Home appliance with undistorted front panel curvature

Abstract

A home appliance including an appliance body having an internal framework; a metal panel covering a portion of the internal framework, the panel having a curved portion turned through the curve inwardly toward an interior of the appliance, wherein the panel surface adjacent the curve is substantially smooth and substantially undistorted, the panel being fabricated by engaging a metal sheet with a bender assembly, holding the metal sheet against translational movement, and applying pressure to the metal sheet using a punch having a curved head and being operatively associated with the bender assembly, the pressure being applied by moving the punch against the metal sheet using a damped punch driver operatively associated with the bender assembly.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates broadly to home appliances having skeletal frames covered with body panels fabricated from metal sheets and, more particularly, to a home appliance, especially a range, having a front panel fabricated from a metal sheet that includes in-turned portions, corners, or both that are smooth and undistorted.[0002]Home appliances, such as ranges, having ovens, steamers, accessory compartments or other openings in the front for user access often include metal panels that extend intermediate the openings to provide a clean, finished look and to cover the essentially skeletal framework that is internal to the range. With such cavities, front panels often include openings themselves to conform to the openings in the framework.[0003]In order to provide ease of cleaning as well as safety and a finished appearance, such openings include radiused or curved corners rather than a stark 90° angle which can result in surfaces that are diff...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a home appliance with a front panel that has smooth and undistorted corners. This is achieved by holding the panel fast against a damped press assembly that provides a gradual pressing action. The movement of the punch is achieved using a damped punch driver with a pattern of springs that apply balanced force. Each spring has a stabilizer to keep it in place during operation.

Problems solved by technology

When fabricating front panels, corners are difficult to form without some metal distortion, such as buckling or wrinkling.

Small holes may be formed in the front panels at the inward curvature to ease stress on the metal during corner fabrication, however, use of such holes has not solved the problem of unsightly front panels due to metal bending that has resulted in metal distortions around the corners.

Images