Auto-open door lock device

Abstract

An auto-open door lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a locking set operated to be coupled to or released from a hook provided at a door; and a control set for providing power to the locking set, wherein the locking set includes: a locker fixing the hook, and receiving rotational force in a first direction with respect to a first center; a latch, which is attached to one side thereof and receives rotational force in a second direction with respect to a second center; and a locking lever having a locking flange, which fixes the locker to implement a locked state, the control set includes: a first motor for operating the locking lever; a first micro-switch for determining whether the first motor rotates; a second motor for operating the latch; and a second micro-switch for determining whether the second motor rotates, and the locking set and the control set are separate from each other.

Description

Auto open door lock device

[0001] The present invention relates to an auto-open door lock device, and more specifically, to an auto-open door lock device used in home appliances such as ovens and microwave ovens.

[0002] A variety of home appliances exist in our daily lives. In particular, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, microwave ovens, and ovens, which require a user to fill them with liquid, have doors installed to keep the contents sealed from the outside world. The door lock, which opens and closes the door, is an essential component of these appliances.

[0003] Recently, various technologies related to door locking devices have been developed. Representative inventions include Korean Patent No. 10-1667916 (Push-and-Push Door Lock Device) and Korean Patent No. 10-1915250 (Manual Door Lock Device).

[0004] A push-and-push door lock device is a door lock device that automatically opens the door when the appliance is turned off without the user having to open the door.

[0005] The push-and-push door lock device is installed inside the main body and includes a release button that releases the binding force of the fixing member by a sliding motion to release the locker, and a drive unit that selectively controls door holding, door locking, and door automatic opening operations by a rotational motion of a rotational shaft equipped with a cam projection on one side.

[0006] A manual door lock device is disclosed that has a simple structure and can be manually operated, unlike the existing method that is operated electronically by a solenoid.

[0007] Push-and-push door locks used in home appliances are complex in operation and frequently prone to failure due to excessive force applied to the torsion spring. Manual door locks, while stable, are inconvenient because they are dependent on human action to open and close the door. Furthermore, the irregular force applied to the device can also cause failure.

[0008] Therefore, a door lock device that implements organic connection between components and various functions is needed.

[0009] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an auto-open door lock device that can be applied to home appliances such as ovens and microwave ovens.

[0010] In addition, the purpose is to provide an auto-open door lock device that has almost no device failure and can be implemented in a compact size.

[0011] In addition, the purpose is to provide an auto-open door lock device with excellent durability, in which the connection between the parts constituting the device is organic and the movement play of the parts is not large.

[0012] An auto-open door lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention is an auto-open door lock device comprising a locking set that operates to engage and disengage a hook installed on a door, and a control set that provides power to the locking set, wherein the locking set includes a locker that fixes a hook and receives a rotational force in a first direction based on a first center, a latch that receives a rotational force in a second direction based on a second center attached to one side, and a locking lever that is provided with a locking flange that fixes the locker to implement a locked state, and wherein the control set includes a first motor that operates the locking lever, a first micro switch that determines whether the first motor rotates, a second motor that operates the latch, and a second micro switch that determines whether the second motor rotates, and the locking set and the control set are separated from each other.

[0013] As an example, the locking lever moves by the rotation of the first bridge connected by the first motor and the first line, and the latch is excited by the rotation of the second bridge connected by the second motor and the second line.

[0014] As an example, the locker includes a fixing portion formed by a first ring and a second ring to which a hook is fastened, a hooking portion protrudingly formed at a lower portion of the second ring, a hooking piece having a curved shape at one end of the hooking portion, and a groove portion having a recessed shape at an outer edge, and the latch includes a first slope which is an edge formed in the direction of the rocker, a second slope which is an edge formed in the direction of the rocker and is separated by a different height from the first slope, a receiving portion in which the hooking piece is received to fix the rocker, and a protruding piece having a shape that is slanted and bent at one edge of the receiving portion.

[0015] As an example, the second bridge includes a lifting step having a diagonally protruding edge that raises and lowers a certain area of ​​the latch.

[0016] As an example, the operation of the first motor is controlled so that the locked state is maintained when the temperature is higher than a first reference temperature set by the temperature sensor.

[0017] As an example, the second motor is controlled to automatically open the door when the temperature is lower than a second reference temperature set by a temperature sensor.

[0018] The auto-open door lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention can be implemented in a compact size and can be installed in various home appliances.

[0019] Additionally, an auto-open door lock device with less breakdown and stability is provided due to the organic connection between parts.

[0020] Additionally, the risk of device failure is reduced by limiting the load applied to the device due to the push.

