock slot, 25-push-open operating plate, 251-locating pin, 26-locating spring, 27-inner housing, 28-reset spring, 3-drive module, 31-electric drive body, 311-screw rod, 32-drive rod, 33-door opening auxiliary swing arm. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] See Figures 1 to 12 The electric door lock of the present invention includes a pressing module 2 and a driving module 3. The pressing module 2 has a door hook 21 and a locking mechanism respectively installed on the appliance door cover and the appliance body. The driving module 3 can, on the one hand, electrically pull the door hook 21 inward after the user manually closes the door so that the door hook 21 is further inserted into the locking mechanism and presses the sealing strip; on the other hand, it can electrically push the door hook 21 outward to assist in opening the door.

[0020] When the appliance door cover is not fully closed, it can be manually closed, manually opened, and electrically opened; that is, when in the standby position (when the appliance door cover is in a slightly open state), manual door closing operation, manual door opening operation, and electric door opening operation can be realized.

[0021] The driving module 3 includes a door opening auxiliary swing rod 33, which can force the door hook 21 to move in the door closing direction when swinging forward, and can tilt the door hook 21 when swinging backward to synchronously give the door hook 21 an upward lifting force and an outward pushing force.

[0022] The door opening auxiliary swing arm 33 is provided with a driving rod 32 at a corner thereof, which is driven by the electric driving body 31 to move linearly.

[0023] The locking mechanism includes a push-open drive plate 24 with a lock slot 241 and a push-open operating plate 25 with a positioning pin 251. The push-open drive plate 24 and the push-open operating plate 25 can move relative to each other during the process of the door hook 21 being inserted into the locking mechanism to make the positioning pin 251 move along the lock slot 241 from the door opening position to the door closing position and keep the door hook 21 in the closed state. The driving rod 32 can move upward after the user manually closes the door to first use the lock tongue 22 to drive the door hook 21 to continue to move in the door closing direction to the door locking position and maintain it, and then plug the locking block into the push-open drive plate 24 to limit the movement of the push-open drive plate 24 and lock the lock tongue 22. The driving rod 32 can move downward when the door is electrically opened to first make the positioning pin 251 directly disengage from the lock slot 241 and release the restriction of the push-open drive plate 24 and then exert an auxiliary door opening effect on the appliance door cover.

[0024] The locking slot 241 is heart-shaped, with the door opening position located at the tip of the heart and the door closing position located at the inner concave area of the heart. In addition, the position after tightening the door hook 21 can be defined as the door locking position.

[0025] The locking mechanism is built into the housing 1 , and the door hook 21 can be inserted into the housing 1 along the lock opening 11 . The locking mechanism also includes a return torsion spring 23 , which can give the lock tongue 22 an elastic tendency to move the locking portion 221 toward the lock opening 11 .

[0026] The lock tongue 22 can rotate as the door hook 21 is inserted and use the outer protrusion 222 to push the push-open drive plate 24 to move relative to the push-open operating plate 25. A positioning spring 26 is also installed between the push-open drive plate 24 and the housing 1. The positioning spring 26 has an elastic tendency to push the push-open drive plate 24 close to the lock tongue 22.

[0027] The lock tongue 22, the return torsion spring 23, the push-open drive plate 24 and the push-open operation plate 25 are contained in the inner shell 27. The inner shell 27 is hinged in the outer shell 1. A return spring 28 is provided between the inner shell 27 and the outer shell 1. The return spring 28 has an elastic tendency to push the inner shell 27 to rotate and bring the locking part 221 close to the lock port 11.

[0028] The door opening auxiliary rocker 33 is in the shape of a 7 and rotates along the part near the corner to realize forward and reverse swing. The electric drive body 31 includes a motor and a screw rod 311. The screw rod 311 is driven to rotate by the motor. The drive rod 32 is threadedly connected to the outside of the screw rod 311 and is slidably connected to the shell 1.

[0029] Working process of the present invention: See Figures 1 to 3In the door opening release state, the driving rod 32 is in the door opening standby position (will not provide closing force to the pressing module 2), and the positioning pin 251 is in the heart-shaped tip area of the lock slot 241 (will not lock the push-open driving plate 24).

[0030] See Figure 4 and Figure 5 When the user manually closes the door, the door hook 21 will move closer to the appliance body along the lock hole 11 and extend into the housing 1 until it engages with the lock tongue 22 through the locking portion 221. The lock tongue 22 will rotate counterclockwise under the inward push of the door hook 21, and the push-open driving plate 24 will move up with the lock tongue 22 and cause the positioning pin 251 to move along the lock groove 241 from the heart-shaped tip area to the heart-shaped concave area (the specific movement trajectory of the positioning pin 251 is shown in FIG. Figure 5 The push-open driving plate 24 is limited by the positioning pin 251 and remains stationary at the position; during the manual closing process, the sealing strip is not fully compressed, and manual closing can be achieved with only a comfortable closing force.

[0031] Working principle of manual door opening: When the user manually presses the door open, the door hook 21 pushes inwards, forcing the lock tongue 22 to rotate counterclockwise. The push-open driving plate 24 will move upwards with the lock tongue 22 and cause the positioning pin 251 to move along the lock slot 241 from the heart-shaped concave area to the heart-shaped tip area (the specific movement trajectory of the positioning pin 251 is shown in the figure). Figure 13 In the process of manually pressing the door to open, the sealing strip is not fully compressed, and the door can be manually opened with a comfortable manual pressing force. In addition, the sealing strip is not fully compressed and there is not enough adhesion resistance. Therefore, the door hook 21 can be easily separated from the lock mouth 11 under the action of the door opening auxiliary rocker 33 to open the door.

