EP2742843A1 - Domestic appliance with at least one display window - Google Patents

Abstract

The appliance (1) has a display window (6) for program data and information and comprising an externally visible, partially transparent viewing area. The display window is manufactured in a multi-component process, and has a frame that is fixedly connected with the viewing area, where the frame is provided for fixing the display window to a panel (3) of a housing of the appliance. The frame is made from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and comprises centering ribs for alignment with the panel of the housing, where the frame is fixed to the panel of the housing by welding or gluing.

Description

The invention relates to a household appliance having at least one display window for program data or similar information, wherein the display window comprises an externally visible, at least partially transparent viewing area, according to the preamble of claim 1.

It is known to provide household appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, freezers or the like with display windows for displaying date, time, temperature, selected program, energy and water requirements, remaining time remaining, current program step, possible error messages and / or other data can be used. Also, several such display windows can be provided on a device. In particular, household appliances of the so-called white goods are designed in this way.

One problem here is, on the one hand, to achieve a high degree of transparency of the display window-possibly to the edge-and, on the other hand, to embed it in a receiving housing area, for example a front-side plastic panel, as media-tight as possible. If, for example, a display window on the outer edge of its rear side is inserted from the front into the accommodating housing area and adhesively bonded and / or welded, a blurred edge region results there, which does not allow a linear boundary to the actual viewing area and therefore results in an unclean image. Therefore, such display windows are often inserted from behind into such a panel and welded or glued to its front edge. However, the window is bordered by the aperture so that there is a visually relatively small impression of the window area. In addition, behind the panel is often little space, so that such a mounting from the rear is not possible. However, if the display window only locked or clamped, a liquid-tightness is not achieved. In addition, a flat flush position of the outer window surface in the aperture is hardly accessible. If initially a finished window is back-injected with a film at the edge and then this film covers the weld, creates a high assembly cost.

The invention is based on the problem of achieving an improvement here.

The invention solves this problem by a household appliance with the features of claim 1. Further advantages and features and further developments of the invention are set forth in claims 2 to 14, the features of which can be implemented individually or in combination with each other.

With the invention, a household appliance is provided, which by the manufacture of the display window in a multi-component process and thereby integrally held intimate connection between a see-through area and a fixed at least with the viewing area frame for fixing the display window to parts of a housing of the household appliance on the one hand a large Transparent area allows, on the other hand allows mounting from the front of the panel, so that the space required behind the panel is minimized, and yet can do without an expensive and expensive in-mold process. The entire display window can be glued and / or welded from the front to the receiving area of the panel so that a force from the front always acts in the direction of gluing or welding and unlike a rear assembly does not endeavor, the parts from each other to solve.

The frame may in particular be circumferentially and therefore completely media-tight welded to the housing part, in particular a plastic panel, without this welding area is visible from the outside through the see-through area.

Production-technically simple and effective, the frame and the viewing area are formed in a so-called 2K process, wherein injection molding of any additional holding means or screens is not required. It suffices a single process step for the production of the entire unit of the display window.

If the frame is located on the back of the viewing area, this can be designed over a large area, which leaves a high-quality impression. The appearance of the display window is then larger than the so-called Active Area and can for example extend into the marginal edges of the aperture.

Particularly favorable forms the frame a completely closed, not interrupted contour behind the partially transparent plastic surface, so as to form a circumferentially sealing contact with the panel.

For example, the - even opaque - frame may be formed of a stable ABS and formed with a see-through range such as a polycarbonate or a PMMA together in the 2K process.

The assembly is further facilitated if the frame is provided with centering ribs or other centering for its precise alignment with the receiving housing portion.

In terms of production technology, a recess can be provided in the frame as a possibility of injection for the see-through region, wherein the recess does not completely interrupt the frame.

In particular, it is favorable if the frame has a back side projecting and the viewing area circulating weld. This can then protrude approximately perpendicular to the front surface of the see-through area and hidden from the frame to the rear, so that it stands up when welded to the female housing portion on this and is melted at its outer edge for connection to the housing portion.

For the visual appearance of the see-through area forms a stepped transparent body, which has a backwards from its outer edge recessed and embraced by the frame stage. Due to the large thickness of this step, the indicating elements can then be placed very close behind this part of the see-through body and thereby provide an optical appearance, as if they were arranged within itself.

Due to the intimate connection in the production of the frame is penetrated by the level of liquid and airtight.

When in the installed position only the frame is in communicating contact with a receiving housing portion, the see-through portion can remain up to its outer edge without any visual interference and without departing from a clear, continuous appearance.

If the receiving housing portion is formed by a recess in a front panel, this may be formed of a material which is particularly suitable for welding to the frame.

