EP3631301B1 - Electromechanical closing device for appliance doors - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an electromechanical locking device for device doors, in particular for doors of hot devices, which has a lock with different locking levels, in particular with at least two locking levels, preferably with at least three locking levels, and an actuating unit for transferring the lock to at least some of the different locking levels, with the actuating unit and the lock are designed spatially separated as separate structural units and the actuating unit is connected to the lock via a connecting element, and the lock is set up to receive, secure and release a locking element, in particular on the door side. The present invention also relates to a device with a door and a closure element, in particular on the door side.

There are a large number of appliance doors, for example appliance doors for hot appliances, refrigerators, refrigerated cabinets, etc., in which the opening process of the door and possibly also the closing process of the door takes place in two or more stages. During the opening process, the lock and thus the locking element are released into an intermediate latching step from a closing step of the lock, so that the door is not opened directly, but a door gap or a gap opening of the door is already achieved between the door and a door seal or the device .

Background for this is z. B. in cooking or baking ovens is the requirement that heated air and water vapor from the interior of the oven should initially escape through the door gap or the gap opening. This serves in particular as a safety precaution for the operating personnel, since otherwise there is a risk, especially if the door is opened directly or immediately, that the operating personnel will come into contact with the heated air or with correspondingly hot steam and be injured. The same also applies to devices that are used in sales areas. Here, too, the safety of the people in the sales area is to be ensured by the fact that the opening process includes an intermediate stage of the appliance door in which the door can be opened with a gap, but the door cannot be opened completely.

Accordingly, in the intermediate latching stage of the lock, as one of the locking stages of the lock, such an arrangement of a locking element is brought about that a gap between device and door, in particular between a device-side seal and the door or between the device and a door-side seal, is released . Through this opening or door gap, the air can escape from the interior of the device in a lateral direction with respect to the operating personnel arranged frontally in front of the device. Only through a further closure stage, in particular the door can then be completely unlocked and opened by opening the lock.

Conversely, during the closing process of the appliance door, provision can be made for the lock, with a closure element already partially arranged or received therein, to initially be transferred to an intermediate latching step in which, analogous to the opening process, a door or opening gap remains between the door and the appliance. In a further step or in a further locking stage, the lock is transferred to a locking stage in which the gap between the door and the device is closed, and in particular the door is sealed with a seal and the locking element is secured or locked.

From the DE 10 2009 016 812 A1 a door lock for a thermal cooking and / or baking device is known. This door lock has a door handle rotatably mounted in a lockable door, a locking pin which has at least one locking link with a grid recess, and a locking bracket designed to correspond to the locking pin.

The DE 100 27 774 A1 relates to a device for closing the door of an oven for the heat treatment of food with at least two door locking elements, namely a locking piston and at least one locking box, the locking piston on the door to be closed and the locking box on the frame or housing of the oven or vice versa, the locking piston on the frame or housing of the furnace and the lock box is arranged on the door. The locking piston can be latched and / or locked on the lock box to fix the door. At least one of the two door locking elements can be movably attached to the frame or housing of the oven or to the door in such a way that, from a first position in which the door is opened at least a small gap, can be brought into a second position in which the door is essentially completely closed.

The DE 689 02 299 T2 discloses a lock consisting of a hook which is slidably mounted in a furnace body between a locking position in which no lateral movement of the hook is possible and a catching position in which the hook can move laterally against the holding force of a spring for the passage of the door bolt is. A lever holds the hook in the unlocked position and must be operated to unlock and open the door.

In the case of other electromechanical locking devices, the lock and the actuating unit for transferring the lock between the different locking stages are designed in one piece or as a common structural unit for reasons of cost. Such a closure device is, for example, from DE 10 2006 019 515 A1 known. However, this configuration has proven to be disadvantageous.

On the one hand, the known design is disadvantageous because in the area of the door frame of the device and its door, as a rule, only a relatively small installation space is available for the arrangement of the locking device. This applies in particular to hot devices in which heating and / or ventilation devices are also provided in the side area of the door frame of the device door in which the locking device is to be arranged. A known locking device can therefore only be arranged with the acceptance of an obstruction or impairment of other device components. Only purely mechanical locking devices are known as a remedy. Although these require a correspondingly small installation space, they cannot meet the safety standards that are sometimes prescribed that can be achieved with an electromechanical locking device.

On the other hand, the known design of the electromechanical locking devices is also disadvantageous because the electronic and electrical components comprised by the actuating unit are to a certain extent temperature-sensitive, at least with regard to long-term or permanent operation of the devices. This applies not only, but preferably, to devices such as, for example, hot devices which, when in operation, reach a temperature of several 100 ° C. inside the device, such as in the baking space or in the cooking space. For such devices, the known design of electromechanical locking devices means that the electrical or electronic components of the actuating unit are also arranged in the immediate vicinity of the door frame of the device door, which means that they are subject to not inconsiderable temperature fluctuations despite a corresponding insulation of the interior of the device, which is has a negative effect on the wear resistance of the said components in continuous operation.

The object of the present invention is to propose an electromechanical locking device for appliance doors that overcomes the disadvantages in the prior art, in particular to propose an electromechanical locking device that is structurally adapted to the conditions of the device and to the operation of the device.

In the case of a locking device of the type mentioned at the outset, this object is achieved in that the connecting element is arranged in a freewheel device at one end, in particular at the end connected to the lock.

