CN114698382A

CN114698382A - Washing machine

Info

Publication number: CN114698382A
Application number: CN202080076616.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 西野雅文; 森典之
Original assignee: Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co Ltd; Haier Smart Home Co Ltd; Aqua Co Ltd
Current assignee: Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co Ltd; Haier Smart Home Co Ltd; Aqua Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-11-25
Filing date: 2020-10-30
Publication date: 2022-07-01
Also published as: JP7492698B2; JP2021083500A; WO2021103933A1

Abstract

A washing machine prevents a door latch unit (80) from being damaged when a door handle (52) located at a lock position is rotated toward an open position in a door-locked state. The washing machine (1) is provided with a door handle (52), a rotating shaft (53) and a connecting mechanism (T) for connecting the door handle (52) and the rotating shaft (53), wherein when the door handle (52) at the open position is rotated towards the closed position and when the door handle (52) at the closed position is rotated towards the open position in a state that the door locking rod (53a) is not prevented from rotating by the door latch unit (80), the connecting mechanism (T) rotates the rotating shaft (53) corresponding to the rotation of the door handle (52), and when the door handle (52) at the closed position is rotated towards the open position in a state that the door locking rod (53a) is prevented from rotating by the door latch unit (80), the connecting mechanism (T) does not rotate the rotating shaft (53) corresponding to the rotation of the door handle (52), and to reset the door pull (52) to the latched position when the operation is no longer being performed.

Description

Washing machine

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a washing machine having a door for opening and closing a clothes inlet formed in a cabinet.

Background

As shown in fig. 3 of patent document 1, a circular door that opens laterally is provided on the front surface of the drum-type washing machine. A handle for opening and closing the door is provided on the left-hand side of the door. The handle is free to rotate about 1/4 cycles, the door can be opened in a horizontal state, and the door is closed when the handle is rotated 1/4 cycles in a right direction.

In such a washing machine, if the door is opened during washing and rinsing, water stored in the outer tub may be splashed to the outside. In addition, since the drum is rotated at a high speed in dehydration, it is very dangerous if the door is opened. Therefore, once the operation is started, so-called door locking is automatically performed so that the door does not open even if the handle is operated to open the door.

In a conventionally used door latch unit, as shown in fig. 4 of patent document 1, a through hole into which a door lock lever that rotates integrally with a handle is inserted is formed, and a stopper pin that is provided to protrude and retreat in the vertical direction is provided at an appropriate position above the through hole.

When the door is closed and the handle is rotated to be vertical, the door locking rod inserted into the through hole is substantially vertical. At this time, when the stopper pin protrudes to the inner side of the rotation trajectory of the door lock lever, the rotation of the door lock lever in the leftward rotation direction is prevented by the stopper pin, and the door is locked. Then, when the operation is finished, the stopper pin is retracted to the outside of the rotation locus of the door lock lever, so that the door lock is released and the handle is turned in the left rotation direction.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 11-42390

In a commercial drum type washing machine and a commercial drum type washing and drying all-in-one machine for laundromats, there are problems as follows: although in operation in the door locked state, the door latch unit may be damaged if an excessive force is applied to the door handle in order to forcibly open the door. For example, in the drum type washing machine of patent document 1, if an excessive force is applied to rotate the handle in a state where the rotation of the door lock lever is stopped by the stopper pin, the excessive pressing force acts on the stopper pin from the door lock lever, and the stopper pin is broken.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine that can prevent a door latch unit from being damaged even when an excessive force is applied to a door handle in a door-locked state.

Means for solving the problems

That is, the washing machine of the present invention includes: a door provided in the cabinet and opening and closing a clothes inlet opposite to the opening of the drum; a door latch unit for prohibiting an opening motion of the door; an operation member provided to the door and rotated when the door is opened and closed; a rotation shaft that rotates integrally with a door lock lever that can be prevented from rotating by the door latch unit; and a connecting mechanism that connects the operating member to the rotating shaft, the operating member being rotatable within an operable range from an open position where the door is opened to a closed position where the door is closed, the connecting mechanism rotating the rotating shaft in accordance with rotation of the operating member when the operating member located at the open position is rotationally operated toward the closed position and when the operating member located at the closed position is rotationally operated toward the open position in a state where the door lock lever is not prevented from being rotated by the door latch unit, and the connecting mechanism not rotating the rotating shaft in accordance with rotation of the operating member when the operating member located at the closed position is rotationally operated toward the open position in a state where the door lock lever is prevented from being rotated by the door latch unit, and to reset the operating member to the latched position when the operation is no longer performed. The rotation of the rotation shaft in accordance with the rotation of the operation member means that the rotation amount of the operation member is the same as the rotation amount of the rotation shaft, and the rotation of the rotation shaft in accordance with the rotation of the operation member means that the rotation amount of the operation member is larger than the rotation amount of the rotation shaft.

In the washing machine according to the present invention, it is preferable that the link mechanism includes a return spring for applying a rotational force to the operating member toward the locking position, and when the operating member located at the locking position is not rotated toward the opening position in a state where the door lock lever is prevented from being rotated by the door latch unit, the operating member is returned to the locking position by the return spring.

In the washing machine according to the present invention, it is preferable that the coupling mechanism includes a rotation transmission switching unit disposed between the operation member and the rotation shaft, and the rotation transmission switching unit switches to idle rotation of the operation member with respect to the rotation shaft when the operation member located at the lock position is rotationally operated toward the open position in a state where the door lock lever is prevented from being rotated by the door latch unit.

In the washing machine of the present invention, it is preferable that the coupling mechanism has a rotation restricting unit that restricts the operation member from rotating without exceeding an operable range in a case where the operation member is rotationally operated from the open position toward the close position and in a case where the operation member is rotationally operated from the close position toward the open position.

