WO2007012533A1

WO2007012533A1 - Control device for a domestic appliance

Info

Publication number: WO2007012533A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/063596
Authority: WO
Inventors: Reinhard Fleissner; Ernst Huber; Helmut Uglorz
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2005-07-28
Filing date: 2006-06-27
Publication date: 2007-02-01
Also published as: DE102005035464A1; EP1913666A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a control device for a domestic appliance, comprising a front cover (16) with at least one recess (26, 28) which can be penetrated by a movable control element (12, 14) used for operating a switching element (18, 20). The inventive control device further comprises a supporting part (24) which is fastened to a rear face of the front cover (16). Said supporting part (24) is provided with at least one insertion slot (34-40) for establishing a connection between the supporting part (24) and a holding part used for retaining (42, 44) the switching element (18, 20). In order to create a generic control device for a domestic appliance in which the switching element (18, 20) is easy to mount while tolerance can be compensated, an insertion direction (70) of the insertion slot (34, 36) features at least one component that extends radially in relation to a center of the recess (26, 28).

Description

Domestic appliance control device

The invention relates to a household appliance operating device according to the preamble of claim 1.

US Pat. No. 5,624,167 discloses a household appliance operating device with a front panel and with a carrier part attached to a rear side of the front panel. The front panel and the support member each have a recess which is intended to be penetrated by a movable control element. The support member has two in the circumferential direction concentrically around the recess extending insertion slots, which serve for establishing a connection of the support member and a holding part of the switching element. The holding part is formed as a bottom plate of the switching element and has two tabs, which can be inserted into a widened region of the insertion slots and can be jammed by rotating the switching element with the insertion slots. The insertion direction of the insertion slot is therefore circumferential direction with respect to the center of the recess and extends from the widened portion of the insertion slot in a narrower portion of the insertion slot.

The object of the invention is, in particular, to provide a generic domestic appliance operating device, in which a simple assembly of the switching element can be achieved while at the same time possible tolerance compensation.

The object is achieved by the features of claim 1, while advantageous embodiments and modifications of the invention can be taken from the dependent claims.

The invention relates to a household appliance operating device with a front panel having at least one recess which is intended to be penetrated by a movable operating element for operating a switching element, and having a fixed to a back of the front panel support member, wherein the support member at least one insertion slot for Making a connection of the carrier part with a holding part for holding the switching element comprises. It is proposed that an insertion direction of the insertion slot has at least one radial component relative to a center of the recess. As a result, a position of a center of the operating element can be adapted to the position of the center of the recess by more or less deep insertion or sliding of the holding part in or on the insertion slot. As a result, a tolerance compensation can be achieved. A particularly effective tolerance compensation with only small changes in the insertion path can be achieved if the insertion direction is completely radial, but small components in the circumferential direction and / or a spiral-like insertion movement of the basic function are not detrimental. The front panel can be made of a decorative material with good cleaning properties, for example made of stainless steel or glass, and be connected to the support member by any, the expert appears useful sense Verbindungsart. As a particularly cost-adhesive bonded joints has proven in similar applications.

The household appliance operating device according to the invention can be used, for example, for operating cooking appliances, in particular built-in cookers, built-in ovens or also free-standing household cookers and / or household ovens. However, in principle it is an application in connection with any domestic appliance or domestic appliance which appears expedient to a person skilled in the art, for example for operating a washing machine, a dryer, an extractor hood or a refrigerator. The movable control element can be displaced or rotated as needed.

The insertion slot is a groove into consideration, in which engages a corresponding element of the holding part. However, embodiments of the invention are also conceivable in which a push-in connection means on the carrier part engages in a groove or a slot in the holding part.

In a further development of the invention, it is proposed that the insertion slot is provided for the linear insertion or pushing of the holding part. As a result, a particularly quick and easy installation is achievable.

A weight force of the switching element and / or the holding part can be advantageously exploited when the insertion slot is provided for vertical insertion or sliding of the holding part. By a frictional engagement between the slot and a slot Corresponding component of the holding part, a screw-free mounting of the holding part and the switching element can be achieved.

If the switching element is fixed in an assembled state by the operating element in the insertion direction, a separate element for fixing the switching element can advantageously be dispensed with. To fix the switching element, the operating element can advantageously be plugged after insertion of the switching element with the holding part on the switching element and connected thereto. Such a fixation by the operating element can be achieved if the operating element engages through the recess and is supported on its edge.

Furthermore, a fixing of the holding part by a latching connection means for locking the holding part in an end position is conceivable. The latching connection means may be formed particularly cost-saving as a latching lug on the holding part, which engages in a corresponding recess in the carrier part.

If the holding part forms a component which is separate from a body of the switching element, different types of switching elements can be connected to the carrier part via the holding part without further structural changes. Corresponding hole pattern can be provided in the holding part without further effort. In case of service, the body of the switching element with electronic and / or electromechanical components can be easily replaced. Also retrofitting of higher quality or different types of switching elements can be achieved inexpensively and with little mechanical effort.

A particularly cost-effective insertion slot may be punched out of a sheet metal part, wherein an advantageous clamping action is particularly achievable when the insertion slot tapers in the insertion direction.

