JP2023043492A - washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a washing machine capable of curbing a rise in the number of components in an attachment structure of a touch panel.SOLUTION: A washing machine comprises a body 1, a touch panel 23 displaying operation information and setting operation contents, a cover panel 21A having a rear face to which the touch panel 23 is adhered, and a cover panel base 22 to which the cover panel 21A is adhered and which attaches the cover panel 21A and the touch panel 23 to the body 1. The cover panel 21A is adhered to the cover panel base 22 by an adhesion part 29 provided so as to surround the touch panel 23 at the outside of the touch panel 23. The cover panel base 22 has a groove 22b provided so as to surround the adhesion part 29 at the outside of the adhesion part 29.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Description

The present invention relates to a washing machine for washing laundry.

The washing machine of Patent Document 1 has a liquid crystal panel and a transparent plate having a transparent electrode on the back surface and is placed over the liquid crystal panel. and a control means for controlling the touch panel display (see abstract). Paragraph 0050 of Patent Document 1 describes that electrical parts such as a liquid crystal panel and a main control board are located on the back side of the transparent plate, and that waterproofing is necessary, and that the outer peripheral portion of the transparent plate is covered with a frame-shaped elastic body. It is described that it is attached to the back surface of an opening provided in the operation display panel via an elastic body. In this structure, the transparent plate is attached to the operation display panel via the elastic body while pressing the elastic body between the periphery of the opening and the transparent plate (see paragraphs 0044-0045).

JP 2017-185358 A

The washing machine of Patent Document 1 requires an elastic body and a structure for pressing the elastic body in order to ensure waterproofness, which leads to an increase in the number of parts and a problem that the mounting structure of the touch panel display section becomes complicated. .

In this specification, the component corresponding to the touch panel display unit excluding the transparent plate of Patent Document 1 is referred to as a touch panel, and the component corresponding to the transparent plate and operation display panel of Patent Document 1 and covering the touch panel is referred to as a cover panel. .

An object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine capable of suppressing an increase in the number of parts in a touch panel mounting structure.

In order to achieve the above object, the washing machine of the present invention
a housing;
a touch panel that displays driving information and performs setting operations for driving details;
a cover panel to which the touch panel is adhered on the back;
a cover panel base to which the cover panel is adhered and which attaches the cover panel and the touch panel to the housing;
with
The cover panel is adhered to the cover panel base by an adhesion portion provided so as to surround the touch panel outside the touch panel,
The cover panel base has a groove surrounding the adhesive on the outside of the adhesive.

Advantageous Effects of Invention According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a washing machine capable of improving the waterproof effect by the grooves and suppressing an increase in the number of parts in the mounting structure of the touch panel.

Configurations and effects other than the above will be clarified by the following description of the embodiments.

1 is a configuration diagram showing a home appliance system using a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an appearance of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a home screen of the touch panel of the washing machine of FIG. 2; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an operation course selection screen of the touch panel of the washing machine of FIG. 2; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a detailed course setting screen of the touch panel of the washing machine shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an operation time setting screen of the touch panel of the washing machine of FIG. 2; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an operation time setting screen of the touch panel of the washing machine of FIG. 2; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an automatic input setting screen of the touch panel of the washing machine shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a reference usage amount setting screen of the touch panel of the washing machine of FIG. 2; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a download course registration screen of the touch panel of the washing machine shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an initial setting screen of the touch panel of the washing machine shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a pop-up screen display on the course detail setting screen of FIG. 5; FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a warning message display on the home screen of FIG. 3; FIG. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view showing an enlarged vicinity of cover panels 21A and 21B of the washing machine of FIG. 2; 3 is a partially enlarged view showing an enlarged vicinity of a cover panel 21A of the washing machine of FIG. 2; FIG. 16 is an enlarged sectional view showing the XVI-XVI section of FIG. 15; FIG. 16 is an enlarged sectional view showing the XVII-XVII section of FIG. 15; FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outer appearance of a cover panel base used in a washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention, viewed obliquely from above; FIG. FIG. 17 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an enlarged XIX section of FIG. 16; 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a substrate case used in a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed obliquely from above; FIG. FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the XXI-XXI cross section of FIG. 15 viewed obliquely from above; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the height relationship between the exterior panel and the power button with respect to the cover panel of the washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a cross section of a groove 22b including a through hole 22c1 of FIG. 15, and is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section along the extending direction of the groove 22b.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the form (henceforth "embodiment") for implementing this invention is demonstrated in detail, referring drawings suitably. In the following, a washing machine capable of washing, rinsing, dehydrating, and drying laundry put into a drum arranged horizontally or diagonally (a so-called drum-type washing and drying machine) will be taken as an example. to explain.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a home appliance system S using a washing machine 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the home appliance system (laundry system) S cooperates with a server (commercial server) 181 that provides services on the Internet 180 and the server 181 to actively acquire information and It has a server 182 which is a push notification server that notifies to. Servers 181 and 182 connect to smartphone 300 (portable information terminal) outside the home via communication carrier network (fixed network) 183 such as LTE/3G network.

The home appliance system S includes home appliances H connected to a home network via a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) router 184, which is an HGW (Home Gate Way) that bridges home networks. Home appliances H include white goods such as washing machines and dryers and robot cleaners, indoor equipment such as lighting and security equipment, and so-called information equipment such as PCs, AV equipment, tablets, and telephones. In this embodiment, a drum-type washing machine 100 (washing machine) is taken as an example of the home appliance H. FIG. Note that the network that connects the home appliance H and the wireless LAN router 184 may be a wired LAN, a wireless LAN, or a specific short-range wireless such as Bluetooth (registered trademark).

As shown in FIG. 1, drum-type washing machine 100 connects to server 181 on Internet 180 via wireless LAN router 184, and services of server 181 (for example, download service) are provided. Drum-type washing machine 100 can be connected to smartphone 300 via wireless LAN router 184 at home. Data (for example, download data) of smartphone 300 can be transferred to the main body of front-loading washing machine 100 .

