Method for manufacturing a component of a household appliance bearing a sticker, this component and the use of this component

Abstract

Method for manufacturing a component (1) of a household appliance provided with a sticker (5), comprising the steps: (a) providing a component body (2) having first depressions (3) and / or first protrusions (4); (b) providing a sticker (5) comprising a plastic film (6) and an adhesive layer (7); (c) preforming the sticker (5) such that the sticker (5) has second protrusions (8) and / or second depressions (9) corresponding to the first depressions (3) and / or first protrusions (4); and (d) applying the preformed sticker (5) from step (c) to the component body (2).

Description

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a component of a household appliance provided with a sticker, the component obtained thereby, and the use of this component. Household appliances contain numerous components that may be covered with decorative stickers in areas accessible to the viewer. Furthermore, household appliances contain numerous components that, regardless of their accessibility, have a protective layer due to their function. Stickers can also be used for these components. In general, a household appliance features a control panel that allows users to select programs and displays information about the progress of a selected program. Examples of household appliances include laundry equipment such as washing machines, dryers, and washer-dryers; dishwashers; microwave ovens; ovens and cookers; blenders; coffee makers; and so on. Information and selected programs are typically displayed on a screen, often with backlighting to highlight specific programs and indicate their progress. These display areas contain a variety of information, and different overlays are frequently used for informational and decorative purposes. DE 10 2005 024 934 A1 describes a control panel arrangement for a household appliance with a panel base body, a transparent cover and an information carrier that displays graphically designed elements such as plain text labels, position markers, symbols and / or frame elements, wherein the information carrier consists of at least two carrier elements, each of which carries a part of the graphic elements. DE 10 2011 006 402 A1 describes a control panel of a household appliance, which consists of a plastic material which, in a plasticized state, can be injected into an injection mold and thus forms a panel plastic, and has at least one section for receiving touch elements which are received by a touch element foil strip which is connected to the panel plastic in a position appropriate and permanent manner by means of an injection molding process for the production of the control panel, in particular on a surface of the control panel. DE 10 2010 063 014 A1 describes a control panel, preferably for a household appliance, in particular for a washing machine, a washer-dryer or a tumble dryer, for determining a treatment process of laundry that is at least partially automatic, wherein the control panel has a distinguishing design in a bezel-like form compared to the housing of the household appliance, wherein a bezel base body is provided onto which a cover almost completely encompassing the bezel base body can be placed. DE 100 51 075 A1 describes a method for manufacturing different control panels for household appliances, in particular cooking appliances, washing machines, dishwashers or refrigerators and / or freezers, in which a) identical, prefabricated panel carriers are provided, b) at least two differently shaped panel overlays are provided, c) each of the provided panel overlays is attached to the front surface of one of the provided panel carriers. DE 10 2014 104 321 A1 describes a method for producing a molded body comprising the steps of: a) providing a sheet of film; b) applying a plastic compound in a predetermined shape to the sheet of film using a three-dimensional printing process. The sheet of film may have at least one decorative layer, wherein the decorative layer is, among other things, one of the following layers or a combination thereof: a layer with at least one colorant, pigment, a pigment excitable to fluorescence and / or luminescence in the visible, infrared, or ultraviolet spectral range, an optically variable pigment, a liquid crystal layer, a cholesterol liquid crystal layer, a metal layer, a layer with a relief structure, a hologram, a matte structure, a layer with a micro-optical structure, a layer made of a textile material, etc. DE 10 2013 114 276 A1 describes a plastic molded part and a method for its production. The method essentially comprises the following steps: a) providing a first decorative film which has at least a partial opaque coating; b) introducing at least one decorative element of a design into the first decorative film by processing it with a processing tool; c) providing a second decorative film; d) inserting the decorative films into an injection mold; and e) back-injecting the decorative films with a plastic compound, so that the first decorative film forms a first surface and the second decorative film forms a second surface of the plastic molded part opposite the first surface. DE 296 17 600 U1 describes a device for the production of laminated molded parts, wherein the lamination takes place in a deep drawing process. DE 10 2008 027 368 A1 describes a method for covering an object with a protective film, whereby a vacuum is created between the protective film and a surface of an object to be equipped. US Patent 5,254,197 A describes a device for bonding a layer of tissue to a cellular foam substrate. It is therefore known to combine decorative elements with plastic components by incorporating decorative films into injection-molded parts. In this process, such a decorative film is placed in an injection mold and fixed there. Subsequently, a plastic compound is injected into the mold, where it bonds with the film layer and hardens. However, such manufacturing processes have the disadvantage that the selection of usable films is limited due to the high temperatures and pressures involved in injection molding. Furthermore, the manufacturing possibilities are limited because, generally, only a homogeneous plastic compound can be used. Finally, injection molding requires complex tooling that is both expensive to manufacture and operate. It is therefore very difficult, for example, to provide suitable control panels for household appliances with a decorative finish and / or protective film. This is because control panels are sometimes very complex and can only be manufactured in several steps, requiring the use of tools specifically designed for a particular panel. On the other hand, depending on the appliance, it is desirable to have a panel tailored to the appliance and, in particular, its country of use. However, this leads to a large number of required panels and panel variations. In general, control panels are also coated, for example with an