If the holding part is formed elastically perpendicular to the insertion direction in a plane defined by the front panel, a floating support of the switching element can be achieved by the elasticity, whereby a tolerance compensation during assembly in the plane of the front panel and perpendicular to the direction of insertion direction is made possible. Further advantages emerge from the following description of the drawing. In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are shown. The drawing, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and combine them into meaningful further combinations.

Show it:

1 shows a cooking appliance with a household appliance operating device,

2 shows a front panel, a carrier part with switching elements and holding parts in a rear view,

3 shows the carrier part with a switching element without the front panel of Figure 2 in a front view,

4 shows a detail of the carrier part from FIGS. 1-3 with a holding part, FIG.

5 shows the carrier part from FIGS. 2 to 4,

6 shows a carrier part with holding parts in an alternative embodiment of the household appliance operating device in a view from behind,

7 shows the carrier part and the holding part from FIG. 6 in a view from the front and without the front panel, FIG.

8 shows a first holding part of the household appliance operating device from FIGS. 6 and 7 and FIG

9 shows a further holding part for holding two switching elements of the domestic appliance operating device from FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 1 shows a domestic appliance 10a designed as a built-in oven with a domestic appliance operating device arranged on an upper edge of the front of the household appliance 10a with two rotatable operating elements 12a, 14a and a display 32a. The home appliance control device comprises a front panel 16a made of glass. The operating elements 12a, 14a each pass through a circular recess in the front panel 16a and are each non-rotatably connected to a switching element 18a, 20a (FIG. 2) whose rotational position or switching position can be detected by a control unit 22a of the domestic appliance 10a. In the following description, relative terms such as "top,""bottom,""rear," and "front" are respectively relative to the orientation of the home appliance operator in a built-in state of the domestic appliance 10a.

FIG. 2 shows the domestic appliance operating device from FIG. 1, which forms a separate module, in a rear view. A formed from sheet metal carrier part 24a is glued to the back of the front panel 16a. The support part 24a, like the front panel 16a circular recesses 26a, 28a, which are penetrated in the mounted state of the controls 12a, 14a of these. The recesses 26a, 28a of the front panel 16a and the support member 24a are arranged congruently.

Furthermore, the support part 24a has a further, rectangular recess 30a, which is provided for the externally visible arrangement of the electronic parts of the display 32a. Everywhere except in the region of this further recess 30a, the front panel 16a is printed from the rear side with an opaque coating and operator information visible from the outside.

Furthermore, the carrier part 24a has a total of four insertion slots 34a, 36a, 38a, 40a arranged laterally next to the recesses 26a, 28a for the operating elements 12a, 14a. The insertion slots 34a, 36a, 38a, 40a serve to establish a connection of the carrier part 24a with a holding part 42a, 44a for holding the respective operating element 12a, 14a associated switching element 18a, 20a. The insertion slots 34a, 36a, 38a, 40a have a first, in a mounted state of the home appliance operating device located at the top, a wider region 46a and a second, down to the first region 46a subsequent narrower region 48a, wherein one of the respective recess 26a, 28a facing edge through both regions 46a, 48a passes straight through and a recess 26a, 28a facing away from the edge by a stepped course causes the broadening of the first region 46a (Figure 4). For clarity, only the areas 46a, 48a of the first insertion slot 34a are provided with reference numerals. The remaining insertion slots 36a-40a have the same or a mirror-symmetrical shape to the insertion slot 34a.

The support part 24a is a sheet metal part, from which the insertion slots 36a - 40a and the recesses 26a, 28a, 30a are punched out. The holding parts 42a, 44a are similar and substantially U-shaped, so that they each have two lateral support portions 50a-56a and a rear wall 58a, 60a, which in the mounted state runs parallel to the front panel 16a. At a free end, the perpendicular to the respective rear wall 58a, 60a extending support portions 50a - 56a two 90 ° outwardly angled tabs 62a, 64a, each with the above-arranged tab 62a except for a mounting tolerance the size and shape of the upper portion 46a of the insertion slots 34a-40a has (Figures 2 and 3). The tabs 62a, 64a are of the same or mirror-symmetrical design on all support areas 50a-56a and are identified by reference numerals only on an exemplary support area 50a.

The rear wall 58a, 60a has a plurality of holes 66a, 68a for screwing the switching element 18a, 20a to the holding part 42a, 44a. The switching elements 18a, 20a shown schematically in Figure 2 pass through the central holes 66a of the rear walls 58a, 60a with gags, not shown here, and are bolted through the laterally disposed holes 68a with the holding parts 42a, 44a. The switching elements 18a, 20a are arranged on a side of the holding parts 42a, 44a facing away from the carrier part 24a. However, in alternative embodiments of the invention, the switching elements 18a, 20a could also be covered by the holding parts 42a, 44a.

The illustrated controls 12a, 14a are retractable in the front panel 16a. However, other switching elements 18a, 20a and operating elements 12a, 14a, for example fixed, non-retractable control knobs or pressure switches, can also be screwed to the holding parts 42a, 44a through the corresponding holes 66a, 68a.