On the one hand, this enables the installation space of the device in which the lock is to be arranged to be optimally used, since only the mechanical components of the lock are left in this area or installation space must be included. It should be noted in particular that the area in which the lock must be arranged is largely determined by the type of appliance door and its locking or security concept. For example, in the case of a three-point safety device consisting of two door hinges and a door lock, the location of the lock can be predetermined by the positions of the hinges.

In addition, the spatial separation of the actuating unit and lock, which are designed as separate structural units, enables the actuating unit and its electrical or electronic components to be arranged in areas of the device that are exposed to influences that are detrimental to the wear resistance of the electronic components during operation of the device, such as For example, they are better protected or shielded from sudden changes in temperature.

The connecting element, which enables the spatial separation according to the invention between the separate structural unit of the lock and the separate structural unit of the actuating unit and at the same time ensures the connection between the actuating unit and the lock, is preferably a mechanical connecting element. This means that the actuating unit, based on corresponding regulating and control devices and preferably using at least one drive unit, generates movements, these movements being transmitted to the connecting element through a connection between the actuating unit and the connecting element and equally through a connection between the Connecting element and the lock are transferred to the lock, in particular to a lock latch.

According to the invention it is provided that the connecting element is arranged in a freewheel device at one end, in particular at the end which is connected to the lock, preferably to the latch of the lock. The arrangement of one end of the connecting element in a freewheel device offers the basic possibility of not necessarily or not always transferring movements of the lock, preferably movements of the latch of the lock, to the actuating unit via the connecting element. This means that this creates the possibility of reaching certain locking levels of the lock and possibly also enabling the lock to be transferred between different locking levels without the actuating unit having to actively generate a corresponding movement or at least passively follow it. This is always the case when, when the lock or the latch of the lock is moved, the end of the connecting element arranged in the freewheel device is not moved beyond the limits or stops of the freewheel device.

Last but not least, this leads to an at least partially manual opening and closing of the door or appliance door being made possible without the actuating unit having to perform a movement. This reduces wear and tear and the need for maintenance on the actuating unit.

According to a preferred embodiment it is provided that the freewheel device is connected to a latch of the lock. As a result, it can be achieved that not all movements of the latch of the lock or the lock latch are inevitably transmitted or forwarded to the actuating unit via the connecting element. This advantageously ensures that the lock and / or the latch of the lock can also adopt locking steps and change them if necessary without the need for actuation or movement on the part of the actuating unit.

It can particularly preferably be provided that the freewheel device is dimensioned in such a way that two locking stages of the lock can be taken up without moving the connecting element. However, the fact that, according to this embodiment and the corresponding dimensioning of the freewheel device, two locking stages of the lock or the latch of the lock can be taken without moving the connecting element does not mean, conversely, that these locking stages cannot also be reached by moving the connecting element, which in turn go back to a movement initiated and executed by the actuating unit.

Rather, it can be provided that the freewheel or freewheel device and the actuating movements of the actuating unit are dimensioned and coordinated with one another in such a way that the closure stages, which can be implemented or taken without moving the connecting element due to the freewheel device and its dimensions, also via a corresponding movement of the connecting element can be produced or implemented. Consequently, it can advantageously be provided that the freewheeling device of the freewheeling device is shorter than the maximum distance or the maximum distance of the setting positions generated or can be generated by the setting unit.

It can particularly preferably be provided that the closure steps, which can at least also be taken without moving the connecting element, are at least an intermediate latching step and an opening step. As already indicated in the introduction, the intermediate locking step is that locking step in which the locking element is already at least partially removed from the lock or into the Lock was added, but the position of the locking element in the lock is designed such that a door gap or opening gap still remains between the door of the device and the device or the door frame of the device. The opening stage of the lock can be the position of the lock or the latch of the lock in which the latch is opened to the extent that the closure element can just enter the lock as well as just step out of the lock. This means that the opening stage is not necessarily or not exclusively associated with the opening process of the door, but that the opening stage must be taken at least once when the appliance door is closed, namely at the moment when the closure element overcomes the lock latch. This also means that the opening stage of the lock describes a state of the lock in which the locking element can overcome the latch of the lock both into and out of the lock.

It can thus be achieved that the appliance door is moved manually and without any action on the part of the actuating unit from a fully open state to a partially open state in which a door gap remains between the appliance door and the appliance.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the locking device according to the invention, it can also be provided that the lock has a movable, in particular linearly movable, latch for receiving, securing and releasing the locking element. In this way, an overall simpler and more compact design can be achieved for the lock and for the latch than is achieved with known rotary latches.

Another advantage that can be realized in particular, but by no means exclusively, in connection with a linearly movable latch of the lock leaves, consists in a further embodiment of the closure device according to the invention.

This provides that the latch can be moved parallel to a direction of movement of the connecting element. This ensures that the movement of the actuating unit can be transmitted to the connecting element and in turn to the lock and the latch of the lock in a particularly simple and direct manner. In particular, no means are required to translate, for example, a linear movement of the actuating unit into a rotary movement of the lock.

Another advantage is that a movement in the same direction or a parallel direction of movement between the connecting element and the latch of the lock with the connecting element enables relatively large distances to be achieved between the actuating units and locks, which are designed as separate structural units, since in the case of sufficiently rigid materials for the realization of the connecting element, the forces generated by the movement of the actuating unit, i.e. in particular tensile and compressive forces, are effectively transmitted via the connecting element to the lock or the latch and there also as corresponding tensile or compressive forces the movement of the lock, in particular the change in the locking stage of the Lock can cause.

