EP1956133A1 - Household device, in particular a washing machine, drier or washer-drier, with a screen section - Google Patents

Abstract

The panel section (6) is positioned by springs when installed, pressing its upper edge against the front edge of the cover (3) for the machine casing. Each spring is arrange in a sleeve (19) and acts against a stud (12). The sleeve has a spring pressing against the free end of the stud, against the direction of insertion, and acting against the cover as described. The spring is formed on the sleeve, in unitary construction. On the side opposite the insertion opening, the sleeve has a plate which can move axially. A spring connected to the sleeve presses the plate against the free end of the stud. The spring is designed as a tension spring. It is wavy, in the shape of a number of connected S-sections. It is housed in a side recess of the sleeve. There are two such recesses, each containing a similar spring. The sleeve has a further spring pressing the stud horizontally towards the interior of the casing. This spring is a C-section cut from the sleeve casing and acting as a leaf spring. It presses against the front edge of the opening (18) in the folded edge (13) of the front wall (2) hence causing the inward horizontal force acting on the sleeve with stud inserted.

Description

Household appliance, in particular washing machine, washer-dryer or tumble dryer, with a panel

The invention relates to a domestic appliance, in particular a washing machine, washer-dryer or tumble dryer, with a housing, consisting of a support structure to which a front wall and a housing cover is attached, and with a diaphragm member in the intended position in the upper region by means of the housing cover on the support structure is fastened, and comprises on the bottom as a means for positioning downwardly directed pins, which are respectively inserted into sockets, which are respectively inserted in an opening in a rearwardly directed towards the device interior fold of the front wall.

Such a household appliance is from the EP 1 621 659 A1 known. The household appliance disclosed in this document comprises a panel or a control panel having on the front side a substantially vertical surface with controls, which comprises on the upper side a rearwardly directed edge and at its edge above the lid on a support structure or on the housing itself is attached. At the bottom, the control panel includes fastening means directed vertically from the control panel and each projecting into an opening in a folded portion of the front wall, thus providing the positioning and mounting for the control panel. The connection with the front wall provides a flush transition between the front surface of the front wall and the front surface of the control panel. In the openings bushes are used, respectively, which provide an improved attachment for the pins. In the manufacture of housing parts tolerances with regard to dimensional accuracy can not be avoided in the rule. Therefore, gaps can be created at the transition points, which are often perceived as annoying at accessible points or reduce the impermeability to water spray. In a control panel, which is arranged with its top almost flush with the surface of the lid, it may happen that a gap between the top of the housing is formed.

From the DE 10 2005 025 808 B3 It is known to use in a flat inclined panel part springs that press the rear part against the edge of the overlying housing cover. For this purpose, designed as a leaf spring spring elements are used, which are inserted between the lower housing part, the panel part and the underlying frame part. By the attached housing cover the rear edge of the panel member is pressed against the spring force down against the frame member, whereby the panel member rests under constant pressure with its rear edge on the housing cover. The directions refer to the intended installation or operating situation of the Household appliance. The use of the additional springs is quite expensive, since a large number of individual parts must be mounted. Furthermore, it is necessary that there is a suitable frame part for supporting the springs below the panel part.

The object of the invention is to improve the attachment of a panel in a household appliance in a simple manner, with columns to be avoided.

According to the invention this object is achieved by a household appliance with a panel with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and modifications of the invention will become apparent from the following dependent claims.

The achievable with the present invention consist in addition to the simple and inexpensive installation is that a very stable and reliable attachment of the panel to the front wall and the housing cover is provided, which has a very small, almost invisible gap between the panel and the adjacent housing parts, especially the front wall and the lid permanently ensures. Furthermore, a tolerance compensation is created in a simple manner without having to give a particularly high dimensional stability for the housing parts.

For this purpose, the panel part is positioned over at least one spring element in the operational installation position, wherein the upper edge of the panel member is pressed against the front edge of the housing cover, wherein the spring element is arranged on or in the socket and acts on the pin. Due to the continuous force conditioning of the panel on the housing cover and subsequent deformation of the housing are reliably compensated. These and the following directions refer to the operational position of the household appliance. The panel part may be a part, which in particular forms the part of a control panel which is visible to the user and comprises operating and display elements for the domestic appliance. The cover member may also be a part of the housing, which serves as a cover.