In the washing machine of the present invention, it is preferable that the operation member is a long door handle formed of resin, and the operation member is formed such that: in a case where the operating member located at the lock position is rotationally operated toward the open position in a state where the door lock lever is prevented from being rotated by the door latch unit, the operating member is damaged before the door latch unit is damaged.

Effects of the invention

In the washing machine of the present invention, even when the operation member located at the closed position is turned toward the open position in a state where the rotation of the door lock lever is blocked by the door latch unit, the rotation shaft is not rotated in accordance with the rotation of the operation member, thereby preventing the door latch unit from being damaged. Further, when the operation member located at the lock position is no longer rotationally operated toward the open position, the operation member is automatically returned to the lock position, so operability of the operation member is improved.

In the washing machine of the present invention, when the operation member located at the lock position is no longer operated to be turned toward the open position in a state where the rotation of the door lock lever is prevented by the door latch unit, the operation member can be easily automatically returned to the lock position by the return spring.

In the washing machine according to the present invention, when the operation member located at the lock position is rotated toward the open position in a state where the operation member is located at the lock position and the door lock lever is prevented from rotating by the door latch unit, the operation member idles with respect to the rotation shaft, so that the rotation of the operation member can be easily switched not to be transmitted to the rotation shaft.

In the washing machine of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the operating member from rotating beyond the operable range in the case where the operating member is rotationally operated from the open position toward the closed position and in the case where the operating member is rotationally operated from the closed position toward the open position.

In the washing machine of the present invention, when the operation member located at the lock position is rotationally operated toward the open position in a state where the operation member is located at the lock position and the door lock lever is prevented from being rotated by the door latch unit, even when the operation member is rotationally operated beyond the operable range by an excessive force, the operation member is damaged before the door latch unit is damaged, so that the door latch unit can be prevented from being damaged. Further, in comparison with the repair work in the case where the door latch unit is damaged, in the case where the operating member is damaged, the damaged operating member may be replaced, and the repair work is easy.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side sectional view showing the structure of the washing machine 1 of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial perspective view of the washing machine 1 in a state where the door 8 is opened.

Fig. 4 (a) is a front view of the handle device 50, and fig. 4 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line a-a of fig. 4 (a).

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the pulling device 50.

Fig. 6(a) is a front view of the handle device 50 in a door-open state, and fig. 6 (b) is a sectional view taken along line a-a of fig. 6 (a).

Fig. 7 (a) is a side view of the handle device 50 in a door-open state, and fig. 7 (b) is a view of a in fig. 7 (a)₁－a ₁A cross-sectional view taken along the line, and (c) of FIG. 7 is a₂－a ₂A cross-sectional view of the wire.

Fig. 8 (a) is a front view of the handle device 50 in a door-closed state, and fig. 8 (b) is a sectional view taken along line a-a of fig. 8 (a).

FIG. 9(a) is a side view of the handle device 50 in a door-closed state, and FIG. 9 (b) is a view of a in FIG. 9(a)₁－a ₁A cross-sectional view taken along the line, and (c) of FIG. 9 is a of (a) of FIG. 9₂－a ₂A cross-sectional view of the wire.

Fig. 10(a) is a front view of the handle device 50 in a state where the door is pried open, and fig. 10 (b) is a sectional view taken along line a-a of fig. 10 (a).

Fig. 11(a) is a side view of the handle device 50 in a state where the door is pried open, and fig. 11(b) is a view of fig. 11(a) showing a₁－a ₁A cross-sectional view taken along the line, and fig. 11 (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along a line a of fig. 11(a)₂－a ₂A cross-sectional view of the wire.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a washing machine according to a modification of the embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the reference numerals

1: a washing machine; 2: a box body; 3: an outer cylinder; 4: a drum; 4 a: an opening; 6: a garment input opening; 8: a door; 52: a door handle (operation member); 53: a rotating shaft; 53 a: a door locking lever; 54: handle boss (handle boss); 60: a ratchet mechanism (rotation transmission switching unit); 66: a handle return spring (return spring); 80: a door latch unit; 152: an operating member; t: a connecting mechanism; n: a rotation restricting unit.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, a washing machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a side sectional view showing the structure of the washing machine 1 of fig. 1.

The washing machine 1 of the present embodiment is a washing machine capable of performing a washing process, a rinsing process, and a dehydrating process. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the washing machine 1 has a box-shaped casing 2, an outer cylinder 3 having a substantially cylindrical inner peripheral surface is disposed inside the casing 2, and a drum 4 having a substantially cylindrical inner peripheral surface for housing laundry is axially supported inside the outer cylinder 3 by a main shaft 5 extending in the front-rear direction.

A clothes inlet 6 is formed in the front surface of the casing 2 so as to face an opening 4a formed in the front end of the drum 4. The cabinet 2 is provided with a door 8 for opening and closing the clothes inlet 6, and the clothes inlet 6 is opened and closed by the door 8, so that the laundry can be thrown into and taken out from the drum 4 in a state where the door 8 is opened. A large number of water passage holes are formed in the inner circumferential surface of the drum 4, and water supplied into the outer tub 3 during washing and rinsing flows into the drum 4 through the water passage holes, and water discharged from laundry in the drum 4 during centrifugal dewatering is scattered toward the outer tub 3 through the water passage holes.

The main shaft 5 is rotatably supported by a bearing 5a attached to the back surface wall of the outer cylinder 3, and a main pulley 10 is attached to the tip end of the main shaft 5 projecting rearward. A motor 11 is provided at the bottom of the casing 2, a motor pulley 12 is attached to a rotating shaft of the motor 11, and the rotational power of the motor pulley 12 is transmitted to the primary pulley 10 via a timing belt 16. Thus, when the motor 11 is driven, the drum 4 rotates about the main shaft 5.

