JPH0468725B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an operating button for a washing machine used in general households.

Conventional configuration and its problems Conventionally, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, in the operation button of this type of washing machine, electronic components 6, switches 7, etc. that constitute the operation control circuit of the washing machine are arranged. The printed circuit board 8 is attached to the back surface of a synthetic resin operation plate 4 fixed with screws 5 etc. to the top plate 3 which covers the top of the outer box 2 of the washing machine with screws 13 etc., and the printed circuit board 8 is attached to the operation plate 4 An actuating piece 9 that closes the contact of the switch 7 by a pressing operation is integrally formed as a resilient cantilever utilizing the characteristics of a synthetic resin material, and the actuating piece 9 and its vicinity are formed integrally on the surface. A waterproof sheet 10 is covered and pasted on the back side of the waterproof sheet, and a button shape is printed on the surface corresponding to the actuating piece 9 on the back side of the waterproof sheet. was giving. However, in this configuration, the force applied to the actuating piece 9 is approximately equal to the force of the user pushing the actuating piece 9 through the waterproof sheet 10, so it is possible for the user to apply too much pushing force or accidentally hit the actuating piece 9. In such a case, a large pushing force or impact force is directly applied to the switch 7 and may destroy it, or the impact force or strong force is also applied to the electronic components 6 and printed circuit board 8 around the switch 7, causing them to be destroyed. Something happened. In addition, among the operation buttons of the washing machine, those that are used frequently, that is, when starting or temporarily stopping the operation of the washing machine, send the signal to the operation control circuit, or turn on or off the electricity. Not only are the buttons often subjected to large pushing forces as mentioned above, but they are also pressed in order to improve the ease of pressing the buttons.
It is required that the button be large in shape and easily visible. However, in the conventional configuration, it is necessary not only to enlarge the printing or convex shape corresponding to the button on the waterproof sheet 10 described above, but also to enlarge the shape of the actuating piece 9 correspondingly. Since it is configured in a cantilever shape integrally with the operation board 8,
The operating plate 8 has the same strength as the operating plate 8 with a cutout hole of the same size as the operating piece 9, so there is a drawback that the operating piece 9 cannot be made very large. I couldn't make the buttons bigger.

Purpose of the Invention The present invention solves these conventional problems, improves strength, improves quality when a strong force such as an accidental impact force is applied to the button, and increases the size of the button. To provide an operating button for a washing machine that improves the ease of operation.

Structure of the Invention The operation button of the washing machine of the present invention is fixed to a top plate that is crowned above the outer box in which the washing tub is installed, and a printed circuit board with electronic components, switches, etc. arranged on the back side of the top plate is attached. an operation plate made of synthetic resin, which integrally forms an actuation piece that closes the contact of the switch by pressing operation, and has a waterproof sheet covered and affixed to the actuation piece and its vicinity on the surface; The actuating piece is provided with a convex portion that comes into contact with the actuating piece during normal times (hereinafter referred to as normal times) when the actuating piece is not pressed through the waterproof sheet, and this convex portion is provided with a convex portion through the waterproof sheet. The actuating piece rotates to a position where it presses the switch, and immediately after the actuating piece presses the switch, the portion other than the protrusion comes into contact with the operation plate through a waterproof sheet, and the rotating movement is stopped. It is. Due to the structure of this convex part, when the operation button is pressed strongly or an impact force is applied, the applied force is transferred to the convex part via the actuating piece by the rotation of the operation button. However, after the switch contacts close, the part of the operation button other than the protrusion comes into contact with the operation plate through the waterproof sheet, stopping the rotation of the operation plate, so the pressing force is reduced. will no longer be applied to the switch and will be absorbed by the operation panel, preventing damage to the switch, electronic components, etc., and printed circuit boards. In addition, it is the convex part that directly pushes the operating piece, so no matter how large the entire operating button is, there is no need to make the operating piece larger accordingly, and therefore the strength of the operating plate will not be compromised. By making the buttons larger, it is possible to improve the ease of pressing the buttons.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 3 to 5, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as in the conventional example. 1
is a washing machine, 2 is an outer box with a washing tub inside, 3 is a top plate that is crowned above the outer box, 4 is a screw 5 in front of the top plate.
A synthetic resin operation board is fixed by screws 13, and on the back side there is a printed circuit board 8 equipped with electronic components 6 and a switch 7 that closes contacts (not shown) by pressing. Fixed. Reference numeral 9 denotes a cantilever actuating piece that is integrally formed on the operation plate 4 and is elastically deflected by pressure;
A waterproof sheet 11 is covered and pasted on the operating piece 9 and its vicinity on the surface of the operating button, and a convex portion 11a is integrated at a position corresponding to the operating piece through the waterproof sheet 10 on the back side. Its tip is normally in contact with the actuating piece 9 through a waterproof sheet. Reference numeral 11b denotes a substantially U-shaped bearing portion formed integrally with the operation button 11, which holds a shaft 4a formed integrally with the operation plate 4, and the operation button 11 is centered around this shaft 4a in the direction of the arrow in the figure. Rotate in direction A. 4b
is a hole provided in the mold structure for forming the shaft 4a, and in order to prevent water from entering the printed circuit board 8 from this hole when water is poured from the surface of the operation panel, a gutter 4c is provided to prevent water from entering. The water is guided to a safe direction below the printed circuit board 8. 11c is rib,
The rib 11d is formed integrally with the operation button 11 together with the rib 11d, and the rib 11d is normally in contact with the operation plate 4, and the rib 11c is formed when the operation button 11 rotates and the convex portion 1
Immediately after the switch 1a pushes up the operating piece 9 to some extent through the waterproof sheet 10 and the contact (not shown) of the switch 7 closes, the operating piece 9 is pushed up through the waterproof sheet 10.
The height is set so that it touches the