In an advantageous embodiment, the socket has a first spring element which presses against the free end of the pin counter to the insertion direction, whereby the panel member is pressed up against the underside of the front edge of the housing cover.

It is expedient here to form a first spring element in one piece on the socket. In this way, especially in bushings made of plastic material, the spring element is very easy to provide and without additional items.

In a further embodiment, the socket on the opposite side of the insertion opening has a plate which is connected in the axial direction movable via at least one spring to the socket, so that the plate presses on the remote from the panel end of the pin. The plate here forms a spring-movable stop for the pin, which is pushed out in the inserted state against the insertion direction. The spring acts as a tension spring, whereby the spring action extends over a longer path.

In a further expedient embodiment, the socket has two opposing recesses, in each of which an acting as a spring S-shaped web is arranged. Thus, a stable attachment of the plate is provided on the webs and achieved a uniform spring action on the plate or on the inserted pin. Unwanted tilting is thus avoided.

In a further embodiment, the bush has at least one further spring element, which presses the pin in the horizontal direction to the housing interior. In this way, with the bushing a permanent contact of the panel part is provided on the front wall and at the same time to the front edge of the housing cover.

In an advantageous development, the second spring element is designed as a arranged in a lateral recess of the bushing leaf spring which presses against the front edge of the opening in the fold of the front wall and thereby on the socket with the inserted pin a horizontally directed to the inside of the housing force causes. In this way, the leaf spring can be integrally formed on the jacket of the socket, where they can be additionally provided with a detent to provide the fixation in the receiving opening and thus fulfills two functions.

Fig. 1

eine Waschmaschine oder einen Trockner mit einem Blendenteil in der Vorderansicht;

Fig. 2

in einer detaillierten Explosionsdarstellung den Bereich des Blendenteils;

Fig. 3

das Blendenteil in einer Seitenansicht als Schnittdarstellung im montierten Zustand;

Fig. 4

den Befestigungsbereich des Blendenteils im Detail;

Fig. 5

die Buchse in einer perspektivischen Ansicht und

Fig. 6

den Befestigungsbereich des Blendenteils in einer detaillierten Schnittansicht.

An embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in the drawings and will be described in more detail below. Show it:

Fig. 1

a washing machine or a dryer with a panel in front view;

Fig. 2

in a detailed exploded view of the area of the panel part;

Fig. 3

the panel part in a side view as a sectional view in the mounted state;

Fig. 4

the attachment area of the panel part in detail;

Fig. 5

the socket in a perspective view and

Fig. 6

the mounting portion of the panel part in a detailed sectional view.

In Fig. 1 is shown as a household appliance, a washing machine or a dryer in a perspective view from the front. The washing machine has a housing 1 which comprises a front wall 2, side walls 4 and a lid 3. Between the upper edge of the front wall 2 and the front edge of the lid 3, a panel 6 and a control panel is attached, the control and display elements 28, such as program selector, pushbuttons for special functions, lights, display and a cover 9 for a retractable Waschmitteleinspülkasten or Condensate tank at the dryer, contains. In this case, the panel part 6 with its lower edge with the front wall 2 and with the visible rear edge with the lid 3 is substantially positively connected and connected.

In Fig. 2 the attachment of the diaphragm part 6 is shown in an exploded perspective view. The front wall 2 has at the top of a directed towards the interior of the housing 1 fold 13, which is provided with openings 18. In the openings 18 sockets 19 are used. On the underside of the panel part 6 pins 12 are arranged, which can be inserted into the sockets 19. The front, substantially vertical portion 7 of the diaphragm part 6 merges on the upper side into a substantially horizontal section 8. At the rear end of the horizontal portion 8, a groove 26 is formed, in which a mounted on the front edge of the housing cover 3 spring 27 can be inserted. This means that the panel part 6 is fastened to the front wall 2 via the pins 12 inserted in the sockets 19, the upper side 8 of the panel part 6 being fixed over the housing cover 3 placed on the support structure. As a support structure, the side walls 4 and rear wall (not shown) or alternatively a support frame (not shown) may be used.

