JP2015043826A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing machine capable of preventing entry of humidity, in the washing machine including a touch panel.SOLUTION: A washing machine includes: a touch panel guide 40; and a case packing 90 arranged on an upper surface of a side wall 80b of a substrate case 80 surrounding the outside of a region including a substrate 70 and a flexible substrate 31. An upper surface of the case packing 90 is pressed against the substrate case 80 by a rib 80b provided on a rear surface side of a cover 20, the substrate case 80 is sealed.

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine including a touch panel type display operation unit.

  An operation panel of a conventional washing machine is a combination of a 7-segment display unit for displaying time and the like and various button-type operation units. However, in recent years, a character liquid crystal display has been increasingly used to display various states during operation of the washing machine. The display portion of the character liquid crystal has a surface that is much larger and flat compared to the 7-segment display portion. Therefore, when moisture from the outside enters, there is a problem that visibility deteriorates due to condensation. Therefore, in the conventional character liquid crystal display unit, in order to prevent moisture from entering, a potting material is filled on the control board to which the character liquid crystal is connected and a packing is put between the control panel on the surface. It coped by sealing (for example, refer patent document 1).

JP 2013-85730 A

  By the way, in recent years, in order to easily operate complicated functions, a touch panel has been introduced to the operation unit, and a full-dot liquid crystal has been introduced to display more information on the display unit. Yes. Since full dot liquid crystal has more electrodes than conventional character liquid crystal and the like, sheet-like electrodes are used instead of pin-type electrodes as in the past. However, with conventional pin type electrodes, it was possible to cope with filling with potting material, but with sheet-like electrodes (flexible substrates), the durability of the sheet part was increased by the heat when filling the potting material. There was a problem that the infiltration of moisture could not be prevented.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine capable of preventing moisture from entering in a washing machine having a touch panel.

  The present invention includes a laundry tub for storing laundry, an outer tub containing the laundry tub, and a display operation unit for displaying operation conditions and operation states. The display operation unit mounts a substrate. A substrate case to be placed; a touch panel disposed above the substrate; a panel guide that supports the touch panel; a cover that covers the front side of the touch panel; and a wiring that connects the electrode of the touch panel and the substrate. In the washing machine provided, a packing surrounding the outside of the area including the panel guide, the substrate, and the wiring is disposed on the upper surface of the side wall of the substrate case, and the upper surface of the packing is provided on the back surface side of the cover. The rib is pressed against the substrate case by a rib.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, in the washing machine provided with the touch panel, the washing machine which can prevent moisture permeation can be provided.

It is an appearance perspective view showing a washing machine concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view which shows a display operation part. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows a display operation part. It is a perspective view which shows the back side of the cover of a display operation part. It is a perspective view which shows a harness packing. It is a perspective view which shows the attachment state of harness packing. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 2.

  Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiments”) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the following, a washing machine that can perform washing, rinsing, dehydration, and drying (a so-called drum-type washing and drying machine) will be described as an example. However, a vertical laundry dryer, washing, rinsing, and dehydration will be described. The present invention can be applied to various types of washing machines such as a washing machine that can perform (so-called fully automatic washing machine).

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, a drum-type washing / drying machine (hereinafter referred to as a washing machine) A of the present embodiment can perform steps from washing to drying. A rotating drum 3 (washing tub), an operation panel 4 and the like are provided.

  The casing 1 is configured such that the outer shell is a combination of a steel plate and a resin molded product. That is, the housing 1 includes a base Bs, left and right side plates 1a and 1b, a front cover 1c, a back cover 1d, a top cover 1e, a lower front cover 1f, and the like. The side plates 1a and 1b and the back cover 1d are made of, for example, a steel plate by press molding. The base Bs, the front cover 1c, the upper cover 1e, and the lower front cover 1f are formed by molding a synthetic resin, for example.

  The outer tub 2 is a drum-shaped water tub in which water is poured and stored during washing and rinsing, and includes a bottomed cylindrical body having an opening (not shown) on the front side. In addition, a motor (not shown) for driving a rotary drum 3 to be described later is provided on the back surface of the outer tub 2.

