A door plate quick release structure of a ware washing machine

Abstract

The application discloses a door plate quick-release structure of a ware washing machine, and relates to a frame, a door plate, a first connecting rod and a second connecting rod. The first end of the first connecting rod is pivotally connected to the frame through a first rotating shaft, and the second end of the first connecting rod and the second end of the second connecting rod are pivotally connected through a second rotating shaft to form a support connecting rod mechanism for the door plate; the door plate is rotatable relative to the frame, and the lower end of the door plate is pivotally connected to the second connecting rod through a third rotating shaft. The first end of the second connecting rod and the door plate are in releasable sliding fit; a guide groove is arranged at the front end of the second connecting rod, and a guide pin matched with the guide groove is arranged on the door plate; the opening direction of the guide groove is configured such that the guide pin is aligned with the opening and can slide out of the guide groove only when the door plate is in a horizontal position, so that the connection between the door plate and the second connecting rod is released, and the door plate can be vertically flipped downward around the pivot joint of the door plate and the frame. The structure provides stable support and guidance in the conventional opening and closing process and realizes controlled quick release in a specified posture.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the technical field of utensil cleaning equipment, and particularly relates to a quick-release and disassembly structure for the door panel of a utensil cleaning machine. Background Technology

[0002] Dishwasher washing machines (such as commercial or household dishwashers) typically feature a front-opening door panel to form a sealing surface for the washing chamber and bear the opening / closing forces. Existing products often use a direct pivot connection between the door panel and the machine frame via fixed hinges, or supplemented by cables or balance springs for smooth opening and closing. However, in scenarios such as deep cleaning, maintenance of spray / filter components, replacement of control panels or decorative parts, and transportation and storage of the entire machine, the door panel needs to be temporarily removed or folded down to make way. Traditional structures usually rely on screw assembly or disassembly of the entire hinge system, which is cumbersome, time-consuming, and prone to damaging the sealing strips and surface components during disassembly. Furthermore, the door panel's weight means that without effective guidance and restraint, there is a risk of accidental detachment and injury.

[0003] To improve maintainability, some solutions introduce multi-link mechanisms between the door panel and the frame to optimize the mechanical path. However, most common connections are permanent or semi-permanent pin connections, which lack a mechanism for "controllable disengagement" in a specific, safe posture. There are also quick-release forms that use open long slots with pins, but due to improper control of the opening direction of the guide slot or the fit tolerance, the door panel may also accidentally come off in a non-target posture (such as not being completely horizontal).

[0004] Therefore, the industry needs to provide a new quick-release door panel structure. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention discloses a quick-release door panel structure for a dishwashing machine. The aim is to achieve convenient disassembly and stable support of the door panel through optimized linkage mechanisms and detachable connection design, thereby improving equipment maintenance efficiency and operational safety. This structure mainly consists of a frame, a door panel, a first linkage, and a second linkage. The components work synergistically through pivoting, sliding fits, and limiting designs. Specific technical features are as follows: The first end of the first link is pivotally connected to the frame via the first pivot shaft, and the second end is pivotally connected to the second end of the second link via the second pivot shaft. Together, they form the support linkage mechanism of the door panel, realizing the rotation and positioning of the door panel.

[0006] The door panel is rotatably mounted relative to the frame, and its lower end is connected to the second link via a third pivot. The second link is provided with a pivot connection groove for accommodating the third pivot. The third pivot is fixed to the door panel and extends into the connection groove, and can rotate relative to the second link within the groove. When the door panel is in a horizontal position, the third pivot can slide along the connection groove, providing a margin of movement for disassembling the door panel.

[0007] The first end of the second link is detachably slidably fitted to the door panel: the first end of the second link is provided with a first guide groove, and a guide pin that mates with the first guide groove is fixed on the door panel. The opening orientation of the first guide groove is set such that when the door panel is in a horizontal position, the guide pin aligns with the opening of the first guide groove and can disengage from the opening, releasing the connection between the door panel and the second link. At this time, the door panel can be vertically flipped downwards around its pivot point with the frame, achieving quick disassembly.

[0008] Furthermore, the first guide groove is a U-shaped hole provided along the second connecting rod. The U-shaped hole is formed by a fixed hole and a guide section connected together. The diameter D1 of the fixed hole is greater than the width W of the guide section. The guide pin includes a head and a neck. The first diameter d1 of the head is greater than W, and the second diameter d2 of the neck is less than W. The head is rotatably accommodated in the fixed hole, and the neck extends into the guide section. When the door panel is in a horizontal position, the neck can slide out along the opening direction of the guide section to ensure smooth disassembly.