A water supply pipe 30 having a water supply valve 30a provided in the middle is connected to an upper portion of the back wall of the outer cylinder 3, and when the water supply valve 30a is opened, water supplied from the outside is supplied to the outer cylinder 3 through the water supply pipe 30. The drain port provided at the bottom of the outer tub 3 is connected to a drain pipe 31 provided with a drain valve 31a in the middle, and when the drain valve 31a is opened, the water in the outer tub 3 is drained to the outside of the machine through the drain pipe 31.

A handle device 50 for opening and closing the door 8 is attached to the left side of the door 8. In fig. 1, the door 8 is shown in a state of closing the clothes inlet 6, and the door handle 52 is located at a closing position inclined 45 degrees to the horizontal diagonally downward right direction. When the door handle 52 in this state is turned 90 degrees in the left-hand direction and moved to an open position inclined 45 degrees to the horizontal and obliquely upward right direction, the clothes inlet 6 is opened when the door 3 is pulled.

Fig. 3 is a partial perspective view of the washing machine 1 in a state where the door 8 is opened. As shown in fig. 3, a door latch unit 80 as a door locking device is disposed at a portion corresponding to the door handle 50 in the front surface of the case 2. The door latch unit 80 has a substantially circular attachment hole 81 into which the door lock lever 53a that rotates integrally with the door handle 52 is inserted when the door 8 is locked. The fitting hole 81 has a diameter larger than the length of the door lock lever 53a, so that the door lock lever 53a can be rotated in the fitting hole 81.

The front end of the fitting hole 81 is closed by a plate member 82. The plate member 82 is formed with a substantially circular opening 83 having a diameter smaller than that of the attachment hole 81, and a part of the opening 83 is long in the radial direction and serves as an insertion portion 84 into which the door lock lever 53a is inserted. The longitudinal direction of the insertion portion 84 coincides with the longitudinal direction of the door lock lever 53a in a state where the door handle 52 is located at the open position. The diameter of the opening 83 is smaller than the length of the door lock lever 53a, and the length of the insertion portion 84 is longer than the length of the door lock lever 53a in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, if the door lock lever 53a is inserted into the insertion portion 84 and the door handle 52 is rotated to the closed position in a state where the door handle 52 is positioned at the open position, the door lock lever 53a is hooked on the outer portion of the opening 83 of the plate member 82, and the door closed state is maintained.

Further, in the door latching state, the door latch unit 80 has a lock pin 85 provided in such a manner as to protrude and retreat with respect to a position where rotation of the door lock lever 53a inserted into the fitting hole 81 can be prevented.

When the door 8 is closed and the door handle 52 is rotated from the open position to the closed position, as shown by the one-dot chain line in fig. 3, the door lock lever 53a inserted from the insertion portion 84 extends in the substantially up-down direction. At this time, when the lock pin 85 protrudes inside the fitting hole 81 to the inner side of the rotation locus of the door lock lever 53a, the rotation of the door lock lever 53a in the leftward rotation direction (the direction in which the door handle 52 is turned from the closed position toward the open position) is prevented by the lock pin 85, and the door 8 is locked. When the operation is completed, the lock pin 85 is retracted to the outside of the rotation locus of the door lock lever 53a, and therefore the door lock is released, and the door handle 52 can be rotated in the left rotation direction.

Fig. 4 (a) is a front view of the handle device 50, and fig. 4 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line a-a of fig. 4 (a). Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the pulling device 50.

The handle device 50 includes a rotary shaft bushing 51 attached to a door frame 2a of the box body 2, a door handle 52 that is pivotally operated when opening and closing the door 8, a rotary shaft 53 having a door lock lever 53a inserted into the door latch unit 80, and a connecting mechanism T that connects the door handle 52 and the rotary shaft 53.

The rotation shaft bushing 51 is a member for attaching the pull handle device 50 to the attachment portion 2a1 of the door frame 2 a. The rotation shaft bushing 51 is attached to the attachment portion 2a1 of the door frame 2a by a screw 51 t.

The door handle 52 is made of resin and has a cylindrical portion 52a and a grip portion 52 b. The cylindrical portion 52a is a portion that serves as a rotation shaft of the door handle 52, and the grip portion 52b is a portion that is rotated when the door 8 is opened and closed. The cylindrical portion 52a of the door handle 52 is disposed so as to cover the rotary shaft bushing 51.

The base portion 52A of the grip portion 52b of the door handle 52 is designed to be thin and weak. Namely, it is designed that: when the door handle 52 is rotated by an excessive force, the base portion 52A of the grip portion 52b is easily broken.

The handle bushing 54 is a member that rotates integrally with the door handle 52, and is disposed inside the cylindrical portion 52a of the door handle 52. The door handle 52 is fitted to one end portion of the handle boss 54 by a door handle fixing screw 52 t. Therefore, the handle bushing 54 connects the door handle 52 with the rotation shaft 53.

A substantially cylindrical projecting portion 54a is formed at the other end portion of the handle bushing 54, and the projecting portion 54a is disposed in a hole portion 51a formed in the distal end surface of the rotary shaft bushing 51. The hole 51a has a circular cross section, and the protruding portion 54a of the handle bushing 54 is rotatably disposed in the hole 51a of the rotary shaft bushing 51 via the bearing member 55.

The rotary shaft 53 is a member for fixing the door latch unit 80 and the door 8, and a T-shaped door lock lever 53a that rotates integrally with the rotary shaft 53 is formed at the tip end thereof. The door lock lever 53a is a portion that is prevented from rotating by the door latch unit 80 when the door 8 is in the locked state. The rotary shaft 53 is rotatably disposed in a through hole 51b penetrating the rotary shaft bushing 51 via two bearing members 56.

The ratchet mechanism 60 is disposed between the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 52a of the door handle 52 and the rotary shaft 53, and is a rotation transmission switching means for switching between a transmission state in which the rotation of the door handle 52 is transmitted to the rotary shaft 53 and an idle state in which the rotation of the door handle 52 is not transmitted to the rotary shaft 53.