It can equally advantageously be provided that the actuating unit, in particular the movable components of the actuating unit, can be moved parallel to a direction of movement of the connecting element. This also achieves the advantages mentioned above.

Another, particularly preferred embodiment of the locking device provides that the latch of the lock is pretensioned by an elastic element in the direction of an intermediate latching step of the lock. Thereby various advantages are achieved. On the one hand, it is made possible that without a force acting on the latch, it is positioned or remains positioned in such a way that the lock assumes the intermediate latching step. In addition, the elastic element also enables the latch to be deflected out of the intermediate latching stage of the lock through simultaneous elastic deformation of the elastic element, and in particular into an opening stage, both by exerting a force on the latch by the locking element and by exerting a force on the latch by the connecting element of the castle is transferred. It can be provided that the elastic element interacts with the latch and the remaining components of the lock in such a way that further movement of the latch with elastic deformation of the elastic element beyond the opening step of the lock is prevented. A stop can be provided for this purpose, for example. It can also be provided that the elastic element experiences a maximum possible compression in this state.

Particularly preferably it can also be provided that the elastic element is designed so that it can be transferred together with the latch from an intermediate latching stage of the lock to a closing stage of the lock without changing a tension state. This makes it possible that the elastic element has to undergo or carry out less and less elastic deformations overall, and accordingly less wear of the elastic element occurs. For example, such a configuration of the elastic element can be realized in that the elastic end is arranged and fastened on the one hand to the movable latch and on the other hand, possibly provided with a corresponding preload, comes to rest against a stop that is movable on one side and that, for example, on a with the trap is arranged together movable guide element for guiding the elastic element.

In a further, particularly preferred embodiment of the locking device, it can further be provided that the connecting element can be transferred into a locking position by the actuating unit, the lock being transferred from an intermediate detent level to a locking level.

The closure element is preferably drawn into the lock. The transfer of the lock and the latch of the lock into the locking stage can result from an actuation of the actuating unit and a movement of the actuating unit generated therefrom, which is suitable for moving the connecting element beyond the freewheel of the freewheel device, so that the one arranged in the freewheel device The end of the connecting element comes to rest against a corresponding stop of the freewheel device and, after the stop position has been established, is able to transmit a compressive or tensile force to the freewheel device and the associated latch of the lock. As a result, the latch can be transferred from an intermediate latching stage to a closing stage.

This movement or this transfer of the latch to reach the locking step, starting from the intermediate step and the resulting pulling of the locking element into the lock, results in the appliance door being subjected to a corresponding tensile force, which ensures that the appliance door is completely closed and in particular is pressed or pulled against a door seal with a corresponding force or pressure.

The pulling in of the locking element into the lock when the lock is transferred into the locking step can be achieved, for example, by means of a correspondingly geometrical design of the latch. In the event that the locking element has a cylindrical locking bolt, it can be provided, for example, that the lock latch has a ramp shape facing away from the appliance door on the rear side, so that at a corresponding movement of the latch, the ramp shape of the same leads to the fact that the locking element is drawn into the lock via the locking bolt.

The transfer of the lock to the locking step can particularly preferably take place automatically. Accordingly, in an advantageous development, the locking device can be set up for the automatic transfer of the lock from the intermediate latching stage to the locking stage. This means that the transfer takes place without the active intervention of an operator. An initiation of the process for transferring the lock to the locking stage should not be included. Rather, an automatic transfer should be assumed if the locking device itself or in coordination with other devices of the device determines or identifies that the transfer into the locked position is possible and intended. This can include, for example, the determination that the locking element is already partially in the lock and the lock is in or approximately in the intermediate locking step. The automatic transfer can also include the query or confirmation of a user or operator input for closing the appliance door. Other status information about the device obtained from sensor devices of the device can also be taken into account when initiating the automatic transfer of the lock from the intermediate latching stage to the locking stage.

Furthermore, it can advantageously be provided that, analogously to the embodiment described above, the locking device is set up for the automatic transfer of the lock from the locking step into the intermediate latching step. Here, in addition to the automatic closing of the appliance door, i.e. when the lock is transferred from the intermediate latching stage to the locking stage, it can be provided that the initiation of the transfer of the lock from the locking stage to the intermediate latching stage is not or only can be triggered by an operator or user in an emergency. The objects already described above can be used for the automatic transfer of the lock.

For example, the position of the lock or the latch and the position of the locking element can be determined and processed by means of appropriate measuring and control devices. The position of the actuating unit can also be recorded and processed by measuring and control devices in order to implement the automatic actuation of the lock. In the following part of the description of the present invention, at least one exemplary embodiment of such measuring and regulating devices will be discussed in greater detail. This can be the switching elements arranged in the lock and / or in the actuating unit. But other device parts and device components can also influence the automatic system for transferring the lock from the locking step to the intermediate locking step. For example, the automatic system can be influenced and / or controlled by electronic components of the device. An automatic opening of the device door via an automatic transfer of the lock from the locking step to the intermediate locking step has the advantage, for example, that a manual opening of the device, apart from an emergency stop function, can only be initiated and then carried out or completed if in the device or the There are no more dangerous conditions in the room locked by the door. For example, when cleaning the device in which aggressive cleaning substances are used, the device door can be prevented from being opened before the cleaning or the cleaning program is completed. To identify when an automatic opening of the door may or can take place through an automatic transfer of the lock from the locking stage to the intermediate latching stage, further sensors of the device can be taken into account. In addition, control electronics of the device influence the automatic opening of the lock, i.e. enable or prevent it.