For mounting the holding parts 42a, 44a they are inserted with the upper tabs 62a in the upper portions 46a of the insertion slots 34a - 40a. The support part 24a has, in an environment of the insertion slots 34a-40a, a distance to the front panel 16a which is slightly larger than a material thickness of the upper tabs 62a. Subsequently, the fitter can insert the holding parts 42a, 44a in a vertically downwardly extending insertion direction 70a into the insertion slots 34a-40a. In this case, the lower tabs 64a of the holding parts 42a, 44a bear against an outer side of the carrier part 24a and support a load on the holding parts 42a, 44a from above on the carrier part 24a. As a result, a screw-free connection between the holding parts 42a, 44a and the support part 24a is produced. The insertion direction 70a extends radially with respect to the center With regard to an axis of rotation of the operating elements 12a, 14a, the installer can cover the center and the central hole 66a of the rear wall 58a, 60a of the holding part 42a, 44a by a suitable choice of the insertion path. A tolerance compensation is guaranteed.

The support portions 50a-56a are elastic and allow by their elasticity tolerance compensation in the horizontal direction 72a.

Subsequently, the fitter inserts the control elements 12a, 14a from outside or from the front onto the switching elements 18a, 20a connected to the holding parts 42a, 44a, thus fixing the position of the switching elements 18a, 20a in the direction of insertion 70a. The operating elements 12a, 14a are supported on the edges of the recesses 26a, 28a in the front panel 16a which are each covered with protective rings.

For disassembly in case of damage, the controls 12a, 14a can be easily removed from the switching elements 18a, 20a and the switching elements 18a, 20a can be solved together with the holding parts 42a, 44a against the insertion direction 70a from the insertion slots 34a - 40a.

Figures 6 - 9 show a further embodiment of the invention. The description essentially deals with differences from the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. With regard to the same features, reference is made to the description of Figures 1 - 4. Analogous features are provided with the same reference numerals, wherein the letters "a" and "b" are added to distinguish the exemplary embodiments.

The domestic appliance operating device illustrated in FIGS. 6-9 differs from the above-described domestic appliance operating device mainly by a different embodiment of its holding parts 42b, 44b. The holding parts 42b, 44b are cup-shaped and designed as plastic parts, so that an operator, fitter or service specialist can not get an electric shock by touching the holding parts 42b, 44b even in the case of contact of the holding part 42b, 44b with a metal part carrying current. Furthermore, the holding parts 42b, 44b have at their upper edge in each case a latching nose 74b which, when a desired position is reached, snaps into a corresponding recess 76b in a carrier part 24b of the alternative domestic appliance operating device, so that a latching connection between the holding parts 42b, 44b and the support part 24b is provided.

The alternative home appliance control device comprises two different types of holding parts 42b, 44b. A first type of holding parts 42b is for supporting a single switching element, and a second type holding part 44b is for simultaneously supporting two switching elements (FIG. 9). The holding part 44b of the second type therefore has two pot-like formations 78b, 80b, in each of which a switching element not shown here is screwed.

reference numeral

10 domestic appliance 62 tab

12 control element 64 tab

14 control element 66 hole

16 front panel 68 holes

18 switching element 70 insertion direction

20 switching element 72 direction

22 control unit 74 locking lug

24 carrier part 76 recess

26 recess 78 shaping

28 recess 80 shaping

30 recess

32 display

34 insertion slot

36 slot slot

38 insertion slot

40 slot slot

42 holding part

44 holding part

46 area

48 area

50 support area

52 support area

54 support area

56 support area

58 rear wall

60 rear wall

Claims

claims

Anspruch [en] A home appliance operating device having a front panel (16) with at least one recess (26, 28) which is intended to be penetrated by a movable operating element (12, 14) for operating a switching element (18, 20) and with one on one The carrier part (24) has at least one insertion slot (34-40) for connecting the carrier part (24) to a holding part (42, 44) for holding the switching element (18, FIG. 20), characterized in that an insertion direction (70) of the insertion slot (34, 36) has at least one radial component relative to a center of the recess (26, 28).

2. Domestic appliance control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the insertion slot (34 - 40) for linear insertion or sliding of the holding part (42, 44) is provided.

3. Domestic appliance operating device according to claim 2, characterized in that the insertion slot (34 - 40) for vertical insertion or sliding of the holding part (42, 44) is provided.

4. Domestic appliance control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding part (42, 44) is fixed in an assembled state by the operating element (12, 14) in the insertion direction (70).

5. Domestic appliance control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a latching connection means (74b) for locking the holding part (42b, 44b) in an end position.

6. Domestic appliance operating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding part (42, 44) forms a of a body of the switching element (18, 20) separate component.

7. Domestic appliance control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insertion slot (34 - 40) is punched out of a sheet metal part.

8. domestic appliance control device according to claim 7, characterized in that the insertion slot (34 - 40) in the insertion direction (70) is formed narrows.

9. Domestic appliance control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding part (42a, 44a) perpendicular to the insertion direction (70a) in one of the front panel (16a) defined plane is formed elastically.