EP1662207A1 - Control device for a household appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

Control panel for washing machines and electric ovens is built as a single functional module (22). This consists of a rigid housing (18), into which switches (16) and optical displays (17) are fitted. These are made from a flexible material.

Description

The present invention relates to an operating device for a household electrical appliance, such as a dishwasher, a washing machine, an electric oven, a microwave oven or the like, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such an operating device is known for example from DE 200 02 947 U1 and exemplified in Fig. 1. The operating device 10 serves as an interface between a user and a controller of the household appliance; and includes a printed circuit board 12 on which various electrical control, switching and / or display elements 14 coupled to the controller (not shown); a plurality of mechanical actuators 16 in the form of, for example, key switches or encoders and optical display elements (not shown) in the form of, for example, seven-segment displays, each of the electrical controls, switching and / or display elements 14 on the circuit board 12 by plunger, light guide, etc . assigned; a support 18 for holding the mechanical actuators 16 and optical display elements; and a decorative panel 20 on the user-facing side of the carrier 18.

Another operating device of this type is described in DE 102 58 563 B3 of the applicant. In this known operating device, the plurality of electrical control, switching and / or display elements, the plurality of mechanical actuators and / or visual display elements, and the carrier is provided as a functional unit, which is design-wise formed on the user-facing front side, so that the decorative panel has a single large opening for the functional unit.

The conventional operating devices have in common that they have a plurality of individual components, depending on their size and embodiment of the Part are very difficult to assemble, so that the installation costs of such controls are relatively high.

The present invention is therefore based on the object, an operating device of the type mentioned in such a way that it has a smaller number of components, so that the assembly is simplified and the installation costs are reduced.

This object is achieved by an operating device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The operating device for a household electric appliance includes a controller; a plurality of electrical control, switching and / or display elements coupled to the controller; a plurality of mechanical actuation elements and / or visual display elements which can be operated or observed by a user and which are each assigned to the electrical operating, switching and / or display elements; and a support for holding the plurality of mechanical actuators and / or optical display elements. According to the invention, the plurality of mechanical actuators and / or optical display elements and the carrier are formed as an integral functional module, wherein the carrier is formed of at least one hard component and the plurality of mechanical actuators and / or optical display elements are formed of at least one soft component.

In contrast to conventional operating devices are thus not a support and a plurality of mechanical actuators and / or optical display elements provided that need to be mounted, but only the one integral function module. The slightly higher production costs of the integral functional module due to the at least two material components are offset by significant savings in effort and costs during storage and assembly.

The mechanical actuation elements of the function module comprise, for example, push-button switches, the visual display elements of the function module include, for example, operating displays, function displays, seven-segment displays and / or symbol displays.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the mechanical actuating elements of the functional module on the side facing the user are each provided with decorative caps, which are preferably formed from a hard component and integral with the functional module. This results in a further reduction of the components and the installation costs compared to conventional operating devices with such Dekorkappen.

In addition, on the side facing the user of the functional module, a decorative panel with corresponding recesses for the mechanical actuating elements and / or optical display elements can be provided. Alternatively, the functional module itself is formed on its side facing the user with a decorative design, so that a separate decorative panel can be omitted, which leads to a further simplification of assembly and cost savings.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the functional module, for example, on its side facing away from the user and / or in the edge region further provided with a seal to seal the electronic components of the operating device. This seal is preferably also formed of a soft component and integral with the functional module, so that further simplification during assembly and storage of the operating device arise.

In one embodiment of the invention, the plurality of electrical operating, switching and / or display elements of the operating device are arranged in a housing, and the functional module is connected to this housing.

In a still further embodiment of the invention, the functional module is further provided with a damping element for mechanical damping or buffering between the functional module and an adjacent component (for example decorative trim or housing) of the operating device. This damping element is preferably also formed of a soft component and integral with the functional module, so that further simplification during assembly and storage of the operating device arise.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the carrier and the plurality of mechanical actuators and / or optical display elements are formed by integral injection molding. In this case, the at least one hard component is a Housing plastic, such as ABS, PA, PA66, PBT, PCABS or the like, and the at least one soft component is a thermoplastic or a thermosetting elastomer.