According to a further, particularly preferred embodiment of the locking device, it can be provided that the connecting element can be transferred into an open position by the actuating unit, the lock being transferred from an intermediate latching step into an opening step.

It can particularly preferably be provided that the closure element emerges from the lock. The transfer of the lock from the intermediate latching stage to the opening stage can be accomplished, for example, by a movement generated electromechanically by the actuating unit, which is transmitted via the connecting element to the lock, in particular to the latch of the lock. The movement transmitted by the connecting element can be designed in such a way that the connecting element with its end arranged in a freewheel device initially crosses the freewheel and comes to rest against a stop of the freewheel device and can then exert a tensile or compressive force on the freewheel device, which is transferred to the latch via the corresponding connection of the freewheel device with the latch of the lock and is suitable, for example, to push or pull the latch from the intermediate latching stage into an opening stage against a bias of an elastic element.

The loosening or stepping out of the connecting element from the lock is realized by a sufficiently large movement of the latch, which is suitable for releasing the locking element. The movement of the closure element out of the lock can be provided by fundamentally different mechanisms. On the one hand, corresponding ejection means can be provided. On the other hand you can too other components of the device or the device door, such as a door seal, apply the appropriate forces in order to move the locking element out of the lock in the event that the locking element is released by the lock latch.

As already indicated with reference to the preceding two embodiments, the freewheel device can be dimensioned such that the freewheel device comprises two stops, on which, depending on the direction of movement, an end of the connecting element arranged in the freewheel device comes to rest when the freewheel is exceeded. It can particularly preferably be provided that the end of the connecting element arranged in the freewheel device comes to rest against opposing stops of the freewheel device at least in the closed position and at least in the open position of the lock. In this case, the contact between the freewheel device or the stop of the freewheel device and the connecting element is advantageously achieved before the locking position and the opening position of the lock or the latch of the lock are reached. Rather, the freewheel device can be designed in such a way that the establishment of a contact between the connecting element and a stop of the freewheel device provides the basis for the freewheel device and thus the latch of the lock connected to the freewheel device to move via a movement of the connecting element and into another locking stage, in particular in the closing stage or opening stage, can be transferred.

A further, particularly advantageous embodiment provides that the lock has a switching element, in particular a microswitch, with which the position of the locking element in the lock is detected. The switching element can not only be set up to detect the position of the locking element in the lock, but also the presence of the locking element in the lock. For example, it can be provided be that a first switching state of the switching element depicts the absence of a locking element in the lock and a second switching state depicts the presence of a locking element in the lock. In addition, further switching states of the switching element can be provided, which are assigned to different positions of the locking element in the lock.

This ensures that the respective position of the locking element in the lock and thus also the locking steps of the lock can be reliably identified and, based thereon or based on this, appropriate control signals can be sent or transmitted safely and reliably, in no way exclusively, but also to the actuating unit. For example, it can be provided that when the locking element in the lock is identified by the switching element and the position of the locking element in the lock is determined accordingly, which suggest that the latch of the lock is in an intermediate locking step or approximately in an intermediate locking step, the switching element, if necessary After or together with a user interaction, the actuating unit initiates or releases the transfer of the latch of the lock in order to bring the lock into the locking stage. Conversely, provision can be made, for example, that a user interaction for closing the appliance door does not trigger any further consequences, possibly except for the output of an error message, if the switching element arranged in the lock does not detect the presence or the absence of the closure element in the lock.

The switching element of the lock can accordingly be used in the automatic transfer between locking stages of the lock, in that the switching element detects or determines the state of the lock and possibly the locking element.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the closure device in this regard also provides that the switching element is connected to a switching lever which is arranged such that it is moved or can be moved by the closure element. The switching lever can be designed in such a way that one end is rotatably mounted and, in particular, is connected to the switching element and a second movable end is provided which can come into contact with the locking element and experiences a corresponding movement when the locking element moves in the lock, which is passed on to the switching element via the rotatable end of the switching lever and its connection with the switching element.

According to a further, particularly advantageous embodiment of the closure device, it can further be provided that the actuating unit comprises a drive unit, in particular a motor and a gearbox for moving the connecting element. It can also be provided that the actuating unit and its drive unit do not act directly or directly on the connecting element in order to generate a movement on the part of the connecting element, but that the actuating unit comprises an actuator element, for example a linear actuator, on which the drive unit acts and which in turn is connected to the connecting element and transmits the movement of the linear actuator to the connecting element.

The movement of the actuator element moved by the drive unit parallel to the direction of movement of the connecting element is particularly preferred.

In addition, it can particularly advantageously be provided that the actuating unit comprises at least two switching elements, in particular at least two microswitches, for controlling the actuating unit. The switching elements allow to detect an ACTUAL state of the actuating unit, for example the ACTUAL state of the drive unit or the ACTUAL state of an actuator element. This enables mechanical control of the actuating unit. As an alternative to the switching elements, an electronic control of the actuating unit could also be provided, which detects and controls the control of the actuating unit on the basis of voltage and current curves.