Fig. 6(a) is a front view of the handle device 50 in a door-open state, and fig. 6 (b) is a sectional view taken along line a-a of fig. 6 (a). Fig. 7 (a) is a side view of the handle device 50 in a door-open state, and fig. 7 (b) is a view of a in fig. 7 (a)₁－a ₁A cross-sectional view taken along the lines, and FIG. 7 (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along a line a of FIG. 7 (a)₂－a ₂A cross-sectional view of the wire.

Fig. 8 (a) is a front view of the handle device 50 in a door-closed state, and fig. 8 (b) is a sectional view taken along line a-a of fig. 8 (a). FIG. 9(a) is a side view of the handle device 50 in a door-closed state, and FIG. 9 (b) is a view of a in FIG. 9(a)₁－a ₁A cross-sectional view taken along the line, and (c) of FIG. 9 is a of (a) of FIG. 9₂－a ₂A cross-sectional view of the wire.

Fig. 10(a) is a front view of the handle device 50 in a state where the door is pried open, and fig. 10 (b) is a sectional view taken along line a-a of fig. 10 (a). Fig. 11(a) is a side view of the handle device 50 in a state where the door is pried open, and fig. 11(b) is a view of fig. 11(a) showing a₁－a ₁A cross-sectional view taken along the line, and (c) of FIG. 11 is a of FIG. 11(a)₂－a ₂A cross-sectional view of the wire.

The ratchet mechanism 60 has a ratchet boss (ratchet boss)61, three ratchet springs 62, and three ratchet balls 63.

The ratchet boss 61 is a circular plate with a groove for idling the door handle 52. As shown in fig. 7 (b), 9 (b), and 11(b), the ratchet sleeve 61 is mounted on the rotary shaft 53 by a nut 61t in a state of being disposed in the circular recess 54b of the handle sleeve 54. Therefore, the ratchet boss 61 rotates integrally with the rotation shaft 53. Three grooves 61a are formed at 120 degrees intervals in the outer peripheral portion of the ratchet shaft sleeve 61. The groove 61a is formed along the outer shape of the ratchet ball 63.

The handle boss 54 has a circular recess 54b in which the ratchet boss 61 is disposed, and has three through holes 54c penetrating from the substantially cylindrical side surface to the inner peripheral surface of the circular recess 54 b. The three through holes 54c are arranged at intervals of 120 degrees.

The three ratchet springs 62 are disposed in the three through holes 54c of the handle bushing 54, respectively. Therefore, the ratchet spring 62 is arranged in the radial direction of the handle boss 54. The radially outer end of the ratchet spring 62 is fitted to the radially outer end of the through hole 54c of the pull sleeve 54 by a fastener 64. The fastening member 64 is disposed in the through hole 54c of the handle bushing 54.

Three ratchet balls 63 are fitted to the radially inner end portions of the three ratchet springs 62, respectively. In the door open state of fig. 7 (b) and the door closed state of fig. 9 (b), the ratchet ball 63 is pressed radially inward by the ratchet spring 62 in a state of being disposed in the groove 61a of the outer peripheral portion of the ratchet boss 61 disposed in the circular recess 54b of the handle boss 54. The ratchet spring 62 is a spring for urging the ratchet ball 63 to the ratchet boss 61.

The ratchet ball 63 is disposed in the groove 61a of the ratchet sleeve 61 and transmits the rotation of the door handle 52 to the rotary shaft 53. That is, when the door handle 52 is rotated, the rotation thereof is transmitted to the ratchet boss 61 via the ratchet spring 62 and the ratchet ball 63. Therefore, the rotating shaft 53 fitted with the ratchet sleeve 61 rotates in correspondence with the rotation of the door handle 52.

In contrast, in a state where the ratchet ball 63 is disposed in the groove 61a of the ratchet boss 61 in a state where the door 8 is locked, the door lock lever 53a of the rotation shaft 53 is prevented from rotating by the door latch unit 80. In this state, when the door handle 52 is rotated from the closed position toward the open position by an excessive force, in the door prying state of fig. 11(b), the ratchet ball 63 disposed in the groove 61a of the ratchet boss 61 moves radially outward against the urging force of the ratchet spring 62, disengages from the groove 61a of the ratchet boss 61, and moves into the through hole 54c of the handle boss 54.

Thus, the state in which the ratchet ball 63 is disengaged from the groove 61a of the ratchet sleeve 61 is an idling state in which the rotation of the door handle 52 is not transmitted to the rotary shaft 53. That is, even if the door handle 52 is rotated, the rotation thereof is not transmitted to the ratchet sleeve 61 via the ratchet spring 62 and the ratchet ball 63. Therefore, the door handle 52 idles with respect to the ratchet boss 61, and the rotating shaft 53 to which the ratchet boss 61 is attached does not rotate in accordance with the rotation of the door handle 52.

Further, a rotating rod 65 is attached to the longitudinal direction center portion of the rotating shaft 53 via a nut 65 t. The rotating lever 65 is a member for limiting the operational rotational range of the door handle 52.

As shown in fig. 7 (c), 9 (c), and 11 (c), the rotating lever 65 has a circular plate portion 65a, and a protruding plate portion 65b protruding outward from the outer peripheral portion of the circular plate portion 65 a. The center of the circular plate portion 65a coincides with the central axis of the rotation shaft 53. The both end portions of the protruding plate portion 65b are arranged at an interval of 90 degrees.

The rotating lever 65 is disposed in a recess 51c formed in the bottom surface of the hole 51a of the rotating shaft bushing 51. Both end portions of the recess 51c are arranged at an interval of 270 degrees. That is, the stepped portion 51d is disposed on the bottom surface of the hole 51a of the rotary shaft sleeve 51 at a portion where the recess 51c is not formed. Both end portions of the stepped portion 51d are arranged at an interval of 90 degrees.