[0021] Additionally, the accessories installed in the heating area and the accessories installed in the non-heating area are installed separately, so there is no risk of failure due to heat.

[0022] Figure 1 is a plan view of an auto-open door lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 is an actual installation diagram of an auto-open door lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figures 3 and 4 are plan views of a locking set according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 5 is a state diagram at the point where the hook is attached to the fixing member.

[0026] Figure 6 is a state diagram at the point where the hook pushes the second ring.

[0027] Figure 7 is a state diagram when the locker is closed.

[0028] Figure 8 is a state diagram when the locker is completely closed.

[0029] Figure 9 is a state diagram showing the rocker beginning to separate from the latch.

[0030] Figure 10 is a diagram showing the state in which the rocker and latch have been separated.

[0031] Figures 11 and 12 are auto-open operation status diagrams.

[0032] Specific structural or functional descriptions of embodiments according to the concept of the present invention disclosed in this specification are merely illustrative for the purpose of explaining embodiments according to the concept of the present invention, and embodiments according to the concept of the present invention may be implemented in various forms and are not limited to the embodiments described in this specification.

[0033] Embodiments according to the concept of the present invention may have various modifications and take various forms, and thus, embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail herein. However, this is not intended to limit embodiments according to the concept of the present invention to specific disclosed forms, but rather includes all modifications, equivalents, or alternatives falling within the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

[0034] While terms such as "first" or "second" may be used to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only intended to distinguish one component from another. For example, a first component may be referred to as a "second component," and similarly, a second component may be referred to as a "first component," without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0035] When a component is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that it may be directly connected or connected to that other component, but that there may be other components in between. Conversely, when a component is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components in between. Other expressions that describe the relationship between components, such as "between" and "directly between" or "adjacent to" and "directly adjacent to", should be interpreted similarly.

[0036] The terminology used herein is merely used to describe specific embodiments and is not intended to limit the present invention. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this specification, it should be understood that the terms "comprises" or "has" indicate the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in this specification, but do not exclude in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0037] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. Terms defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant technology, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined herein.

[0038] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings attached to this specification. However, the scope of the patent application is not limited or restricted by these embodiments. The same reference numerals in each drawing represent the same elements.

[0039] Figure 1 is a plan view of an auto-open door lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 2 is an actual installation diagram of an auto-open door lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Figures 3 and 4 are plan views of a locking set according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] An auto-open door lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention is an auto-open door lock device comprising a locking set (1) that operates to engage and disengage a hook (20) installed on a door, and a control set (2) that provides power to the locking set (1), wherein the locking set (1) fixes the hook (20) and includes a locker (100) that receives a rotational force in a first direction based on a first center (101), a latch (200) that receives a rotational force in a second direction based on a second center (201) attached to one side, and a locking lever (300) provided with a locking flange (310) that fixes the locker (100) to implement a locked state, and the control set (1) includes a first motor (400) that operates the locking lever (300), a first micro switch (420) that determines whether the first motor (400) rotates, and a second micro switch (420) that operates the latch (200). It includes a second motor (500), a second micro switch (520) that determines whether the second motor (500) is rotating, and the locking set (1) and the control set (2) are separated from each other.

[0043] The auto-open door lock device according to the embodiment of the present invention, which is divided into a locking set (1) and a control set (2), installs components of the control set (2) that are vulnerable to heat in a non-heated area as shown in Fig. 2, so that the entire auto-open door lock device does not malfunction due to heat.

[0044] The locking set (1) and the control set (2) are connected by the first line (440) and the second line (540) as shown in Fig. 1.

[0045] The first line (440) and the second line (540) may be beams made of metal material with guaranteed heat resistance, but are not necessarily limited thereto, and any means that can connect the movement of the first motor (400) and the second motor (200) to the first bridge (450) and the second bridge (550) of the locking set (1) while ensuring heat resistance may be adopted.

[0046] The above locking lever (300) moves by the rotation of the first bridge (450) connected by the first motor (400) and the first line (440), and the latch (200) moves by the rotation of the second bridge (550) connected by the second motor (500) and the second line (540).

[0047] Furthermore, the operation of the first motor (400) is controlled so that the locked state is maintained when the temperature is higher than the first reference temperature set by the temperature sensor, and the operation of the second motor (500) is controlled so that the door is automatically opened when the temperature is lower than the second reference temperature set by the temperature sensor.

[0048] The first reference temperature and the second reference temperature may be the previously set temperatures or the set values ​​may be changed by the user.

[0049] Figure 5 is a state diagram at the point where the hook (20) is fastened to the fixing portion (110).