The switching elements of the actuating unit can also be used in the automatic transfer (s) between the locking stage and the intermediate latching stage of the lock in order to determine and process the state of the actuating unit, in particular the position or position of the actuating unit.

The object mentioned at the beginning is achieved in a device, in particular a hot device with a door and a locking element, in particular on the door side, in that the device has an electromechanical locking device according to one of the configurations described above. With the device according to the invention, the advantages and further developments achieved with the locking devices described above are equally realized, which is why these explanations, effects and advantages will not be discussed again in detail at this point.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the device, however, provides that the lock is arranged halfway up a door opening and the actuating unit is arranged in a lower area of the door opening or below the door opening of the device.

As a result, the appliance door is secured in a particularly advantageous manner, for example three-point securing via two door hinges and the door lock, while at the same time taking up the installation space taking and possibly temperature-sensitive actuating unit can be arranged in an area of the device, namely in a lower area of the door opening or even below the door opening area.

With the use of the connecting element of the electromechanical locking device according to the invention, it can be achieved that in an area of the door opening which is particularly advantageous for producing or providing the door security, such as an area halfway up the door opening, only a minimum amount of installation space in Is claimed. In addition, components of a closure device that are sensitive to the conditions and properties inside the device during operation are arranged as separate structural units in areas of the device in which there is good to optimal shielding against the negative conditions and properties, such as for example an area of the device below the door opening or in the lower area of the door opening.

In a further, particularly preferred embodiment of the device, it can also be provided that the connecting element extends from a lower area of a door opening to a central area of a door opening or to an area of the door opening at half height. This also means that the length of the connecting element and thus also the spatial separation of the separate structural unit of the actuating unit and the lock generally correspond to approximately half the height of the door opening. Accordingly, with a door height of about 60 cm, it can be provided that the connecting element is about 30 cm long and the separate structural unit of the lock is about 30 cm away from the separate structural unit of the actuating unit. At this point, however, it should be mentioned that, depending on the design of the appliance door, for example in the case of a circular design of the appliance door, other distances are also quite different between the actuating unit and the lock and correspondingly different lengths of the connecting element with respect to the door height or the door diameter can be provided, which, however, are at the same time sufficiently equal to realize the inventive spacing of the separate structural units.

Fig. 1

eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Verschlusseinrichtung nebst eines Verschlusselements;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung eines Schlosses gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung in einer ersten Verschlussstufe;

Fig. 3

eine schematische Darstellung eines Schlosses gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung in einer zweiten Verschlussstufe;

Fig. 4

eine schematische Darstellung eines Schlosses gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung in einer dritten Verschlussstufe;

Fig. 5

eine schematische Darstellung eines Schlosses gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung in einer vierten Verschlussstufe;

Fig. 6

eine schematische Darstellung eines Schlosses gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung in einer fünften Verschlussstufe;

Fig. 7

eine schematische Darstellung eines Schlosses gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung in einer sechsten Verschlussstufe;

Fig. 8

eine schematische Darstellung eines Schlosses gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung in einer ersten Verschlussstufe;

Fig. 9

eine schematische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Stelleinheit gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform;

Fig. 10

ein schematischer Schnitt durch ein erfindungsgemäßes Gerät gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform.

Further details and advantages of the electromechanical locking device according to the invention and of a device according to the invention are explained below with the aid of the attached drawings of exemplary embodiments. Show in it:

Fig. 1

a schematic perspective illustration of a closure device according to the invention together with a closure element;

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of a lock according to an embodiment of the invention in a first locking stage;

Fig. 3

a schematic representation of a lock according to an embodiment of the invention in a second locking stage;

Fig. 4

a schematic representation of a lock according to an embodiment of the invention in a third locking stage;

Fig. 5

a schematic representation of a lock according to an embodiment of the invention in a fourth locking stage;

Fig. 6

a schematic representation of a lock according to an embodiment of the invention in a fifth locking stage;

Fig. 7

a schematic representation of a lock according to an embodiment of the invention in a sixth locking stage;

Fig. 8

a schematic representation of a lock according to an embodiment of the invention in a first locking stage;

Fig. 9

a schematic representation of an actuator according to the invention according to a first embodiment;

Fig. 10

a schematic section through an inventive device according to a first embodiment.

The Fig. 1 shows an electromechanical locking device 01 which comprises a lock 02 and an actuating unit 03. The lock 02 is set up to receive, secure and release a closure element 04. As far as the lock 02 is arranged on the device side, the locking element 04 can be arranged on the door side, so that with the electromechanical locking device 01 one in the Fig. 1 Appliance door, not shown, is also in the Fig. 1 Device, not shown, can be opened and closed over several stages.

The locking device 01 is designed in such a way that both the lock 02 and the actuating unit 03 are designed as separate structural units, the lock 02 and the actuating unit 03 being connected to one another via a connecting element 05, in particular via a mechanical connecting element 05, see above that even in spite of the spatial separation between the lock 02 and the actuating unit 03, actuating movements generated by the actuating unit 03 can be transmitted to the lock via the connecting element 05.