In any case, an air- and / or watertight welding and / or bonding of the frame to the female housing portion is possible and favorable for durability without a penetration.

In particular, such a household appliance may be a large appliance such as a dishwasher.

Further advantages and features will become apparent from the drawing illustrated and described below embodiments of the subject invention.

Fig. 1

ein Haushaltsgerät, hier eine Geschirrspülmaschine, in perspektivischer Ansicht mit einer Frontblende, in die ein Anzeigefenster von vorne eingelassen ist,

Fig. 2

eine Detailansicht einer möglichen Frontblende vor ihrer Montage in perspektivischer Ansicht, wobei die spätere Vorderseite hier nach oben zeigt,

Fig. 3

eine Einzelteilansicht eines Anzeigefensters in der Lage wie in Figur 2, noch vor seinem Einsetzen in die Blende,

Fig. 4

eine stirnseitige Ansicht des Anzeigefensters nach Figur 3, etwa entsprechend einer Ansicht aus Richtung IV in Figur 3,

Fig. 5

das Anzeigefenster in gegenüber Figur 3 umgedrehter, mit seiner Rückseite nach oben weisenden Lage.

In the drawing shows:

Fig. 1

a domestic appliance, here a dishwasher, in perspective view with a front panel into which a display window is embedded from the front,

Fig. 2

a detailed view of a possible front panel before its assembly in perspective view, the later front side shows up here,

Fig. 3

an item view of a display window capable of as in FIG. 2 , even before its insertion in the aperture,

Fig. 4

a frontal view of the display window after FIG. 3 , approximately according to a view from direction IV in FIG. 3 .

Fig. 5

the display window in opposite FIG. 3 upside down, with its back facing up position.

Elements with the same function and mode of operation are each provided with the same reference numerals in the figures.

This in FIG. 1 Household appliance 1 shown schematically forms an example of a dishwasher here. As explained above, other household appliances, in particular large appliances, come into consideration for an embodiment according to the invention.

The drawn here household appliance 1 has a front door with a door handle 2 and about a fixed, a diaphragm 3-bearing area. The door 2 is in FIG. 1 shown in the closed position and, for example, swung around a lower horizontal axis forward and downward. Alternatively, the panel 3 can also be embedded in the door 2, in particular in so-called integrated dishwashers.

The panel 3 may include a plurality of control elements 5 in different numbers and arrangement - for example, key switch, sensor surfaces, rotary switches ... - and at least one display window 6. Here is exactly one display window 6 is provided, which is flush with the outer surface of the panel 3 and in adaptation to this has a convex outer surface 6a, which points in the installed position to the front and therefore is well visible to a user. The outer surface 6a here has a rectangular outline shape, which is not mandatory, but may vary depending on the design of the device 1. A round display window can be possible, for example. Likewise, the convex curvature is not mandatory; Here, too, a design adaptation to the surrounding housing areas is possible. An additional decorative frame may be provided around the display window 6 - as well as a shielding frame or other connection with other functions.

The display window 6 is used to display, for example, date, time, temperature, selected program, energy and water requirements, remaining time remaining, current program step, possible error messages and / or other data. Also, a function of an external energy supplier or energy storage, for example, a solar system, can be displayed on it.

For this purpose, the display window generally designated 6 comprises an externally visible, at least partially transparent see-through area 7, which may be formed for example from a clear plastic such as PC or PMMA. A tint of this area - for example, a blue tint - is possible.

The display window 6 can be inserted from the front in a panel 3 or another area of the housing of the household appliance 1 and connected to this water and airtight.

For this purpose, the display window 6 is made in a multi-component process and comprises at least one fixed to the see-through area 7 frame 8 for fixing the display window 6. The definition of the display window 6 on parts of a housing of the household appliance 1 is then done only on the frame, the see-through range remains Welding and / or adhesive traces unaffected.

The frame 8 and the see-through area are particularly effectively formed in a single process step in a so-called 2K process.

In this case, the frame 8 is located substantially at the rear of the passage area 7 and thus not directly visible from the outside itself, but only through the transparent area of the viewing area 7.

The frame 8 consists for example of ABS or another opaque, ie opaque, dimensionally stable and suitable for a permanent and tight connection to the diaphragm 3 material and forms a completely closed, circumferential contour behind the see-through area 7. Due to the multi-component process in the manufacture, it is integral , circumferentially connected to the see-through area 7. For the production of both components, a recess 12 is provided here only as an example of an injection possibility for the at least partially transparent plastic surface of the viewing area 7 in the frame 8, by way of example only.

