EP2333422B1 - Operating device for a domestic appliance and domestic appliance with such an operating device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an operating device for a domestic appliance, with a control element which is tiltable for setting operating conditions of the domestic appliance from a basic position. Furthermore, the invention relates to a domestic appliance with a corresponding operating device.

Operating devices for household appliances are known in many embodiments. From the DE 198 25 310 A1 an operating unit for a household electrical appliance according to the preamble of claim 1 is known. The well-known control is relatively hochbauend.

The EP 2 012 336 A2 discloses an input device having a tilting control. The tilting process is detected by snap disks.

The EP 1 026 713 discloses an electronic device with pressure and rotary drive, which is mainly equipped in electronic devices of various kinds and is able to obtain predetermined output signals, each corresponding to a rotary manipulation and a pressure manipulation of a control knob.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an operating device for a domestic appliance, which is designed to be more compact and space-saving. Accordingly, it is also an object to provide a domestic appliance with such an operating device.

This object is achieved by an operating device having the features of claim 1, and a domestic appliance having the features of claim 15.

An operating device according to the invention for a household appliance comprises at least one control element which can be tilted to set operating conditions of the domestic appliance from a basic position. The operating element is mushroom-shaped and comprises a control cap and a control pin. The control pin is with the control cap connected. The control element cap is partially slipped over a support element and the control element pin extends into a recess on the support element. By such a configuration, a very space-minimized and flat construction of the operating device can be created. In addition, the manageability and ease of use with regard to the adjustment of operating conditions and thus the movement of the control knob is very ergonomic. The adjustment and the mobility of the operating element can be very precise.

It is provided that at least one elevation, in particular a circumferential elevation, is formed on the upper side of the support element facing the operating element cap, and the operating element cap rests on this elevation. This survey serves as a complementary stop element for formed on the underside of the control element cap web guide and at the same time forms a reliable element to prevent the entry of contaminants into the interior of the support element. As a result, the wear can be kept low and the functionality remain durable, very high and precise.

Preferably, the operating device comprises only a single control element. As a result, the number of operating elements is minimized and a user can perform all settings by means of an element.

Preferably, the support element and the control element pin extends through an opening in a mounting plate of the domestic appliance. The mounting plate may be in particular for the preparation of preparation containers in a household appliance for preparing food. For example, a glass ceramic plate can be provided here. As a result of this configuration of the operating device, the overall height can be reduced even further, since at least some components extend through this mounting plate and are thus, as it were, partially recessed.

Preferably, a function and / or a subunit of the domestic appliance can be selected by the tilting movement of the control element cap, and a parameter of the function and / or the subunit can be selected and / or changed by rotating the control cap about its longitudinal axis.

In particular, the turning of the control cap about the longitudinal axis for selecting and / or changing a parameter of the function and / or the subunit in the tilted selection position of the control cap is feasible.

In particular, in the basic position can also be provided that the control element can be pressed along its longitudinal axis to perform a setting of the domestic appliance. For example, a switching on and off of the domestic appliance can be carried out.

Furthermore, a timer function can be provided as the operating setting, which can be set by actuating the operating element.

Preferably, the control element cap is formed arched and at its outer edge a circumferential web is formed on the underside. In particular, the cap is corner-free when viewed from above, in particular round. By formed on this bottom web is on the one hand a stop in terms of Created tilting movement of the control element and on the other hand provided a member with which the introduction of dirt or the like can be prevented under the controls.

Preferably, the operating element is movable relative to the support element. In particular, the support element is stationary on the household appliance, in particular a mounting plate arranged. As a result, a mechanically stable positioning of the operating device can be created and yet a particularly smooth and precise motion control of the operating element can be created on the support element.

It is preferably provided that the control element pin is arranged in a holding element which is movable relative to the support element and which is electronically coupled to a detection unit, in particular for sensory detection of the movement and / or the position of the operating element. By this additional retaining element and the mechanically stable attachment and mounting of the operating element is achieved, wherein the retaining element is still so flexible movable that the mobility of the control element is not limited, but positively supported and guided. In addition, this holding element is also electronically coupled to a detection unit, a very component-reduced and multi-functional design of a component is also achieved here. The precise movement and position detection is favored.

Preferably, a sealing and movement guide element is arranged between the support element and the control element pin. On the one hand, therefore, the Free space in the support element, in which the control element pin hineinerstreckt, reliably sealed and beyond this, the movement of the control element can be supported. Unwanted movement tolerances or a mechanically unstable mobility can be avoided. As a result, the motion guidance can also be damped in a certain way, so that a particularly low-wear and high-quality design is made possible. In particular, haptic feedback with regard to the movement guidance to the user can be passed on in this regard and a corresponding configuration of this seal and motion guide element can be provided.

