BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electronic lock, and more particularly to an electronic cabinet lock.

2. Description of the Prior Art

An electronic cabinet lock generally includes a lock housing, a lock body, a limiting member and so on. The lock body and the limiting member are rotatably disposed in the lock housing. The lock body has an engaging groove configured to mate with a lock hook on a door. A detent structure is provided between the lock body and the limiting member for the limiting member to limit the lock body. A conventional electronic cabinet lock uses an electromagnetic mechanism to control the swing of the limiting member for releasing the lock body to open the door. However, the electronic cabinet lock using the electromagnetic mechanism consumes much power because the electromagnetic mechanism needs to be driven by large current. When the electronic cabinet lock using the electromagnetic mechanism is applied to a cabinet with multiple cabinet bodies, it is necessary to mount the electronic cabinet lock using the electromagnetic mechanism on each cabinet body. In order to reduce energy consumption, only a single cabinet body is used for opening the door, which is inconvenient for use. Thus, an improved electronic cabinet lock uses a motor in cooperation with a mechanical transmission mechanism to control the swing of the limiting member. This electronic cabinet lock driven by the motor has the characteristics of small current, low cost, and low damage. However, this electronic cabinet lock also has the following disadvantages. The motor is controlled by a mechanical transmission mechanism composed of a gear reduction group, a push rod and the like to control the swing of the limiting member. The mechanical transmission mechanism has many components and complicated structures. As a result, it is troublesome to assemble the mechanical transmission mechanism. Moreover, the mechanical failure rate of the mechanical transmission mechanism is high in use, which affects the use of the electronic cabinet lock greatly.

Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has devoted himself based on his many years of practical experiences to solve these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an electronic cabinet lock, and its transmission mechanism has a simple structure and is convenient for assembly.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

An electronic cabinet lock comprises a lock housing, a lock body, a limiting member, a motor, and a main control board. The lock body and the limiting member are rotatably disposed in the lock housing, respectively. A first elastic member for returning the lock body is disposed between the lock body and the lock housing. The lock body is provided with an engaging groove configured to mate with a lock hook on a door. A detent structure is provided between the lock body and the limiting member for the liming member to limit the lock body. The motor is electrically connected to the main control board. The limiting member is driven by the motor through a transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism includes a slider and a screw rod. The slider is slidably disposed in the lock housing through a sliding guide structure, and is movably connected to the limiting member. The screw rod is driven to rotate by the motor. The screw rod is threadedly connected to the slider for driving the slider to slide.

Preferably, the limiting member has a predetermined movable space relative to the slider. The limiting member is driven by the motor and the transmission mechanism to rotate so as to release the lock body. A second elastic member for returning the limiting member is disposed between the limiting member and the lock housing.

Preferably, the slider is provided with an elongate hole in a longitudinal direction along a sliding direction of the slider. The limiting member is provided with a rod. The rod is slidably connected to the elongate hole.

Preferably, the lock housing is provided with an emergency unlocking hole for manually rotating the limiting member to release the lock body.

Preferably, the emergency unlocking hole is a first through hole that is formed on the lock housing and corresponds in position to an end of the limiting member.

Preferably, a free end of the rod extends out of the elongate hole. The emergency unlocking hole is a second through hole that is formed on the lock housing and corresponds in position to the free end of the rod.

Preferably, one end of the slider is threadedly connected to the screw rod. Another end of the slider is provided with a perforation communicating with the elongate hole and extending along the sliding direction of the slider. The emergency unlocking hole is a third through hole that is formed on the lock housing and corresponds to the perforation.

Preferably, the lock body is provided with a ball. The lock housing is provided with a limiting portion to cooperate with the ball. When the lock body is rotated to a locked position, the ball abuts against the limiting portion and restricts the first elastic member from driving the lock body to be returned.

Preferably, the electronic cabinet lock further comprises a first switch mechanism controlled by the lock body and a second switch mechanism controlled by the limiting member. The first switch mechanism and the second switch mechanism are electrically connected to the main control board for controlling a working state of the motor.

Preferably, the first switch mechanism is a micro switch that is activated when the lock body is rotated to a locked position, and the micro switch is disposed in the lock housing. Alternatively, the first switch mechanism is a first Hall switch that includes a first magnet disposed on the lock body and a first magnetic field detecting part electrically connected to the main control board. When the lock body is rotated to the locked position, the first magnetic field detecting part detects a magnetic field of the first magnet.

Preferably, the second switch mechanism is a micro switch that is activated when the limiting member is rotated to a position where the lock body is released, and the micro switch is disposed in the lock housing. Alternatively, the second switch mechanism is a second Hall switch that includes a second magnet disposed on the limiting member and a second magnetic field detecting part electrically connected to the main control board. When the limiting member is rotated to the position where the lock body is released, the second magnetic field detecting part detects a magnetic field of the second magnet.

Preferably, the detent structure includes a first detent portion disposed on the lock body and a second detent portion disposed on the limiting member. The first detent portion is movably engaged with the second detent portion.

Preferably, the sliding guide structure includes a guide rail disposed on the slider and a sliding groove disposed on the lock housing. The guide rail and the sliding groove are disposed along the sliding direction of the slider and are slidably mated with each other. The screw rod is coaxially connected to an output shaft of the motor.

Preferably, the lock body is rotatably sleeved on a first rotating shaft of the lock housing. The first elastic member is a first torsion spring. A spiral portion of the first torsion spring is sleeved on the first rotating shaft. Two ends of the first torsion spring lean against the lock body and the lock housing, respectively. The limiting member is rotatably sleeved on a second rotating shaft of the lock housing. The second elastic member is a second torsion spring. A spiral portion of the second torsion spring is sleeved on the second rotating shaft. Two ends of the second torsion spring lean against the limiting member and the lock housing, respectively.

Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

1. The transmission mechanism of the present invention includes the slider and the screw rod. The slider is slidably disposed in the lock housing through the sliding guide structure, and is movably connected to the limiting member. The screw rod is driven to rotate by the motor. The screw rod is threadedly connected to the slider for driving the slider to slide. Therefore, the transmission mechanism of the present invention has fewer components and a simpler structure. The structure is simpler, the assembly is easier, and the mechanical failure rate is lower.

2. The motor of the invention is connected with the limiting member through the transmission mechanism, and the invention further comprises an emergency unlocking structure. Specifically, the limiting member has a predetermined movable space relative to the slider. The lock housing is provided with the emergency unlocking hole for manually rotating the limiting member to release the lock body. In this way, one can release the lock body by using a tool to pass through the emergency unlocking hole for driving the limiting member to rotate, thereby performing manual unlocking.

3. The arrangement of the ball and the limiting portion of the present invention enables the present invention to restrict the first elastic member from driving the lock body to be returned after the limiting member releases the lock body. Therefore, the lock body is held in the locked position to keep the lock hook in the engaging groove of the lock body, so as to keep the door from being opened. At this time, the door needs to be pulled by hand to open the door. The invention may be applied to some cabinets (such as cabinet freezers, refrigerated cabinets, etc.) that need to reduce the time when the cabinets are in an open state. In particular, when the present invention in cooperation with a door closer is applied to such a cabinet, the effect is better. In addition, the arrangement of the ball and the limiting portion can restrict the first elastic member from driving the lock body to be returned when the door is closed, that is, when the lock hook pushes the lock body to the locked position. Thereby, the motor and the transmission mechanism have sufficient time to drive the limiting member to limit the lock body so as to complete the locking.

4. Through the arrangement of the first switch mechanism and the second switch mechanism, the invention is more intelligent and convenient to operate to facilitate the function expansion.