Fig. 1

eine Querschnittsansicht einer herkömmlichen Bedienvorrichtung;

Fig. 2

eine Perspektivansicht eines bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiels eines Funktionsmoduls einer Bedienvorrichtung gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung von oben;

Fig. 3

eine Perspektivansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines als Weichkomponente ausgeführten Teils des Funktionsmoduls von Fig. 2;

Fig. 4A

eine Perspektivansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines ersten als Hartkomponente ausgeführten Teils des Funktionsmoduls von Fig. 2;

Fig. 4B

eine Perspektivansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines zweiten als Hartkomponente ausgeführten Teils des Funktionsmoduls von Fig. 2;

Fig. 4C

eine Seitenansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines Verstärkungselements des als Hartkomponente ausgeführten Teils von Fig. 4A; und

Fig. 5

eine Perspektivansicht des Funktionsmoduls von Fig. 2 von unten.

The above and other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of preferred, non-limiting embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show:

Fig. 1

a cross-sectional view of a conventional operating device;

Fig. 2

a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a functional module of an operating device according to the present invention from above;

Fig. 3

a perspective view of an embodiment of a running as a soft component part of the functional module of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4A

a perspective view of an embodiment of a first executed as a hard component part of the functional module of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4B

a perspective view of an embodiment of a second executed as a hard component part of the functional module of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4C

a side view of an embodiment of a reinforcing member of the executed as a hard component part of Fig. 4A; and

Fig. 5

a perspective view of the functional module of FIG. 2 from below.

A preferred embodiment of a functional module for an operating device according to the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5. 2 and 5 respectively show the entire functional module in perspective view, while FIGS. 3 and 4 represent individual parts of this functional module in more detail.

The integral functional module 22 illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5 can be used in an operating device 10 for a household electrical appliance, the structure of which corresponds, for example, to that of FIG. In this case, the operating device 10 is for example for Dishwashers, washing machines, electric stoves, microwave ovens and the like usable.

The integral function module 22 of FIGS. 2 to 5 connects the components 16-18 of the operating device 10 of FIG. 1 in one component, so that a significant reduction of the components is achieved, resulting in a simpler and less expensive installation and storage of the operating device.

In particular, the integral functional module 22 has a carrier 18, which is formed from a hard component. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the carrier 18 is formed with a plurality of recesses 27 for mechanical actuators 16 and a plurality of recesses 28 for optical display elements 17. In these recesses 27, 28, the corresponding mechanical actuating elements 16 and the optical display elements 17 are arranged, which are formed from at least one soft component.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the functional module 22 contains a total of six mechanical actuators 16 designed as pushbutton switches, an optical display element 17 designed as a seven-segment display, five optical display elements 17 configured as operating displays and each associated with a pushbutton 16, and three visual display elements 17 designed as function or symbol displays Of course, the present invention is not limited only to this particular embodiment. In particular, functional modules 22 with a different number and / or arrangement of mechanical actuators 16, with a different number and / or arrangement of optical display elements 17, exclusively with mechanical actuators 16, excluding optical display elements 17, with other types and / or sizes of mechanical actuators 16, with other types and / or sizes of optical display elements 17, and the like are used within the scope of the present invention in a control device 10 for a household electrical appliance.

The optical display elements 17 of the soft component each form a light guide or a reflector field for guiding the radiation from an electrical display element 14 on the board 12 radiation to the user-facing side of the operating device 10 and can also be combined with lenses or symbol representations. The mechanical actuators 16 serve the mechanical actuation of an electrical control or switching element 14 on the board 12 with or without interposing a plunger. The actuating elements 16 designed as a pushbutton switch are preferably formed elastically with a restoring force. If the restoring force provided by the material and the structure of the actuating element 16 is insufficient, an additional reinforcing element 26 (see FIG. 4C) which is formed integrally with the carrier 18 made of the hard component and the return of the actuating element 16 can optionally be provided Soft component supported in its initial position.

