JPH0223276Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a washing machine having a structure in which an operation panel is disposed at the front of the main body.

[Technical background of the invention] Conventionally, this type of washing machine was
As shown in Publication No. 5187, the front surface of the upper plate provided on the upper end of the main body is projected forward, a horizontally long opening is formed in the front surface of the projection, and an operation panel is fitted into this opening. Some devices have electrical components installed in an open space behind the operation panel.

[Problems with Background Art] By the way, as is well known, the height of washing machines is not very high, and they are not installed in high places, so washing machines are usually installed lower than the user. However, in the above-mentioned conventional device, the operation panel is configured to face forward, so the user has to look at the forward-facing operation panel diagonally from above, making it quite difficult to see. When operating it, the user usually has to bend down, which has the drawback of extremely poor operability. Moreover, since the operation panel protrudes forward, there is a problem that the user's body may come into contact with the operation buttons on the operation panel when loading or unloading laundry, causing incorrect operation. In the case of a system in which a washing machine is installed, the user often comes into contact with the front surface of the washing machine when operating the dryer, and erroneous operations occur frequently. Furthermore, since an open opening is formed on the front of the top plate,
The strength of the front part of the top plate was extremely weak and there was a high risk of deformation, and a gap sometimes formed between the operation panel and the opening edge of the top plate. Furthermore, since the operation panel portion protrudes further forward than the main body, the packaging volume is large and the packaging cost increases, which is disadvantageous in terms of cost.

[Purpose of the invention] Therefore, the purpose of the invention is to provide a washing machine that has good operability, eliminates the risk of erroneous operation, prevents deterioration of the strength of the front part of the upper plate as much as possible, and contributes to cost reduction. We are here to provide you with a machine.

[Summary of the invention] The invention has an upper plate whose upper surface is approximately flat on the upper end of the main body. A concave operation box part is integrally formed on the inclined surface, and an operation panel part for externally operating the operated parts such as switches is lower than the flat surface and protrudes forward from the main body. In addition, the electrical equipment is installed on the edge of the open part of the operation box part in a diagonal shape along the slope, and the electrical components are housed inside the operation box part. It is characterized in that it is easy to operate and is improved so that the user's body does not come into contact with the operation panel inadvertently.

[Embodiment of the invention] An embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, in FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes an outer box which is the main body, and a top plate 2 is provided on the upper end of this outer box. This upper plate 2 includes a frame-shaped upper cover 3 made of synthetic resin having a laundry entrance/exit 3a in the center, and a flat plate-shaped upper cover 3 provided on the upper cover 3 to open and close the laundry entrance/exit 3a. The upper cover 4 consists of an upper cover 4, and substantially the entire upper surface of the upper plate 2 except for the front edge is formed into a generally flat surface, although there is a slight step at the rear edge of the upper cover 3, The front edge, in this case the front edge of the upper cover 3, is formed into an inclined surface that gently slopes downward toward the front. Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an operation box section 5 having a horizontally long concave shape is integrally formed on this inclined surface 3b, and a bottom section 5a of the operation box section 5 is
The overall shape is formed in the shape of a slope that slopes downwardly toward the front, however, a water guide groove 5b that is approximately horizontal or slightly slopes downwardly toward the rear is formed in the middle part, and a drain hole 5c is formed at the rear of this water guide groove 5b. is forming. Furthermore, a plurality of engagement holes 6 and 7 are formed at the front and rear edges of the operation box section 5, respectively. Reference numeral 8 denotes a horizontally elongated operation panel, on the front edge of which a plurality of engaging pawls 9 are formed, and on the rear edge thereof a diagonal plate portion 10 is formed.
A plurality of engaging claw portions 11 are formed on the lower end edge of 0. Further, on the back side of this operation panel 8, various switches and electronic components, as well as electrical components such as a circuit board 12 to which these are connected, are attached via a boss portion 8a. An elastic sheet 13 is mounted on which is printed a display section for displaying the operation of the switch and an operation section for operating the switches, and various switches can be operated from the operation panel 8 by pressing the sheet 13. It is now being done all at once. The operation panel 8 is mounted on the edge of the opening of the operation box section by engaging the engagement claws 9 and 11 with the engagement holes 6 and 7 of the upper cover 3. There is. The operation panel 8 is located at a position lower than the flat surface of the upper plate 2 and does not protrude forward from the outer box 1 which is the main body, and is inclined along the inclined surface 3a of the upper cover 3 of the upper plate 2. Therefore, electrical components such as the circuit board 12 are housed within the operation box section 5. In addition, in FIG. 2, 14 is a water tank elastically suspended by a suspension rod (not shown), and 15
16 is a frame-shaped water tank cover fitted to the upper end of the water tank 14, and the operation box section 5 is located above the water tank cover 16. A drain hole 5c is located. Further, in FIG. 1, 17 is a water level switch disposed at the rear edge of the upper cover 3.