[0050] Figure 6 is a state diagram at the point where the hook (20) pushes the second ring (104).

[0051] Figure 7 is a state diagram when the locker (100) is closed.

[0052] Figure 8 is a state diagram when the locker (100) is completely closed.

[0053] Figure 9 is a state diagram showing a state in which the rocker (100) begins to separate from the latch (200).

[0054] Figure 10 is a diagram showing the state in which the separation of the locker (100) and the latch (200) is completed.

[0055] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an auto-open door lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a locker (100) that fixes a hook (20), has a first torsion spring (102) installed in a first center (101) to receive a rotational force in a first direction, and a latch (200) that rotates based on a second center (201) attached to one side and has a second torsion spring (202) installed to receive a rotational force in a second direction.

[0056] The first direction above may mean clockwise rotation, and the second direction may mean counterclockwise rotation, but is not necessarily limited thereto.

[0057] The auto-open door lock device illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 can be formed by having internal components directly or indirectly attached to the base (10).

[0058] The base (10), locker (100), and latch (200) constituting the auto-open door lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention may be made of a hard metal material, but are not necessarily limited thereto, and may be made of a hard plastic material.

[0059] Additionally, depending on the function of the home appliance in which the door lock device is installed, it is desirable for it to be made of a material that is resistant to heat.

[0060] The rocker (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention receives a continuous clockwise rotational force by the first torsion spring (102). When the hook (20) is introduced into the rocker (100), the rocker (100) is forced to apply a counterclockwise rotational force opposite to the clockwise rotational force. Of course, it is expected that the rocker (100) will rotate counterclockwise when the hook (20) is introduced with an external force stronger than the rotational force of the first torsion spring (102).

[0061] In more detail, the above rocker (100) includes a mounting portion (110) formed by a first ring (103) and a second ring (104), a hook portion (120) protruding from the lower portion of the second ring (104), a hook piece (122) having a curved shape at one end of the hook portion (120), and a groove portion (130) having a recessed shape at an outer edge.

[0062] The fixing portion (110) is a portion where a hook (20) is introduced and fastened. In FIGS. 3 and 4, it is formed in a U shape, but there is no limitation on the shape and it can be implemented in various forms to which a hook (20) introduced from the outside can be fastened.

[0063] It is preferable that the first ring (103) and the second ring (104) are formed as a single piece, and when forming the mounting portion (110), the lengths of the first ring (103) and the second ring (104) may be different from each other.

[0064] A rocker (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a catch (120). The catch (120) is formed as a protrusion protruding from the lower portion of the second ring (104). It is preferable that the catch (120) be manufactured as an integral part with the first ring (103) and the second ring (104) so ​​that it can rotate simultaneously with the rotation of the first ring (103) and the second ring (104).

[0065] In addition, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, a hook piece (122) having a curved shape is formed at one end of the hook part (120). The hook piece (122) is located at the edge of the hook part (120) and is curved in the opposite direction of the base (10).

[0066] The catch (122) is an area that controls the movement of the rocker (100) by the latch (200), and it is preferable that it be manufactured as an integral part with the catch (120) to be sturdy and solid.

[0067] Furthermore, a recessed groove (130) is formed on the outer edge of the rocker (100). The groove (130) may be formed in a recessed shape with a predetermined depth on the outer periphery of the point where the first ring (103) and the second ring (104) meet, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, but is not necessarily limited thereto.

[0068] The latch (200) according to the embodiment of the present invention receives a continuous rotational force in the direction opposite to the first direction, which is the rotational direction of the rocker (100), and the cause of this is the second torsion spring (202) attached to one end of the latch (200).

[0069] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, a latch (200) according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first slope (210) which is an edge formed in the direction of the rocker (100), a second slope (220) which is an edge formed in the direction of the rocker (100) and which is separated from the first slope (210) by a different height, a receiving portion (230) in which the engaging portion (122) is received to fix the rocker (100), and a protruding portion (240) having a curved shape at one edge of the receiving portion (230).

[0070] The first slope (210) formed on the latch (200) is formed in the direction of the rocker (100). More specifically, the corner of the latch (200) along which the engaging piece (122) moves with the rotation of the rocker (100) is the first slope (210).

[0071] The second slope (220) is a corner formed in the direction of the rocker (100) like the first slope (210), and more specifically, like the first slope (210), it is a slope on which the catch (122) is secured by the rotation of the rocker (100). The second slope (220) is separated from the first slope (210), and the height at which the first slope (210) is formed and the height at which the second slope (220) is formed are different from each other. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the height at which the second slope (220) is formed is designed to be lower than the height at which the first slope (210) is formed.