The integral functional module 22 is preferably produced by injection molding. First, the carrier 18 is injection molded from the hard component, and then the mechanical actuators 16 and the optical display elements 17 are injection molded from the at least one soft component in the already existing carrier 18, so that forms an integral composite of the hard and soft components. As is known, this composite can be reinforced by mechanical anchoring between the two material components. The integral functional module 22 of at least two different material components can be manufactured rationally.

Preferably, only one soft component is used both for the mechanical actuators 16 and for the optical display elements 17 of the functional module 22, as this simplifies the manufacture and cheaper. For this, a compromise must be made between the optical fiber properties and the mechanical properties of the soft component. In the context of the present invention, however, it is also possible to use a plurality of different soft components and also a plurality of different hard components, which indeed increases the manufacturing costs, but on the other hand allows optimal matching to the different functional areas of the functional module 22.

Various variants of the functional module 22 with different optical display elements 17 and mechanical actuators 16 can be realized in a simple manner during injection molding by changing inserts in the variable range.

If in each case only one soft component is used for the different functional components of the functional module 22, preferably only one injection point may be used in each case for the three optical display elements 17 top right in Fig. 2 and for the five mutually associated key switch 16 and light guide 17 (see Fig. 3) are used.

The hard component for the carrier 18 is preferably a housing plastic, such as ABS, PA, PA66, PBT, PCABS, etc .. As a soft component for the mechanical actuators 16 and the optical display elements 17 are, for example, thermoplastic elastomers on polyethylene, polyurethane , Polypropylene base and the like, or thermosetting elastomers, such as a self-adhesive liquid silicone with a platinum catalyst for vulcanization.

For simple assembly of the functional module 22, this has, for example, on its side facing away from the user, a plurality of latching hooks 24, as shown in Fig. 5, which can snap into corresponding recesses on a housing (not shown) for the electronic components of the operating device 10. The latching hooks 24 are preferably formed from a hard component and integral with the carrier 18 of the functional module 22.

It is also conceivable in this context that the carrier 18 of the functional module 22 forms a first housing shell, which is connected via a film hinge, preferably made of a soft component, with a second housing shell made of a hard component. After inserting the circuit board 12 with the electrical control, switching and / or display elements 14 in the second housing shell, the function module 22 can be set as a cover on the second housing shell and the electronic components of the operating device 10 thus be integrated into a housing. The connection of the printed circuit board 12 to the control of the household appliance takes place, for example, via a suitable plug connection on the second housing shell. The two housing shells and the film hinge are preferably integrally injection molded.

As also illustrated in FIG. 5, the functional module 22 may further have on its side facing away from the user a seal 30 which is intended to seal off the electrical components of the operating device 10, in particular against liquids. In the embodiment of the functional module 22 according to the invention, this seal 30 may also be made of a soft component, which is likewise formed integrally with the functional module 22.

Although not shown, the integral functional module 22 of the operating device 10 according to the invention may further comprise at least one damping or buffer element, which cause a particular mechanical damping of the functional module 22 with respect to adjacent components of the operating device 10, such as the decorative panel 20 or the housing of the electronic components should. Also, this damping element is preferably made of a soft component, which is also made integral with the functional module 22.

The seal 30 and the damping element may also be made of a softer soft component than the mechanical actuators 16 and the optical display elements 17.

The mechanical actuators 17 of the functional module 22 may be further provided on the user-facing side with decor caps. These decorative caps are preferably formed from a hard component and therefore may advantageously also be made integral with the functional module 22, if desired.

