EP2420607B1 - Faceplate of an operating unit for a domestic appliance, operating unit for a domestic appliance and domestic appliance - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a panel of a control unit of a household appliance, comprising at least one aperture for the passage of at least a first part of at least one light guide. Furthermore, the invention relates to an operating unit of a household appliance, with a panel having at least one aperture for passing at least a first part of a light guide, with at least one light guide for transmitting light and with a control module for supporting at least one electrical and / or electronic component, wherein a second part of the at least one light guide for introducing light from a light source between the diaphragm and the operating module is arranged, and a household appliance with a control unit.

Operating units, in particular electronic operating units, are used in various household appliances, home technology and consumer electronics. Such household appliances are, for example, washing machines, cookers, dishwashers or extractor hoods. The requirements for operating units are manifold. In addition to the aesthetic requirements, control units fulfill various technical functions. On the one hand, control units display visually stored functions of the respective control buttons. On the other hand, it is necessary for the operating units to be watertight, at least bubble-water-tight, so that the operating module of the operating unit, in particular the electronics of the operating module, is not damaged if water is inadvertently poured over the operating unit of the household appliance.

Modern operating units have optical fibers, are illuminated or illuminated by the control buttons of the control unit. Often, the light guides themselves are designed as control buttons or switching elements. In the case of such operating units, the operating module, on which the electrical and / or electronic components are seated, is protected by an aperture, also referred to as a cover panel. Between the Operating module and the aperture are one or more optical fibers provided, which serve to illuminate the control buttons, which are guided through the aperture.

The attachment of optical fibers to the diaphragm of such a control unit is currently realized by two different methods.
On the one hand, light guides are attached to the panel by ultrasonic welding. For this purpose, the aperture is fixed in an ultrasonic welding machine. Subsequently, a first end of a light guide is arranged on a sonotrode of the ultrasonic welding machine and the light guide is welded to the panel. The process is repeated for the second end of the light guide in order to realize a secure attachment of the light guide to the diaphragm. However, the use of an ultrasonic welding machine for attaching a light guide to a panel causes relatively high costs and a relatively high design effort, since the panel is to be mounted in or on the ultrasonic welding machine before the light guide can be welded by means of the sonotrode to the panel. Since the panels of the control units of household appliances have many different shapes, in particular different recording tools in the ultrasonic welding machine are required to fix the unterschiedlen large aperture in the ultrasonic welding machine.

Another method to fix a light guide to a panel of a control unit of a household appliance, is the use of an adhesive. The disadvantage here is the difficult centering of the light guide to the panel and in particular that the adhesive connection can not be solved or only with considerable effort again. In particular, a release of a bonded optical fiber from a diaphragm is not possible without damaging the light guide or the diaphragm.

The control panel of DE 10 2006 023 954 A1 has a hook on the back of its front panel, which hooks into a hooking hole of a mounting portion. In this case, the attachment portion is connected via a connecting portion with the contact portion of a key portion. The key section sits in a keyhole of a sunken in the front panel, transparent window in a direction of movement perpendicular to the position of the front plate liftable . Only the key portion is made of transparent material. Behind the front panel By far, an LED carrier is arranged. If a key press is exerted on the key section when it is actuated on the front side, then it moves in the key hole in the direction of an operating transfer section of the LED carrier. The operation transmitting section then switches a key switch of the LED carrier. Each time the key switch turns on and off, light from an LED of the LED carrier flickers and passes over a guide portion to the key portion, through the transparent material of which it is directed to the front of the front panel.

At the aperture of the EP 1 511 050 A2 only a hook on the inner edge of an aperture of the diaphragm is provided, which serves for snap-fitting engagement with a groove on the peripheral edge of an elastic key and does not come into direct contact with a light guide in the center of the elastic key.

The object of the invention is to provide a panel of a control unit for a household appliance, an operating unit of a household appliance and a household appliance, which allow a simple and inexpensive secure fixation of at least one light guide to the aperture of the control unit.

The invention is based on the finding that these objects can be achieved by securely locking the at least one light guide of an operating unit to a specially designed aperture.