Drum-type washing machine 100 includes control unit 110 , storage unit 120 , operation unit 130 , display unit 140 and communication unit 150 . Control unit 110 , storage unit 120 , operation unit 130 and display unit 140 are mainly mounted on control board 105 of washing machine 100 . The communication unit 150 has a wireless communication function and is connected to the control board 105 using, for example, UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter).

Control unit 110 is configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like, and controls drum-type washing machine 100 as a whole, executes a control program, and functions as an in-home system of home appliance system S. FIG.

The storage unit 120 is composed of non-volatile memory such as ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), and stores various data and programs used by the control unit 110. . A non-volatile area (for example, EEPROM) of storage unit 120 stores a plurality of driving courses downloaded from server 181, for example.

The operation unit 130 is an input device for inputting pressing operations of operation buttons such as a power supply, a user's voice instruction of the drum-type washing machine 100 such as a microphone, and the like.

The display unit 140 is the touch panel 23 (see FIG. 2), which is provided in the housing 1, and displays operation information such as operation details of the drum type washing machine 100 on a touch panel type liquid crystal panel (liquid crystal display unit). At the same time, the setting operation (input) of operation details is performed. The touch panel 23 is arranged inside the cover panel 21A.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the appearance of the washing machine 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, the right side of the drum-type washing machine 100 will be referred to as the right side, and the left side will be referred to as the left side. Also, the front side and the back side of the drum-type washing machine 100 as viewed from the user are defined as the front side and the rear side, respectively, and the front-rear direction is defined.

As shown in FIG. 2, the drum-type washing machine 100 includes a housing 1, an outer tub 2 elastically supported within the housing 1, and a rotating drum (inner tub) rotatably supported within the outer tub 2. 3 and .

The housing 1 is formed by combining a steel plate and a resin molded product and mounting it on a base B. As shown in FIG. The housing 1 is composed of left and right side plates 1a, a front cover 1b, a rear cover 1c, a top cover 1d, and a lower front cover 1e. The left and right side plates 1a are joined by U-shaped upper reinforcing members, front reinforcing members, and rear reinforcing members (not shown). As a result, the box-shaped housing 1 including the base B is constructed and has sufficient strength as a housing.

At approximately the center of the front cover 1b of the housing 1, a door 4 for opening and closing a loading slot for loading and unloading clothes (laundry) is supported so as to be openable and closable by a hinge 4h provided on the front reinforcing member. A front cover 1b near the right hand side of the door 4 is provided with a door handle 4t that unlocks a locking mechanism (not shown) of the door 4 by gripping it.

By gripping the door handle 4t, the lock mechanism is released and the door 4 can be opened, while the door 4 is closed and locked by pressing the door 4 against the front cover 1b. The front reinforcing member has a circular opening, substantially concentric with the opening of the outer tub 2, for loading and unloading the laundry.

A touch panel 23 having a display unit and the like is provided at the front upper right portion of the upper surface cover 1d of the housing 1, and a top-opening detergent input portion 5 for inputting detergent, softener, etc. is provided at the front upper left portion. ing.

A drying filter 6 is provided on the rear side of the touch panel 23 and the cover panel 21A, and an automatic detergent input section 11 (automatic input section, automatic washing liquid input section) is provided on the rear side of the detergent input section 5. . The drying filter 6 is provided with a mesh filter and removes lint, dust, etc. during the drying operation. The top cover 1d is provided with a water suction hose connection port 7 to which a hose for pumping up remaining bath water is connected and a water supply hose connection port 8 to which a tap is connected. A flat portion of the lower front cover 1e is provided with a lid 1f for taking in and out a filter member of a lint filter (not shown). The automatic detergent injection unit 11 has a tank for storing washing liquid such as detergent and softener used for multiple washings, and automatically feeds the washing liquid into the tank.

A touch panel type liquid crystal panel (liquid crystal display unit), which is the touch panel 23, has a rectangular display area that is longer in width than in height, such as 128 mm in width and 40 mm in length. Desirably, the horizontal size is three times or more of the vertical length. The liquid crystal panel is provided on an inclined surface with a predetermined angle between the front cover 1b and the upper cover 1d so that the user can easily see it when standing in front of the washing machine 100. - 特許庁Therefore, the inclined surface is more or less horizontally sized, and accordingly, the touch panel 23 is a horizontally sized liquid crystal panel. As a result, a large amount of information can be displayed on one screen, and the settings and status of the washing machine can be checked without switching screens.

Further, the liquid crystal panel of the touch panel 23 is arranged side by side with the detergent input portion 5 in the horizontal direction.

Each screen of the touch panel 23 will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of home screen 200 on touch panel 23 of washing machine 100 in FIG. FIG. 3 shows an example of a home screen 200 that is first displayed in the display area of the liquid crystal panel after turning on the washing machine 100 . Home screen 200 is the first screen that can be operated by the user after turning on washing machine 100 .

A plurality of icons are displayed on the home screen 200 . A plurality of icons (washing icon 201, washing/drying icon 202, and drying icon 203) are displayed in the display area for the washing course, washing/drying course, and drying course, which are the most frequently used operation courses by the user. It is displayed as a large icon (first icon) in the center of (screen). Also, the clean icon 204 of the clean course used for periodically cleaning the inside of the washing machine and the favorite icon 205 of the "favorite" course for registering frequently used courses in advance are used more frequently than the first icon described above. A medium-sized icon (second icon) is provided in the center of the screen for regular use. A plurality of small icons (third icons) 206 for changing the operation settings of the washing machine are provided at one end (the right end in the figure) of the screen, and various setting screens are provided at the other end. A support icon 207 that can be displayed and particularly high-priority information such as the communication connection status, door lock, and high temperature display in the tub are provided as main body status icons 208 of the washing machine. The body status icon 208 is displayed on the side of the driving course icon opposite to the icon for changing the operation setting in the display area. In this way, frequently used settings, such as the icon 206 for changing the operation settings of the washing machine, are displayed as icons on the side of the screen so that the user can check the settings without displaying the setting screen. Also, setting icons such as the icon 206 for changing the operation settings of the washing machine are provided on the side of the screen, so that frequently used first and second icons for selecting the operation course are always displayed on the screen. setting can be changed until just before the start of operation.