opaque lacquer, to display information, to conceal certain parts of a household appliance from the user, especially when using a transparent panel base, and / or to protect the surface of the control panel. Depending on the intended control panel, including the display, the masking effort required to manufacture such a coated control panel can be considerable in order to avoid impairing the function of the operating and display elements. For example, applying plastic films to a lacquered surface by hot stamping is often impossible or at least severely limited due to the high temperatures involved. Against this background, the object of the present invention was to provide a method for manufacturing a component of a household appliance provided with a sticker, which enables the simplified production of a large number of different components, in particular also a large number of different control panels. The object of the invention was also to provide such a component provided with a sticker and to use this component in a household appliance. The solution to this problem is achieved according to this invention by a method for manufacturing a component of a household appliance provided with a sticker, the component obtainable by this method, and the use of this component in a household appliance with the features of the respective independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the method, component, and use of this component in a household appliance according to the invention are listed in corresponding dependent claims. Preferred embodiments of the method, component, and use of this component in a household appliance according to the invention correspond to one another, even if this is not always explicitly stated. The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a component of a household appliance provided with a sticker, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a component base body provided with first depressions and / or first protrusions; (b) providing a sticker comprising a plastic film and an adhesive layer; (c) preforming the sticker such that the sticker has second protrusions and / or second depressions which correspond to the first depressions and / or first protrusions; and (d) applying the preformed sticker from step (c) to the component base body. "Corresponding" within the meaning of the invention means, in particular, that a second protrusion fits into a first recess, and a first protrusion fits into a second recess. The terms "corresponding" and "fitting" are to be interpreted broadly, as long as a pre-formed sticker can be applied to the component base or to a paint layer possibly applied thereto via the adhesive layer. Accordingly, the "application" of the pre-formed sticker in step (d) is generally carried out by inserting a second raised area of ​​the sticker into a first recess of the component, and / or a second recess of the sticker into a first raised area of ​​the component. If further corresponding raised areas and recesses are present, the insertion is generally carried out accordingly. The component base body, e.g., a control panel base body, is not limited according to the invention, as long as properties adapted to the respective intended use can be achieved. Often, particularly with control panel base bodies, sufficient transparency is desired. Thus, the component base body can contain or consist of glass, glass-ceramic, or a plastic. Preferably, the component base body consists of glass or plastic. Suitable plastics are selected in particular from the group consisting of styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) copolymer, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), polycarbonate (PC), and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). In a preferred embodiment of the process according to the invention, the plastic contains or consists of an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS) or polycarbonate (PC) alone or in mixture. The component base body, e.g. aperture base body, is preferably a substantially flat or curved plastic plate. The component is not limited according to the invention. Preferably, however, it is a component that is visually accessible to a user of the appliance, i.e., visible to them. The component can therefore be, in particular, a control panel, including, for example, a selection area for programs that can be carried out in the appliance, an area of ​​a detergent dispenser, or another component that can be usefully used for displaying operating information of the appliance, decorations, or other surface designs. A control panel of the appliance is especially preferred. Finally, the component can also be selected with a view to its use as a location for advertising related to the appliance class designation. In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, which is particularly advantageous for the use of delicate decorations on the sticker, a release liner is attached to the sticker. Generally, the release liner is then removed following step (d). In the inventive method, a sticker can also be applied to a layer of paint. In a preferred embodiment of the inventive method, the component base body is therefore provided with a layer of paint before step (d) is carried out, so that the sticker is at least partially applied to the paint layer in step (d). Alternatively or additionally, a coat of paint can also be applied after step (d) has been carried out. In this case, a sticker with a peel-off film is usually used. This allows the peel-off film, along with any unwanted paint on the component, to be removed after painting. The invention allows the use of numerous printing methods to design the sticker before, during, or after the inventive process, for example, to create operating information for the household appliance or decorative elements. Laser etching, inkjet printing, or pad printing are particularly suitable for this purpose. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the sticker is printed by inkjet or pad printing before step (b) or after step (d). Generally, the sticker is applied in step (d) using pressure and / or at temperatures above 50°C. The exact conditions will depend on the materials used and their melting behavior. Furthermore, the degree to which the raised areas and recesses correspond to each other influences the execution of the process. Thus, the accuracy of fit, i.e., the degree of correspondence between raised areas and recesses, can vary. The greater the deviation in accuracy, the more the plastic material may need to be partially melted and / or forced under pressure into the recesses or onto the raised areas. The plastic film generally contains or consists of a thermoplastic material such as PMMA, polyethylene terephthalate, and / or polycarbonate. Preferably, the plastic film contains or consists of polyethylene terephthalate and / or polycarbonate. Films made of these materials, due to their flexibility, conform well to curved or differently shaped bodies, are