A rotation restricting portion 54d, which is disposed on the same plane as the rotating lever 65 and the step portion 51d of the rotating shaft bushing 51, is formed on the distal end surface of the projecting portion 54a of the pull bushing 54. Both end portions of the rotation restricting portion 54d are arranged at an interval of 90 degrees.

Accordingly, the operation rotation range of the door handle 52 is limited to a range of 90 degrees by the shapes of the recess 51c of the rotation shaft bushing 51, the rotation limiting portion 54d of the handle bushing 54, and the rotating lever 65. In the present embodiment, the rotation restricting unit N that restricts the door handle 52 from rotating beyond the operable range includes the recessed portion 51c (step portion 51d) of the rotation shaft bushing 51, the rotation restricting portion 54d of the handle bushing 54, and the protruding plate portion 65b of the rotation lever 65.

When the door handle 52 is rotated in a state where the ratchet ball 63 is disengaged from the groove 61a of the ratchet shaft sleeve 61, the door handle 52 rotates idly with respect to the ratchet shaft sleeve 61, but when the door handle 52 is rotated by 120 degrees, the ratchet ball 63 disengaged from the groove 61a of the ratchet shaft sleeve 61 is disposed in the groove 61a on the downstream side in the rotation direction from the original groove 61 a. Therefore, in order to prevent the ratchet ball 63 from coming off the groove 61a of the ratchet boss 61 from being disposed in the groove 61a on the downstream side in the rotational direction from the original groove 61a, the interval (120 degrees) between the grooves 61a of the ratchet boss 61 is larger than the rotatable range (90 degrees) of the door handle 52.

Further, a groove portion 54e having a circular cross section is formed on the tip end surface of the protruding portion 54a of the pull boss 54. A pull return spring 66 is disposed in the groove portion 54e of the pull boss 54. The handle return spring 66 is a torsion coil spring, and the handle return spring 66 is a spring for returning the door handle 52 that is idling to the original closed position by applying a rotational force toward the closed position to the door handle 52. One end of the pull-handle return spring 66 is fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the groove portion 54e of the pull-handle boss 54, and the other end thereof is fitted to the rotating lever 65 fitted to the rotating shaft 53.

A pull open position holding spring 68 is disposed between the lower surface of the rotary shaft bushing 51 and an outer peripheral projection 53b projecting from the outer peripheral portion of the rotary shaft 53. The handle open position holding spring 68 is a spring for holding the door handle 52 in the open position when the door 8 is in the open state.

In the present embodiment, the connection mechanism T that connects the door handle 52 and the rotary shaft 53 includes the rotary shaft bushing 51, the handle bushing 54, the ratchet mechanism 60 (the ratchet bushing 61, the three ratchet springs 62, and the three ratchet balls 63), the rotating lever 65, the handle return spring 66, and the handle open position holding spring 68.

(door open state)

A state in which the door handle 52 is in the open position will be described with reference to fig. 6 to 7.

When the door handle 52 is rotated in the leftward rotation direction toward the open position, as shown in fig. 7 (c), the rotation restricting portion 54d of the handle sleeve 54 rotates in the leftward rotation direction integrally with the door handle 52, and is disposed in the vicinity of the upper end portion of the stepped portion 51d of the rotary shaft sleeve 51 in the recess 51c formed in the bottom surface of the hole portion 51a of the rotary shaft sleeve 51. At this time, the left end of the rotation restricting portion 54d of the pull cup boss 54 abuts on the upper end of the step portion 51d of the rotary shaft boss 51, whereby the rotation restricting portion 54d of the pull cup boss 54 is restricted from rotating in the left rotational direction. Therefore, the rotation of the door handle 52 in the leftward rotating direction is restricted by the rotation restricting unit N.

On the other hand, as shown in fig. 7 (c), in the recess 51c of the rotary shaft sleeve 51, the protruding plate portion 65b of the rotating lever 65 is disposed at a position facing the step portion 51d of the rotary shaft sleeve 51. At this time, a gap of 90 degrees rotation is formed between the lower end of the protruding plate portion 65b of the rotating lever 65 and the lower end of the step portion 51d of the rotating shaft bushing 51, and the rotation of the rotation restricting portion 54d of the pull knob bushing 54 in the right rotation direction is not restricted. Therefore, the rotation of the door handle 52 in the rightward rotational direction is not restricted by the rotation restricting unit N.

In a state where the door handle 52 is at the open position, as shown in fig. 7 (b), the ratchet mechanism 60 is in a transmission state in which the rotation of the door handle 52 is transmitted to the rotary shaft 53. Specifically, the three ratchet balls 63 are each pressed radially inward by the ratchet spring 62 in a state of being disposed in the groove 61a of the ratchet boss 61.

That is, when the door handle 52 located at the open position is rotationally operated toward the closed position, the door handle 52 rotates from the open position toward the closed position. At this time, the door lock lever 53a of the rotation shaft 53 rotates in accordance with the rotation of the door handle 52.

In the state where the door handle 52 is located at the open position, the door handle 52 is held at the open position by the handle open position holding spring 68.

(door locking state)

A state in which the door handle 52 is rotated from the open position to the closed position and the door handle 52 is located at the closed position will be described with reference to fig. 8 to 9.

When the door handle 52 is rotated in the rightward rotation direction from the open position toward the closed position, as shown in fig. 9 (c), the rotation restricting portion 54d of the handle sleeve 54 rotates in the rightward rotation direction integrally with the door handle 52, and is disposed at a position facing the stepped portion 51d of the rotary shaft sleeve 51 in the recess 51c of the rotary shaft sleeve 51. At this time, the left end of the protruding plate portion 65b of the rotating lever 65 abuts against the lower end of the stepped portion 51d of the rotating shaft bushing 51, and the lower end of the rotation restricting portion 54d of the pull knob bushing 54 abuts against the right end of the protruding plate portion 65b of the rotating lever 65, whereby the rotation restricting portion 54d of the pull knob bushing 54 is restricted from rotating in the right rotational direction. Therefore, the rotation of the door handle 52 in the rightward rotational direction is restricted by the rotation restricting unit N.