Further, as described above, the sizes of the icons are set to the first icon, the second icon, and the third icon in descending order according to the frequency of use. An icon is provided in the center and an icon (third icon) that is used less frequently is provided at the edge of the screen. In this way, the size and display position of the icon are changed according to the frequency of use. Specifically, driving course icons that are used frequently are arranged in the center of the screen as icons of a large size, and setting icons that are used infrequently are arranged in the edge of the screen in a smaller size than the driving course icons. With this, the user's visibility is improved, usability is improved, and operability can be improved, such as checking the driving course and changing various settings with the setting icon until just before the start of driving.

As examples of the icon 206 (third icon) for changing the operation settings of the washing machine, the figure shows the setting value for automatic supply, the setting value for reserved operation, the setting value for remote control, the setting value for child lock, and the hot water supply. Set values, set values for AI washing, set values for automatic cleaning, set values for automatic warming, and set values for hot air loosening and dehydration are described. In addition, the icon for the setting value of automatic injection is displayed so that the picture of the icon changes so that it is clear whether the amount of detergent or softener for automatic injection is appropriate, that is, the remaining amount is low. Also good.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the operation course selection screen 210 of the touch panel 23 of the washing machine of FIG.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the operation course selection screen 210 when the washing/drying icon 202 on the home screen 200 of FIG. 3 is selected. In the center of the screen, multiple courses that can be selected are displayed. For example, a standard course, a quick course, a one-time rinse course, a handmade course, a blanket course, a night course, and the like. Furthermore, a warm water mist icon 214 that can be selected when using warm water mist and a download icon 215 that can be set by downloading an arbitrary course from the server are provided. The driving course selection screen 210 transitioned from the home screen 200 when the icon of the driving course is selected in this manner displays a plurality of driving courses on one screen. As a result, users can smoothly select their favorite driving course without stress compared to those displayed across multiple screens, improving convenience.

In addition, for the plurality of displayed driving courses, the display color of the screen of the display area or the icon of the selected driving course is made different for each function of the selected driving course. Specifically, by changing the screen color and icon color according to the function, such as blue for settings related to the washing function, orange for settings related to the drying function, and gray for cleaning functions such as tank washing, it is possible to prevent users from accidentally It is possible to deter pressing the icon and to correctly press the icon.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the detailed course setting screen 220 of the touch panel 23 of the washing machine shown in FIG. Specifically, it is an example of the detailed course setting screen 220 when the standard course is selected on the driving course selection screen 210 .

The display area (screen) of the liquid crystal display portion of the touch panel 23 consists of a plurality of layers, and in each layer screen, a home icon 213 for returning to the home screen 200 is displayed at the edge of the screen (upper edge in the figure). Thus, even if you are on the detailed course setting screen 220 of FIG. 5, you can quickly return to the home screen 200 without returning to the driving course selection screen 210 of FIG. When the user wants to return, the number of times of user's operation is reduced and the operability is improved by allowing the user to return directly to the home screen 200 from any deep hierarchical screen instead of returning the screens one by one. do.

Also, as shown in FIG. 5, when the standard course is selected, what kind of course is the course (specifically, if the selected course is the "standard course", the course "for normal laundry" is displayed), in what order it will be operated (specifically, the current washing time and warm water mist time settings are displayed, and the current type of rinsing (water injection, Niagara) and the set value for the number of rinsing is displayed, and the set values for the dehydration time and drying time at the present time are displayed, and the operation is performed in this order. That is, the detailed course setting screen 220 displayed when one driving course is selected from among a plurality of driving courses displays the name of the selected driving course and the detailed description of the course. By explaining the details of the courses in this way, it is possible to improve the degree of recognition of each course, and it is possible for the user to select the course that matches the dirtiness of the clothes, thereby preventing setting errors. can be done. In addition, the detailed course explanation display 223 displays an explanation prompting the user as to what the user should do next, such as "Please check the contents and start" in the figure, so that the operation can be started. It is possible to notify the user of the fact that it is, so that the user can be prevented from worrying about the next operation, and the operability and usability are improved.

Also, the return icon 221 is for returning to the screen of the first layer, and if you want to return to the previous layer instead of the home screen 200, you can press this icon. A course explanation icon 224 displays an explanation screen of the driving course that is displayed on the screen, and can be displayed by pressing the icon when wanting to know what kind of driving course it is.

Also, by displaying the reservation time on the screen such as "12 hours after the reservation", it becomes clear that the reserved operation is set.

Further, by arranging the restore to initial value icon 222, it is possible to restore the contents changed by the user to the initial values of the course. However, in the case of a course in which the setting cannot be changed, the icon for resetting to the initial value is not displayed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an operating time setting screen 230 on touch panel 23 of washing machine 100 in FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an operation time setting screen 240 on touch panel 23 of washing machine 100 in FIG.

Here, it is a screen that transitions when the icon of "hot water mist 90+15 minutes wash" in FIG. 5 is pressed. On the upper center of the screen, ON and OFF of the hot water mist can be selected. In the case of ON, the number of minutes to be ON, here 30 minutes or 90 minutes, can be selected.