That is, the object is achieved by a panel of a control unit of a household appliance with the features according to independent claim 1, by an operating unit of a household appliance with the features according to claim 8 and by a household appliance with the features according to claim 14. Further features and details of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the description and the drawings. In this case, features and details that are described in connection with the diaphragm according to the invention apply, of course, in connection with the control unit according to the invention and the domestic appliance according to the invention, and in each case vice versa, so that with respect to the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention always reciprocal reference is or may be ,

According to the first aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a panel of a control unit of a household appliance, in particular a washing machine or dishwasher, comprising at least one aperture for passing at least a portion of at least one light guide, wherein the aperture for fixing the at least one light guide at least one resilient locking element has dissolved.

A panel of a control unit of a household appliance, which has at least one resiliently designed locking element for fixing one or more light guides, allows a structurally simple and cost-effective fastening of the light guide or fibers to the panel. At the same time, the at least one spring-elastic locking element ensures that the at least one light guide is firmly fixed to the panel. Due to the spring elasticity of the at least one latching element, the at least one light guide can be clamped to the panel, in particular to the inside of the panel which faces an adjustment module of the control unit. That is, by the resilience of the at least one locking element can be avoided that a light guide is fixed with play on the panel.

It can be provided that the diaphragm has only a single spring-elastic locking element. Such a trained aperture allows in particular the secure fastening of a single light guide. For this purpose, for example, one end of the light guide can be arranged behind a projection, behind an undercut or in a recess of the diaphragm and the other end of the light guide can be fixed by means of the spring-elastic locking element. Preference is given to a panel which has two or more resilient locking elements. In this case, the locking elements on the invisible to a user inside of the panel, which faces the operating module of the control unit, arranged. Several locking elements allow that a light guide from several sides held, in particular clamped, can be.

A light guide according to the invention is a body which is formed of a transparent, translucent material, preferably plastic, and allows the transport of light. Preferably, the light guide is formed of a solid material. But it is also conceivable that the light guide at least partially as Optical fiber, as a glass fiber, as a polymeric optical fiber or as another light-conducting flexible component is formed. The at least one light guide has at least one first part, which can be passed through an aperture in the aperture. Advantageously, the light guide is a complex formed body having a main body and a plurality of first parts, which can be passed through a plurality of apertures in the aperture. Therefore, a diaphragm is advantageous, which has two or more apertures for receiving the at least two or more first parts of a light guide or a plurality of light guides. The at least one aperture of the aperture can be designed differently. Thus, the at least one aperture can be formed, for example, as a round, oval or square hole, through which a complementary formed first part of a light guide can be passed. Preferably, the at least one aperture is formed as a through hole in the aperture.

To attach a light guide to the panel, the at least one resilient locking element is resiliently braced, in particular bent back, so that a light guide can be positively applied to the panel or to the at least one resilient locking element. After the form-fitting application of the optical waveguide, the at least one spring-elastic locking element snaps back in the direction of its starting position so that it fixes the optical waveguide positively and non-positively to the diaphragm, in particular on the inside of the diaphragm.

The at least one resilient locking element is designed in particular as a protruding from the panel part, in particular as an outstanding from the aperture elongated profile.

According to the invention, it is provided in the case of the diaphragm that the at least one resiliently designed detent element has a detent projection for engaging behind the at least one optical waveguide. The latching projection on the latching element is preferably arranged at the free end of the latching element. Preferably, the latching projection is formed monolithically with the latching element. A latching element with a latching projection has in particular a hook-shaped form. The locking projection represents a kind

Buckling or thickening of the locking element, so that after the arrangement of a light guide to the diaphragm of the locking projection of the locking element, the side facing away from the diaphragm of the light guide can at least partially engage behind. According to the invention, the latching projection has a bevel inclined to the longitudinal axis of the latching element or contact surface, which serves to bear against the light guide. Such a trained aperture having one or more locking element (e) with locking projections, allows a particularly simple and secure holding at least one light guide to the panel.

