초록 ▼

A door latch is provided for the access door of an appliance. The door latch apparatus includes bracketry for mounting at least one switch and actuating levers. The movable access door includes a catch which is engageable with one of the actuating levers as the access door is closed for sensing if t

A door latch is provided for the access door of an appliance. The door latch apparatus includes bracketry for mounting at least one switch and actuating levers. The movable access door includes a catch which is engageable with one of the actuating levers as the access door is closed for sensing if the access door is in a lockable posture. Another actuating lever is pivotally operated by a solenoid actuator under control of a microcontroller-based controller to position one end of the lever into locking engagement with the access door catch and to actuate a switch for providing a signal to the controller that the access door is closed and locked.

대표청구항 ▼

An appliance including an access door and latching apparatus therefor, the combination comprising: operating means disposed within said appliance, said access door controlling access to said operating means and movable between an access-open and an access-closed position; an electrical power source

An appliance including an access door and latching apparatus therefor, the combination comprising: operating means disposed within said appliance, said access door controlling access to said operating means and movable between an access-open and an access-closed position; an electrical power source for providing electrical power between a pair of electrical conductors to power said appliance; microcontroller-based program means for controlling operation of said appliance and said latching apparatus; a catch mounted on said movable access door; means for mounting said latching appatatus on said appliance generally adjacent said catch when said movable access door is in the access-closed position; locking means including a lever member and engageable with said catch when said access door is in a closed and lockable posture; electrically energizable actuating means operatively attached to said lever member for movement thereof between a catch-unlocked first mode and a catch-locking second mode; switch means actuated by said lever member upon movement of said lever member to said catch-locking second mode, said locking means being operable for engagement with said catch to sense the proper positioning of said access door and operable for preventing energization of said actuating mcans when said access door is not in a closed and lockable posture and for preventing movement of the access door when said access door is properly located in said access-closed position, said lever member while moving into engagement with said catch being substantially concurrently operable for actuating said switch means from a door-unlocked first posture to a door-locked second posture to provide a signal to said microcontroller-based program means indicating that said access door is closed and locked, and monitoring means included in said microcontroller-based program means for sensing the posture of said switch means and the mode of said actuating means, said microcontroller-based program means including means for preventing operation of said appliance upon sensing said switch means in said door-locked second posture while sensing said actuating means in said catch-unlocked first mode whereby energization of said actuating means is allowed only if said access door is closed and lockable and operation of said appliance is allowed only if said access door is closed and locked.