  The rotating drum 3 functions as a washing / dehydrating tub, and is composed of a bottomed cylindrical body coaxially included in the outer tub 2. The rotary drum 3 has an opening (not shown) for putting clothes in and out on the front side, and a large number of through holes (not shown) for water flow and ventilation on the peripheral wall.

  A plurality of lifters (not shown) extending in the depth direction (axial direction, substantially front-rear direction) are provided on the inner peripheral wall of the rotating drum 3 at intervals in the circumferential direction. The rotating drum 3 rotates at the time of washing or drying, so that the washing power can be increased by repeating the movement such that clothes and the like are lifted along the peripheral wall by lifter and centrifugal force and then dropped by gravity. .

  The washing machine A has a detergent case 5 in which powder detergent 5a, liquid detergent 5b, and softener 5c can be separately added, a water supply hose connection port 6a for supplying water from a water tap, and bath water for introducing remaining hot water in the bath. A hose connection port 6b, a damper 7 that elastically supports the outer tub 2 and suppresses vibration during operation (only a part is shown), a door 8 for putting clothes in and out, and a drying filter 9 that removes dust generated during the drying process. Etc. are provided.

  Although not shown, the washing machine A has a dehumidifying means (for example, a water-cooled dehumidifying mechanism) for dehumidifying the air in the outer tub 2, a heating means (heater) for heating the dehumidified air, and the outer tub 2 ( Circulating means (electric fan) for circulating air between the rotating drum 3) and between the heating means and the dehumidifying means is provided.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the operation panel.
As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 4 includes a display operation unit 10, a start / pause button 11, a power on button 12, and a power off button 13. That is, operations other than the start operation, the operation pause operation, the power-on operation, and the power-off operation are performed by operations on the display operation unit 10 side.

  The display operation unit 10 is a so-called touch panel type, and displays operation conditions and operation status. The display of operating conditions includes a washing course for washing only, a washing / drying course from washing to drying, a drying course for drying only, a washing time during washing, the number of times of rinsing, a dehydration time, a dehydration time or a drying time. It means the display of the dryness of the time, the reservation time, the remaining time until the end of the operation. The driving status display indicates the current driving status. For example, in the case of a washing course, whether the washing process is in progress, the rinsing process, the dehydration process, or the end of the operation. It means the display of the remaining time until.

  In addition, the display operation unit 10 performs a touch input operation (course setting or the like) while appropriately switching the screen display, and displays the current driving situation after the start of driving. In addition, a region R2 illustrated in FIG. 2 is a region where the display is switched as appropriate, such as a currently set operation course (washing course, washing drying course, drying course). A region R3 illustrated in FIG. 2 is a region in which a lighting state and a light-off state informing the user of the cleaning time of the lint filter and the drying filter are appropriately switched.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the display operation unit. In addition, in FIG. 3, the lamination direction of each member is an up-down direction.
As shown in FIG. 3, the display operation unit 10 includes a cover 20, a touch panel 30, a touch panel guide 40 (panel guide), a display panel 50, a display panel guide 60, a substrate 70, a substrate case 80, a case packing 90, and a panel packing 100. (Seal member) and harness packing 110 are combined.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the back side of a cover used for the operation panel.
As shown in FIG. 4, the cover 20 has a window portion 20 a that is cut out in a rectangular shape from which the touch panel 30 is exposed. Further, the cover 20 is formed with a plurality of screw insertion holes 20b through which screws (not shown) are inserted when screws are fixed to the casing 1 (see FIG. 1), and the casing 1 (see FIG. 1). Are formed at a plurality of locations. The position, shape, number, etc. of the claw portions 20c are not limited to this embodiment.