[0072] A latch (200) according to an embodiment of the present invention has only an open corner region formed by a first slope (210) and a second slope (220), and includes a receiving portion (230) which is an open space in the shape of a hook.

[0073] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the receiving portion (230) is a space in which a catch (122) is received to secure the rocker (100). The catch (122) moves in the receiving portion (230), allowing the latch (200) to be engaged or disengaged from the rocker (100). A more detailed description will be provided later.

[0074] A latch (200) according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a protruding piece (240) having a curved shape at one edge of a receiving portion (230). The protruding piece (240) is shaped to be bent diagonally toward the opposite side of the base (10), as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. That is, the protruding piece (240) has a curved shape that forms a slope with respect to an imaginary surface of the latch (200) formed by the receiving portion (230).

[0075] Each component of the latch (200) may mean a detailed component of the latch (200) formed as an integral part.

[0076] An auto-open door lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a locking lever (300) equipped with a locking flange (310) that is moved by a first motor (400) and coupled to a home portion (130).

[0077] The locking lever (300) is coupled to the base (10) at one end and rotates, and is pushed and moved by the first motor arm (410), so that the locking flange (310) moves toward the rocker (100), and the locking flange (310) is fixed to the groove (130), thereby preventing the rocker (100) from rotating.

[0078] In addition, the locking lever (300) can be moved by the first bridge (450) so that the first motor arm presses the first micro switch (420) to confirm that the rocker (100) is in a locked state.

[0079] In particular, ovens periodically perform a heat cleaning process that heats the oil stuck to the oven during cooking to a temperature of over 300 degrees and blows it away into the air. During this process, the oven door must remain automatically locked so that it does not open.

[0080] At this time, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first motor (400) rotates, the first motor arm (410) pulls the first line (440), and the locking lever (300) is pushed by the first bridge (450), so that the locking flange is inserted into the groove (130) of the rocker (100), and at the same time, the first motor arm (410) presses the first micro switch (420), so that it can be confirmed that the rocker (100) is locked.

[0081] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the auto-open door lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention has a second motor (500) connected to a second bridge (550) via a second line (540). The second bridge (550) rotates around the fifth center (557), so that the lifting step (555) of the second bridge (550) digs under the latch (200) and lifts the latch (200). Detailed operations for auto-opening will be described later.

[0082] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the auto-open door lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing bracket (600) and a separate bracket (700).

[0083] The housing bracket (600) is formed with a space in which a rocker (100) and a latch (200) are mounted, and is connected to the base (10), the fourth center (610), and the fixing member (16).

[0084] In addition, one end of a spring (14) coupled to the outer surface of a fixed rod (12) fixed to a base (10) is coupled to an upper portion of one side of a housing bracket (600), and a fixed member (16) formed nearby is coupled to a housing track (630) formed on the housing bracket (600), so that the housing bracket (600) can rotate at a predetermined angle along the housing track (630) with the fourth center (610) as the center.

[0085] If an auto-open door lock device malfunctions while the door is closed, the door cannot be opened. In this case, if the door is pulled with a relatively strong force, the locker (100) is pulled by the hook (20), and the locker (100) is caught on a catch formed in the housing bracket (600).

[0086] When the door is pulled by applying more external force, it rotates based on the fourth center (610) of the housing bracket (600). When it is pulled with a strong force that can overcome the elastic force of the spring (14) on the opposite side of the fourth center (610), the fixing member (16) rises along the housing track (630), causing the rocker (100) to rotate and the hook (20) to come off the first ring (103) of the rocker (100).

[0087] That is, by configuring the housing bracket (600) as in the embodiment of the present invention, the locker (100) and the hook (20) can be separated in an emergency.

[0088] A separate bracket (700) is attached to the opposite side of the housing bracket (600). A flange track (720) is formed on the side of the separate bracket (700) along which the previously mentioned locking flange (310) can move.

[0089] The configuration of an auto-open door lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention has been described above. Below, the closing process and the opening process via push of an auto-open door lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 10.

[0090] As shown in Fig. 5, the hook (20) rotates the rocker (100) while pushing it counterclockwise until the moment the hook (20) is caught on the fixing portion (110) of the rocker (100). The engaging portion (120) of the rocker (100) rotates together, and the engaging piece (122) of the engaging portion comes into contact with the first slope (210) of the latch (200), thereby rotating the latch (200) clockwise.