On the other hand, as shown in fig. 9 (c), in the recess 51c of the rotary shaft sleeve 51, the protruding plate portion 65b of the rotating lever 65 is disposed at a position near the lower end portion of the stepped portion 51d of the rotary shaft sleeve 51. At this time, a gap of 90 degrees rotation is formed between the upper end of the rotation restricting portion 54d of the pull sleeve 54 and the upper end of the step portion 51d of the rotary shaft sleeve 51, and the rotation of the rotation restricting portion 54d of the pull sleeve 54 in the left rotation direction is not restricted. Therefore, the rotation of the door handle 52 in the leftward rotating direction is not restricted by the rotation restricting unit N.

In a state where the door handle 52 is located at the locking position, the door lock lever 53a located at the tip end of the rotating shaft 53 is inserted into the fitting hole 81 of the door latch unit 80. When the washing machine 1 is not operated, the door lock is released, the rotation of the door lock lever 53a inserted into the attachment hole 81 is not prevented by the lock pin 85, and the rotation of the rotation restricting portion 54d of the pull sleeve 54 in the leftward rotation direction is not restricted by the door latch unit 80. Therefore, the rotation of the door handle 52 in the leftward rotating direction is not restricted by the door latch unit 80.

In a state where the door handle 52 is located at the lock position, as shown in fig. 9 (b), the ratchet mechanism 60 is in a transmission state in which the rotation of the door handle 52 is transmitted to the rotary shaft 53. Specifically, the three ratchet balls 63 are each pressed radially inward by the ratchet spring 62 in a state of being disposed in the groove 61a of the ratchet boss 61.

That is, when the door handle 52 located at the lock position is turned toward the open position in a state where the door lock lever 53a is not prevented from being rotated by the door latch unit 80, the door handle 52 is turned from the lock position toward the open position. At this time, the door lock lever 53a of the rotation shaft 53 rotates in accordance with the rotation of the door handle 52.

In contrast, when the washing machine 1 is operated, the door is locked, the rotation of the door lock lever 53a inserted into the attachment hole 81 is prevented by the lock pin 85, and the rotation of the rotation restricting portion 54d of the pull sleeve 54 in the leftward rotation direction is restricted by the door latch unit 80. Therefore, the rotation of the door handle 52 in the leftward rotating direction is restricted by the door latch unit 80.

That is, when the door handle 52 located at the closed position is turned toward the open position in a state where the rotation of the door lock lever 53a is blocked by the door latch unit 80, as shown in fig. 9 (b), the ratchet mechanism 60 is in a transmission state of transmitting the rotation of the door handle 52 to the rotation shaft 53, but the rotation of the door lock lever 53a is blocked by the lock pin 85, and the door handle 52 is not turned from the closed position toward the open position.

(door prizing state)

A state in which the door handle 52 is pried open from the state of being located at the lock position and the door handle 52 is turned to the open position in the door lock state will be described with reference to fig. 10 to 11.

When the washing machine 1 is operated, the door is locked, and the rotation of the door handle 52 in the leftward rotation direction is restricted by the door latch unit 80. When an excessive force to pry open acts on the door handle 52 located at the closed position toward the open position in this state, the ratchet mechanism 60 switches from a transmission state in which the rotation of the door handle 52 is transmitted to the rotary shaft 53 to an idle state in which the rotation of the door handle 52 is not transmitted to the rotary shaft 53. Specifically, the ratchet mechanism 60 applies an excessive force to the door handle 52 toward the open position, and when the ratchet ball 63 disposed in the groove 61a of the ratchet boss 61 moves radially outward against the urging force of the ratchet spring 62 and disengages from the groove 61a of the ratchet boss 61, the state is switched to the idling state in which the rotation of the door handle 52 is not transmitted to the ratchet boss 61 via the ratchet spring 62 and the ratchet ball 63.

That is, when the door lock lever 53a is turned toward the open position of the door handle 52 located at the lock position in a state where the rotation is prevented by the door latch unit 80, the door handle 52 is turned from the lock position toward the open position, but the door handle 52 idles with respect to the rotation shaft 53, and the rotation shaft 53 does not rotate in accordance with the rotation of the door handle 52. Therefore, the door lock lever 53a inserted into the attachment hole 81 does not rotate, and therefore, an excessive pressing force does not act on the lock pin 85 from the door lock lever 53 a.

Then, when the door handle 52 is rotated in the leftward rotation direction toward the open position in the idling state, as shown in fig. 11 (c), the rotation restricting portion 54d of the handle bushing 54 rotates in the leftward rotation direction integrally with the door handle 52, and is disposed in the vicinity of the upper end portion of the stepped portion 51d of the rotary shaft bushing 51 in the recess 51c of the rotary shaft bushing 51. At this time, the left end of the rotation restricting portion 54d of the pull knob housing 54 abuts on the upper end of the stepped portion 51d of the rotation shaft housing 51, whereby the rotation of the rotation restricting portion 54d of the pull knob housing 54 in the leftward rotation direction is restricted. Therefore, the rotation of the door handle 52 in the leftward rotation direction is restricted by the rotation restricting means N, and the ratchet ball 63 disengaged from the groove 61a of the ratchet shaft sleeve 61 is prevented from being disposed in the groove 61a on the downstream side in the rotation direction from the original groove 61 a.

At this time, a gap of 90 degrees of rotation is formed between the right end of the rotation restricting portion 54d of the pull lever boss 54 and the right end of the protruding plate portion 65b of the rotating lever 65, and the rotation of the rotation restricting portion 54d of the pull lever boss 54 in the right rotational direction is not restricted. Therefore, the rotation of the door handle 52 in the rightward rotational direction is not restricted by the rotation restricting unit N. Therefore, when the door handle 52 is not operated any more after the door handle 52 is rotated in the left-hand direction in an idling state, the door handle 52 is returned to the original lock position by the handle return spring 66.

