Electrical transmission or interconnection systems – Switching systems – Condition responsive
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-02
2001-09-18
Tso, Edward H. (Department: 2838)
Electrical transmission or interconnection systems
Switching systems
Condition responsive
Reexamination Certificate
active
06291910
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric apparatus and more particularly to an electric apparatus capable of stopping operation automatically at the time of restoration from an electric failure and consequent stop of operation which occur during the supply of electric power to a power supply circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, such a conventional electric apparatus as a drying machine (not shown) is large-sized so as to permit drying of a lot of washing at a time. The interior size of the drying machine is suitable for entry of a child therein.
While such an electric apparatus is in operation, the interior thereof is closed with a lid which is locked.
However, when the drying machine is not in use, with a power supply circuit thereof turned OFF, the lid can be opened and closed, so that a child can open the lid and get in the interior of the drying machine to play hide-and-seek.
When the power supply circuit of such an electric apparatus is OFF, even if a child gets in the interior thereof, it is possible for the child to open and close the lid from the inside, with no likelihood of the child being confined.
However, upon occurrence of a trouble such as electric failure during operation of a conventional electric apparatus such as a drying machine for example, the operation is stopped with the power supply circuit thereof kept ON and the lid is unlocked and can be opened and closed. Thus, a child can open the lid of the drying machine and get in the interior of the machine to play.
When a child is playing inside the drying machine which is OFF due to power failure for example, if the supply of electric power is restored, the lid will be closed and locked and the operation of the drying machine will be resumed because the power supply circuit of the machine remains ON, with the result that the child playing inside is confined. This is very dangerous.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly safe electric apparatus capable of turning OFF a power supply circuit automatically to stop resuming of operation automatically even when the power supply circuit turns OFF upon occurrence of a trouble such as power failure during operation and then turns ON upon subsequent restoration of the supply of electric power.
According to the first means adopted by the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned object there is provided an electric apparatus comprising a primary power supply circuit, a secondary power supply circuit to which electric power is fed from the primary power supply circuit, a control system circuit connected to the secondary power supply circuit, a switch device having an operating member capable of being operated ON manually and being operated OFF manually or automatically, and a memory in which a signal outputted upon ON or OFF operation of the switch device is stored after detection thereof by the control system circuit, the switch device being connected to the primary power supply circuit, and the control system circuit being configured so that, when the supply of electric power to the primary power supply circuit has been started, the control system circuit determines whether the switch device has been operated ON or not, by collation with the contents stored in the memory and makes control to continue or cut off the supply of electric power to the primary power supply circuit in accordance with the result of the collation.
According to the second means adopted by the present invention for achieving the foregoing object there is provided, in combination with the first means, an electric apparatus wherein the switch device has a first switch and a second switch, the operating member can be held in a locked state manually or in an unlocked state manually or automatically, the first and second switches are turned ON when the operating member is in a locked state, while when the operating member is in an unlocked state, the first and second switches are turned OFF, the supply of electric power to the primary power supply circuit is controlled by ON/OFF operation of the first switch, and the second switch outputs an ON or OFF signal, which is detected by the control system circuit.
According to the third means adopted by the present invention for achieving the foregoing object there is provided, in combination with the second means, an electric apparatus wherein the switch device has a drive source capable of actuating the operating member automatically to turn OFF the first and second switches automatically, the ON or OFF signal outputted from the second switch is detected by the control system circuit and the contents stored in the memory are rewritten at every switching of the ON and OFF signals from one to the other, the control system circuit, upon turning ON of the first switch and start of the supply of electric power to the primary power supply circuit, collates the ON signal outputted from the second switch with the contents stored in the memory, and in accordance with the result of the collation the control system circuit makes control to continue the supply of electric power to the primary power supply circuit or causes the drive source to turn OFF the switch device automatically, thereby cutting off the supply of electric power to the primary power supply circuit.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5694962 (1997-12-01), Kim
patent: 6081047 (2000-06-01), Tuttle et al.
patent: 6208042 (2001-03-01), Solis
Mori Toshiharu
Soeta Kaoru
Tochihara Katsuhiko
Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Tso Edward H.
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