An advantage of the apertures described above is that the light guide can be easily locked to the panel, in particular clipped, can be. This is possible in particular without great design effort. Due to the spring elasticity of the at least one resiliently formed locking element of the diaphragm is further ensured that a light guide can be easily removed again from the panel. This is particularly advantageous if either the optical fiber or the aperture are to be replaced due to damage.

Particularly advantageous is a diaphragm in which two or more spring-elastic locking elements are provided for fixing a light guide. This is a particularly secure holding the light guide to the panel, in particular on the side facing the operating module of a control unit inside the panel ensures. The spring-elastic locking elements are preferably arranged offset to one another at the diaphragm. The latching projections on each spring-elastic locking element are preferably aligned such that when fixing a light guide to the latching elements of the light guide is engaged behind by all latching projections of the spring-elastic locking elements.

According to a further preferred development of the invention, it can be provided in the diaphragm that the at least one resilient locking element protrudes perpendicular or inclined to the longitudinal axis of the diaphragm from this. The aperture is usually flat or slightly curved. In a plane, that is straight, trained aperture, in particular just trained inside of the panel, it is advantageous if the resiliently formed locking elements at an angle between 70 ° and 90 °, in particular at an angle between 80 ° and 85 °, inclined to the diaphragm or to the inside of the diaphragm are arranged. In this case, a plurality of latching elements are preferably arranged such that they are arranged inclined to each other. If the inside of the panel is curved inward, the spring-elastic locking elements can be arranged tangentially to the panel. Due to the curvature of the locking elements are inclined to each other, so that a very secure attachment of at least one light guide can be made possible.

According to a particularly preferred further development of the invention, it may be provided in the diaphragm that the at least one resiliently formed detent element is formed monolithically with the diaphragm. This means that the panel is made together with the at least one resilient locking element in a common manufacturing process. In particular, such a diaphragm formed by a casting process, in particular an injection molding process, can be produced easily and inexpensively. Such a trained aperture can be made of a metallic material. In particular, a light metal, such as an aluminum alloy, conceivable. Preferably, however, the diaphragm is made of plastic. A plastic formed aperture can be particularly simple and inexpensive by a casting process, in particular injection molding getting produced. At the same time a high strength of the diaphragm and arranged on the panel locking elements is ensured.

Also preferred is a diaphragm, which is characterized in that the at least one resilient locking element has an inclined to the longitudinal axis of the aperture contact surface for abutment of a support surface of an operating module. By such a special configuration of the at least one resiliently formed locking element of the panel, the at least one resilient locking element can be additionally secured by the operating module, so that after attachment of the control module to the panel, the locking elements of the diaphragm immovable between the at least one light guide and the Operating module abut. The inclined contact surface of a locking element serves to bear a support surface of the operating module. Preferably, a locking element is pressed after contact of the support surface of the control module to the contact surface of the locking element against the light guide. As a result, the light guide is held particularly secure to the diaphragm or between the diaphragm and the control module after attachment of the control module to the panel. The inclined contact surface of a locking element allows a slight pressing of the control module to the locking element, so that this can exert an additional clamping torque on the light guide. The inclined contact surface of the latching element is preferably arranged parallel or approximately parallel to the likewise inclined contact surface of the latching projection of the latching element, on the side facing away from the inclined contact surface of the latching projection side of the latching projection or of the latching element. Advantageously, the inclined contact surfaces of a plurality of latching elements are arranged relative to one another such that the planes in which the inclined contact surfaces extend intersect at one point.

The at least one resilient locking element is advantageously designed for engaging behind a trained as a switch light guide. Thus, the light guide not only the function of lighting, but also the function of a switch, in particular a pressure switch exert. The at least one resiliently formed locking element of the diaphragm engages behind and thereby fixes the light guide designed as a switch such that it can be securely arranged in front of an actuating element of the operating module of the control unit.