Preferably, this sealing and movement guide element is arranged in the recess of the support element. Again, thus a particularly compact and space-minimized design is possible. In addition, this position is also particularly low-wear for this seal and motion guide element itself. Wear due to it rubbing elements of the operating device during the movement can be avoided in such a configuration.

Preferably, the seal and motion guide member is disposed with one end in a movable holding member for holding the operating member pin and arranged on the control pin. This allows for a particularly stable attachment of this seal and motion guide element. In addition, the area between the control pin and the retaining element can be sealed accordingly.

Preferably, the seal and motion guide element is an elastic fan-shaped bellows seal. This ensures a particularly advantageous embodiment, as is ensured by this shape of the seal and the sufficient mobility and length extension in the motion control of the control element in the seal and motion guide element and thus on the one hand no unnecessary wear of this element occurs and on the other hand, the full free and easy mobility of the control is guaranteed for itself.

Preferably, the seal and motion guide member may be formed integrally with the holding member. By this embodiment, a component-reduced design is realized, in which mounting tolerances compared to versions in which the holding element and the seal and motion guide element are separate components are avoided.

Especially in such an embodiment of a seal and motion guide element, it is advantageous that the seal and motion guide element bears against an underside of a vault cap of the support element and is movable in the horizontal direction relative to the vault cap. Due to this relative positioning to one another, the movement guidance of the control element during tilting can also be carried out in a particularly precise and guided manner. Last but not least, the sealing and movement guide element is arranged here protected and sufficient movement in the free space of the support element, in particular a cavity of the support element, is guaranteed.

Preferably, it is provided that this seal and motion guide element is arranged so that it is positioned in the opening of the mounting plate quasi and moves in this regard in the horizontal direction in this opening, when the control is tilted accordingly. Preferably, the top of this seal and motion guide element is substantially at the level of the top of the mounting plate. In particular, it is then provided that the vault cap of the support element rests with its underside on this upper side of the mounting plate and in this respect also extends with its underside over the opening area, so that the seal and motion guide element can rest on this underside.

Preferably, the operating element is detachably arranged on a holding element, which is designed to hold a control element pin, and the support element. Due to this nondestructive solubility, the accessibility to the components under the control, in particular the control cap can be easily achieved. In this context, a simple cleaning or easy access for maintenance and installation of corresponding components of the operating device can thus be ensured. In particular, it is thus provided that by a simple Plugging the operating element, in particular of the control element pin in or on the holding element, a corresponding fastening and mounting of the operating element is sufficiently effected. As a result, a particularly fast assembly can be ensured.

Preferably, the support element has a vault cap, which rests on an upper side of the mounting plate of the domestic appliance. As a result of this refinement, a sufficient fastening of the support element in the opening and on the installation plate is virtually guaranteed. Slipping through the opening can be avoided because the vault cap quasi also extends at the edge with a larger flange to the outside and rests with this on the mounting plate outside the opening. Preferably, the support element is also mushroom-shaped and has centrally and centrally on a continuous recess in the form of a continuous hole. In particular, an embodiment of the operating device is thus created in which a mushroom-shaped operating element is introduced into a mushroom-shaped supporting element which has a centered continuous hole configuration into which the operating element extends.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a domestic appliance with an operating device according to the invention or an advantageous embodiment thereof. A home appliance is understood to mean appliances for preparing food, for the care of items of laundry, for cleaning dishes or the like, as well as devices for storing and preserving food. In this context, for example, ovens, hobs, Dampfgargeräte, microwave ovens, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, etc. are called. Likewise, the operating device may also be provided on other kitchen appliances such as a coffee machine or a kettle or the like.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Hausgeräts;

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Bedienvorrichtung;

Fig. 3

eine schematische Darstellung einer Bedienvorrichtung gemäß Fig. 2 in einer ersten Betriebsstellung;

Fig. 4

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung der Bedienvorrichtung gemäß Fig. 3 in einer zweiten Betriebsstellung;

Fig. 5

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels der Bedienvorrichtung in einer ersten Betriebsstellung; und

Fig. 6

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung der Bedienvorrichtung gemäß Fig. 5 in einer zweiten Betriebsstellung.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of an embodiment of a domestic appliance according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a perspective view of an embodiment of an operating device according to the invention;

Fig. 3

a schematic representation of an operating device according to Fig. 2 in a first operating position;

Fig. 4

a schematic sectional view of the operating device according to Fig. 3 in a second operating position;

Fig. 5

a schematic sectional view of another embodiment of the operating device in a first operating position; and

Fig. 6

a schematic sectional view of the operating device according to Fig. 5 in a second operating position.