[0032] See Figures 6 to 8 After the user manually closes the door, the electric drive body 31 can move the drive rod 32 upward to first move the lock tongue 22 away from the lock hole 11, thereby driving the door hook 21 to continue to move in the door closing direction to the door locking position and maintain it (fully compressing the sealing strip to play a sealing role), and then inserting the locking block into the push-open drive plate 24 to further fix the position of the push-open drive plate 24 and realize the locking of the lock tongue 22; that is, from Figures 4 and 5 Switch to Figures 6 to 8 The process is to automatically close the door first and then lock it. Figures 6 to 8 Switch to Figures 4 and 5 The process is unlocking first and then resetting.

[0033] See Figures 9 to 12When the door is opened electrically, the electric drive body 31 can make the driving rod 32 move downward and pull the push-open operating plate 25 until the positioning pin 251 disengages from the lock slot 241, thereby releasing the limit of the push-open driving plate 24; when the driving rod 32 continues to move downward, it can also drive the door opening auxiliary swing rod 33 to swing clockwise to provide assistance and tilt the door hook 21, and finally the door hook 21 overcomes the resistance caused by sagging through the upward lifting force and outward thrust provided by the door opening auxiliary swing rod 33 and opens the door smoothly.

[0034] The above embodiments are intended to illustrate the present invention, not to limit the present invention. Any solution that is a simple transformation of the present invention falls within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. Electric door lock, characterized by: The invention comprises a pressing module (2) and a driving module (3), wherein the pressing module (2) comprises a door hook (21) and a locking mechanism respectively mounted on an appliance door cover and an appliance body, and the driving module (3) can, on the one hand, electrically pull the door hook (21) inward after the user manually closes the door so that the door hook (21) is further inserted into the locking mechanism and presses the sealing strip, and on the other hand, electrically push the door hook (21) outward to assist in opening the door.

2. The electric door lock according to claim 1, wherein: When the door cover of the electrical appliance is not completely closed, it can be closed manually, opened manually, or opened electrically.

3. The electric door lock according to claim 1, wherein: The driving module (3) includes a door opening auxiliary swing rod (33), which can force the door hook (21) to move in the door closing direction when swinging in the forward direction, and can also tilt the door hook (21) when swinging in the reverse direction to synchronously give the door hook (21) an upward lifting force and an outward pushing force.

4. The electric door lock according to claim 3, wherein: The door opening auxiliary swing rod (33) is provided at a corner with a driving rod (32) driven by the electric drive body (31) to move linearly.

5. The electric door lock according to claim 4, characterized in that: The locking mechanism comprises a push-open driving plate (24) with a locking groove (241) and a push-open operating plate (25) with a positioning pin (251). The push-open driving plate (24) and the push-open operating plate (25) can move relative to each other during the process of the door hook (21) being inserted into the locking mechanism so as to move the positioning pin (251) along the locking groove (241) from the door opening position to the door closing position and keep the door hook (21) in the door closing state. The driving rod (32) can be opened when the user manually closes the door. Afterwards, the lock tongue (22) is first used to drive the door hook (21) to continue to move in the door closing direction to the door locking position and maintain the locking block and the push-pull drive plate (24) to be plugged into each other to limit the movement of the push-pull drive plate (24) and to lock the lock tongue (22). The driving rod (32) can be moved downward when the door is opened electrically to first directly disengage the positioning pin (251) from the lock slot (241) and release the push-pull drive plate (24) from the restriction and then apply an auxiliary door opening function to the electrical door cover.

6. The electric door lock according to claim 5, characterized in that: The lock slot (241) is heart-shaped, with the door opening position located at the tip of the heart shape and the door closing position located at the inner concave area of the heart shape.

7. The electric door lock according to claim 5, characterized in that: The locking mechanism is built into the housing (1), and the door hook (21) can be inserted into the housing (1) along the lock opening (11). The locking mechanism also includes a return torsion spring (23), and the return torsion spring (23) can give the lock tongue (22) an elastic tendency to make the locking part (221) toward the lock opening (11).

8. The electric door lock according to claim 7, wherein: The lock tongue (22) can rotate with the insertion of the door hook (21) and use the outer protrusion (222) to push the push-pull drive plate (24) to move relative to the push-pull operation plate (25). A positioning spring (26) is also installed between the push-pull drive plate (24) and the housing (1). The positioning spring (26) has an elastic tendency to push the push-pull drive plate (24) close to the lock tongue (22).

9. The electric door lock according to claim 8, wherein: The lock tongue (22), the return torsion spring (23), the push-open drive plate (24) and the push-open operation plate (25) are contained in the inner shell (27). The inner shell (27) is hinged in the outer shell (1). A return spring (28) is provided between the inner shell (27) and the outer shell (1). The return spring (28) has an elastic tendency to push the inner shell (27) to rotate and to move the locking portion (221) close to the lock port (11).

10. The electric door lock according to claim 4, wherein: The door opening auxiliary swing rod (33) is in a 7-shape and rotates along a portion near a corner to achieve forward and reverse swinging. The electric drive body (31) includes a motor and a screw rod (311). The screw rod (311) is driven by the motor to rotate. The drive rod (32) is threadedly connected to the outside of the screw rod (311) and is slidably connected to the housing (1).

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