  Further, on the back surface of the cover 20, ribs 20d are formed in a substantially square frame shape so as to surround the periphery of the window portion 20a. The rib 20d is configured so as to be able to surround the outside of a region including the touch panel guide 40 (see FIG. 3), the substrate 70, and the flexible substrate 31, which will be described later. Further, the rib 20d is configured to correspond to a groove 80c of the substrate case 80 described later. In addition, the rib 20d is formed with a notch recess 20e that is notched in a concave shape in a part of the circumferential direction (two in this embodiment).

  Returning to FIG. 3, the touch panel 30 is formed of, for example, a capacitance type, and includes a plurality of transparent electrodes (not shown) extending in the left-right direction and a plurality of transparent electrodes (not shown) extending in the front-rear direction. Are arranged so as to cross each other with an insulating film (not shown) interposed therebetween. In this capacitive touch panel 30, the operated (pressed) position (area) is detected by detecting the difference between the capacity when the finger is not touching and the capacity when the finger is touching. It can be detected.

  The touch panel 30 has a configuration in which a tempered glass 32 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) and an electrode substrate 33 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) are laminated, and the tempered glass 32 is disposed on the upper side (front side). It is configured.

  The touch panel 30 is formed larger than the opening area of the window portion 20a of the cover 20 so that the outer peripheral edge portion overlaps the opening edge portion of the window portion 20a in the vertical direction.

  In addition, the touch panel 30 includes a flexible substrate 31 (wiring, FPC: Flexible printed circuits) for taking out the operated position information signal. The flexible substrate 31 is configured by providing a conductive foil such as copper on an insulating film such as polyimide, and is connected to a substrate 70 described later.

  The touch panel guide 40 is made of a synthetic resin that supports the touch panel 30, and includes a support 41 that supports the outer peripheral edge of the touch panel 30. The touch panel guide 40 has a substantially rectangular opening 42 into which a display panel guide 60 to be described later is inserted inside the support portion 41.

  In addition, the touch panel guide 40 has an upright portion 41 a that rises upward from the outer peripheral edge portion of the support portion 41. The standing portion 41a is formed over the entire circumference except for the portion where the flexible substrate 31 is pulled out.

  Further, a plurality of positioning projections 43 for positioning the touch panel guide 40 at predetermined positions on the substrate 70 are formed on the lower surface of the touch panel guide 40.

  Moreover, the light guide 44 is formed in the touch panel guide 40 in the position corresponding to each area | region R3 (refer FIG. 2) of the touch panel 30. As shown in FIG. In the touch panel guide 40 of the present embodiment, a button support portion 45 constituting a part of the start / pause button 11 (see FIG. 2) is integrally formed. An operation button 46 is supported on the button support portion 45 so as to be movable in the vertical direction.

  The display panel 50 is composed of a liquid crystal panel having a monochrome type and a backlight, for example, and displays operating conditions and operating conditions. The display panel 50 is not limited to liquid crystal, and may be another thin display panel such as an organic EL. The display panel 50 is not limited to a monochrome type, and may be a color type.

  The display panel 50 is disposed so as to be positioned below the touch panel 30 and has a display area S1 corresponding to the areas R1 and R2 of the touch panel 30. The periphery of the display area S1 is a non-display area S2.

  Although not shown, the display panel 50 includes a flexible substrate (FPC) for inputting display signals and the like.

  The display panel guide 60 is made of a synthetic resin that supports the display panel 50 and has a support portion 61 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) that supports the lower surface (back surface) of the display panel 50. The display panel guide 60 includes a side plate 62 that surrounds the display panel 50, and the display panel 50 is supported at a predetermined height from a substrate 70 described later.

  The substrate 70 is electrically connected to the flexible substrate 31 extending from the touch panel 30 and is also electrically connected to a flexible electrode substrate (not shown) extending from the display panel 50. A connector (not shown) is provided at the tip of the flexible substrate 31, and this connector (not shown) is connected to a connector (not shown) provided on the substrate 70.

  On the surface (upper surface) of the substrate 70, a light emitting element 71 configured by an LED (Light Emitting Diode) or the like is mounted at a position corresponding to the light guide path of the touch panel guide 40. The substrate 70 is formed with positioning holes 72 into which the positioning protrusions 43 of the touch panel guide 40 are inserted.