[0009] An elastic reset element is also provided between the first link and the frame to assist the door panel in opening / closing and to mitigate impact. If a gas spring is used, one end is hinged to the frame and the other end is hinged to the first link. The stroke and force value are set to provide a soft-closing function at the end of the door panel closure to avoid a hard impact when closing the door.

[0010] Through the above design, the quick-release door panel structure ensures stable support of the door panel while allowing for quick disassembly by simply adjusting the door panel to a horizontal position to release the engagement between the guide pin and the first guide groove. In a non-horizontal state, the structural engagement between the limiting component and the guide pin effectively prevents accidental disengagement. Combined with the buffering effect of the elastic reset component, this significantly improves the reliability and ease of operation of the equipment.

[0011] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: 1) Through the geometric fit of the first guide groove and the guide pin and the cooperation of the limiting component, the door panel can be aligned and disengaged only at the horizontal position, which significantly reduces the risk of accidental disengagement.

[0012] 2) Two diameter guide pins provide reliable load-bearing and positioning during operation, and provide a low-resistance release path during quick-release.

[0013] 4) Without disassembling the entire hinge set and multiple fasteners, the door panel can be quickly flipped down / detached in a safe position, making way for deep cleaning and parts replacement.

[0014] 5) Equipped with elastic reset components such as gas springs / torsion springs, it can achieve slow closing and shock reduction, reduce noise and impact, and improve user experience and component life. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a side view of the structure of a dishwashing machine.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a front view of the door panel linkage mechanism and its half-open position.

[0017] Figure 3 This is the front view of the door panel in a horizontal position.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a 3D view of the door panel in its horizontally opened state.

[0019] Figure 5 This is a 3D view of the door panel being disassembled and flipped down.

[0020] Figure 6 This is a 3D image showing the door panel after it has been disassembled and flipped down. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. See also Figures 1-6 Unless otherwise stated, the same or similar parts in the drawings are indicated by the same reference numerals. The drawings are drawn to scale and are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute a limitation on the invention.

[0022] The utensil washing machine 100 described in this application is suitable for scenarios requiring efficient decontamination and hygiene control, such as restaurant kitchens, central kitchens, food container turnover basket washing lines, laboratory glassware, food and beverage processing workshops, and hospital logistics and sterilization supply centers. The equipment achieves a standardized and reusable cleaning process through spray cleaning, rinsing, heating / sterilization, and draining / drying, meeting HACCP, food safety, and laboratory hygiene requirements. It also supports streamlined operations with upstream conveyor belts and loading / unloading baskets.

[0023] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 Overall, the device includes a frame 101, an upper door panel 102, a lower door panel 103, a first connecting rod 104, and a second connecting rod 105. The first end of the first connecting rod 104 is pivotally connected to the frame 101 via a first pivot 111. The second end of the first connecting rod 104 and the second end of the second connecting rod 105 are connected via a second pivot 112 to form a linkage mechanism, which together constitute the supporting linkage mechanism of the door panel. The lower end of the lower door panel 103 is connected to the second connecting rod 105 via a third pivot 113. The front end of the second connecting rod 105 is provided with a first guide groove 121, which slides with a guide pin 122 on the lower door panel.

[0024] like Figure 4As shown, the side plate of the second connecting rod 105 has a pivot connecting groove 114 along its length. The groove 114 is an elongated hole with one end open, and the inner end forms a semi-circular or near-circular limiting end. The third rotating shaft 113 is fixed to the door panel ear plate by riveting / screws. The journal extends into the groove 114 and can be limited by a retaining ring. When the door panel is normally opened and closed, the third rotating shaft 113 mainly rotates and slides relative to the second connecting rod 105 within the limiting end to ensure that the lower door panel is controlled to open outward. When the door panel is rotated to the horizontal position, the direction of movement of the rotating shaft 113 is consistent with the axis of the connecting groove 114.

[0025] The lower door panel 103 is rotatably mounted relative to the frame 101, and its lower end is pivotally connected to the second connecting rod 105 via a third pivot 113. The upper door panel 102 slides up and down along the vertical guide rails 131 on both sides of the frame to open and close; it can be assisted by a counterweight / gas spring to make lifting easy and lowering slow. During normal operation, the operator can open the upper working opening 141 by pushing the upper door panel 102 up to the set height.

[0026] The lower door panel 103 flips outward around the third pivot 113 to open. The linkage mechanisms 104 and 105 provide support and guidance during the opening process, so that the lower door panel 103 can smoothly transition from the vertical closed position to the horizontal open position.