In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

In Fig. 1 is shown in a schematic representation of a trained as hob 1 domestic appliance for preparing food. The hob 1 has four cooking zones 2, 3, 4 and 5. To this end, the hob 1 comprises a mounting plate 6, which is designed as a glass ceramic plate, and on which the cooking zones 2 to 5 form mounting surfaces on which preparation containers, such as pots, pans and the like can be placed.

In addition, the hob 1 comprises an operating device 7, which is designed to set operating conditions of the hob 1. These operating conditions may include the selection of individual cooking zones 2 to 5 and / or the selection of operating programs and / or the setting of operating parameters.

In Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the operating device 7 is shown. This operating device 7 has a mushroom-shaped operating element 8, which comprises a control element cap 9. This control element cap 9 can be gripped by a user by hand and it can be tilted from a basic position. In Fig. 2 is shown a tilted position from the basic position. The operating device 7 further comprises a support element 10, which comprises a vault cap 11, on which the control element cap 9 is seated.

In Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view shown by an operating device 7, wherein for this purpose the operating element 8 is shown in a first operating position, namely the basic position. The basic position is characterized by the fact that the control element 8 is not tilted from its rest position.

The control element 8 can be tilted about the vertical axis A in accordance with the arrow P1 in all pages and it can be about this axis A quasi also a wobbling motion of the control knob 8 out. In addition, the control element 8 can also be rotated about the axis 8.

In addition to the aforementioned curved control element cap 9, the control element 8 comprises a control element pin 12 which is integrally connected to the control element cap 9 and extends downwardly from the underside 13 of the control element cap 9. In the in Fig. 3 shown basic position, the vertical axis A of the operating device 7 is equal to the longitudinal axis of the control pin 12th

The control cap 9 has at its outer edge 14 on the underside 13 on a circumferential downwardly extending bead or web 15.

The support element 10 is also mushroom-shaped and has a vault cap 16. In addition, a continuous recess 17 is formed in the support element 10, in which the control element pin 12 hineinerstreckt. On an upper side 16 a of the arch cap 16 of the support element 10, a ring-like circumferential elevation 18 is formed, which forms a stop system in conjunction with the web 15 of the control element cap 9. As a result, the mobility with respect to the tilting of the operating element 9 is limited by these complementary stops.

In addition, on the inside and on the edge of the continuous hole in the form of the recess a further survey on this top 16 a formed, this further survey 19 serves as a support and / or seal for the control element cap 9. In a corresponding manner, the elevation 18 can also act sealingly.

As can be seen, a narrow clearance is formed between the circumferential web 15 and the top 16a of the vault cap 16.

The vault cap 16 lies with its underside 20 on an upper side 21 of the mounting plate 6. In addition, the receiving element 10 extends completely through an opening 23 in the mounting plate. 6

In the exemplary embodiment shown, a seal and motion guide element 22 is furthermore formed in the recess 17, which extends between the inside of the support element 10 delimiting the recess 17 and the control element pin 12. In the exemplary embodiment, this seal and movement guide element 22 is a flexible elastic and diversified sealing element, in particular a bellows seal.

As further in Fig. 3 is shown, the operating device 7 also comprises a holding element 24, which is also formed elastically and relatively movable to the support element 10. In the holding element 24, which is in particular rod-shaped, the control element pin 12 extends into and is held therein. As can be seen, the recess 17 is dimensioned so large that the tilting movement of the operating element 8 from the basic position according to Fig. 3 over the entire path to for striking said webs 15 and the elevations 18 to each other is possible.

The holding element 24 is also electrically coupled to an electronic detection unit, so that the movement and / or the position of the operating element 8 can be sensed. In particular, in this case a connection to a three-axis potentiometer can be made possible.

The control element 8 is non-destructively detachably held in the holding element 24 and can be removed at any time by pulling out.

In Fig. 4 is the execution of the operating device 7 according to Fig. 3 shown in a second operating position, in which a tilted from the basic position to the right state is shown.

In Fig. 5 is a sectional view of another embodiment of an operating device 7, wherein also here a basic position and thus a non-tilted position of the operating element 8 is shown.