  In addition, the substrate 70 includes a control unit, an input / output unit, and the like on which a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like are mounted. The panel 50 and the LED 71 are controlled. That is, the control unit determines a display content to be displayed on the display panel 50 based on a signal indicating an operation condition selected by a touch operation on the touch panel 30 by the user, creates a control signal, and emits or turns off the LED 71. Create a control signal. In addition, the control unit acquires the current driving situation, determines display contents to be displayed on the display panel 50, and creates a control signal.

  The substrate case 80 has a bottom wall 80 a and a side wall 80 b that rises upward from the peripheral edge of the bottom wall 80 a, and the upper surface is open along the shape of the substrate 70. In FIG. 3, although the illustration of a part of the side wall 80b is omitted, the side wall 80b is formed over the entire periphery of the bottom wall 80a.

  On the upper surface (upper end) of the side wall 80b, a concave groove 80c in which a case packing 90 to be described later is mounted is formed over the entire circumferential direction. The groove 80 c is formed at a position that can surround the outside of the region including the touch panel guide 40, the substrate 70, and the flexible substrate 31. That is, the outside of the region including the touch panel guide 40, the substrate 70, and the flexible substrate 31 is surrounded by the groove 80c. The touch panel 30, the display panel 50, and the display panel guide 60 are also surrounded by the groove 80c. Will be.

  The case packing 90 is formed in a U shape in a sectional view by an elastic material such as rubber (see FIGS. 7 and 8), and is continuously formed along the groove 80c of the substrate case 80. Further, the case packing 90 is formed with cutout recesses 91 and 91 that are cut out in a concave shape so that the concave surface faces upward in a part of the circumferential direction (in this embodiment, two places). The notch recess 91 is formed at a position corresponding to the notch recess 20 e of the rib 20 d formed on the cover 20.

  The panel packing 100 seals a gap between the window 20a of the cover 20 and the touch panel 30, and is formed in a square frame shape by an elastic material such as rubber. Further, the panel packing 100 is formed in a U shape in a sectional view (see FIGS. 7 and 8), and is provided over the entire outer peripheral edge of the touch panel 30.

  In addition, a plurality of elastic protrusions 101 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the panel packing 100 at intervals in the circumferential direction. Accordingly, when the touch panel 30 is placed on the touch panel guide 40, each elastic protrusion 101 comes into contact with the inner wall surface of the upright portion 41a, and the touch panel 30 is supported by the touch panel guide 40 without rattling.

  The harness packing 110 is disposed on the case packing 90 so as to draw out the harness H (see FIG. 8) from the substrate 70 to the outside of the substrate case 80. In addition, in this embodiment, although the harness packing 110 is provided in two places, one place may be sufficient and three or more places may be sufficient. The harness packing 110 is made of rubber harder than the case packing 90.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the harness packing.
As shown in FIG. 5, the harness packing 110 is formed of an elastic material such as rubber, and has a base portion 110 a partially disposed in the groove 80 c (see FIG. 3). The base 110a is set to have a width that fits into the groove 80c (see FIG. 3) and is elongated in the circumferential direction.

  In addition, a plurality of through-holes 110b penetrating in a direction intersecting (orthogonal to) the circumferential direction are formed in the base portion 110a at intervals in the circumferential direction. The base 110a is formed with slits 110c that separate the through holes 110b into upper and lower halves. The slit 110c is formed continuously from one end to the other end in the direction in which the through holes 110b are arranged (the circumferential direction of the base 110a), and is further formed to reach the end surface of the base 110a from the through hole 110b on one end side. Yes. As a result, the harness packing 110 is not completely separated into the upper and lower parts, and as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 110b can be separated vertically.

  A concave groove 110d is formed on the upper surface of the base 110a along the circumferential direction. The bottom part of the notch recessed part 20e (refer FIG. 4) formed in the rib 20d (refer FIG. 4) of the cover 20 is inserted in this groove | channel 110d.