[0027] For the opening process of the lower door panel 103 and the upper door panel 102, please refer to [the documentation / reference]. Figures 1 to 3 The first end of the first connecting rod 104 is pivotally connected to the frame 101 via the first pivot 111 and can slide on the frame 101. When the lower door panel 103 is opened, it folds downwards. At the same time, the pivot point 112 connecting the first connecting rod 104 and the second connecting rod 105 rotates outwards around the pivot point 113 between the second connecting rod 105 and the frame 101. At this time, the tilted first connecting rod 104 gradually becomes vertical. During the flipping process, the first end of the first connecting rod 104 slides upwards, causing the upper door panel 102 to slide upwards along the guide rail 131, thereby opening the upper door.

[0028] The above linkage process can be used Figure 2 The motion trajectory s of the rotating shaft 112 (the connection point between the first link and the lower door panel) is used to describe the motion. When the lower door panel is opened outward from the vertical closed position, the first link 104 rotates around the shaft 111 and the shaft 112, and the rotating shaft 112 moves along the curve s; s is decomposed into a vertical component s_y and a horizontal component s_x.

[0029] s_y is transmitted to the upper door panel 102 via the upper end of the first link 104 and the sliding groove / guide wheel mechanism on the frame, driving the upper door panel 102 to slide up and open along the guide rail 131; s_y reaches its maximum in the near horizontal displacement section, which corresponds to the opening stroke H of the upper door.

[0030] s_x is used to pull the lower door panel away from the front edge of the frame 11 during the initial opening stage and to push the lower door panel back to seal it during the final closing stage, while compensating for the lateral clearance of the mechanism and avoiding interference with the inner liner / basket 117.

[0031] The closing process is the reverse of the opening process. The rotating shaft 112 returns along trajectory s, and its downward component s_y drives the upper door panel to fall smoothly along the guide rail to complete the blocking. The inward component s_x at the end provides the fitting force and positioning, so that the upper and lower door panels and the frame form a reliable seal. With the help of gas springs / torsion springs and limiters, the above trajectory decomposition realizes the sequential linkage and slow closing of the upper door sliding and the lower door folding.

[0032] The first end of the second connecting rod 105 is slidably engaged with the door panel. The first end of the second connecting rod 105 is provided with a first guide groove 121. A guide pin 122 that engages with the first guide groove 121 is fixed on the door panel. The opening orientation of the guide groove 121 is set such that when the door panel is in a horizontal position (e.g., when the door panel is in a horizontal position)... Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown in the figure, the guide pin 122 is disposed in the guide groove 121 and can slide in the horizontal direction, thereby detaching the door panel from the second connecting rod 105, so that the door panel 105 can be flipped vertically downward around its pivot point with the frame 101.

[0033] Furthermore, such as Figure 5 As shown, the first guide groove 121 is an integrally formed U-shaped hole 123 along the axial direction of the front end of the second connecting rod 105. The U-shaped hole 123 is composed of a fixed hole 1211 and a guide hole 1212 communicating with it, forming a U-shaped contour with the opening facing outwards. The outer end of the guide hole 1212 is an open end, and a chamfer / flared mouth 1213 is provided at the opening to facilitate assembly and disassembly. Preferably, the fixed hole 1211 is circular or nearly circular, and its diameter D1 is greater than the width W of the guide hole 1212. The fixed hole 1211 and the guide hole 1212 are connected by a rounded transition section to reduce stress concentration and ensure a smooth transition of the guide pin 122. The guide pin 122 has a head 1221 and a neck 1222. The second diameter d2 of the neck is less than W, the diameter d1 of the head satisfies W < d1 < D1 and can be rotatably placed in the fixed hole 1211, and the diameter d2 of the neck is less than W and extends into the guide hole 1212. During normal opening and closing stroke, the head of the guide pin 122 is mainly subjected to force and achieves positioning, while the neck is guided in a restricted manner along the guide hole 1212. When the door panel is rotated to the horizontal position, the neck slides along the suspected guide hole 1212 towards the opening direction, completing the controlled separation from the second link 105.

[0034] Furthermore, to prevent accidental disengagement, the opening orientation of the guide hole 1212 is set to form a release direction only when the door panel is in a horizontal position; in non-horizontal positions, the limiting structure blocks the disengagement. A quick-release limiting structure can also be provided to prevent accidental disengagement.

[0035] Furthermore, a limiting element may optionally be provided at the first end of the second link 105 or on the door panel to prevent the guide pin 122 from accidentally dislodging from the guide groove 121 when the door panel is not in a horizontal position. Various limiting elements may be used, such as pivot stops, linear sliders, elastic tongues, roller stops, geometric steps, etc.