In the Fig. 3 the panel part 6 is shown in the mounted or installed state, wherein the front visible surface 7 of the panel part 6 is flush with the outer surface 5 of the front wall 2 and passes into this. In this illustration, pins 12 can be seen as fasteners, which are aligned on the underside of the panel 6 in the intended position or use of the household appliance down. Here, the pins 12 are arranged or formed on a web 10, which ensures a positioning of the pin 12 offset from the outer, front surface 7 of the panel part. The front wall 2 contains in the upper region at least one approximately at right angles to the rear towards the device interior directed bevel 13, in which the receiving openings 18 (FIG. Fig. 2 ) are arranged for the sockets 19. The fold 13 may comprise several sections, wherein the division into three sections has proved to be expedient. The first section 15 is directed approximately at right angles to the rear to the interior of the device and executed with a gentle curvature 14 arcuate. Starting from this first section 15, the second section 16 connects, which is directed approximately at right angles to the top. Starting from this begins the third section 17, which is directed approximately at right angles to the rear of the device interior. The lower edge of the panel 6 has a groove 29 (FIG. Fig. 4 ), which rests on the arcuate portion 14 on the first portion 15 of the fold 13. Due to the arcuate configuration 18 of the edge and the groove 29 at the lower edge of the diaphragm part 6, the diaphragm part 6 relative to the curved portion 14 can be slightly displaced, with always a flush, at least almost flush transition between the front wall 2 and the front surface 7 of the diaphragm part. 6 provided.

As in Fig. 3 also shown, the attachment of the panel member 6 takes place on the top of the lid 3 to the support structure. Here, the panel member 6 at its upper wall 8 at the rear end a shaped groove 26 into which engages a cover 3 arranged on the corresponding spring 27 in the mounted state. The lid 3 is attached to the supporting structure, for example the side walls 4 (FIG. Fig. 1 ) or a frame part (not visible) attached. As a result, a reliable, solid and opposite the front wall 2 positive and flat flush connection of the panel 6 is achieved despite simple installation. As a support structure here, for example, a frame assembly with vertical corner profiles and crossbeams can be used for stabilization. Due to tolerances or material fatigue, it may happen that a gap arises between the front edge of the housing cover 3 and the upper surface 8 of the diaphragm part 6. To avoid this, the bushings 19 are designed so that they press the panel member 6 up against the front edge of the lid 3. With this measure, the spring 27 attached to the housing cover 3 remains securely in the groove 26 which is located on the upper side 8 of the diaphragm part 6. By avoiding the gap, the ingress of dirt or spray into the interior of the housing 1 is prevented. Furthermore, noises that penetrate from the inside of the machine, as well as rattling noises or vibrations are avoided. For this purpose, the bush 19 comprises a spring element which presses on the free end of the pin 12 and presses it in the direction V, counter to the insertion direction. The resilient property is dimensioned so that it acts over the entire life of the household appliance.

In Fig. 4 the attachment or the connection between the panel 6 and the front wall 2 is shown in detail. The pin 12 protrudes into the socket 19, wherein the free end 12a presses against a plate 22 which is resiliently mounted on the sleeve 19 via an S-shaped web 21. The resilient attachment of the plate 22 is designed so that the spring, which is provided by the S-shaped web 21, is tensioned when the plate 22 is moved over the inserted pin 12 from its rest position in the opposite direction V.

In Fig. 5 the socket 19 is shown as a single part in a perspective view. In order to provide the S-shaped web 21, the bush 19 in its casing 20 contains at least one Recess 30, in which the S-shaped web 21 is inserted or molded. In a preferred embodiment, the S-shaped web 21 is cut out of the material of the jacket 20. At the side of the introduction for the pin 12 ( Fig. 6 ), the web 21 is connected to the remaining remaining material of the sleeve 19. On the side remote from the introduction, the plate 22 is attached to the S-shaped web 21, which has a movable stop for the pin 12 (FIG. Fig. 6 ) when it is introduced.

In the jacket 20 locking means are further provided, which fix the bushing 19 in the receiving opening 18 (FIG. Fig. 2 ) or secure them against falling out. As latching means, at least one leaf spring 23 is provided, which is formed as a C-shaped cutout 24 from the shell 20 and has an outwardly directed latching lug 25 for latching with the edge of the receiving opening 18. The leaf spring 23 is connected on the side remote from the journal insertion with the material of the shell 20 and has its center of rotation in this area. The leaf spring 23 has at the free end an extension 23a, which presses in the inserted state on one side on the inner opening edge of the receiving opening 18 and causes a resilient displacement of the sleeve 19 within the receiving opening 18.