  In addition, a positioning portion 110e formed in an L shape in side view is formed on the inner side surface of the base portion 110a. This positioning part 110e is located below the through hole 110b.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an attached state of the harness packing. In FIG. 6, a part of the portion shown in FIG. 3 is omitted and simplified.
As shown in FIG. 6, in a state where the through hole 110b of the harness packing 110 is vertically separated and the base 110a is opened (see FIG. 5), after fitting each cable Ca of the harness H into the through hole 110b, the base 110a Close. Then, the lower end portion of the base portion 110a of the harness packing 110 is inserted into a position corresponding to the notch recess 91 (see FIG. 3) of the case packing 90 from above, and the harness packing 110 is overlaid on the case packing 90. To do. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, in order to prevent the positional displacement of the harness packing 110 in the circumferential direction, a pair of sandwiching the positioning portions 110e of the harness packing 110 from both sides in the circumferential direction on the inner surface of the side wall 80b of the substrate case 80. Positioning ribs 80d and 80d may be formed.

  Further, a connector CN1 for grouping the cables Ca is connected to the tip of the harness H, and this connector CN1 is connected to a connector receiving portion CN2 provided on the outer surface of the side wall 80b of the board case 80. The connector receiver CN2 is connected to a main control board (not shown) provided outside the board case 80, a power supply source, and the like.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, in the display operation unit 10, the substrate 70 is disposed along the bottom wall 80 a in the substrate case 80, and the case packing 90 is disposed in the groove 80 c of the substrate case 80. A display panel guide 60 to which the display panel 50 is attached is disposed on the substrate 70, and the display panel 50 is disposed at a predetermined height from the substrate 70. The touch panel guide 40 to which the touch panel 30 is attached is disposed from above the display panel guide 60. At this time, the display panel guide 60 is disposed by being inserted into the opening 42 of the touch panel guide 40. Accordingly, the touch panel 30 and the display panel 50 are arranged so as to overlap each other, and the display panel 50 is arranged below the touch panel 30.

  Then, the cover 20 is covered from above the touch panel guide 40 to which the touch panel 30 is attached. At this time, the tip (lower end) of the rib 20d formed on the back surface of the cover 20 presses the case packing 90 disposed in the groove 80c of the substrate case 80 from above. Further, the edge 20 f of the window 20 a of the cover 20 is pressed from above, so that the edge of the touch panel 30 is connected to the edge 20 f of the window 20 a and the support 41 of the touch panel guide 40 via the touch panel packing 100. It is pinched by. Thereby, the inside of the substrate case 80 is sealed.

8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.
As shown in the enlarged view of part C in FIG. 8, at the position where the harness packing 110 is provided, the tip (lower end) of the notch recess 20 e formed in the rib 20 d of the cover 20 is in the groove 110 d of the harness packing 110. Inserted. Further, the lower end portion of the base portion 110a of the harness packing 110 is inserted into the groove 80c of the substrate case 80, and the harness packing 110 and the case packing 90 are arranged so as to be vertically stacked. When the cover 20 is pressed from above, the harness packing 110 is pressed by the rib 20 d and the case packing 90 is pressed by the harness packing 110. Accordingly, the gap between the cable Ca and the through hole 110b of the harness H (see FIG. 6) is sealed, and the substrate case 80 is also sealed at the position of the harness H. At this time, the recess 110f formed by the positioning portion 110e of the harness packing 110 (see the enlarged view of the portion C in FIG. 8) is fitted with the edge portion 80e formed in the groove 80c of the substrate case 80c. A positional shift of the harness packing 110 with respect to the substrate case 80 can be prevented.

  For example, when the user presses the power-on button 12 (see FIG. 2), power is supplied from the outside of the substrate case 80 via the harness H (see FIG. 6), and the display panel 50 has an operation course (washing course). , Washing / drying course, drying course) setting initial screen is displayed. Then, when the user performs a touch operation on the area of the touch panel 30 on which the characters of the laundry course are displayed, the display on the display panel 50 is a course set in the lower hierarchy of the laundry course (standard, forgetting, careful, soft , Blanket, dry, etc.) screen. Then, when the user presses the start / pause button 11, the display on the display panel 50 is switched to a screen such as the amount of detergent and the remaining time until the end of the operation.