This makes it possible for the lock 02 to be arranged in device areas which, on the one hand, permit an effective and safe closing of a device door and, on the other hand, only provide a minimum amount of installation space due to the other design of the device. In addition, it can be ensured that the actuating unit 03 is placed in a device in such a way that the available installation space is optimally used and, moreover, the actuating unit is protected from negative influences and conditions, such as temperature differences.

The Fig. 2 shows the lock 02 and the locking element 04, with in comparison to FIG Fig. 1 in the representation of the Fig. 2 a rear wall 02.2 of the housing 02.1 of the lock 02 has been removed and thus allows a view into the interior 02.3 of the lock 02. Apart from the housing 02.1, a latch 06 of the lock 02 is shown. The latch 06 is movably arranged on a base element 07 in the lock 02, the latch 06 being movable linearly in the direction of the arrow B. The latch 06 is connected via the base element 07 to the freewheel device 08, in whose freewheel 09 one end 10 of the connecting element 05 is arranged. The trap 06 is also connected to an elastic element 11, which comes to rest against a movable stop 13 on an end 12 facing away from the trap 06. The elastic element 11 is guided on a guide element 14, which is designed as a cylinder bolt and also serves as a one-sided limit for the stop 13 of the elastic element 11. The freewheel device 08 also includes stops 15 and 16 on both sides of the freewheel 09, on which the end 10 of the connecting element 05 arranged in the freewheel device 08 can come into contact and in each case a frictional connection between the connecting element 05 and the freewheeling device and thus also between the connecting element 05 and trap 06 can generate. The one in the Fig. 2 Shown locking step of the lock 02 represents the intermediate locking step or the neutral step of the lock. In this locking step, the latch 06 by the elastic element 11 and a corresponding bias of the elastic element 11 in the Fig. 2 position shown. The position of the connecting element 05 in the illustration of Fig. 2 corresponds to a neutral position. The position of the connecting element is defined via the relative arrangement with respect to the lock 02.

In the following, with reference to the Figures 3 to 8 First, the multi-stage locking process and then the multi-stage opening process, that is, the receiving, securing and subsequent release of the locking element 04 in the lock 02 and out of the lock 02 are described.

In the representation of the Fig. 3 is the locking element 04, in particular the locking bolt 04.1, by partially closing one in the Fig. 3 Appliance door, not shown, has already partially entered the lock 02. The locking bolt 04.1 has come to rest with a switching lever 17 of a switching element 18. In addition, the door-side ramp 06.1 in the end section 06.3 of the latch 06 and the force exerted by the locking element 04 in the direction of the interior of the lock means that the latch 06 is out of the position in the Fig. 2 shown neutral level or intermediate locking level in one in the Fig. 3 opening level shown has been transferred. As from the Fig. 3 As can be seen, the elastic element 11 is elastically deformed, in particular elastically compressed. In addition, the end 10 of the connecting element 05 has been moved by the movement of the latch 06 in the freewheel 09 of the freewheel device 08 without a movement of the connecting element 05 and thus also without a movement controlled and generated by the actuating unit. The connecting element is therefore still in the neutral position.

Like in the Fig. 3 shown, the freewheel 09 of the freewheel device 08 is at least just dimensioned so that the latch 06 from the in the Fig. 2 neutral step or intermediate rest step shown in the Fig. 3 opening step shown can be transferred without a movement of the connecting element 05, that is, a change in the position of the connecting element 05, would be necessary.

In Fig. 4 the locking bolt 04.1 of the locking element 04 has passed the trap 06. This means that the locking bolt 04.1 has been guided into the interior of the lock 02 so far that the latch 06 has returned to the intermediate latching stage of the lock 02 while the elastic element 11 is relaxed. The in the Fig. 4 illustrated return of the lock, in particular the case 06 in the intermediate latching stage, also an incomplete return in the Fig. 2 shown represent neutral level. Instead, the elastic element 11 opposite to that in the Fig. 2 Maintain a residual deformation or residual stress shown in the position, which can result, for example, from frictional forces between the locking element, in particular the locking bolt 04 and the latch 06. Also in the Fig. 4 it can be seen that the end 10 of the connecting element 5 compared to Fig. 3 Although the position of the freewheel device 08 has changed again in relation to the freewheel 09, but not in its position in relation to the lock 02. The connecting element 05 is therefore still in the neutral position. This means that the return of the latch 06 from the opening stage of the lock to the intermediate latching stage of the lock, brought about with relaxation or at least partial relaxation of the elastic element 11 Fig. 4 can be accomplished without a movement of the connecting element 05 and thus also without a movement generated and executed by the actuating means.

In the position of the closure element 04 of the Fig. 4 the switching lever 17 of the switching element 18 is deflected against an elastic restoring element 19 in such a way that the switching element 18 identifies the intermediate latching step of the lock 02.

In the Fig. 4 the closure element 04 is already partially inserted into the lock 02. However, the dimensioning of the locking element 04 is such that there is still an opening gap or a door gap between the device, not shown, and the device door, not shown, in the position of the lock 02 and the locking element 04. In response to a user input or user interaction, the lock 02 and thus the locking element 04 can be transferred from the intermediate latching step to the locking step, this transfer being carried out by a movement generated by the actuating unit and conveyed via the connecting element 05. Consequently, in order to reach the closing stage of the lock 02, the connecting element 05 is transferred from the neutral position into a locking position. This is in the Fig. 5 shown.