6 and 7 are available as a method of setting the operating time for washing. In FIG. 6, the user presses the "+" driving time setting button 232 and the "-" driving time setting button 231 to change the driving time step by step. The operating time can be changed by directly pressing the corresponding indicator bar 241 . Finally, press the OK button to set. In other words, the operating time setting screen 230 displays buttons (operating time setting buttons 231 and 232) for changing the operating time in stages, and the operating time setting screen 240 displays an indicator bar (indicator) whose duration changes depending on the operating time. bar 241) is displayed. As a result, the user can select a preferred method of changing the driving time, and the operability can be improved.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an automatic loading setting screen 250 on touch panel 23 of washing machine 100 in FIG.
The automatic injection setting screen 250 is a screen for setting the automatic injection of the liquid detergent and the softener and the injection amount. The automatic input setting information is displayed on one screen, such as detergent setting on one side of the screen and softener setting on the other side. Here, automatic injection ON/OFF setting, reference usage amount, detergent brand name 251, softener brand name 252, low remaining amount information 253 are displayed on one screen. In this way, by displaying a large amount of information on one setting screen, information related to automatic input can be confirmed on one screen without moving the screen, improving visibility and usability. .

Also, as shown in FIG. 1, when the washing machine main body and the smartphone 300 as a terminal device are connected to the network, the automatic input setting can also be performed from the smartphone 300. For example, the detergent/softener set on the smartphone 300 The brand name can also be displayed on the automatic input setting screen 250 of the liquid crystal panel on the main body side. In other words, the automatic input setting screen 250 of the liquid crystal panel of the washing machine main body and the smartphone 300 are linked in real time, and the contents set by the smartphone 300 can be displayed in real time on the liquid crystal panel screen of the main body. By doing so, the user can check the currently set standard usage amount and brand name of the detergent on the main unit side without starting up the smartphone, which improves convenience. In addition, by displaying in real time, it is possible to simultaneously confirm that the contents set on the smartphone 300 have been reflected on the main body side, and the user does not need to open each setting screen, thereby improving convenience.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a reference usage amount setting screen 260 on touch panel 23 of washing machine 100 in FIG. A standard usage amount setting screen 260 in FIG. 9 shows a screen for changing the standard usage amount of the detergent in the automatic input setting screen 250 in FIG. 8 . Here, the reference usage amount setting screen 260 is a separate screen.

On the standard usage amount setting screen 260, the user can manually set the standard usage amount of the detergent or softener by pressing the "+" and "-" buttons. At that time, a screen is displayed asking the user to check the amount of usage marked on the refill pouches for detergents and softeners. The setting reference information 261 is displayed together with the reference usage amount setting area. As a result, the user can improve convenience by correctly setting the reference usage amount.

FIG. 10 shows an example of download course registration screen 270 on touch panel 23 of washing machine 100 in FIG. FIG. 10(a) shows a state in which a download course has not been registered, and FIG. 10(b) shows a state in which a download course has been registered.

The download course registration screen 270 is a screen that transitions to when the user presses the download icon 215 on the driving course selection screen 210 in FIG.

The download course registration screen 270 is a screen for registering a dedicated course from the smartphone 300. In the figure, three download course registration areas 271 are provided, and any three download courses can be set. Here, as shown in FIG. 10(b), three courses are registered: the down jacket course, the Wagaya Ryu AI course, and the washable suit course. In this way, the name of the download course can be registered, and the user can clearly understand what kind of course he or she has registered. As a result, the registered contents can be checked immediately compared to registration with symbols and characters, and the convenience is improved.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an initial setting screen 280 on touch panel 23 of washing machine 100 in FIG. This is a screen that transitions to when the user presses the icon 222 for resetting to initial values shown in FIG. FIG. 11(a) shows an initial setting screen 280, and FIG. 11(b) shows a state where a pop-up screen 281 is displayed.

On the initial setting screen 280, it is possible to return the setting contents of the main body setting and the washing method setting to the state at the time of purchase. A pop-up screen 281 is displayed as a screen. In the situation where the setting information is initialized (or the favorite course is overwritten and registered) in this manner, a pop-up notification is provided to ask for the user's judgment. At this time, the background screen of the popup (original screen on which the popup is displayed) is grayed out (transparent). By graying out the background screen in the pop-up display, the user can confirm what was the screen that was being operated immediately before.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a pop-up screen display on the course detail setting screen 220 of FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a warning message display on the home screen 200 of FIG.

In FIG. 12, when an attempt is made to change a setting in a predetermined course, if the setting cannot be changed in that course, a pop-up is displayed to prompt the user that the setting cannot be changed in that course. . If the contents of the user's operation are unacceptable, a pop-up screen 282 is displayed in the center of the screen. At this time, the background screen cannot be operated. The popup disappears after a period of time (2 seconds) or when the user touches the popup screen. If the content is particularly important, it will not disappear over time, but will continue to be displayed until the user touches the pop-up screen.

On the other hand, in FIG. 13, the home screen 200 prompts the next operation such as "Please check the contents and start (please open the faucet)", and also prompts the user not to forget to open the faucet. A warning message 283 is displayed in a pop-up. If the user does not operate the screen for a certain period of time (for example, 5 seconds), a warning message is displayed at the top of the screen prompting the user to start driving and open the faucet. When displaying at the top of the screen, make it possible to operate the background screen. In this way, the warning message 283 is not displayed all the time, but is displayed as a pop-up after a certain period of time, so that the user can easily notice it.

As described above, by changing the position on the screen where the pop-up is displayed according to the content of the pop-up, it is possible to make the user notice more and the user can perform other actions. You can choose not to do it or you can do it.

Next, the configuration of the touch panel 23 will be described.
FIG. 14 is a partially enlarged view showing the vicinity of cover panels 21A and 21B of washing machine 100 of FIG. FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged view showing the vicinity of cover panel 21A of washing machine 100 of FIG. 14 and 15 are drawn as plan views of the washing machine 100 viewed from above.

As shown in FIG. 14, housing 1 of washing machine 100 includes inclined surface 1g (see also FIG. 16) having a predetermined angle between front cover 1b and top cover 1d (connecting portion). The inclined surface 1g is inclined such that the front side (leading edge side) is lower than the rear side (trailing edge side) in the front-rear direction. In the case of this embodiment, the inclined surface 1g is composed of the upper end portion of the front cover 1b and the front end portion of the upper surface cover 1d. The front edge of the inclined surface 1g and most of the left and right side edges are composed of the front cover 1b. Note that the connecting portion between the front cover 1b and the upper cover 1d is shown as 1b/1d in FIG.

