JPH0131184Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a panel device for a washing machine used for general household use.

Structure of conventional example and its problems Figure 1 shows the mounting structure between the body and operation panel of a conventional washing machine, where a is the main body,
b is a body made of resin provided on the upper part of the main body a, and has an opening d on the front surface c that is approximately the size of the entire front surface. Reference numeral e designates an operation panel made of resin and provided with an operation section (not shown) having electrical components (not shown) at the rear. This operation panel e has a substantially L-shaped longitudinal section, has a mounting part f at the bottom, engages with a boss part g of body b, and is installed in an opening part d of body b with screws h. ing.

In general, in a washing machine where operations such as washing or dehydration are performed at the front of the main body, it is preferable that the operating part does not protrude in front of the main body so that laundry can be easily loaded and unloaded, and the more compact the machine, the cheaper it is to manufacture. It is possible.

However, in the above-mentioned structure, since the front surface of the body b is almost the opening d, the material cost can be reduced, and although it can be obtained at a low cost, it is weak in strength. To compensate for this, the operation panel e must be made stronger, and
Since it has to be made into a large shape, the cost of the operation panel e increases. Furthermore, since it is screwed onto the outside of main body a, the entire operating section protrudes far forward of main body a, which creates a long distance from the input slot for loading and unloading laundry, making it difficult to use. Ta.

Purpose of the invention The present invention eliminates such drawbacks and provides a washing machine that is easy to use, allows for easy loading and unloading of laundry, and is inexpensive in terms of cost.

Structure of the invention In order to achieve the above purpose, the invention is as follows:
The body is located at the top of the main body and includes a body having an opening on the front side, and a substantially flat operation panel provided with an operation section having electrical components such as switches at the rear. At the same time, a protrusion provided at the upper part of the opening of the body is engaged, and a rib provided at the rear lower part of the operation panel is engaged with the lower end of the opening of the body, and a boss provided at the rear side of the operation panel and the body are engaged. This is a fixed boss receiver placed in the opening.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. In FIGS. 2 to 6, 1 is the main body of the washing machine, and 2 is a generally flat resin body provided on the upper part of the main body 1. The body 2 has an input port 3 at the center, and a front surface 5 at an obtuse angle with respect to the upper horizontal plane 4 of the center. The front surface 5 has an opening 6 that covers almost the entire front surface. The upper part of the opening 6 is a convex part 7 over almost the entire width, and the lower part consists of a horizontal part 8 and an inclined part 9, and the inclined part 9 is higher at the front and becomes lower toward the rear. Reference numeral 10 designates one or more boss receivers provided between the convex portion 7 of the opening 6 and the rear end 11 of the horizontal portion 8, and has a mounting hole 12 near the rear end 11. Further, the inclined portion 9 is located between the boss receivers 10.

Furthermore, waterproof ribs 13 having a height approximately the same as the lower end of the input port 3 and a width approximately the same as the width of the opening 6 are integrally molded with the body 2 at the input port 3 and the opening 6 of the body 2. .

14 is an operation panel made of substantially flat resin;
The operation panel 14 has a recess 15 in its upper part that engages with the projection 7 of the body 2, and a waterproof part 16 is integrally formed behind the recess 15. Further, a plurality of ribs 17 and 18 are provided at the rear of the lower part of the operation panel 14, and the lower end shapes of the ribs 17 and 18 are configured to engage with the horizontal portion 8 and the inclined portion 9 of the body 2, respectively. , i.e. rib 17
The ribs 18 are configured horizontally, and the lower surfaces of the ribs 18 are configured to slope downward as they go rearward. 19 is a boss provided at the rear of the operation panel 14, and the operation panel 14 is connected to the opening 6 of the body 2.
The height is set at such a height that it comes into contact with the boss receiver 10 when it is provided at a predetermined position. Similar to the boss 19, 20 is a boss provided at the rear of the operation panel 14.

21 is a printed circuit board having electrical components such as a switch 22 and a light emitting diode 23;
It is provided on the operation panel 14 via. 24
is a waterproof cover made of resin, and has a substantially L-shaped vertical section so as to cover the rear and lower part of the printed circuit board 21, is located at the rear of the printed circuit board 21, and is fastened together with the printed circuit board 21.

25 is a push button, 26 is a light emitting diode 23
The cover 27 is a tightening screw for fixing the operation panel 14 and the body 2. Further, 28 is a tightening screw for fixing the operation panel 14, the printed circuit board 21, and the waterproof cover 24, and 29 is located at the front of the operation panel 14, and is provided so as to cover the push button 25 and the cover 26 device holes 30 and 31. This is a waterproof panel made of resin film.