By moving the latch 06, the locking element 04, in particular the locking bolt 04.1, is drawn into the lock 02 on the rear ramp 06.2 of the latch 06. This will make the in the Fig. 4 still existing, but not shown, door gap between the device and the device door is canceled and the device door is closed and secured.

As a result of the movement of the latch 06, the elastic element 11 in the pretensioned state of the neutral step or the intermediate latching step is also moved in the direction of the movement of the connecting element 05, the unilaterally movable stop 13 arranged on the guide element 14 causing the tension state or the deformation state of the elastic member 11 is maintained. In the position of the representation of the Fig. 5 has the closure element 04, in particular the locking bolt 04.1 has already completely crossed the rear ramp 06.2 of the latch 06. Accordingly, the lock of the appliance door has already been completed and the locking stage of the lock 02 has been reached. The switching lever 17 of the switching element 18 can detect the corresponding positioning of the closure element 04 and convey it to the switching element 18.

After reaching the state of Fig. 5 the multi-stage closing process is completed. In order to maintain this state, on the one hand the locking position of the connecting element 05 can be maintained or, on the other hand, the latch 06 can be locked in some other way or secured against movement. In the following representations of the Figures 6 to 8 accordingly follows an illustration and description of the various states of the lock 02 of the locking device 01 during the likewise multi-stage opening process.

Like in the Fig. 6 shown, to open the appliance door, not shown, the trap 06 of the one in the Fig. 5 The locking step shown is initially transferred back to the intermediate locking step. This takes place via a movement of the connecting element 05, which is carried out by the actuating unit 03, not shown, in such a way that the end 10 of the connecting element 05 not only crosses the freewheel 09 of the freewheel device 08, but also a pressure force on the freewheel device 08 and thus on trap 06 exercises. The end point of the movement can be identified, for example, by the switching element 18 and the switching lever 17 connected to the switching element. The end point of the movement of the connecting element 05 can be realized by the neutral position of the connecting element.

With the repeated crossing of the rear ramp 06.2 of the latch 06, the locking element 04, in particular the locking bolt 04.1, becomes a Moved far out of the lock 02. As a result, on the one hand, the position of the switching lever 17 changes, which can be recognized by the switching element 18 and transmitted accordingly. On the other hand, moving the connecting element 04 out of the lock piece by piece also opens a door gap between the appliance door and the appliance.

Like in the Fig. 6 , in which the intermediate locking step of the lock 02 has been resumed, can be recognized due to the area of the latch 06 adjoining the rear ramp 06.2, in which the locking element 04, in particular the locking bolt 04.1, is located in the intermediate locking step of the lock 02, without a further actuating movement on the part of the actuating unit and the connecting element 05 connected to it, no complete or final opening of the appliance door can result. This ensures a special security feature of the locking device 01, as it ensures that the appliance door is only opened partially, in particular a gap, after the appliance has been used, so that, for example, hot air and / or water vapor can escape from the side of the door gap and can thus be effectively kept away from the operating personnel.

It can further be provided in the opening process of the lock 02 and the locking device 01 that after a certain dwell time of the lock 02 in the in the Fig. 6 A complete opening of the appliance door takes place in which the lock is transferred to an opening step and the locking element 04 emerges completely from the lock 02.

Accordingly, the transition from the representation of the Fig. 6 to represent the Fig. 7 represents a transfer of the lock 02 in an opening stage, the actuating unit 03, not shown, the connecting element 05 in one in the Fig. 7 shown opening position transferred. The Opening level of the lock 02 the Fig. 7 largely corresponds to the opening level of the lock Fig. 3 , where in contrast to Fig. 3 in the Fig. 7 it is not the locking element 04 entering the lock that causes the movement or deflection of the latch 06, but the transfer of the connecting element into the open position leads to the latch 06 being deflected out of the intermediate latching step against the bias of the elastic element 11.

In this case too, that is to say when the closure element 04 emerges from the lock 02, the switching lever 17 of the switching element 18 can again determine and forward completion or completion. For example, it can be provided that as soon as the elastic return element 19 has moved the switching lever 17 of the switching element 18 back into an original or neutral position, the switching lever 17 and the switching element 18 determine or confirm the exit of the closure element 04 from the lock and, if necessary, forward it. Proceeding from this or following it, the connecting element 05 can be transferred into a neutral position via a movement controlled and executed by the actuating unit, in which the latch 06 is returned to the neutral stage by a corresponding movement of the freewheel device 08, as described at the beginning in the context of Fig. 2 has been shown and described. Accordingly, the representation corresponds to Fig. 8 also the representation of the Fig. 2 . This is in the cycle, starting from the Fig. 2 and ending with the Fig. 7 or Fig. 8 , describes a complete transition from an open appliance door to a closed or locked appliance door and back by going through the corresponding intermediate stages, in particular between locking stages of the appliance door.

In Fig. 9 the setting unit 03 is also without the one in the Fig. 1 shown rear wall 03.2 of the housing 03.1 shown. A drive unit 20, which has a motor 21 and a transmission, is arranged in the interior of the actuating unit 03 22 includes. In addition, a total of three switching elements 23, which can be designed as microswitches, are arranged in the setting unit 03. The drive unit 20 acts on the actuator element 24, which is designed as a linear actuator 24 and accordingly executes linear movements in the direction of the movement arrow B. The actuator element 24 is coupled to one end 25 of the connecting element 05, so that the movements carried out by the actuating unit 03, in particular by the actuator element 24, are transmitted to the connecting element 05 and via the connecting element 05 to the lock 02. Both the actuator element 24 and the connecting element 05 move in the direction of the movement arrow B.