According to a further preferred development of the invention, it can be provided in the diaphragm that one or more sealing elements are provided on the at least one diaphragm aperture and / or on the side of the diaphragm facing the at least one optical fiber. The at least one sealing element ensures that no water, in particular splash water, can flow through the at least one diaphragm opening of the diaphragm to the operating module of the operating device. The at least one light guide is fixed in such a sealed manner to the panel that a flow of water can be prevented. Preferably, a sealing element is provided at least in each aperture of the aperture, so that water can not reach the inside of the panel at all. The at least one sealing element is preferably made of plastic or rubber.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by an operating unit of a household appliance, with a panel having at least one aperture for passing at least a first part of a light guide, with at least one light guide for transmitting light and with an operating module for holding at least one electrical and / or electronic component, wherein a second part of the at least one light guide for introducing light of a light source between the diaphragm and the operating module is arranged, and wherein the diaphragm is formed according to at least one advantageous embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, solved. A household appliance may be, for example, a washing machine, a dishwasher, an oven, a stove or an extractor hood. An operating unit of a household appliance, in which the aperture for fixing at least one light guide has at least one resiliently formed locking element, allows a particularly simple and cost-effective fixation of at least one light guide to the panel, in particular on the facing to the operating module of the control unit inside the panel. The operating unit of the household appliance is characterized in that one or more light guides are fixed between the panel and the operating module. In this case, the one or more light guides are held by the provided on the diaphragm resiliently shaped locking elements on the panel, in particular prefixed, so that the at least one light guide remains securely fixed even in the unassembled state of the control unit to the aperture of the control unit. This is particularly advantageous for transport or storage purposes.

The aperture of the operating unit has at least one aperture, preferably two or more apertures, for the passage of at least a first part of a light guide. Preferably, a light guide has a main body with a plurality of first parts, which are each guided through a corresponding aperture in the aperture and additionally have or fulfill a switching functionality in addition to the illumination function. That is, the fact that the light guide is preferably formed of a solid transparent material, the light guide, in particular the at least first part of the light guide, serve as a switch for actuating an actuating element, in particular an electrical or electronic component, the operating module of the operating unit.

The light guide of the control unit may have a planar or approximately planar, for example, slightly curved, base body, on which protrude one or more monolithically formed to the base body, the first parts. The at least one protruding first part is arranged in particular perpendicularly or approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal alignment of the base body of the light guide, so that the at least one first part of the light guide can be guided through the at least one aperture opening of the light guide when the main body of the light guide rests against the aperture. Preferably, for each first part of a light guide, an aligned second part is arranged on the light guide, in particular arranged on the side opposite the respective first part of the main body of the light guide, so that each first part in interaction with the respectively aligned second part as a switch or serve control button.

The at least one light guide or the main body of the light guide of the control unit may have a peripheral edge which serves as a contact for the resiliently formed locking elements of the diaphragm. However, an operating unit is preferred in which the at least one optical waveguide has at least one abutment element for abutment with the at least one resiliently formed detent element of the diaphragm, wherein the abutment element is part of the optical waveguide. That is, a light guide may have specially trained contact elements, via which the light guide can be clamped to the panel. These contact elements may for example be angled projections at the free ends of the light guide, which are designed for positive engagement with the resilient locking elements of the diaphragm. There are the contact elements of the optical waveguide are preferably arranged on the optical waveguide in such a way that upon contact of the optical waveguide with the diaphragm, the contact elements on the side of the optical waveguide facing away from the latter protrude from the latter. In this case, the contact elements can be arranged perpendicular or inclined to the voltage applied to the diaphragm side of the light guide to the light guide. Preferably, the abutment elements, which in particular have an elongated profile, have a length such that the free ends of the abutment elements bear against the corresponding latching projections of the resiliently formed latching elements.