  As described above, when the user operates the display operation unit 10, the operation condition is determined while the screen displayed on the display operation unit 10 is switched. Since the user only operates the touch panel 30 until the button type start / pause button 11 is pressed, the operation condition can be set with the same operational feeling. That is, it is not necessary to perform the operation while switching the touch panel operation and the push button operation many times. In addition, the movement range of the user's hand can be reduced, and the installation area of the operation panel 4 can be reduced.

  As described above, according to the washing machine A according to the present embodiment, the upper surface of the side wall 80b of the substrate case 80 so that the case packing 90 surrounds the outside of the region including the touch panel guide 40, the substrate 70, and the flexible substrate 31. The upper surface of the case packing 90 is pressed against the substrate case 80 by the ribs 20d provided on the back surface side of the cover 20, so that the substrate case 80 can be sealed and more than the side wall 80b of the substrate case 80. It is possible to prevent moisture from entering from the outside. As a result, even if the input device connects the touch panel 30 and the substrate 70 to the flexible substrate 31 using the touch panel 30 or the like, moisture can be prevented from entering the substrate case 80 without using a potting material. Can do.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since the harness H is drawn out of the board case 80 through the harness packing 110, it is not necessary to separately provide a through hole for drawing out the harness H to the board case 80.

  In the present embodiment, since the panel packing 100 is pressed against the touch panel guide 40 by the edge 20f of the window 20a, the cover 20 and the touch panel 30 can be formed even if the window 20a is notched in the cover 20. It is possible to seal the gap, and to prevent moisture from entering. In addition, by forming the window 20a in the cover 20 by cutting out, the sensitivity when the touch panel 30 is touched can be improved as compared with the case where the cover 20 is not cut out.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to above-described embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention, it can change variously. For example, in the present embodiment, the case where the cover 20 is formed through the window 20a has been described as an example. However, in the range that does not impair the operation sensitivity of the touch panel 30, a configuration that does not penetrate the window (for example, transparent A simple window cover may be provided.

  Moreover, although the case where the display which combined the touch panel and LED was mentioned as an example and demonstrated in this embodiment, the structure only of a touch panel may be sufficient.

  Further, the case packing 90 and the harness packing 110 are described as an example, but the case packing 90 and the harness packing 110 may be configured integrally.

A Washing machine 1 Housing 2 Outer tub 3 Rotating drum (washing tub)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Display operation part 20 Cover 20a Window part 20d Rib 20e Notch recessed part 30 Touch panel 31 Flexible substrate (wiring)
40 Touch Panel Guide 50 Display Panel 60 Display Panel Guide 70 Substrate 80 Substrate Case 80b Side Wall 80c Groove 90 Case Packing (Packing)
100 Panel packing (seal member)
110 Harness packing (packing)
H harness (external lead wire)

Claims (3)

A laundry tub for storing laundry;
An outer tub containing the washing tub;
A display operation unit for displaying operation conditions and operation states;
The display operation unit
A substrate case for placing the substrate;
A touch panel disposed above the substrate;
A panel guide for supporting the touch panel;
A cover covering the front side of the touch panel;
In a washing machine provided with wiring for connecting the electrode of the touch panel and the substrate,
On the upper surface of the side wall of the substrate case, a packing surrounding the outside of the region including the panel guide, the substrate and the wiring is disposed,
The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein an upper surface of the packing is pressed against the substrate case by a rib provided on a back surface side of the cover. Having an external lead wire drawn out of the substrate case from the substrate;
The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the external lead wire is drawn to the outside through the packing. A window formed to correspond to the touch panel of the cover;
A frame-shaped sealing member provided along an edge of the touch panel,
The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the seal member is pressed against the panel guide by an edge portion of the window portion.

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