System for automatically opening basket doors of a top loading horizontal axis automatic washer

摘要

A system for automatically opening basket doors of an automatic washer. The automatic washer includes an enclosure having an opening provided with a lid hingedly connected to the enclosure for selectively covering the enclosure opening. An imperforate tub disposed within the enclosure surrounds a rotatable perforate wash basket having an opening for accessing the interior of the basket. A first door flap having an engagement opening and a second door flap having a catch portion extending therefrom are provided being hingedly mounted on opposite rims of the basket opening and being biased toward their open position and further being adapted to partially overlap one another in a closed position such that the catch portion engages the engagement opening for locking the first door flap and the second door flap in a closed position. A tab extends from the second door flap generally opposite the main portion of the second door flap beyond the hinged connection with the basket. A tab engagement arm is disposed adjacent the basket for selectively engaging the tab for disengaging the second door flap from the first door flap. The tab engagement arm is interconnected with the lid such that moving the lid from a closed position to an open position causes the tab engagement arm to disengage the respective door flaps.