Furthermore, the operating devices 10 are usually provided on the side facing the user with a decorative panel 20 which contains corresponding recesses for the mechanical actuating elements 16 and the optical display elements 17 of the operating device 10. In the case of the operating device 10 according to the invention it is possible in this context to form the user-facing side of the integral functional module 22 with a decorative design, so that the decorative panel can be omitted in this area and only need to have a frame with a single large opening. Such a structure of the operating device 10 is particularly possible because the functional module 22 may also have excellent insulation properties by a suitable choice of the material components. This structure of an operating device 10 is disclosed in a similar manner already in DE 102 58 563 B3 of the applicant.

As described above, the operating device 10 of the invention is characterized by an integral functional module 22, which can combine a plurality of components and functions of the operating device, such as optical display elements, mechanical actuators, seals, damping elements and the like via a carrier. When an integral component, the assembly compared to conventional operating devices with a large number of individual components is much easier.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

operating device

12

circuit board

14

electrical control, switching and / or display elements on 12

16

mechanical actuators

17

optical display elements

18

carrier

20

decorative trim

22

function module

24

latch hook

26

reinforcing element

28

recess

30

poetry

Claims (15)

Operating device (10) for a household electrical appliance, with
a controller;
a plurality of electrical control, switching and / or display elements (14) coupled to the controller;
a plurality of mechanical actuating elements (16) and / or optical display elements (17) which can be operated or observed by a user and which are each assigned to the electrical operating, switching and / or display elements (14); and
a support (18) for holding the plurality of mechanical actuators (16) and / or optical display elements (17),
characterized,
in that the plurality of mechanical actuating elements (16) and / or optical display elements (17) and the carrier (18) are designed as an integral functional module (22), the carrier (18) being formed from at least one hard component and the plurality of mechanical actuating elements (17). 16) and / or optical display elements (17) are formed from at least one soft component. Operating device according to claim 1,
characterized,
in that the mechanical actuation elements (16) of the functional module (22) comprise pushbutton switches. Operating device according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized,
in that the optical display elements (17) of the function module (22) display operating displays, function displays, seven-segment displays and / or symbol displays
include. Operating device according to one of claims 1 to 3,
characterized,
that the mechanical operating elements (16) of the functional module (22) on the side facing the user are each provided with a decorative cap. Operating device according to claim 4,
characterized,
in that the decorative caps of the mechanical actuating elements (16) of the functional module (22) are formed from a hard component and integral with the functional module (22). Operating device according to one of claims 1 to 5,
characterized,
that is on the side facing the user of the function module (22) is provided a decorative panel (20) with corresponding cutouts for the mechanical operating elements (16) and / or optical display elements (17). Operating device according to one of claims 1 to 5,
characterized,
that the function module (22) is formed on the side facing the user side with a decorative design. Operating device according to one of claims 1 to 7,
characterized,
in that the functional module (22) is further provided with a seal (30) for sealing the electronic components of the operating device (10). Operating device according to claim 8,
characterized,
in that the seal (30) of the functional module (22) is formed of a soft component and integral with the functional module (22). Operating device according to one of claims 1 to 9,
characterized,
that the plurality of electrical operator control, switching and / or display elements (14) of the operating device (10) being disposed in a housing and the functional module (22) is connected to this housing. Operating device according to one of claims 1 to 10,
characterized,
in that the functional module (22) is further provided with a damping element for damping between the functional module (22) and an adjacent component of the operating device (10). Operating device according to claim 11,
characterized,
that the damping element of the functional module (22) of a soft component and integrally formed with the functional module (22). Operating device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
in that the carrier (18) and the plurality of mechanical actuating elements (16) and / or optical display elements (17) are formed by integral injection molding. Operating device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
in that the at least one hard component is a housing plastic, such as, for example, ABS, PA, PA66, PBT, PCABS or the like. Operating device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
is the at least one soft component is a thermoplastic elastomer or a thermosetting elastomer.

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