[0036] Optionally, an elastic reset member 161 is also provided between the first link 104 and the frame 101 to assist the door panel in opening / closing and to reduce impact. A gas spring 162 is hinged between the frame 101 and the first link 104, with the cylinder end connected to the frame 101 and the piston rod end connected to the first link 104. It extends when the door is opened and has a built-in throttling mechanism at the closing end to achieve slow closing. Optionally, a lockable gas spring 162 can be used to hold the door panel at any angle, and the end uses a ball head / fork head quick-release seat 1621 for easy replacement and cleaning.

[0037] Optionally, a sleeve torsion spring is arranged at the first pivot, with both ends of the torsion spring fixed to the frame and the first connecting rod respectively, to provide rotational elastic force that varies with the angle; a rotational damper or friction washer can be superimposed to obtain a stable closing speed.

[0038] Optionally, a tension spring and a hydraulic damper are connected in parallel between the first link 104 and the frame. The spring provides assistance, and the damper controls the return speed. Gradual mechanical characteristics can be obtained by changing the equivalent force arm through a slider or pulley.

[0039] In summary, this application proposes a quick-release door panel structure for a dishwashing machine. Through a support system consisting of a frame, upper / lower door panels, first / second connecting rods, and three pivots, combined with the geometric fit of the fixing holes and guide grooves formed by U-shaped holes, and the pivot connection groove and limiting component of the second connecting rod, the door panel achieves stable load-bearing and sealing during normal opening and closing, and only disengages in a controlled manner in the horizontal position for rapid repositioning. Optionally, it can be combined with elastic reset components such as gas springs / torsion springs to achieve assisted closing and noise reduction. This structure eliminates the need to disassemble hinges and screws, reduces accidental disengagement and impact, and balances assembly tolerances with maintenance efficiency, making it suitable for canteens, industrial catering industries, etc.

[0040] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: 1) Through the geometric fit of the guide groove and guide pin and the cooperation of the limiting component, the door panel can be aligned and disengaged only at the horizontal position, which significantly reduces the risk of accidental disengagement.

[0041] 2) The composite structure of the fixing hole and the guide groove, together with the two diameter guide pins, provides reliable load-bearing and positioning during operation, and provides a low-resistance release path during the quick-release stage.

[0042] 4) Without disassembling the entire hinge set and multiple fasteners, the door panel can be quickly flipped down / detached in a safe position, making way for deep cleaning and parts replacement.

[0043] 5) Equipped with elastic reset components such as gas springs / torsion springs, it can achieve slow closing and shock reduction, reduce noise and impact, and improve user experience and component life.

Claims

1. A quick-release door panel structure for a dishwashing machine, comprising a frame, a door panel, a first connecting rod, and a second connecting rod, characterized in that: The first end of the first connecting rod is pivotally connected to the frame via a first pivot. The second end of the first link is pivotally connected to the second end of the second link via a second pivot, and the two constitute the support link mechanism of the door panel; The door panel is rotatably mounted relative to the frame, and its lower end is pivotally connected to the second connecting rod via a third pivot. The first end of the second connecting rod is detachably slidably fitted to the door panel: the second connecting rod is provided with a first guide groove, and a guide pin that engages with the first guide groove is fixed on the door panel; The first guide groove has an opening, and the orientation of the opening is set such that when the door panel is in a horizontal position, the guide pin is aligned with the opening of the first guide groove and can disengage from the first guide groove, thereby releasing the connection between the door panel and the second connecting rod, so that the door panel can be flipped vertically downward around its pivot point.

2. The quick-release door panel structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second link is provided with a pivot connection groove for accommodating the third rotating shaft. The third rotating shaft is fixed to the door panel and extends into the connection groove. The third rotating shaft is rotatable relative to the second link in the connection groove, and when the door panel is in the horizontal position, the third rotating shaft slides in the connection groove.

3. The quick-release door panel structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first guide groove is a U-shaped hole arranged along the direction of the second connecting rod. The U-shaped hole is divided into a fixing hole and a guide hole, which are connected.

4. The quick-release door panel structure according to claim 3, characterized in that: The fixing hole is used to prevent the guide pin from accidentally coming out of the guide hole when the door panel is not in a horizontal position.

5. The quick-release door panel structure according to claim 4, characterized in that: The diameter D1 of the fixing hole is greater than the width W of the guide hole; the guide hole includes a head and a neck, the first diameter d1 of the head is greater than W, and the second diameter d2 of the neck is less than W; the head is rotatably housed in the fixing hole, the neck extends into the guide hole, and slides out along the opening direction of the guide hole when the door panel is in the horizontal position.

6. The quick-release door panel structure according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that: An elastic reset component is also provided between the first link and the frame to assist the door panel in opening / closing and to reduce impact.

7. The quick-release door panel structure according to claim 6, characterized in that: The elastic reset element is a gas spring or a torsion spring.

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