The aperture of the operating unit is fixed to the operating module of the operating unit. Here, the at least one light guide between the operating module and the diaphragm is arranged, in particular clamped. According to a particularly preferred further development of the invention, it may be provided in the operating unit that the operating module has at least one support surface, inclined to the longitudinal axis of the diaphragm aperture of the diaphragm, for engagement with a contact surface of the at least one resiliently formed latching element. Such a trained operating module allows that when attaching the control module to the panel of the control unit, the at least one inclined support surface of the control module to the at least one inclined contact surface of the at least one resiliently formed detent element applies and this presses in the direction of the light guide. By conditioning the support surface of the control module to the contact surface of a locking element, the freedom of movement of the locking element is limited, in particular completely prevented. As a result, after the attachment of the operating module to the panel, it is ensured that a latching projection of a resiliently formed latching element of the panel securely and permanently engages behind the light guide, so that it is immovably fixed to the panel. The at least one inclined support surface of the control module supports the at least one resiliently formed locking element in addition, so that this is not distorted or bent back and the light guide can not be released from its attachment to the panel. The at least one inclined support surface of the operating module is so inclined arranged on the operating module or formed that correspond to the inclinations of the contact surfaces of the respective resiliently formed locking elements in a mounting of the operating module to the panel, the inclination of the support surfaces.

The at least one light guide of the operating unit is preferably designed as a switch for actuating a functionality of the operating module. That is, the at least one light guide has, in addition to its illumination functionality, the function of a switch or an operating button for actuating a functionality of the operating module.
Therefore, according to a particularly preferred further development of the invention, it is provided in the operating unit that the second part of the at least one light guide is in contact with the operating module or at least in contact with functional units or actuating elements of the operating module. The second part of the at least one light guide is the part of the light guide which is clamped between the inside of the panel and the operating module. If the optical waveguide has a main body, the second part of the optical waveguide is the part of the optical waveguide which is arranged in alignment with the first part of the optical waveguide on the main body and which is in contact with an electrical or electronic actuating element of the operating module. The at least one first part of the light guide is passed through the at least one aperture of the aperture for actuation by a user. Characterized in that no gap or no gap is provided between the operating module and the light guide, the light guide, which is preferably formed of a solid transparent material, serve as a switch or control button for actuating a functionality of the control module.

According to a third aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a household appliance with a control unit, which is formed according to the second aspect of the invention. The household appliance may be, for example, a washing machine, a dishwasher, an oven, a cooker, an extractor fan, etc .... or other household appliance for cooking, washing, drying, rinsing, etc .. A household appliance, wherein the control unit has a panel with at least one aperture for passing at least a first part of a light guide and at least one resiliently formed locking element for fixing at least one light guide, at least one light guide for transmitting light and at least one control module with electrical and / or electronic Having components allows a particularly simple and inexpensive and at the same time very secure fixation of at least one light guide to the aperture of the control unit. Such household appliances can due to the simplicity of attachment of the at least one light guide of Operating unit can be produced at the aperture of the control unit cost and faster. The secure fixing of the at least one light guide to the panel of the control unit of the household appliance ensures that even with a transport of the household appliance, the light guide is not lost and the functionality of the control unit is maintained unrestricted. Even with bumps on the household appliance, in particular on the outside of the aperture of the control unit, it is ensured that the at least one light guide remains fixed unchanged at the diaphragm or between the diaphragm and the operating module of the control unit.

Other advantageous developments and / or variants of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

The above-described and / or reproduced in the subclaims advantageous embodiments and refinements of the invention can be used individually or else in any combination with each other in the diaphragm according to the invention, in the control unit according to the invention and / or the household appliance according to the invention for use.

The invention and its developments and advantages thereof are explained in more detail with reference to drawings.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht auf ein Haushaltsgerät in Form einer Waschmaschine, die eine Bedieneinheit aufweist, die gemäß dem erfindungsgemäßen Konstruktionsprinzip ausgebildet ist,

Figur 2

die Frontansicht einer Blende einer Bedieneinheit eines Haushaltsgerätes, wobei die Blende gemäß dem erfindungsgemäßen Konstruktionsprinzip ausgebildet ist,

Figur 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer möglichen Ausführungsvariante eines Lichtleiters einer Bedieneinheit für ein Haushaltsgerät,

Figur 4

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer möglichen Ausführungsvariante eines Bedienmodul einer Bedieneinheit für ein Haushaltsgerät,

Figur 5

eine Schnittdarstellung durch ein federelastisch ausgebildetes Rastelement einer Blende, die gemäß dem erfindungsgemäßen Konstruktionsprinzip ausgebildet ist,

Figur 6

eine Ausschnittsdarstellung auf eine Befestigung eines Lichtleiters an einer Blende einer Bedieneinheit, die gemäß dem erfindungsgemäßen Konstruktionsprinzip ausgebildet ist,

Figur 7

eine weitere Ausschnittsdarstellung einer Befestigung eines Lichtleiters zwischen einer Blende und einem Bedienmodul einer erfindungsgemäß ausgebildeten Bedieneinheit für ein Haushaltsgerät.