In Fig. 6 the inserted into the receiving opening 18 bushing 19 is shown with pin 12 in detail. In this case, the extension 23a presses against the front opening edge of the receiving opening 18, whereby the bushing 19 is displaced substantially horizontally in the direction H to the device interior. The locking lugs 25 are below the opening edge of the fold 13 and provide the support of the bushing 19 in the receiving opening 18. At the same time, the pin 12 located in the socket 19 is pressed in the direction V upwards against the insertion direction. In the case of tolerance compensation, the shutter 6 can now be moved slightly upwards in the direction V. By acting in the direction H force of the bushing 19, the lower edge is pressed with the overhang 11 and the groove 29 against the front wall 2 and against the curvature 14 for the fold 13, whereby a too large gap between the panel 6 and front wall 2 avoided becomes. Another possibility is to insert the bushing 19 firmly in the receiving opening 18 and to press the panel part 6 with the groove 29 at the lower edge to provide a bias against the front wall 2 and against the curved portion 14.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1:

casing

2:

front wall

3:

cover

4:

Sidewalls / support structure

5:

Outer surface of the front wall

6:

control panel

7:

Front surface of the control panel

8th:

upper surface of the control panel

9:

Cover for detergent cistern

10:

web

11:

overhang

12:

spigot

13:

fold

14:

gentle curvature

15:

first section

16:

second part

17:

third section

18:

receiving opening

19:

Rifle

20:

coat

21

S-web

22:

plate

23:

leaf spring

23a:

extension

24:

c-Neck

25:

locking lug

26:

Groove in the control panel

27:

feather

28:

controls

28a:

indicators

29:

fillet

30:

recess

H:

Horizontal direction

V:

Vertical direction

Claims (8)

Domestic appliance, in particular washing machine, washer-dryer or tumble dryer, with a housing (1), comprising a support structure (4) to which a front wall (2) and a housing cover (3) is attached, and with a diaphragm part (6), which in fixed position in the upper area by means of the housing cover (6) on the support structure (4) is fixed, and on the underside as a means for the positioning downwardly directed pins (12), which are respectively inserted into bushes (19), respectively are inserted in an opening (18) in a bevelled edge (13) of the front wall (2) directed towards the rear of the device,
characterized,
that the panel part (6) via at least one spring element (21, 23) is positioned in the operation proper installation position, wherein the upper edge of the screen member (6) against the front edge of the housing cover (3) is pressed, wherein the spring element (21, 23 ) is arranged on or in the bush (19) and acts on the pin (12). Household appliance according to claim 1,
characterized,
in that the bushing (19) has a first spring element (21) which presses against the free end of the pin (12) counter to the insertion direction, whereby the screen part (6) is pressed up against the underside of the front edge of the housing cover (3) , Household appliance according to claim 2,
characterized,
that the first spring element (21) is integrally formed on the bush (19). Household appliance according to claim 2,
characterized,
that the bushing (19) on the opposite side of the insertion hole has a plate (22) (V) is movably connected via at least one spring (21) with the socket (19) in the axial direction, so that the plate (22) on the free end of the pin (19) presses, wherein the spring (21) is designed as a tension spring. Household appliance according to claim 3,
characterized,
in that the at least one spring is an S-shaped web (21) which is arranged in a lateral recess (30) of the bushing (19). Domestic appliance according to claim 3 or 4,
characterized,
in that the bushing (19) has two mutually opposite recesses (30), in each of which an S-shaped web (21) acting as a spring is arranged. Household appliance according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the bushing (19) has at least one further spring element (23) which pushes the pins (12) in the horizontal direction (H) to the housing interior. Household appliance according to claim 7,
characterized,
in that the second spring element (23) is formed as a C-shaped cutout (24) from the jacket (20) of the bushing (19) and acts as a leaf spring (23) which bears against the front edge of the receiving opening (18) in the fold (Fig. 13) of the front wall (2) and thereby on the bushing (19) with the inserted pin (12) causes a horizontally directed to the inside of the housing force (H).

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