Abstract:
A door-lock device for retaining a door of a household appliance in a closed position. The door-lock device including a mobile module that slides relative to the door of the household appliance and a blocking unit housed within the mobile module. The blocking unit has a blocking member that moves between an unlocking position and a locking position. In the locking position, the blocking member holds the door of the household appliance in the closed position. A detecting slider slides the mobile module relative to the door of the household appliance and a blocking slider prevents the blocking member from moving from the locking position to the unlocking position. A pawl connected to the blocking slider engages one of a plurality of adjustment slots to block the door.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit and priority of Italian Patent Application No. 102014902310656, filed Nov. 19, 2014. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a door-lock device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     More specifically, the invention concerns a door-lock device of the above kind, studied and realized in particular to allow the optimal closing of the door of a household appliance, in particular an oven, capable of compensating any tolerances and plays, but that can be used for the closure of any door, which has to be closed in an optimal way. 
     SUMMARY 
     In the following, the description will be directed to the application to an oven, but it is clear that the same should not be considered limited to this specific use. 
     As it is well known, at present there are certain types of ovens, which have the function of automatic cleaning of the cooking compartment, by means of a pyrolysis mechanism. In particulate, this type of oven involves the pyrolysis of fatty residues of the cooked foods, subjecting the cooking compartment at a temperature of about 600° C., so that residue fats are subjected to a pyrolysis process and transformed into powder, so as to be easily collected and disposed of. 
     That function, on one hand is very convenient for the ease and convenience of cleaning the oven, on the other hand is also very dangerous. In fact, an opening of the oven door, could cause serious damages to a user. 
     To solve this problem, the existing ovens of the type described above are usually equipped with a motorized device, which locks the door. Such a solution, although effective, is expensive, being high in overall production costs. 
     It is evident, therefore, that this solution is expensive in economic terms. 
     In light of the above, it is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a door-lock device which, when the function of automatic cleaning is started, can lock the oven door, to prevent accidental openings. 
     It is a further object of the present invention that the door-lock device according to the invention is capable of compensating any closing tolerances of the door. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a door-lock device to retain a door of a household appliance in the closed position, such as an oven and the like, said door being of the type equipped with a locking pin, said door-lock device comprising a mobile module, slidably movable with respect to said household appliance and arranged in correspondence of said locking pin, said mobile module having a container, capable of assuming an initial position, in which it is retained by pushing means, such as a spring and the like, a blocking unit, housed within said container, having a blocking member, integral with said mobile module, capable of assuming an unlocking position and a locking position, in which it is arranged so as to retain said locking pin when said door is closed, a detecting slider movable between an initial stroke position, in which it does not interact with said locking pin of said door, up to a final stroke position, in which said detecting slider interacts with said mobile module, so as to make it sliding, moving it from said initial position, a blocking slider capable of assuming a rest position and an operative position, in said operative position said blocking slider preventing that said blocking member can move from said locking position to said the unlocking position, and a pawl integral with said blocking slider, capable of engaging with one of a plurality of adjustment slots, the position of which is integral with said household appliance when said blocking slider is in said operative position, so as to block said door. 
     Always according to the invention, said door-lock device could comprise a plate, fixed to said household appliance, on which said adjustment slots are obtained, said mobile module being slidably coupled with said plate. 
     Still according to the invention, said detecting slider could be arranged alongside to said blocking member and has an appendix intended to interact with said locking pin when said door is closed. 
     Advantageously according to the invention, said detecting slider could comprise a relief to retain said blocking member in said unlocked position when said detecting slider is in said initial stroke position. 
     Further according to the invention, said blocking member could be rotatably coupled with said container and could comprise a body and a hook, and said blocking slider could comprise a projection which, when said blocking slider assumes said operative position, is arranged in correspondence of said body of said blocking member, so as to prevent, with its own encumbrance, that said blocking member can move from said locking position to said unlocking position, and a further lateral relief, shaped so that when said blocking slider is in said rest position, said pawl is kept raised by said further lateral relief, while when said blocking slider is in said operative position, said pawl is lowered, so as to engage with one of said adjustment slots. 
     Always according to the invention, said pawl could be rotatably coupled with said blocking slider. 
     Still according to the invention, said device could comprise an actuator module adapted to make said blocking slider passing from said rest position to said operative position. 
     Further according to the invention, said actuator module could comprise an electronic control unit, connected to, or integrated into, the logic control of said household appliance, and a coil, operatively connected to said electronic control unit, having a movable core connected by a rod to said blocking slider. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be now described, for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, with particular reference to the figures of the enclosed drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a door-lock device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the door-lock device according to  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows the internal mechanisms of the door-lock device according to  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows a sectional side view of the door-lock device installed in the configuration in which the household appliance door is open; 
         FIG. 5  shows the internal mechanisms of the door-lock device in the closed configuration; 
         FIG. 6  shows a sectional side view of the door-lock device in the closed configuration; 
         FIG. 7  shows the internal mechanisms of the door-lock device in the locking configuration; and 
         FIG. 8  shows a sectional side view of the door-lock device in the locking configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the various figures, similar parts will be indicated by the same reference numbers. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , it is observed a door-lock device  1  according to the present invention, capable of retaining closed a door P of a household appliance, particularly an oven F and the like, said door P being of the type provided with a locking pin R. 
     In particular, the door-lock device  1  comprises a plate  2  and a mobile module  3 , coupled with said sliding plate  2  and longitudinally movable with respect to it. 
     Said plate  2  is fixed on the upper part of the oven or household appliance, where the door-lock device  1  is installed, in correspondence of the closing of the door P. 