To explain the operation in the above configuration, when the user presses the operation button 11, the operation button rotates around the shaft 4a, the convex portion 11a presses the actuation piece 9 through the waterproof sheet 10, and the actuation piece 9 is switch 7
Close the contacts. Further, when pressure is applied, the operation button 11 rotates until the rib 11c comes into contact with the operation plate 4 through the waterproof sheet 10, and the convex portion pushes the switch 7 through the waterproof sheet 10 and the actuation piece 9. However, even if the operation button is pressed after the contact, the pressing force is absorbed by the operation plate 4 and is not transmitted to the actuating piece 9, and no further pressing force is applied to the switch 7, so the switch 7 and the electronic Destruction of the parts 6 and the printed circuit board 8 can be prevented. When the pressing force is released, the operating piece 9 returns to its normal shape due to its elasticity, so the convex portion is pushed back, and the operating button 11 rotates in the opposite direction to that when it was pressed. Return to normal position. Further, if the operation button 11 is to be rotated in the opposite direction to the pressing direction due to vibrations during washing or dehydration, the rib 11d is normally in contact with the operation plate 4, so the rotation will not be possible. This prevents the operation button 11 from wobbling due to normal vibrations or the like.

By the way, even if the shape of the operation button is made larger in order to improve the ease of push button operation, since it is the convex part that presses the actuating piece 9 of the operation plate 4, it becomes difficult to operate as the shape of the operation button becomes larger. There is no need to increase the size of the piece 9, and the strength of the operation plate 4 is not impaired. Operation button 1
1 tends to increase the pushing pressure and impact force applied to the operation button, but according to the present invention, the disadvantages of conventional large pushing pressure and impact force can be eliminated, and safe large-scale operation can be achieved. Buttons can be realized.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which the waterproof sheet 1
A spring 12 is interposed between 0 and the back side of the operation button 11, and under normal conditions, the convex portion 11a is connected to the waterproof sheet 10.
It is close to the actuating piece 9 via. In this case, since the convex portion 11a does not normally come into contact with the actuating piece 9, even if the spring constant of the actuating piece 9 is small, even if the convex portion 11a vibrates somewhat due to vibrations during washing or dehydration, etc. Pushing pressure due to the vibration is applied to the switch 7 via the actuating piece 9, and the problem of closing the contact can be prevented. In this case, the spring 12 applies a force to the operation button 11 in the direction opposite to the push pressure operation, and together with the rib 11d, the operation button 11 is maintained in its normal position.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above-mentioned embodiments, the operating button of the washing machine of the present invention rotates due to pressing force, and the convex portion operates the switch on the printed circuit board via the operating piece. Immediately after pressing, a part of the operation button other than the convex part comes into contact with the operation plate through the waterproof sheet, and the rotation is stopped, thereby increasing the strength and safety of the switch etc. against large pressing pressure.
The structure in which the operating piece is pressed through the operating button allows the operating button to be made larger, and the strength and safety of the operating panel can be ensured.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine equipped with a conventional operation button, Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the same operation button, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a washing machine equipped with an operation button showing an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a sectional view of the same operation button in the normal state, FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the same operation button in the pressed state, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the same operation button in the normal state showing another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1...Washing tub, 2...Outer box, 3...Top plate, 4...
...Operation panel, 6...Electronic components, 7...Switch, 8
... Printed circuit board, 9 ... Actuation piece, 10 ... Waterproof sheet, 11 ... Operation button, 12 ... Spring.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. It is fixed to a top plate that is covered above the outer box in which the washing tub is installed, and a printed circuit board with electronic components, switches, etc. An operating piece for closing the contact of the switch is integrally formed, and the operating plate is disposed on a synthetic resin operating plate having a waterproof sheet covering and pasting the operating piece and its vicinity on the surface. The actuating piece is provided with a convex portion that normally comes into contact with the actuating piece through the waterproof sheet, and the convex portion rotates through the waterproof sheet to a position where it presses the actuating piece, and the actuating piece presses the switch. Immediately after the button is pressed, a portion other than the convex portion comes into contact with an operation plate via a waterproof sheet, and the rotational movement is stopped. 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein a spring is interposed between the waterproof sheet or the surface of the operation panel and the back side of the operation button, and the operating piece is provided with a protrusion that normally approaches through the waterproof sheet. Machine operation button.