DEVICE AND METHOD FOR LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THE DOOR OF A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE

摘要

The present invention relates to a method for locking and unlocking a door of a household appliance, wherein door locking means are actuated by an electric actuator when the latter receives a voltage exceeding a preset value. The method comprises a household appliance safety locking step wherein the locking means are set to a door locking position and a positive temperature coefficient thermistor arranged in series with the actuator is heated for the purpose of increasing its resistance up to such a value that, when the full power voltage of the household appliance is applied across the actuator- thermistor pair, a voltage drop below said preset value will be generated across the actuator. A device capable of implementing said method is also described.