Each show schematically:

FIG. 1

a perspective view of a household appliance in the form of a washing machine, which has an operating unit, which is designed according to the construction principle according to the invention,

FIG. 2

the front view of a panel of a control unit of a household appliance, wherein the panel is designed according to the construction principle according to the invention,

FIG. 3

a perspective view of a possible embodiment of a light guide of a control unit for a household appliance,

FIG. 4

a perspective view of a possible embodiment of an operating module of a control unit for a household appliance,

FIG. 5

a sectional view through a resiliently formed locking element of a diaphragm, which is designed according to the construction principle according to the invention,

FIG. 6

2 shows a detail of an attachment of a light guide to an aperture of a control unit, which is designed in accordance with the design principle according to the invention,

FIG. 7

a further sectional view of an attachment of a light guide between a diaphragm and an operating module of an inventive control unit for a household appliance.

Elements with the same function and mode of action are in the Fig. 1 to 7 each provided with the same reference numerals.

Fig. 1 schematically shows in a perspective view of a household appliance 100, for example in the form of a washing machine, which has an operating unit 50 with a panel 1, which is formed according to the inventive design principle. The panel 1 of the control unit 50 serves as a cover or protection of the light guide 10 and the control module of the control unit 50. At least first parts 11 of the light guide 10 are passed through apertures 2 of the panel 1 so that they are visible to a user of the household appliance 100 and actuated ,

In the Fig. 2, 3 and 4 the parts of an operating unit 50 of a household appliance are shown.

This means, Fig. 2 schematically shows a front view of a possible embodiment of a panel 1, which is formed according to the inventive design principle. The panel 1 has a plurality of apertures 2 for the passage of optical fibers, in particular first parts of a light guide on.

Fig. 3 schematically shows in a perspective view of an embodiment possibility of a light guide 10 of an operating unit 50, which is designed according to the inventive design principle. The light guide 10 in this embodiment has a main body 14 and a plurality of protruding from the main body 14 first parts 11, which are formed for passage through aperture openings 2 of the panel 1. The main body 14 is formed here in the embodiment in an advantageous manner in the form of a plate with structural elements such as 11. The light guide 10 is preferably made of a solid transparent, that is to say transparent, material, in particular a plastic, so that light passed through the light guide 10 can emerge from the first parts 11 of the light guide 10 for visual recognition by a user.

Fig. 4 schematically shows in a perspective view of a possible operating module 20 of a control unit 50 for a household appliance, which is designed according to the inventive design principle. In the assembled state of the operating unit 50, the light guide 10, for example, designed according to Fig. 3 , between the panel 1, for example, formed according to Fig. 1 , and the operating module 20, for example, designed according to Fig. 4 permanently arranged securely, in particular securely clamped.

In the Fig. 5 is schematically illustrated a resiliently formed locking element 3 of a panel 1 of a control unit of a household appliance, wherein the panel 1 is formed according to the construction principle of the invention. The spring-elastic locking element 3 is integrally formed, in particular monolithic, with the panel 1. In this case, the resiliently formed locking element 3 protrudes from the panel 1, in particular from the inside of the panel 1 facing an operating module of an operating unit. The spring-elastic locking element 3 has at its free end a latching projection 4, which is designed for engaging behind at least one light guide. In the in Fig. 5 shown embodiment of the panel 1 a control unit of a household appliance, the resiliently shaped locking element 3 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 6 of the panel 1, in particular to the positional plane arranged. In an alternative embodiment variant of the panel 1, not shown, the at least one resiliently formed locking element 3 of the panel 1 inclined, in particular at an angle between 70 ° and 90 °, more preferably at an angle between 80 ° and 85 °, inclined to the longitudinal axis 6 of the panel 1, in particular its position plane to be arranged. As a result, a particularly good clamping action of the elastically formed locking elements 3 is ensured to the light guide. Preferably, the panel 1 has two or more resilient locking elements 3, which serve for secure fixation of at least one light guide 10 to the panel 1. The spring elasticity of the at least one elastically formed latching element 3 makes it possible for the latching elements 3 to exert a clamping force on the applied light guide 10 after the optical waveguide 10 has been positively applied to the panel 1, in particular to the inside of the panel 1 facing the adjustment module 20. As a result, this is securely held on the panel 1.