The Fig. 10 shows a section through a schematically illustrated device 26 according to the invention with a door 27 and a locking device 01 according to the invention. The lock 02 of the locking device 01 is arranged approximately halfway up a door opening 28. The actuating unit 03 is arranged below the door opening 28. According to the invention, the lock 02 and the actuating unit 03 are arranged spatially separated from one another as separate structural units. The particular advantage of this spatial separation and the connection of the lock to the actuating unit via the connecting element 05 is shown in the sketchy representation of FIG Fig. 10 made clear. Because laterally next to the door opening 28 there are further device components inside the device 26. For example, there are heating and ventilation devices 29 as well as operating and control electronics 30. Due to the design of the locking device 01 according to the invention, however, it is possible, on the one hand, to optimally utilize the limited installation space in the area of the door opening 28 and also to use the electrical and electronic components of the actuating unit as much as possible be optimally protected against harmful influences such as extreme temperatures and temperature fluctuations. The length of the connecting element 05 is approximately half the height of the appliance door.

Reference number :

01

Locking device

02

lock

02.1

casing

02.2

Back wall

02.3

Interior of the castle

03

Control unit

03.1

casing

03.2

Back wall

04

Closure element

04.1

Locking bolt

05

Connecting element

06

Cases

06.1

ramp

06.2

ramp

07

Basic element

08

Freewheel device

09

Freewheel

10

End of the connector

11

elastic element

12th

End of the elastic element

13th

attack

14th

Guide element

15th

Stop of the freewheel device

16

Stop of the freewheel device

17th

Gear lever

18th

Switching element

19th

Reset element

20th

Drive unit

21st

engine

22nd

transmission

23

Switching element

24

Actuator element

25th

End of the connector

26th

device

27

Appliance door

28

Door opening

29

Heating and ventilation equipment

30th

Operating and control electronics

B.

Movement arrow

Claims (15)

1. Electromechanical closure device for appliance doors (27), in particular for appliance doors (27) of heating appliances, wherein the closure device (01) comprises a lock (02) for receiving and securing an, in particular door-side, closure element (04) with at least two closure stages and an actuating unit (03) for moving the lock (02) to at least some of the different closure stages, wherein the actuating unit (03) and the lock (02) are embodied in a spatially separated manner as separate structural units and the actuating unit (03) is connected to the lock (02) by means of a connecting element (05),
   characterized
   in that the connecting element (05), at one end (10), in particular at the end (10) that is connected to the lock (02), is arranged in a freewheeling device (08).
2. Closure device according to Claim 1,
   characterized
   in that the freewheeling device (08) is connected to a latch (6) of the lock (02).
3. Closure device according to Claim 1 or 2,
   characterized
   in that the freewheeling device (08) is dimensioned such that at least two closure stages of the lock (02) can be assumed without movement of the connecting element (05).
4. Closure device according to Claim 3,
   characterized
   in that at least one intermediate latching stage and one opening stage can be assumed.
5. Closure device according to one of Claims 1 to 4,
   characterized
   in that the lock (02) has a moving, in particular linearly moving, latch (06) for receiving and securing the closure element (04).
6. Closure device according to Claim 5,
   characterized
   in that the latch (06) can be moved parallel to a movement direction of the connecting element (05).
7. Closure device according to Claim 5 or 6,
   characterized
   in that the latch (06) is prestressed in the direction of an intermediate latching stage by an elastic element (11).
8. Closure device according to Claim 7,
   characterized
   in that the elastic element (11) is configured such that it can be moved from the intermediate latching stage to a closing stage together with the latch (06) without changing a stress state.
9. Closure device according to one of Claims 1 to 8,
   characterized
   in that the connecting element (05) can be moved to a locking position by the actuating unit (03), wherein the lock (02) is moved from an intermediate latching stage to a closing stage, and wherein in particular the closure element (04) is drawn into the lock (02).
10. Closure device according to one of Claims 1 to 9,
    characterized
    in that the connecting element (05) can be moved to an opening position by the actuating unit (03), wherein the lock (02) is moved from an intermediate latching stage to an opening stage, and wherein in particular the closure element (04) moves out of the lock (02).
11. Closure device according to Claim 9 or 10,
    characterized
    in that the end (10) of the connecting element (05) that is arranged in the freewheeling device (08) comes to rest against mutually opposite stops (15, 16) of the freewheeling device (08) in the closure position and in the opening position.
12. Closure device according to one of Claims 1 to 11,
    characterized
    in that the lock (02) has a switching element (18), in particular a microswitch, with which the position of the closure element (04) in the lock (02) is detected.
13. Closure device according to Claim 12,
    characterized
    in that the switching element (18) is connected to a switching lever (17) which is arranged such that it is moved by the closure element (04).
14. Appliance, in particular heating appliance, comprising an appliance door (27) and an, in particular door-side, closure element (04),
    characterized by
    an electromechanical closure device (01) according to one of Claims 1 to 13.
15. Appliance according to Claim 14,
    characterized
    in that the lock (02) is arranged halfway up a door opening (28) and the actuating unit (03) is arranged in a lower region of the door opening (28) or below the door opening (28).

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