The washing machine 1 of the present embodiment includes: a door 8 provided in the casing 2 and opening and closing the clothes inlet 6 facing the opening 4a of the drum 4; a door latch unit 80 for prohibiting the opening operation of the door 8; a door handle 52 provided in the door 8 and rotated when the door 8 is opened and closed; a rotation shaft 53 that rotates integrally with a door lock lever 53a that can be prevented from rotating by the door latch unit 80; and a connecting mechanism T for connecting the door handle 52 to the rotary shaft 53, wherein the door handle 52 can rotate in an operable range from an open position for opening the door 8 to a closed position for closing the door 8, when the door handle 52 in the open position is rotationally operated toward the lock position, and in the case where the door handle 52 located at the lock position is rotationally operated toward the open position in a state where the door lock lever 53a is not prevented from rotating by the door latch unit 80, the connecting mechanism T rotates the rotating shaft 53 in correspondence with the rotation of the door handle 52, and, when the door handle 52 located at the lock position is turned toward the open position in a state where the door lock lever 53a is prevented from being rotated by the door latch unit 80, the link mechanism T does not rotate the rotating shaft 53 in correspondence with the rotation of the door handle 52, and resets the door handle 52 to the lock position when the operation is no longer performed.

Thus, in the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment, even when the door handle 52 located at the closed position is turned toward the open position in a state where the rotation of the door lock lever 53a is blocked by the door latch unit 80, the rotation shaft 53 is not rotated in accordance with the rotation of the door handle 52, and thus the door latch unit 80 can be prevented from being damaged. Further, when the door handle 52 in the closed position is no longer operated to be rotated toward the open position, the door handle 52 is automatically returned to the closed position, so that the operability of the door handle 52 is improved.

In the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment, the link mechanism T includes the handle return spring 66 as a return spring for applying a rotational force to the door handle 52 toward the closed position, and when the door handle 52 at the closed position is not rotated toward the open position in a state where the door lock lever 53a is prevented from rotating by the door latch unit 80, the door handle 52 is returned to the closed position by the handle return spring 66.

Thus, in the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment, when the door handle 52 located at the lock position is no longer turned toward the open position in a state where the rotation of the door lock lever 53a is blocked by the door latch unit 80, the door handle 52 can be easily automatically returned to the lock position by the handle return spring 66.

In the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment, the link mechanism T includes the ratchet mechanism 60 as rotation transmission switching means disposed between the door handle 52 and the rotary shaft 53, and when the door handle 52 located at the closed position is rotationally operated toward the open position in a state where the door lock lever 53a is prevented from rotating by the door latch means 80, the ratchet mechanism 60 is switched so that the door handle 52 is idly rotated with respect to the rotary shaft 53.

Thus, in the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment, when the door lock lever 53a is turned toward the open position of the door handle 52 located at the closed position while the rotation is prevented by the door latch unit 80, the door handle 52 is rotated idly with respect to the rotation shaft 53, and therefore, the rotation of the door handle 52 can be easily switched so as not to be transmitted to the rotation shaft 53.

In the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment, the link mechanism T has the rotation restricting means N that restricts the rotation of the door handle 52 so as not to exceed the operable range when the door handle 52 is rotationally operated from the open position toward the closed position and when the door handle 52 is rotationally operated from the closed position toward the open position.

Thus, in washing machine 1 of the present embodiment, door handle 52 can be prevented from being rotated beyond the operable range when door handle 52 is rotated from the open position to the closed position and when door handle 52 is rotated from the closed position to the open position.

In the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment, the door handle 52 is a long door handle made of resin, and when the door handle 52 located at the lock position is turned toward the open position in a state where the rotation of the door lock lever 53a is prevented by the door latch unit 80, the door handle 52 is broken before the door latch unit 80 is broken.

Thus, in the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment, when the door handle 52 located at the closed position is rotated toward the open position in a state where the rotation of the door lock lever 53a is blocked by the door latch unit 80, even when the door handle 52 is rotated beyond the operable range by an excessive force, the root portion 52A of the door handle 52 is broken before the door latch unit 80 is broken, so that the door latch unit 80 can be prevented from being broken. In addition, when the door handle 52 is damaged, the damaged door handle 52 may be replaced, as compared with the repair work in the case where the door latch unit 80 is damaged, and the repair work is easy.

While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the specific configurations of the respective portions are not limited to the above-described embodiments.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the connection mechanism T that connects the door handle 52 and the rotary shaft 53 includes the rotary shaft bushing 51, the handle bushing 54, the ratchet mechanism 60 (the ratchet bushing 61, the three ratchet springs 62, and the three ratchet balls 63), the rotating lever 65, the handle return spring 66, and the handle open position holding spring 68, but the configuration of the connection mechanism T is arbitrary.

The connection mechanism T may not have the ratchet mechanism 60 as a rotation transmission switching means for switching between a transmission state in which the rotation of the door handle 52 is transmitted to the rotary shaft 53 and an idle state in which the rotation of the door handle 52 is not transmitted to the rotary shaft 53. Even in the case where the connection mechanism T has the rotation transmission switching unit, the rotation transmission switching unit is not limited to the ratchet mechanism 60.

For example, in the handle device 50 of the above embodiment, if the ratchet mechanism 60 is not provided, the door handle 52 and the rotary shaft 53 are connected by the handle return spring 66. In this state, when the door handle 52 located at the lock position is turned toward the open position in a state where the rotation of the door lock lever 53a is prevented by the door latch unit 80, the door handle 52 is turned toward the open position idly with respect to the rotation shaft 53. At this time, the door handle 52 is rotated against the rotational force of the handle return spring 66, which is a torsion coil spring, toward the closed position, and therefore, when the door handle 52 is not rotated toward the open position any more thereafter, the door handle 52 is returned to the closed position. Even in this case, the door handle 52 is restricted by the rotation restricting unit N to rotate without exceeding the operable range, so the handle return spring 66 is prevented from being damaged.