In the 6 and 7 is in each case a schematic sectional view of the attachment of a light guide 10 to a panel 1 of a control unit, which is formed according to the construction principle of the invention shown. The optical waveguide 10 has an abutment element 13 for abutment with the spring-elastic locking element 3 of the diaphragm 1. The contact element 13 is part of the light guide 10. In particular, the contact element 13 is formed monolithically with the light guide 10. In this case, the contact element 13 is formed on the circumferential free end of the light guide 10 as a protruding projection. Preferably, the contact element 13 is perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to the main body 14 of the light guide 10 disposed thereon. The contact element 13 is preferably designed such that it can be engaged behind the form-fitting manner by the spring-elastic locking element 3 of the panel 1. In particular, the latching projection 4 of the elastically formed latching element 3 engages behind the free end of the system element 13 of the light guide 10, so that the light guide 10 is securely held on the panel 1. Due to the resilience of the spring-elastic locking element 3 of the panel 1 can be exerted on the contact element 13 of the light guide 10 and thus on the light guide 10 on the inclined contact surface 5 of the locking projection 4, wherein the clamping force is directed in the direction of the panel 1. This clamping force is in Fig. 6 represented by the arrow on the contact element 13. The resiliently formed locking element 3 of the panel 1 further preferably has a longitudinal axis 7 of the aperture 2, in particular its position inclined surface contact surface 5. This inclined formed contact surface 5 of the resiliently formed locking element. 3 serves to bear a support surface 21 of the operating module 20, see in particular Fig. 7 , That is, the support surface 21 of the control module 20 of the control unit is designed inclined so that it can lie flat or flush or approximately flush with the contact surface 5 of the resilient locking element 3. In the attached state of the operating module 20 to the panel 1 of the control unit, as in Fig. 7 shown, the support surface 21 of the control module 20 contacts the contact surface 5 of the resiliently formed locking element 3, so that this is limited in its movement, so that a spring back of the resiliently formed locking element 3 is reliably prevented. The operating module 20 supported by the support surface 21, the attachment of the light guide 10 to the panel 1. Therefore, in the assembled state of the control unit of the light guide 10 is particularly secure to the panel 1.

Preferably, a plurality of support surfaces 21 are provided on the operating module 20 such that these support surfaces 21 are assigned to the corresponding latching elements 3 or contact surfaces 5 of the latching elements 3. In the 6 and 7 It is shown that the first part 11 of the light guide 10 is passed through the aperture 2 of the panel 1 and that the second end 12 of the light guide 10 is arranged to the operating module 20, that by a pressure actuation of the first part 11 of the light guide 10, the pressure pulse can be forwarded via the second part 12 of the light guide 10 on an unillustrated actuator of the control module 20 for actuating the same.