The front cover 1b and the top cover 1d constitute an exterior panel (housing) 1 that forms the outline of the washing machine 100. As shown in FIG. For this reason, the front cover 1b and the top cover 1d may be referred to as exterior panels when there is no particular need to distinguish them.

Most of the inclined surface 1g (see FIG. 16) is covered with cover panels 21A and 21B. The outer peripheries of the cover panels 21A and 21B are surrounded by exterior panels (the front cover 1b and the top cover 1d). That is, the exterior panels 1b, 1d form a frame surrounding the cover panels 21A, 21B. Note that the cover panels 21A and 21B form the outer surface over most of the inclined surface 1g, and can be regarded as a member forming part of the exterior panel of the washing machine 100. As shown in FIG.

The inclined surface 1g is provided with a touch panel 23 (see FIG. 15) on one end in the left-right direction (right side in this embodiment), and a detergent dispenser 5 on the other end in the left-right direction (left side in this embodiment). It is An upper surface (surface) 23a (see FIG. 16) of the touch panel 23 is covered with a cover panel (first cover panel) 21A, and an upper surface of the detergent dispenser 5 is covered with a cover panel (second cover panel) 21B. The cover panels 21A, 21B are glass. The cover panel 21A and the cover panel 21B as a whole form a substantially rectangular shape having a longitudinal direction in the left-right direction, and form a symmetrical shape with respect to a center line 100x passing through the center of the washing machine 100 in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the cover panel 21A and the cover panel 21B are made of the same material and have the same color. Therefore, the cover panel 21A and the cover panel 21B are designed so that the inclined surface 1g is covered with one cover panel.

As shown in FIG. 15, the touch panel 23 is arranged inside the outer periphery of the cover panel 21A when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plate surface (surface) of the cover panel 21A. Also, as will be described later in detail, the touch panel 23 is attached to the plate surface (rear surface) of the cover panel 21A. Thus, the cover panel 21</b>A constitutes a base member to which the touch panel 23 is attached, and constitutes the operation display panel section 20 . That is, the touch panel 23 is provided inside the operation display panel section 20 .

The touch panel 23 is composed of a touch panel type liquid crystal panel that detects a user's touch by an electrostatic capacitance method, and has transparent electrodes and the like for detecting a user's touch in addition to the liquid crystal panel. On the touch panel 23, buttons (operation buttons) for performing various settings of the driving course are displayed as icons, and various settings are performed by touching the displayed buttons.

In this embodiment, the power button 13 and the start button 12 are provided separately and independently from the touch panel 23 as operation units (mechanical switches) to be pressed. Power button 13 and start button 12 are provided in a range that does not overlap touch panel 23 in the front-rear direction of washing machine 100 . That is, the power button 13 and the start button 12 are provided in a range outside the range overlapping the touch panel 23 in the front-rear direction. Especially in this embodiment, the power button 13 and the start button 12 are arranged in front of the touch panel 23 (on the front side of the washing machine 100).

The power button 13 is a button for turning on/off the power of the washing machine 100 by pressing it. The start button 12 is a button for starting the operation (operation details) set on the touch panel 23 by pressing the start button 12 after various settings of the driving course are performed.

The power button 13 and the start button 12 are arranged outside the cover panel 21A. In this embodiment, the power button 13 and the start button 12 are arranged in front of the cover panel 21A (in front of the front edge of the cover panel 21A), and are located on the exterior panel (front cover) 1b surrounding the cover panel 21A. It is arranged on the frame portion 1ba. Here, the frame portion 1ba is a frame portion located in front of the cover panel 21A. That is, the power button 13 and the start button 12 are provided outside the operation display panel section 20 . In this case, power button 13 and start button 12 are provided in a range that does not overlap operation display panel section 20 in the front-rear direction of washing machine 100 . That is, the power button 13 and the start button 12 are provided in a range outside the range overlapping the operation display panel section 20 in the front-rear direction. Particularly in this embodiment, the power button 13 and the start button 12 are arranged in front of the operation display panel section 20 (on the front side of the washing machine 100).

If the start button 12 is displayed as an icon on the touch panel 23, there is a possibility that the start button 12 on the touch panel 23 is touched by mistake while setting the driving course. In this case, the operation of the washing machine 100 is started with the settings not desired by the user.

In the present embodiment, the start button 12 is separated from the touch panel 23 and provided outside the operation display panel section 20, thereby reducing the possibility of erroneously operating the start button 12 while the driving course is being set. can be reduced. Further, since the start button 12 is provided as a pressing operation portion, the start button 12 does not function simply by touching the start button 12, which also helps reduce erroneous operation of the start button 12.例文帳に追加

In addition, in the form in which the start button 12 is displayed on the touch panel 23, when water droplets adhere to the touch panel 23, there is a possibility that the start button 12 displayed on the touch panel 23 is erroneously detected as being touched. In the present embodiment, by providing the start button 12 separately from the touch panel 23 and outside the operation display panel section 20, such erroneous detection of the touch of the start button 12 can be suppressed.

Further, in the form in which the start button 12 is displayed on the touch panel 23 , the operation state of the start button 12 is determined by the control circuit of the touch panel 23 . If there is an abnormality in the touch panel 23 and its control circuit, it is erroneously determined that the start button 12 is being operated even though the start button 12 is not being operated, and some kind of operation is started just by turning on the power. The course may start incorrectly. In this embodiment, by providing the start button 12 separately from the touch panel 23 and outside the operation display panel section 20, erroneous starting of the driving course can be suppressed.