     On said plate  2 , a series of adjustment grooves  21  and an opening  22  is formed, which functions, also in this case, will be better defined in the follow. 
     The mobile module  3  includes a container  31 , in which a blocking unit  4  and an actuator module  5  are housed, which is capable of interacting with said blocking units  4 . 
     The container  31  has an upper half-shell  311  and a lower half-shell  312 , the latter being slidably coupled with said plate  2 . 
     The blocking unit  4  comprises a blocking member  41 , rotatably pivoted to said container  31  and having a body  411  and a hook  412 , capable of assuming an unlocking position and a locking position, in which it is arranged so as to block the locking pin R of said door P. In said locking position said hook  412  passes through said opening  22 . 
     Said blocking unit  4  also includes a detecting slider  42  of the door P and a blocking slider  43 . 
     Said detecting slider  42 , arranged beside said blocking member  41  and having an appendix  421 , arranged across said opening  22  and intended to interact with said locking pin R for closing said door P, so as to hold it. Said detecting slider  42  comprises also a sensing relief  422 , adapted to retain said blocking member  41  in said rest position. 
     Said detecting slider  42  is movable between a starting position, in which it is retained by first elastic means, as a first pushing spring and the like (not shown in the figures), and wherein said relief  422  holds said locking member  41  in said rest position; and a stroke end position, which it assumes by sliding in the direction of arrow A, until it meets an abutment (not visible in the figure) formed on said container  31 . 
     Said blocking slider  43  comprises a projection  431  arranged at one end, and a further lateral relief  432 , which function will be better defined in the following. Said blocking slider  43  is capable of assuming a rest position, in which it is retained by second pushing means, such as a second spring and the like (not shown in the figures) and an operating position, in which said projection  431  is arranged in correspondence of said body  411  of said blocking member  41 , so as to prevent, with its dimensions, that said blocking member  41  can move from said locking position to said unlocking position. 
     The blocking module  4  also comprises a pawl  45 , pivoted with said container  31  and arranged in correspondence of said lateral relief  432 , such that when said blocking slider  43  is in said first position, said pawl  45  is kept raised by said further lateral relief  432 , while when said blocking slider  43  is in said second position, said pawl  45  is lowered, so as to insert and to engage with one of said adjustment grooves  21 . 
     Said actuator module  5  comprises an electronic control unit  51 , connected to (or integrated in) the control logic of the household appliance, and a coil  52 , operatively connected to said electronic control unit  51 , in which a movable core is placed (not shown in the figure), such that when said coil  52  is energized, it attracts the movable core inside. Said movable core is connected, by means of a rod  53 , to said blocking slider  43 . 
     The operation of the door-lock device  1  described above is as follows. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the door-lock device  1  is observed when the door P of the oven or of the household appliance in general, is open. 
     In this configuration, said detecting slider  42  is in said starting position, so that said relief  422  holds said blocking member  41  in said unlocked position, said blocking slider  43  is in said rest position and the coil  52  of said actuator module  5  is not energized. 
     When the door P is closed, the door-lock device  1  is capable of assuming a closed configuration that can be blocked ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ) and a blocked closed configuration ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ). 
     In particular, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the door-lock device  1  moves to the lockable closed configuration when the door P is closed according to the arrow C, whereby the locking pin R interferes with said appendix  421  of said detecting slider  42 , so that said detecting slider  42  starts to move in the direction A, overcoming the resistance of the pushing spring, so that the blocking member  41  disengages from said relief  422 , rotates according to said arrow B and said hook  412  can be placed behind said locking pin R of said door P. At the same time, the lateral relief  432  maintains the pawl  45  raised. In this configuration, the door P is closed but not blocked. The door P is blocked when (see  FIGS. 7 and 8 ) a suitable signal of the electronic control unit  51  excites said coil  52 , which moves, by means of its movable core and said rod  53 , said blocking slider  43  by passing it from said rest position to said operating position. In this way, said projection  431  prevents said blocking member  41  to rotate, forcing it to remain in said locking position, so that said locking pin R remains between said appendix  421  and said hook  412 . In addition, when said blocking slider  43  is in said operating position, said further lateral relief  432  allows the pawl  45  to rotate according to the arrow to fit into one of said adjustment grooves  21 , blocking the door P and thus preventing accidental openings of the same. 
     In case of the closure were not optimal, when the door P is closed, for example because of a consumed perimetral gasket of the oven F, such as to require a greater adhesion of the door P, pressing always toward the direction of the arrow C said door P is sufficient. In this case, the detecting slider  42  can reach the stroke end until said abutment formed on said container  31 , by sliding said mobile module  3  with respect to said plate  2  (fixed to the oven F or to household appliance in general) always toward the arrow A, against the force of a third spring. In this configuration, when, as described above, said coil  52  drags said blocking slider  43  and the pawl  45  fits in a most rearward adjustment groove  21 , thus holding said locked door P in a more advanced position, compensating the closing tolerance. 
     Naturally, for opening the door-lock device  1 , it operates in the opposite way. 
     In particular, when the coil  52  is de-energized, the second return spring brings said blocking slider  43  from said operating position to said rest position, thus lifting the pawl  45  by means of said further lateral relief  432  and disengaging it or extracting it from the adjustment groove  21 , in which it was inserted. 
     At the same time, the detecting slider  42  returns to said starting position, lifting the blocking member  41 , allowing the opening of the door P. 
     An advantage of the door-lock device according to the present invention is that of obtaining a wide range of tolerance in the closed position of the door at the same time realizing a condition of blocked door in which the available plays, on opening attempt, are reduced. 
     The present invention has been described for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that modifications and/or changes can be introduced by those skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope as defined in the enclosed claims.