The inspection body 7 is stepped and has towards the rear (relative to the installation position) a recessed from its outer edge and embraced by the frame stage 11 on this stage 11 may be extended so far to the rear that it protrudes further in the installed position to the rear the frame 8. As a result, the see-through area 7 are extremely close before lying behind display elements, whereby the impression is created that they are embedded in the see-through body 7.

Due to the integral 2k-production of frame 8 and transparent body 7, the contact area between these parts is completely air and liquid-tight, so that the frame 8 is also penetrated liquid and airtight from the stage 11.

In order to facilitate alignment of the frame 8 to be connected to the housing part 3, the frame may be provided with centering ribs 9 or similar alignment aids which are integral with the frame 8. Instead of the ribs 9 and knobs or other centering aids may be possible in different numbers, which interact with corresponding complementary counterparts - not shown here - the aperture 3 during assembly of the display window 6.

Here, the frame 8 has a rear projecting and the see-through region 7 encircling welder 10, which is designed as a wedge-shaped tapered in cross-section, which is placed on the media-tight connection with the housing part 3 on this from the front, such that the tapered portion of Line 10 is placed on a corresponding mating surface of the housing part 3 and is welded, for example, by Ultaschalleinwirkung. In this case, a sonotrode is placed on the surface 6a with pressure from the front, so that the display window 6 is inserted into the area 3 from the front and is welded to the frame 8 via the line 10 in a media-tight manner. At the end of the process, the line 10 is so far fused that it loses a piece of height and the outer surface 6a is flush in the outer surface of the panel 3.

In the installed position, therefore, only the frame 8 is in connecting contact with a receiving housing portion 3 via the welding generator, so that the viewing area remains completely free from adhesive or welding traces and also at Seeing from the front only the front of the self-opaque frame 8 is visible, but not its connection to the housing portion 3 at the back. In particular, the upper and lower edges as well as the lateral edges of the see-through region 7 can protrude beyond the frame, resulting in a frameless and large visual effect of the display window 6. In the narrow aperture 3 shown, the upper and lower edges of the display window 6 can therefore also be flush with the upper and lower edges of the panel 3. The upper and lower edges 7a, 7b can also be made slightly rounded for this purpose. In any case, the display window 6 can be very large and larger than the actual active area, so that the impression of a larger display is created for the customer. The space behind the display window remains unrestricted. In addition, it is also possible that the frame 8 has a gradation 13 as a sealing bed contour.

Here, the receiving housing portion, as described, formed by a recess in a front panel 3. Other geometries may also be considered. In any case, the frame 8 - in contrast to a locking - with the receiving housing portion 3 and / or watertight welded and / or glued welded. The durability of the electronic components that lie behind it is significantly increased.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Home appliance,

2

Door,

3

Cover,

4

Door handle,

5

controls,

6

Display window

6a

its outer surface,

7

Through area,

8th

Frame,

9

centering,

10

Welding timer,

11

Level of the viewing area,

12

recess

13

gradation

Claims (14)

Household appliance (1) with at least one display window for program data or similar information, wherein the display window (6) comprises an externally visible, at least partially transparent see-through area (7),
characterized,
in that the display window (6) is produced in a multicomponent method and has at least one frame (8) firmly connected to the viewing area (7) for fixing the display window (6) to parts (3) of a housing of the domestic appliance (1). Domestic appliance (1) according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the frame (8) and the at least partially transparent see-through portion (7) are formed in a so-called. 2K process. Domestic appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2,
characterized,
in that the frame (8) is located substantially at the rear of the see-through area (7). Domestic appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3,
characterized,
that the frame (8) forms a completely closed contour behind the see-through portion (7). Domestic appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4,
characterized,
that the frame (8) is formed of an ABS. Domestic appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5,
characterized,
that the frame (8) is provided with centering ribs (9) to its alignment with housing parts (3). Domestic appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6,
characterized,
that the frame (8) has a rear side projecting and the see-through area (7) rotating welding generator (10). Domestic appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7,
characterized,
that a recess (12) as Anspritzmöglichkeit for the see-through portion (7) is provided in the frame (8). Domestic appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8,
characterized,
that the phantom body (7) is stepped and a rearwardly a recessed from its outer edge and of the frame (8) encompassed stage (11). Household appliance (1) according to claim 9,
characterized,
that the frame (8) of the stage (11) is penetrated by liquid and airtight. Domestic appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10,
characterized,
that in the installed position only the frame (8) is in connecting contact with a receiving housing portion (3). Domestic appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11,
characterized,
that the female housing portion is formed by a recess in a front panel (3). Domestic appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12,
characterized,
in that the frame (8) is welded and / or adhesively bonded to the receiving housing area in an air-tight and / or watertight manner. Domestic appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13,
characterized,
that this is a dishwasher.

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