Inventors:
Kenyon A. Hapke - Libertyville WI
Timothy Laseke - New Berlin WI
Assignee:
Ark-Les Corporation - Stoughton MA
International Classification:
D06F 3302
US Classification:
68 1226, 210146, 292DIG 69
Abstract:
A lid lock for a washing machine or the like employs a rapid bistable electromagnetic actuator that is released at a predetermined time interval after the cessation of a spin signal, the time interval being selected to allow the spin basket to coast to a stop prior to the lid being unlocked. Because the actuator is bistable, it can remain locked despite possible power failure during which the spin basket may still be coasting yet the driving circuitry stores reserved power to unlock the lid after a suitable time delay. These same components can provide protection against entrapment in which the lid closure activates the spin cycle and lock because of a previous initiation of the spin cycle signal. Here, for the spin cycle to be initiated, the spin cycle signal must occur after lid closure.