Further, even in the case where the link mechanism T has the ratchet mechanism 60 as the rotation transmission switching unit, the structure of the ratchet mechanism 60 is arbitrary. That is, in the ratchet mechanism 60 of the above embodiment, the three grooves 61a of the ratchet bush 61, the ratchet springs 62, and the ratchet balls 63 are provided, but the number of the grooves 61a of the ratchet bush 61, the ratchet springs 62, and the ratchet balls 63 may be one, two, or four or more.

The connection mechanism T may not have a rotation transmission switching unit. In the present invention, the fact that the rotation transmission switching means is disposed between the door handle 52 and the rotating shaft 53 means that the rotation transmission switching means is connected to the door handle 52 and the rotating shaft 53 via another member.

In the above embodiment, the rotation restricting unit N that restricts the door handle 52 from rotating beyond the operable range includes the recessed portion 51c (step portion 51d) of the rotation shaft bushing 51, the rotation restricting portion 54d of the handle bushing 54, and the protruding plate portion 65b of the rotation lever 65, but the configuration of the rotation restricting unit N is arbitrary.

In the above embodiment, when the door handle 52 located at the closed position is not rotated any more toward the open position in a state where the rotation of the door lock lever 53a is blocked by the door latch unit 80, the door handle 52 is returned to the closed position by the handle return spring 66 which is a torsion coil spring, but the structure for returning the door handle 52 to the closed position is arbitrary.

In the above embodiment, the operating member is the door handle 52 having the elongated grip portion 52b, but the shape of the operating member is arbitrary. For example, as shown in fig. 12, an operation member 153 having a symmetrical shape may be provided.

In the above embodiment, the door latch unit 80 has the lock pin 85 provided to protrude and retreat with respect to the position where the rotation of the door lock lever 53a can be prevented, but the structure of the door latch unit 80 is arbitrary.

In the above embodiment, the door handle 52 is rotationally operated within the operable range of 90 degrees between the lock position inclined 45 degrees to the horizontal obliquely downward right direction and the open position inclined 45 degrees to the horizontal obliquely upward right direction, but is not limited thereto. The lock position of the door handle 52 may be a position other than the lock position inclined by 45 degrees to the right obliquely downward direction with respect to the horizontal. The open position of the door handle 52 may be a position other than the open position inclined 45 degrees to the right obliquely upward direction with respect to the horizontal. The operable range of the door pull 52 may be a range other than 90 degrees.

In the above embodiment, the door handle 52 as the operating member is designed such that the base portion 52A of the grip portion 52b is thinner and weakest in strength. When the door handle 52 is rotated beyond the operable range by an excessive force, the root portion 52A of the door handle 52 is damaged before the door latch unit is damaged, but the portion where the door handle 52 is damaged is not limited to the root portion 52A of the handle portion 52 b. Further, the thickness of the root portion 52A is reduced in order to weaken the strength of the root portion 52A of the grip portion 52b of the door handle 52, but the root portion 52A may be weakened by forming a notch in the root portion 52A of the grip portion 52 b.

In the above embodiment, the washing machine 1 capable of performing the washing process, the rinsing process, and the dehydrating process has been described, but the present invention can be applied to a washing machine capable of performing at least one of the washing process, the rinsing process, and the dehydrating process, and a washing and drying machine capable of performing at least one of the washing process, the rinsing process, and the dehydrating process, and capable of performing the drying process.

Claims

A washing machine is characterized by comprising:

a door provided in the cabinet and opening and closing a clothes inlet opposite to the opening of the drum;

a door latch unit for prohibiting an opening motion of the door;

an operation member provided to the door and rotated when the door is opened and closed;

a rotation shaft that rotates integrally with a door lock lever that can be prevented from rotating by the door latch unit; and

a connecting mechanism connecting the operating member with the rotating shaft,

the operating member is rotatable within an operable range from an open position for opening the door to a closed position for closing the door,

the connecting mechanism rotates the rotating shaft in correspondence with rotation of the operating member when the operating member located at the open position is rotationally operated toward the closed position and when the operating member located at the closed position is rotationally operated toward the open position in a state where the door lock lever is not prevented from rotating by the door latch unit,

when the operation member located at the lock position is rotationally operated toward the open position in a state where the door lock lever is prevented from being rotated by the door latch unit, the connection mechanism returns the operation member to the lock position without rotating the rotation shaft in accordance with the rotation of the operation member.
The washing machine as claimed in claim 1,

the coupling mechanism has a return spring for applying a rotational force toward the lock position to the operating member,

when the operating member located at the lock position is no longer rotationally operated toward the open position in a state where the door lock lever is prevented from rotating by the door latch unit, the operating member is returned to the lock position by the return spring.
A washing machine according to claim 1 or 2,

the connection mechanism has a rotation transmission switching unit disposed between the operation member and the rotation shaft,

the rotation transmission switching unit switches the operation member to idle rotation with respect to the rotation shaft when the operation member located at the lock position is rotationally operated toward the open position in a state where the door lock lever is prevented from rotating by the door latch unit.
A washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the coupling mechanism is provided with a rotation restricting unit,

the rotation restricting unit restricts, in a case where the operation member is rotationally operated from the open position toward the lock position and in a case where the operation member is rotationally operated from the lock position toward the open position, the operation member from rotating without exceeding an operable range.
A washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

the operation member is an elongated door handle formed of resin, and is formed such that: in a case where the operating member located at the lock position is rotationally operated toward the open position in a state where the door lock lever is prevented from being rotated by the door latch unit, the operating member is damaged before the door latch unit is damaged.