Next, a method of assembling the above structure will be explained.
After soldering electrical components such as a switch 22 and a light emitting diode 23 to the printed circuit board 21, the printed circuit board 21 and waterproof cover 24 are attached to the operation panel 14 with screws 28 via the boss 18 of the operation panel 14.

Next, this operation panel 14 is inserted into the opening 6 of the body 2 from the rear, and after the recess 15 of the operation panel 14 is engaged with the protrusion 7 of the body 2, using this engagement part as a fulcrum, The operation panel 14 is rotated so that the ribs 17 and 18 of the operation panel 14 are engaged with the horizontal portion 8 and the inclined portion 9 of the body 2, respectively. At this time, since the lower end of the rib 17 is horizontal and the abutting horizontal portion 8 is also horizontal, the two are smoothly engaged. On the other hand, regarding the engagement between the rib 18 and the inclined part 9, since the front of the inclined part 9 is higher than the horizontal part 8, the lower end of the rib 18 hits and cannot be engaged. However, the opening 6 of the body 2 is provided almost completely on the front surface compared to the size of the front surface 5, and since it is made of resin, the lower part of the front surface 5 is weak in strength and elastic. This weak strength is reinforced by the boss receiver 10. This boss receiver 10 is located near the front surface 5
It is effective for the lower part of , but the other lower parts have elasticity as mentioned above. By utilizing this elasticity and locating the inclined portion 9 near the center between the boss receivers 10, the engagement between the rib 18 and the inclined portion 9 can be easily performed by lowering the entire inclined portion 9 downward. It is something. Next, boss receiver 10
By fixing the operation panel 14 to the body 2 with the tightening screws 27, the assembly of the operation section is completed.

In the above configuration, even if the front surface 5 of the body 2 is made as small as possible and the opening 6 is provided all the way to the front, larger than the size of the operation part, the lower end of the front surface 5 of the body 2 is not connected to the upper part by the ribs 17 and 18. It is strong against force, and even if the operation panel 14 is made substantially flat,
Since they are securely fixed by the upper engaging portion and the lower tightening screw 27, both the body 2 and the operation panel 14 require less material and can be manufactured at low cost. Furthermore, since the operation panel 14 and the body 2 can be attached at the rear of the operation panel 14, the operation part does not protrude beyond the main body 1, and laundry can be easily taken in and taken out.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above embodiments, according to the present invention, even if the front surface of the body is made as small as possible and the opening is provided all the way to the front, larger than the size of the operating section, the lower end of the front surface of the body will not be covered with the operating panel. The ribs provided at the rear lower part of the body make it strong against forces from above, and the operation panel can be securely fixed even if it is almost flat, so both the body and the operation panel require less material and can be manufactured at low cost. can. Furthermore, since the operation panel and the body can be attached at the rear of the operation panel, the operation section does not protrude beyond the main body, making it easy to take in and take out laundry.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing a conventional mounting structure between a body and an operation panel, Fig. 2 is an external perspective view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of main parts showing the front side of the body. Figures 2 and 3 are sectional views taken along the line A-O in Figures 2 and 3, showing the mounting structure of the body and operation panel, Figures 5 and 6 are Figure 2,
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line B-O and line C-O in FIG. 3; 1... Main body, 2... Body, 3... Inlet, 5
...Front surface, 6...Opening, 7...Protrusion, 10...
Boss holder, 14...Operation panel, 15...Recess, 1
7,18...ribs.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] (1) A body located at the top of the main body with an opening on the front, and a substantially flat operation panel with an operation section having electrical components such as switches at the rear. , engaging a convex portion provided at an upper portion of the opening of the body with a recess provided at an upper portion of the operation panel, and engaging a rib provided at a rear lower portion of the operation panel with a lower end of the opening of the body; A washing machine panel device in which a boss provided on the rear side of the operation panel and a boss receiver placed in the opening of the body are fixed. (2) Approximately the center of the lower end of the opening in the body is an inclined surface that slopes upward as it goes forward, and the lower end of the other openings is a horizontal surface. 2. A panel device for a washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the panel device is provided with a rib that slopes downwardly according to the direction of the angle and a rib whose lower surface is horizontal, and each of the ribs is engaged with the lower end surface of the opening of the body.