Further, even if the start button 12 and the power button 13 are provided separately from the touch panel 23, if they are arranged in the operation display panel section 20, the cover panel 21A is provided with holes for exposing the start button 12 and the power button 13. It takes time and cost to drill holes in the cover panel 21A made of glass. In this embodiment, since the start button 12 and the power button 13 are provided outside the operation display panel section 20, it is possible to suppress an increase in time and cost for drilling.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, a recess 1bb is provided in the frame portion 1ba of the front cover 1b in order to open the lid 21B of the top-opening type detergent input portion 5. As shown in FIG. The power button 13 and the start button 12 are provided so as to be shaped and arranged symmetrically with the depression 1bb with respect to the center line 100x. This improves the appearance of the washing machine 100 and improves the design.

Description will be made with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17 together with FIG. 16 is an enlarged sectional view showing the XVI-XVI section of FIG. 15. FIG. 17 is an enlarged sectional view showing the XVII-XVII section of FIG. 15. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 16, the touch panel 23 is adhered and fixed to the rear surface of the cover panel 21A with an adhesive 28. As shown in FIG. The cover panel 21A is adhesively fixed to the adhesive surface 22f of the cover panel base 22 with an adhesive 29. As shown in FIG. The cover panel base 22 is provided with a convex portion 22e formed so as to protrude upward from the adhesive surface 22f on the outer periphery of the adhesive surface 22f, and the cover panel 21A is positioned inside the convex portion 22e. are glued in place. The cover panel base 22 is fixed to the top cover 1d with screws while the front edge portion 22h is engaged with the engaging portion 1bc provided on the front cover 1b. The front cover 1b and the top cover 1d are fixed with screws.

A substrate case 24 is provided below the touch panel 23 , and a substrate 25 having a control circuit for the touch panel 23 is attached to the substrate case 24 . The board case 24 is fixed to the cover panel base 22 with screws at the screw fastening portion 24e (see FIG. 20).

A substrate case cover 26 covers the bottom of the substrate case 24 and the substrate 25 . As shown in FIG. 17, the board case cover 26 has a screw fastening portion 26a fixed to the screw fastening portion 22d of the cover panel base 22 with screws.

As described above, the touch panel 23 is fixed to the cover panel base 22 through the cover panel 21A, the board 25 is fixed to the cover panel base 22 through the board case 24, and the board case cover 26 is fixed to the cover panel base 22. be done. The cover panel base 22 is fixed to the exterior panels 1b, 1d. The cover panel 21A, the touch panel 23, the substrate 25, and the substrate case 24 are attached to the cover panel base 22, constitute the operation display panel unit 20 together with the cover panel base 22, and are fixed to the external panels 1b and 1d.

As shown in FIG. 17 , the space in which the operation display panel section 20 , the power button 13 and the start button 12 are arranged is separated from the inside of the housing 1 by a partitioning member 27 .

A configuration around the touch panel 23 will be described with reference to FIG. 18 together with FIG. 16 . FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of the cover panel base 22 used in the washing machine 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention, viewed obliquely from above.

As described with reference to FIG. 16, the touch panel 23 is adhered to the cover panel 21A and supported by the cover panel 21A. The back surface 23b of the touch panel 23 faces the upper surface 24c of the board case 24 of the cover panel base 22 through the opening 22a of the cover panel base 22 shown in FIG. In this case, the touch panel 23 is arranged so as to pass through the cover panel base 22 .

The cover panel base 22 is fixed to the upper cover 1d by inserting a screw through the screw hole 22g while the front edge 22h is engaged with the engaging portion 1bc (see FIG. 16) provided on the front cover 1b. be done.

As shown in FIG. 16 (see also FIG. 19), a gap (space) δ3 is formed between the lower surface (back surface) 23b of the touch panel 23 and the upper surface 24c of the substrate case 24. The gap (space) δ3 is formed by the upper end portion of the convex edge portion 24d of the board case 24 coming into contact with the back surface of the cover panel base 22 when the board case 24 is fixed to the cover panel base 22. , is reserved.

In this embodiment, the cover panel 21A is adhesively fixed to the cover panel base 22. As shown in FIG. In the structure in which the lower surface 23b of the touch panel 23 and the upper surface 24c of the substrate case 24 are in contact with each other without the gap δ3, when the dimensional accuracy of the touch panel 23 and the substrate case 24 is low, the substrate case 24 and the cover panel base 22 are fastened together. , the substrate case 24 pushes up the touch panel 23, and the cover panel 21A adhered to the cover panel base 22 may be peeled off from the cover panel base 22. - 特許庁

In the present embodiment, the gap δ3 absorbs the dimensional errors of the touch panel 23 and the substrate case 24 to prevent such problems from occurring. Therefore, in the present embodiment, there is no need to increase the dimensional accuracy of the touch panel 23 and the substrate case 24, and the operation display panel section 20 can be manufactured at low cost.

In the present embodiment, the power button 13 and the start button 12 are provided as operating units (mechanical switches) to be pressed, and are provided separately from the touch panel 23 . Moreover, the contact force when the user touches the touch panel 23 is not so large. Therefore, by bonding the touch panel 23 to the cover panel 21A with the adhesive 28 as described with reference to FIG. 16, a sufficient fixing force can be obtained.

However, considering the case where the touch panel 23 is repeatedly operated over a long period of time, it is desirable to consider that the touch panel 23 adhesively fixed to the cover panel 21A may come off from the cover panel 21A.

A structure for preventing the touch panel 23 from falling off from the cover panel 21A will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20. FIG. FIG. 19 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the XIX section of FIG. 16 in an enlarged manner. FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a substrate case used in a washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention, viewed obliquely from above.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, the upper surface 24c of the substrate case 24 is provided with a convex portion 24a that protrudes upward (the lower surface 23b of the touch panel 23) from the upper surface 24c. support. That is, the upper end portion of the convex portion 24a contacts the lower surface 23b of the touch panel 23, so that the convex portion 24a supports the touch panel 23 upward (cover panel 21A).