According to this embodiment having the above configuration, since the operation panel 8 is provided on the upper surface of the upper plate 2, the user can see the operation panel 8 in a normal standing position, and can also use the operation panel 8 in that position. The operation panel 8 can be operated by lowering the hand, and the visibility and operability can be improved compared to the conventional system in which the user has to bend down. Since the operation panel 8 is provided so as to face diagonally upward, visibility and operability can be further improved. Furthermore, since the operation panel 8 is located on the upper surface of the upper plate 2 and does not protrude forward or above the flat surface of the upper plate, the user's body can be placed in front of the upper plate 2 when putting in or taking out laundry, etc. Even if you come into contact with the operation panel 8, you will almost never come into contact with the operation panel 8, and even if you do, since the operation panel 8 is facing upward, you will only touch the frontmost edge of the operation panel. There is no need to press the operating section 8 from above, thereby preventing malfunctions such as erroneous operation, and further reducing packaging volume and reducing packaging costs. In particular, this effect of preventing erroneous operation is due to the fact that in systems where the dryer is installed above the washing machine, there is a high frequency of contact with the front of the washing machine when loading and unloading items to be dried.
This system is particularly effective. Further, an operation panel 8 is provided on the inclined surface 3b of the front edge of the upper plate 2,
Since the operation panel 8 is installed in a state where it is gradually lowered than the flat surface of the upper plate 2, it is possible to avoid problems such as when the laundry is hung on the operation panel 8 when the laundry is taken out from the operation panel 8. In particular, even when a switch operation button is provided on the operation panel 8 so as to protrude, the protrusion from the upper surface of the upper plate 2 can be suppressed as much as possible, and there is virtually no problem. Moreover, an operation box portion 5 is provided on the inclined surface 3b of the upper plate 2, with a concave shape instead of an open opening.
is formed, and an operation panel 8 is mounted on this operation box section 5.
Since this is provided, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the strength of the upper plate 2.
That is, in the conventional device in which an opening is formed in the upper plate 2, the edge of the opening becomes weak in strength and causes deformation, etc., but in this embodiment, the operation box part 5
Since the upper cover 3 has a side wall and a bottom wall, as a result, the upper cover 3 has an opening for mounting the operation panel 8 and inserting and storing the circuit board, but the opening is reinforced by the operation box 5 itself. Therefore, unlike the conventional case where an open opening is simply formed, a decrease in strength can be prevented, and as a result, the problem of a gap occurring between the operation panel 8 and the upper plate 2 can be eliminated. . In addition, in the conventional type mentioned above, multiple vertical ribs are provided to supplement the strength to some extent, but this intermittently partitions the storage space for electrical components, which also limits the layout design of electrical components such as electronic components. It is troublesome to receive this. However, in this embodiment, since the structure can be constructed without requiring the conventional vertical ribs, the interior of the operation box section 5 can be used to its full capacity.
There is no need to worry about the arrangement of electrical components, and overall manufacturing can be facilitated. Furthermore, in the past, since the electrical components on the back side of the operation panel were exposed inside the outer box 1, there was a risk that water droplets could form on the electrical components due to splashes during washing operations, causing poor insulation, etc. In this regard, according to this embodiment, the electrical components on the back side of the operation panel 8 are housed within the operation box section 5 and are not exposed inside the outer box 1, so that the above-mentioned conventional problems can be solved. Moreover, since this operation box part 5 is an integral part formed integrally with the upper plate 2,
There are no joints and no seal structure is required. Particularly in the case of this embodiment, since the water drain hole 5c is formed in the bottom part 5a of the operation box part 5 and positioned above the water tank cover 16, even if dew condensation occurs inside the operation box part 5, the water droplets can be drained away. Water can be dropped into the water tank 14 through the water drain hole 5c via the water tank cover 16, thereby preventing water from remaining in the operation box section 5 and preventing the water from leaking onto the floor surface etc. The occurrence of defects can also be prevented.