Such trained panels of control units for household appliances, such as washing machines or dishwashers, etc., or such trained operating units for household appliances and appliances allow a structurally simple and cost-effective attachment of at least one light guide to the aperture of the control unit. Both the aperture, as well as the control unit and the household appliance can be made faster and cheaper, in particular compared to a Ultraschallverschweißung a light guide to a panel of a control unit of a household appliance. In particular, no increased tool costs, such as costs for the special trainees sonotrode and the specially trained holding tool, required for the ultrasonic welding machine. Also changeover times and costs incurred when using the ultrasonic welding technique can be avoided. In the production of the diaphragm according to the invention can the main body of the diaphragm and the spring-elastic locking elements of the diaphragm in a process, in particular a casting process, are produced together. For this purpose, a special molded part is required. Such formed apertures increase the flexibility of production, since various moldings can be easily and inexpensively produced. Since panels for control units for household appliances or control units for household appliances are mass-produced, a high saving can be achieved even with a very low cost in the production of such panels in total.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

cover

2

aperture

3

resiliently formed locking element

4

Locking projection on the locking element

5

Contact surface on the locking element

6

Longitudinal axis of the aperture

7

Longitudinal axis of the aperture

10

optical fiber

11

first part of the light guide

12

second part of the light guide

13

Investment element of the light guide

14

Basic body of the light guide

20

adjustment module

21

Support surface on the operating module

50

operating unit

100

household appliance

Claims (14)

1. Faceplate (1) of an operating unit (50) of a domestic appliance (100), in particular of a washing machine or dishwasher, having at least one faceplate opening (2) for passing through at least one first part (11) of at least one light guide (10), wherein the faceplate (1), for fixing the at least one light guide (10), has at least one latching element (3) embodied in a resiliently elastic manner with a latching projection (4) provided for engaging behind the at least one light guide (10), characterised in that the latching projection (4) has a chamfer running in an inclined manner with respect to the longitudinal axis of the latching element (3), which chamfer serves the arrangement on the light guide (10).
2. Faceplate (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that two or more latching elements (3) are provided for fixing a light guide (10).
3. Faceplate (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the at least one latching element (3) embodied in a resiliently elastic manner protrudes from the faceplate (1) perpendicularly or inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis (6) of said faceplate (1).
4. Faceplate (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the at least one latching element (3) embodied in a resiliently elastic manner is embodied monolithically with the faceplate (1).
5. Faceplate (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the at least one latching element (3) embodied in a resiliently elastic manner has a contact surface (5) inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis (7) of the faceplate opening (2) for arrangement of a supporting surface (21) of an operating module (20).
6. Faceplate (1) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the at least one latching element (3) embodied in a resiliently elastic manner is embodied for engaging behind a light guide (10) embodied as a switch.
7. Faceplate (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, characterised in that one or more sealing elements are provided on the at least one faceplate opening (2) and/or on the side (6) of the faceplate (1) facing at least one light guide (10).
8. Operating unit (50) of a domestic appliance (100), in particular of a washing machine or dishwasher, with a faceplate (1), which has at least one faceplate opening (2) for passing through at least one first part (11) of a light guide (10), with at least one light guide (10) for the conveyance of light and with an operating module (20) for retaining at least one electric and/or electronic component, wherein a second part (12) of the at least one light guide (10) for feeding in light of a light source is arranged between the faceplate (1) and the faceplate module (20), characterised in that the faceplate (1) is embodied in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 7.
9. Operating unit (50) according to claim 8, characterised in that the at least one light guide (10) has at least one arranging element (13) for arrangement on the at least one latching element (3), embodied in a resiliently elastic manner, of the faceplate (1), wherein the arranging element (13) is part of the light guide (10).
10. Operating unit (50) according to claim 9, characterised in that the arranging element (13) is embodied as a projection protruding from the light guide (10) perpendicularly or in an inclined manner.
11. Operating unit (50) according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the operating module (20) has at least one supporting surface (21) inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis (7) of the faceplate opening (2) of the faceplate (1) for arrangement on the contact surface (5) of the at least one latching element (3) embodied in a resiliently elastic manner.
12. Operating unit (50) according to at least one of the preceding claims 8 to 11, characterised in that the at least one light guide (10) is a switch for actuating a functionality of the operating module (20).
13. Operating unit (50) according to at least one of the preceding claims 8 to 12, characterised in that the second part (12) of the at least one light guide (10) is in contact with the operating module (20) or at least in contact with functional units of the operating module (20).
14. Domestic appliance (100), in particular washing machine or dishwasher, with an operating unit (50), characterised in that the operating unit (50) is embodied in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims 8 to 13.

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