Patent Application
20190191498
The present disclosure generally relates to electronic door opening mechanisms and systems.
According to one aspect, the disclosure provides a door opening system for an appliance. The appliance generally includes a housing, a door providing access to the housing, a latch system for retaining the door in a closed position and releasing the door to an open position, and an interlock switch system. The door opening system comprises a resilient member for urging the door from the closed position to the open position, wherein the resilient member is free from contact with the latch system and the interlock switch system. The door opening system also includes a gear member configured to engage with the resilient member to cause the resilient member to urge the door from the closed position to the open position, and a motor configured to drive the gear member. The door opening system further comprises a door opening command interface for receiving a door open command, and control circuitry configured to activate the motor upon receipt of a door open command from the door opening command interface.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a microwave oven having a door opening mechanism. The microwave oven comprises a housing, a door providing access to the housing, a latch system for retaining the door in a closed position with respect to the housing and releasing the door to an open position with respect to the housing, a microwave source, and an interlock switch system for disabling the microwave source when the door is in the open position. The microwave oven further comprises a door opening mechanism including a resilient member for urging the door from the closed position to the open position, wherein the resilient member is free from contact with the latch system and the interlock switch system. The door opening mechanism further comprises a gear member configured to engage with the resilient member to cause the resilient member to urge the door from the closed position to the open position. The microwave oven includes a door opening command interface for receiving a door open command signal, and control circuitry configured to electronically activate the gear member upon receipt of a door open command signal.
In yet another aspect, the disclosure provides a system for opening a door of an appliance wherein the system comprises a door opening command interface, a resilient member for urging the door from a closed position to an open position, and control circuitry configured to activate the system after receiving a door opening command signal from the door opening command interface. The system also comprises a gear member configured to engage with the resilient member to cause the resilient member to urge the door from the closed position to the open position, and a motor configured to drive the gear member. Further, the resilient member is free from contact with a door latch system and an interlock switch system of the appliance.
These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present disclosure will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
Further advantages and features according to the present disclosure will become clear from the following detailed description provided as a non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings in which:
The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles described herein.
The present disclosure provides an electronic door opening system for an appliance, such as door opening system 30 (
As described in more detail below, in some embodiments, a door opening system 30 (
The present illustrated embodiments reside primarily in combinations of system and apparatus components related to an electronic door opening mechanism for an appliance. Accordingly, aspects of the present disclosure have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Further, like numerals in the description and drawings represent like elements.
For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in
The terms “including,” “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises a . . . ” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.
As shown in the illustrated embodiment, microwave oven 10 may include a control panel interface 14, for controlling various functions of microwave oven 10. Control panel interface 14 may include a display 16, such as an LED numeric display, having a plurality of microwave oven control buttons 18, and a door opening command interface 20. Microwave control buttons 18 and door opening command interface 20 may be provided as any type of touch switch, touch sensor, such as a capacitive sensor, or any other type of touch switch components contemplated by a skilled artisan. As described in more detail below, microwave control buttons 18 and door opening command interface 20 may communicate with control circuitry 90 (
According to aspects described herein, microwave oven 10 may be provided with provisions to mechanically open door 12 via an electronic signal. More particularly, when a user activates a door open command via door opening command interface 20, control circuitry 90 of microwave oven 10 may activate a mechanical door opening system, such as door opening system 30 as depicted in
Referring to
Resilient member 32 may be configured to engage with a gear member 50 such that when gear member 50 is in motion, in an engagement direction 60, gear member 50 may engage with engagement projection 40 to push resilient member 32 along lip 47 and toward door 12. In some cases, gear member 50 may include a rotational gear having a plurality of gear teeth 52 that engage with engagement projection 40. In at least one case, gear member 50 includes four gear teeth 52, evenly spaced around a substantially circular gear member 50.
Gear member 50 may be connected to motor 56 via a central motor connection 54. Accordingly, motor 56 may be activated to drive gear member 50 in either engagement direction 60 or reset direction 62 (
Microwave oven 10 may further include a system for interrupting the production of microwave energy or heating when door 12 is opened. In some cases, an interlock switch 74 may be provided to notify control circuitry 90 (
In at least one embodiment, microwave oven 10 includes a pair of interlock switch systems 70, i.e., one associated with each of a pair of door latches 82 in latch system 80. Specifically, interlock switch systems 70, may be situated at both an upper portion of rear side 28 and a bottom portion of rear side 28 of front plate 24. As would be contemplated by a skilled artisan, components of an interlock switch system 70 may be disposed on or held by an interlock switch system holder 72 and may include an interlock switch 74 and a cam plate 76. Cam plate 76 may be configured to interact with latch system 80, and specifically, to open interlock switch 74 when door 12 is in an open position. Specifically, when door 12 is in a closed position, as in
When door 12 is urged into an open position by resilient member 32, control circuitry 90 may receive a signal from interlock switch 74, as described in more detail below. In addition, control circuitry 90 may be configured to cause control gear stop switch 58 to stop activation of motor 56. In some cases control gear stop switch 58 may also activate motor 56 to move gear member 50 in reset direction 62, as shown in
As described above, in at least some embodiments, microwave oven 10 may include control circuitry 90 coupled to and configured to communicate with and control various components and systems of microwave oven 10. For example,
Controller 92 may be configured as would be understood in the art, and at the very least includes a processor 94 and memory 96. Processor 94 may be configured to run various control algorithms and routines present in memory 96, such as door open routine 100 and other microwave heating routines. It should also be understood and appreciated that controller 92 may include various other analog or digital circuitries contemplated by a skilled artisan, and the depiction in
Controller 92 may be coupled to a variety of sensors, switches, and systems within microwave oven 10. In at least one embodiment, microwave oven 10 includes a variety of components associated with a door opening system 30 that may communicate with controller 92, as described above. For example, microwave oven 10 may include one or more interlock switch systems 70, a door opening command interface 20, a control gear stop switch 58, and a door opening mechanism motor 56. Controller 92 may also communicate with a microwave heating control panel interface 14 to control a microwave heating source 26. As noted, however,
Controller 92 may be configured to receive inputs from the various sensors and systems to make decisions and control aspects or various components of microwave oven 10. In one aspect, controller 92 may receive door opening command from door opening command interface 20. Such inputs may inform various control routines, such as door open routine 100, as described in more detail below. The various inputs may also facilitate the control of components, such as the activation of door opening mechanism motor 56 and the suspension of microwave heating by microwave heating source 26.
Referring to
It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described disclosure and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.
For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.
It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the disclosure as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes, and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.
It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present disclosure. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.
It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of the present disclosure, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.