The convex portion 24a is cantilever-supported by the substrate case 24, and has an elastic portion (spring portion) 24b at the supporting portion of the convex portion 24a. The elastic portion 24b supports the convex portion 24a so as to be displaceable in the vertical direction (the direction perpendicular to the lower surface 23b of the touch panel 23), and absorbs dimensional errors of the touch panel 23 and the substrate case 24. FIG.

The convex portion 24 a is a support portion that supports the touch panel 23 from the lower surface 23 b side, and the substrate case 24 having the convex portion 24 a serves as a support base for the touch panel 23 . Further, the convex portion 24a has an elastic portion 24b to constitute an elastic support portion.

As shown in FIG. 20, the substrate case 24 has an edge portion 24d protruding upward (cover panel 21A) from the top surface 24c at the periphery of the top surface 24c. and an edge portion 24d. The upper surface 24c constitutes the bottom surface of this recess, and the edge 24d constitutes the sidewall of the recess.

The board case 24 shown in FIG. 20 has a screw insertion hole (screw fastening portion) 24e, and is fixed to the cover panel base 22 with a screw inserted through the insertion hole 24e.

A substrate case (support base) 24 is provided with a plurality of convex portions 24a. Although one convex portion 24a may be provided, by providing a plurality of convex portions 24a, tilting of the touch panel 23 can be suppressed and the touch panel 23 can be stably supported. In particular, in consideration of the upsizing of the touch panel 23, it is preferable to provide three convex portions 24a rather than two. there is

As described above, the contact force when the user touches the touch panel 23 is not so large. Therefore, the supporting force from the lower surface 23b side of the touch panel 23 by the convex portion 24a can be reduced. In the present embodiment, by supporting the touch panel 23 from the lower surface 23b side with the protruded portion 24a, the long-term reliability of the operation display panel section 20 can be ensured.

Next, configurations of the power button 13, the start button 12, the cover panels 21A and 21B, and the frame portion 1ba of the front cover 1b, which is an exterior panel, will be described with reference to FIGS. 21 and 22. FIG. FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the XXI-XXI cross section of FIG. 15 as viewed obliquely from above. FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing the height relationship between the exterior panel 1b and the power button 13 with respect to the cover panel 21A in the washing machine 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

21 and 22, the power button 13 and the start button 12 are configured in the same way, and the cover panel 21A and the cover panel 21B are configured in the same manner. are similarly constructed.

As shown in FIG. 21, in this embodiment, the power button 13 is configured as a mechanical switch that is operated by pressing, and the power switch main body 13a is fixed to a pedestal 27a provided in the partition member 27 so that the user can It has a support structure that can withstand the pressing force.

FIG. 22 shows the height relationship among the frame portion 1ba of the front cover 1b, which is an exterior panel, the power button 13, and the cover panel 21A in the direction perpendicular to the plate surface of the cover panel 21A. Based on the height of the cover panel 21A, the height of the power button 13 is higher than the height of the cover panel 21A by δ2, and the height of the frame portion 1ba is lower than the height of the cover panel 21A by δ1. That is, among the frame portion 1ba, the power button 13, and the cover panel 21A, the power button 13, the cover panel 21A, and the frame portion 1ba are lowered in order. height increases in the order of

Thereby, the user can quickly recognize and operate the power button 13 and the start button 12 that protrude the most among the frame portion 1ba, the power button 13 and the cover panel 21A.

Among the frame portion 1ba, the power button 13, the start button 12, and the cover panels 21A and 21B, the cover panels 21A and 21B have the largest area, and the cover panels 21A and 21B have the largest area among the inclined portions 1g of the exterior panels 1b and 1d. The area occupied by is dominant. Therefore, the flatness of the inclined portion 1g tends to be determined by the flatness of the cover panels 21A and 21B.

In this embodiment, the cover panels 21A and 21B are made of glass and have high flatness. Therefore, from the user's point of view, the flatness of the inclined portion 1g is determined by the flatness of the cover panels 21A and 21B, and the unevenness of the step occurring in the frame portion 1ba, which is the exterior panel, is not conspicuous, and the appearance of the inclined portion 1g is beautiful. I can show you.

Moreover, the washing machine 100 of the present embodiment is excellent in cleanability because the cover panels 21A and 21B, which occupy the dominant area in the inclined portion 1g, have high flatness and small unevenness.

Next, referring to FIG. 23 together with FIGS. 15, 16 and 18, a configuration for improving the sealing performance of the bonded portion between the cover panel base 22 and the cover panel 21A will be described. FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a cross section of groove 22b including through hole 22c1 of FIG. 15, and is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section along the extending direction of groove 22b.

As described with reference to FIG. 16, the cover panel 21A is adhesively fixed to the flat adhesive surface 22f of the cover panel base 22 with an adhesive 29. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 15, a groove 22b is formed outside the adhesive 29 application portion (adhesion portion) of the cover panel base 22 so as to surround the adhesive 29 application portion. The groove 22b is provided on the outer side of the touch panel 23 so as to encircle the adhesive 29 applied so as to surround the touch panel 23 and surround the application portion of the adhesive 29 . The groove 22b is formed in an adhesive surface 22f of the cover panel base 22 in a concave shape.

As shown in FIG. 18, when the cover panel base 22 is viewed alone, a substantially rectangular opening 22a is formed in the central portion of the cover panel base 22, and the groove 22b surrounds the opening 22a. It is provided on the flat portion of the cover panel base 22 that constitutes the bonding surface 22f. Then, as shown in FIG. 15, the groove 22b is covered with the cover panel 21A.

The groove 22b has through holes (drainage holes) 22c1 to 22c6 penetrating from the front surface (upper surface) to which the cover panel 21A of the cover panel base 22 is adhered to the rear surface (lower surface). . The groove 22b receives water or liquid detergent that enters the gap between the cover panel 21A and the cover panel base 22 from the outer peripheral side, and the water or liquid detergent reaches the bonding portion where the cover panel 21A and the cover panel base 22 are bonded. prevent The through-holes 22c1 to 22c6 positively discharge the water and liquid detergent accumulated in the groove 22b and prevent the water and liquid detergent from overflowing the groove.