In the above embodiment, the water level switch 17 is connected to the upper plate 2.
This is the operation box section 5.
In addition, in the above embodiment, an elastic sheet 13 is attached to the operation panel 8, and the operation buttons of various switches are operated via the elastic sheet 13, but the structure of this part is different from this. It is not limited and can be changed in various ways.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, but can be implemented with various modifications within the scope of the invention.

[Effects of the invention] As is clear from the above description, the present invention has an upper plate whose upper surface is approximately flat on the upper end of the main body, and the front edge of the upper surface of the upper plate A concave operation box is integrally formed on the inclined surface, and an operation panel for externally operating the operated parts such as switches is lower than the flat surface. The electrical equipment is disposed at the edge of the opening of the operation box portion in a form that does not protrude forward from the main body and is oblique along the inclined surface, and electrical components are housed inside the operation box portion. This feature is characterized by the following effects.

() Since the operation panel for externally operating the operated parts such as switches is provided obliquely on the upper surface of the upper plate, visibility and operability can be greatly improved.

() The above-mentioned operation panel is configured so that it does not protrude forward from the main body or above the flat surface of the upper plate, which prevents erroneous operation due to body contact, etc., and also reduces packaging volume and reduces packaging costs. can be achieved. Additionally, laundry can be taken out without any problem.

() Since the part where electrical components are placed is a concave operation box that is integrally molded on the top plate, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the strength of the top plate and prevent deformation of the top plate, making it possible to prevent the operation panel and the top plate from interfering with each other. Problems such as gaps occurring between the two can also be eliminated. Further, there is no need to worry about the arrangement of electrical components provided within the operation box, and productivity can be improved.

() The operation box part is integrally molded with the upper plate to create a non-bonded structure, and the electrical components are stored and arranged inside this operation box section, so there is no need for any sealing structure, and water leakage from splashes etc. to the electrical components is avoided. The structure can be simplified and the occurrence of insulation defects can be prevented.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the entire washing machine, Fig. 2 is a vertical side view of the upper part of the washing machine, and Fig. 3 shows the operation panel separated from the upper part with the top cover removed. FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional side view of the main parts. In the figure, 1 is an outer box (main body), 2 is an upper plate, 3 is an upper cover, 3b is an inclined surface, 4 is an upper lid, 5 is an operation box, 8 is an operation panel, and 12 is a circuit board.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] An upper plate having a substantially flat upper surface is provided at the upper end of the main body, and the front edge of the upper surface of the upper plate is formed into an inclined surface that gently descends forward,
A concave operation box portion is integrally molded on the inclined surface,
An operation panel for collectively externally operating operated parts such as switches is provided in an opening part of the operation box part, which is lower than the flat surface, does not protrude forward from the main body, and is obliquely shaped along the inclined surface. A washing machine characterized in that the electrical components are housed inside the operation box section.