In this embodiment, only one elevation 25 in the form of a step is formed on the upper side 16a of the arch cap 16 of the support element 10.

In addition, unlike the embodiment in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 an aperture 26 is formed in the arch cap 16 through which the retainer 24 and the actuator pin 12 disposed therein extend therethrough. The vault cap 16 sits on the top 21 of the mounting plate 6. In addition, below the arch cap 16, a hollow cylindrical portion of the support member 10 extends through an opening 23 in the mounting plate 6. The cavity or space in the support element 10 below the aperture 26 is substantially larger and wider than the opening 26. In this space is a seal and movement guide member 27 which is integrally formed with the holding member 24. This sealing and movement guide element 27 is an annular circumferential web around the retaining element 24, wherein it rests with an upper side 28 on an underside 20 of the vault cap 16. Will the control 8 off tilted out of this basic position, the seal and motion guide member 27 slides along this bottom 20 in the horizontal direction. As from the illustration in Fig. 5 can be seen, the top 28 is substantially at the same vertical height level as the top 21 of the mounting plate. 6

In Fig. 6 is a further schematic representation of the operating device 7 in for in Fig. 5 shown basic position different second operating position shown in which a tilt is shown to the left.

By the operating device 7, a precise home appliance control can be achieved, which allows the connection between a pure touch technology, electronics and classical mechanical elements. It can be handled by precise haptic and mechanical operation in the form of tilting and turning enabled. In particular, it can be provided, for example, that a selection of a cooking zone 2 to 5 takes place by tilting the operating element 8 in the direction of the cooking zone, wherein a value adjustment of an operating parameter is achieved by turning the operating element 8 into the respective position.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

hob

2, 3, 4, 5

cooking zones

6

mounting plate

7

operating device

8th

operating element

9

Control element cap

10

support element

11

vault cap

12

Operating element pin

13

bottom

14

edge

15

web

16

vault cap

16a

top

17

recess

18, 19

surveys

20

bottom

21

top

22

Seal and motion guide

23

breakthrough

24

retaining element

25

survey

26

perforation

27

Seal and motion guide

28

top

A

axis

P1

arrow display

Claims (14)

1. Operating device for a household appliance (1) with an operating element (8), which can be tilted from a base position in order to set operating conditions of the household appliance (1), wherein the operating element (8) is designed in a mushroom shape and has an operating element cover (9) and an operating element shaft (12), and the operating element cover (9) is partially placed over a support element (10) and the operating element shaft (12) extends into a cut-out (17, 26) in the support element (10), wherein at least one protrusion (18, 19, 25), in particular a circumferential protrusion, is formed on the upper side (16a) of the support element (10) facing the operating element cover (9) and characterised in that the operating element cover (9) rests on the protrusion (18, 19, 25).
2. Operating device according to claim 1, characterised in that the support element (10) and the operating element shaft (12) extend through an aperture (23) in a support panel (6) of the household appliance (1).
3. Operating device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the operating element cover (9) is designed to be domed and has a circumferential web (15) on the underside (13) of its outer edge (14).
4. Operating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the operating element can be moved relative to the support element.
5. Operating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the operating element shaft (12) is arranged in a retaining element (24) that can be moved relative to the support element (10), said retaining element being electronically coupled to a detection unit for sensor-based detection of the motion and/or position of the operating element (8).
6. Operating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a sealing and motion control element (22, 27) is arranged between the support element (10) and the operating element shaft (12).
7. Operating device according to claim 6, characterised in that the sealing and motion control element (22, 27) is arranged in the cut-out (26).
8. Operating device according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the sealing and motion control element (22) is arranged with one end in a movable retaining element (24) for retaining the operating element shaft (12), and on the operating element shaft (12).
9. Operating device according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterised in that the sealing and motion control element (22) is an elastic concertina bellow seal.
10. Operating device according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the sealing and motion control element (22, 27) is formed as a single piece with the retaining element (24).
11. Operating device according to claim 10, characterised in that the sealing and motion control element (27) rests against an underside (20) of a domed cover (16) of the support element (10) and can be moved relative to the domed cover (16) in the horizontal direction.
12. Operating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the operating element (8) is arranged detachably on a retaining element (24) for the operating element shaft (12), and on the support element (10).
13. Operating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the support element (10) has a domed cover (16) that rests on an upper side (21) of the support panel (6) of the household appliance (1).
14. Household appliance with an operating device (7) according to one of the preceding claims.

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