[0091] As shown in Fig. 6, when the hook (20) pushes the second ring (104) further, the catch (122) moves to the second slope (220) and the latch (200) moves counterclockwise by the second torsion spring (202). The rocker (100) is continuously subjected to a clockwise elastic force by the first torsion spring (102), and as shown in Fig. 6, when the rocker (100) rotates clockwise while the second slope (220) and the catch (122) are in contact, the catch (122) flows into the space of the receiving portion (230) formed in the latch (200).

[0092] As shown in Fig. 7, when the catch (122) of the rocker (100) is introduced into the receiving portion (230), the catch (122) is seated on the protruding portion (240) of the latch (200).

[0093] As shown in Fig. 7, the hook (20) is caught on the locker (100) and is in the process of being closed, and as shown in Fig. 8, the hook (122) is settled on the receiving portion (230) of the latch (200) by the rotational force of the locker (100) in the first direction and the rotational force of the latch (200) in the second direction, so that the door is closed.

[0094] When the door is pushed in the closed state, the hook (20) pushes the second ring (104), and as shown in Fig. 9, the catch (122) slides along the protruding part (240) having an obliquely bent shape, and the catch (122) comes out behind the latch (200).

[0095] When the separation of the locker (100) and the latch (200) is completed, the locker (100) rotates to the open state as shown in Fig. 10, and the hook (20) comes off the mounting portion (110) of the locker (100) to open the door.

[0096] An auto-open door lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention can be opened by pushing using a mechanical shape and a rotational force by a torsion spring.

[0097] In this way, the auto-open door lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention can open the door by pushing it when cooking begins or ends. Furthermore, the door lock device can be automatically unlocked and opened when cooking ends.

[0098] Figures 11 and 12 are auto-open operation status diagrams.

[0099] As illustrated in Fig. 11, the second bridge (550) includes a lifting step (555) having a diagonally protruding edge that elevates a certain area of ​​the latch (200). In Fig. 11, the diagonal line of the lifting step (555) is directed toward the latch (200), and the hook (122) is accommodated in the internal receiving portion (230) of the latch (200), so that the hook (20) is accommodated in the receiving portion (110) of the locker (100) and is in a closed state.

[0100] In the above drawing 1, when the second motor (500) is driven to pull the second line (540) and pull the second bridge (550), the second bridge (550) rotates around the fifth center (557) so that the lifting step (555) slides into the lower part of the latch (200) and pushes it up, thereby inducing the catch (122) in the receiving portion (230) of the latch (200) to come off.

[0101] When the catch (122) is removed from the receiving portion (230) of the latch (200), the door is opened as the hook (20) is pulled out while rotating by the restoring force in the first direction of the locker (100).

[0102] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, these are merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible from the described techniques. For example, appropriate results can be achieved even if the described techniques are performed in a different order than the described method, and / or components of the described systems, structures, devices, circuits, etc. are combined or combined in a different form than the described method, or are replaced or substituted by other components or equivalents. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention should be determined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An auto-open door lock device comprising a locking set that operates to engage and disengage a hook installed on a door and a control set that provides power to the locking set. The above locking set is A rocker that fixes a hook and receives a rotational force in the first direction based on the first center; A latch that receives a rotational force in a second direction based on a second center attached to one side; and It includes a locking lever equipped with a locking flange that fixes the above rocker to implement a locked state, The above control set is A first motor that operates the above locking lever; A first micro switch that determines whether the first motor rotates; A second motor that operates the above latch; It includes a second micro switch that determines whether the second motor rotates, A door lock device characterized in that the locking set and the control set are separated from each other.

2. In paragraph 1, The above locking lever moves by the rotation of the first bridge connected by the first motor and the first line, A door lock device characterized in that the above latch is excited by the rotation of a second bridge connected by a second motor and a second line.

3. In paragraph 1, The above locker A fixing portion formed by the first ring and the second ring and to which the hook is fastened; A hook formed by protruding from the lower part of the second ring; A hook piece having a curved shape at one end of the above hook; It includes a recessed groove on the outer edge, The above latch The first slope is a corner formed in the direction of the rocker; A second slope formed in the direction of the rocker and separated from the first slope by a different height; A receiving portion in which the catch is received to secure the rocker; and A door lock device characterized in that it includes a protruding piece having a slanted shape at one corner of the above-mentioned receiving portion.

4. In paragraph 2, A door lock device characterized in that the second bridge includes a lifting step having a diagonally protruding edge that raises and lowers a certain area of ​​the latch.

5. In paragraph 1, A door lock device characterized in that the operation of the first motor is controlled so that the locked state is maintained when the temperature is higher than a first reference temperature set by a temperature sensor.

6. In paragraph 1, A door lock device characterized in that the second motor is controlled to automatically open the door when the temperature is lower than a second reference temperature set by a temperature sensor.

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