Touch panel 23 forms a rectangle having its longitudinal direction in the horizontal direction of washing machine 100 . A groove 22b extending around the periphery of the touch panel 23 is formed in a rectangular shape, and three through holes 22c1 to 22c3 are provided in the groove portion which forms the long side of the rectangle and is arranged on the rear edge side of the cover panel base 22. Two through-holes 22c5 and 22c6 are provided in the groove formed on the long side of the rectangular shape and arranged on the front edge side of the cover panel base 22. As shown in FIG. Although the number of through-holes is not limited to the number in this embodiment, it is preferable to arrange more through-holes in the grooves arranged on the trailing edge side than in the grooves arranged on the leading edge side.

A user may place a container containing a liquid detergent on the top cover 1d of the washing machine 100. FIG. If the container containing the liquid detergent placed on the top cover 1d is accidentally knocked over, the liquid detergent spilling out of the container is placed on the leading edge side in the groove located on the trailing edge side of the cover panel base 22. It is conceivable that more water will flow in than in the groove. By making the number of through-holes in the grooves arranged on the trailing edge side larger than the number of through-holes in the grooves arranged on the leading edge side, the liquid detergent flowing into the grooves arranged on the trailing edge side is discharged more efficiently. It is possible to prevent the liquid detergent from overflowing from the groove arranged on the trailing edge side.

When water or liquid detergent adheres to the adhesive portion, the water or liquid detergent may permeate the adhesive portion and reach the touch panel 23 . When water or liquid detergent reaches the touch panel 23, the electrodes of the touch panel 23 may be corroded. In this embodiment, the groove 22b and the through holes 22c1 to 22c6 can prevent such problems from occurring.

As shown in FIG. 23, the groove 22b preferably has a slope (inclination) that decreases toward the through holes 22c1 to 22c6. Water and liquid detergent discharged from the through holes 22c1 to 22c6 are received by a tray (not shown). In this case, the through holes 22c1 to 22c6 are arranged to avoid electric parts and wiring. As a result, the water or liquid detergent discharged from the through holes 22c1 to 22c6 can be prevented from coming into contact with electrical parts and wiring while flowing down.

The washing machine 100 of this embodiment described above has the following features.
(1) A housing 1, a touch panel 23 for displaying operation information and for setting operation details, a cover panel 21A to which the touch panel 23 is adhered on the back surface, and the cover panel 21A and the touch panel 23 to which the cover panel 21A is adhered. to the housing 1, the cover panel 21A is adhered to the cover panel base 22 by an adhesion portion 29 provided so as to surround the touch panel 23 outside the touch panel 23, and the cover panel base 22 has a groove 22b provided so as to surround the bonding portion 29 on the outside of the bonding portion 29 .

(2) The cover panel base 22 has a through hole 22c at the bottom of the groove 22b.

(3) The cover panel base 22 has a substantially rectangular opening 22a through which the touch panel 23 passes. provided on the flat portion 22f of the cover panel base 22.

(4) The groove 22 is covered with the cover panel 21A.

(5) The housing 1 includes a front cover 1b and a top cover 1d, which constitute an external panel, and an inclined surface 1g which is inclined so that the front side is lower than the rear side at the connection between the front cover 1b and the top cover 1d. In addition, the cover panel base 22 is attached to the housing 1 so that the cover panel 21A covers the inclined surface 1g.

(6) The opening 22a is rectangular, the groove 22 is formed to form a rectangle surrounding the opening 22a, and the through hole 22c is arranged on the rear edge side of the cover panel base 22, forming the long side of the rectangle. The groove portions of the grooves 22b formed on the front edge side of the cover panel base 22 are arranged more than the groove portions of the grooves 22b arranged on the front edge side of the cover panel base 22 forming the long side of the rectangle.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes various modifications. For example, the above embodiments have been described in detail for easy understanding of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the described configurations. Moreover, it is possible to add, delete, or replace a part of the configuration of the embodiment with another configuration.

Reference Signs List 1: housing 1b: front cover 1d: upper surface cover 1g: inclined surface 21A: cover panel 22: cover panel base 22a: opening of cover panel base 22 22b: groove 22c: through hole (water 22f .

Claims (6)

a housing;
a touch panel that displays driving information and performs setting operations for driving details;
a cover panel to which the touch panel is adhered on the back;
a cover panel base to which the cover panel is adhered and which attaches the cover panel and the touch panel to the housing;
with
The cover panel is adhered to the cover panel base by an adhesion portion provided so as to surround the touch panel outside the touch panel,
The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the cover panel base has a groove surrounding the bonding portion outside the bonding portion. The washing machine according to claim 1,
The washing machine, wherein the cover panel base has a through hole penetrating from the front side to which the cover panel is adhered of the cover panel base to the back side at the bottom of the groove. The washing machine according to claim 2,
The cover panel base has a substantially rectangular opening through which the touch panel passes,
The washing machine, wherein the groove is provided in the flat portion of the cover panel base to which the cover panel is adhered so as to encircle the opening. The washing machine according to claim 3,
A washing machine in which the groove is covered by the cover panel. The washing machine according to claim 4,
The housing includes a front cover and a top cover that constitute an exterior panel, and an inclined surface that is inclined such that the front side is lower than the rear side at the connection portion between the front cover and the top cover,
The washing machine, wherein the cover panel base is attached to the housing such that the cover panel covers the inclined surface. The washing machine according to claim 5,
the opening is rectangular;
the groove is formed to form a rectangle surrounding the opening;
The through hole forms a long side of a rectangle and is arranged on the rear edge side of the cover panel base, and the through hole forms a long side of the rectangle and is arranged on the front edge side of the cover panel base. Washing machines arranged more than the groove part of the groove.

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