well-suited for preforming, and are inexpensive to produce. For graphic design purposes, these films can also be printed without distortion in a flat state before being applied to the component base, particularly the aperture base. Furthermore, the plastic film can consist of several individual films, which may be made of the same or different plastics. The adhesive layer preferably consists of an adhesive based on acrylates, polyvinyl chlorides or a mixture of both. In step (d), the pre-formed sticker is applied to the component base. For this purpose, the component base and sticker can be brought close together in suitable molds, i.e., tools, until a connection is formed, in particular an adhesive bond between the sticker and the component base or, for example, a paint layer applied to the component base. The component base and sticker can each be held against the molds, for example, by negative pressure or reversibly clamped. Preferably, the pre-formed sticker used in step (d) is applied to the component base using an applicator. For this purpose, the stickers are generally picked up by the applicator, for example by means of suction cups attached to the applicator, which can hold a sticker having the intended indentations and / or protrusions by, for example, applying a vacuum. The sticker can then be applied to the component base or to a coating applied to it, e.g., a layer of paint. One or more plastic films (hereinafter also referred to as "film") of the sticker used in the inventive method can serve as so-called information carrier films, containing graphic elements such as plain text labels, position markers, symbols, and / or frame elements. According to the invention, these can be easily applied to, for example, a control panel base by remaining on the base after the sticker has been applied, particularly even after any release liner has been removed. Adapting a control panel to a different equipment and / or country variant of a household appliance can be done cost-effectively, since only one film may need to be replaced. This is because the information to be displayed can be distributed across more than one film, each of which carries a portion of the graphic elements.Through a targeted and suitable combination of differently printed films, numerous variations of control units and thus control panels can be created. Specifically, by simply replacing one film with another printed film, an information-carrying film, e.g., information in different languages, can be changed. Furthermore, by appropriately selecting the graphic elements for each film, the number of films required to create differently designed information-carrying films can be limited. The sticker used in the inventive method can therefore, in particular, have several films, allowing for adaptation to different languages. For this purpose, certain display elements, such as symbols, can be arranged on one film, while language elements are arranged on a separate film. However, it is also possible, in particular, for both to be on the same film. Furthermore, a specific color of a component of the household appliance, e.g. a control panel, can be set by inserting a film of the specific color. The aforementioned options are particularly possible if the sticker or the plastic films forming the sticker are at least partially transparent. Depending on the intended use of the sticker, it or the plastic films forming it can also be opaque. The invention further relates to a component of a household appliance, preferably a control panel, obtainable by a method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a component base body provided with first depressions and / or first protrusions; (b) providing a sticker comprising a plastic film and an adhesive layer; (c) preforming the sticker such that the sticker has second protrusions and / or second depressions which correspond to the first depressions and / or first protrusions; and (d) applying the preformed sticker from step (c) to the component base body. Finally, the invention relates to the use of the aforementioned component in a household appliance. The household appliance is not limited according to the invention. Preferably, however, the household appliance is selected from the group consisting of laundry appliances such as washing machines, dryers and washer-dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, microwave ovens, ovens, cookers, blenders and coffee machines. The invention has several advantages. It enables the simple production of a large number of different components, particularly control panels. These can be easily varied with regard to surface design, including lettering and design elements. Furthermore, a specific tactile feel can be easily set for a component's surface. This simply requires appropriately designed stickers, and the present invention allows for a wide range of variations in the position of control symbols and lettering. A complex opening, for example, in a panel base, is not necessary to attach a control unit. In particular, it is possible to manufacture different control panels for various device models or different household appliances based on a common panel body, and to implement the variation in one or more films within a single film. This eliminates the need to replace a completely manufactured control panel or an elaborately designed information carrier. The invention enables a reduction in masking costs during painting through the use of a sticker. It allows for quick variant changes and rapid modification of display windows. In embodiments of the invention, the effort required for tooling components for plastic parts is reduced and better controlled. Furthermore, savings can be achieved by eliminating various process steps such as masking, printing, cleaning, etc. The invention is illustrated below with reference to Figures 1, 2 to 3. Figure 1 shows a top view of a control panel obtained according to the invention, provided with a sticker, according to a first non-limiting embodiment for a sticker-provided component of a household appliance. Figure 2 shows a side view of the sticker and component base of the control panel from Figure 1 before the sticker is applied to the control panel base. Figure 3 shows the underside of an applicator for applying a sticker to a component base (not shown here) to obtain a sticker-provided component of a household appliance. Figure 4 shows a side view of the applicator from Figure 3 for applying a sticker to a component base (not shown here) to obtain a sticker-provided component of a household appliance.Figure 1 shows a top view of a control panel 1 obtained according to the invention and provided with a sticker 5, according to a first non-restrictive embodiment for a component of a household appliance provided with a sticker 5. Figure 2 shows a side view of the components sticker 5 and component base 2 of the control panel 1 from Figure 1 before the sticker 5 is applied to the control panel base 2. The sticker 5 comprises a plastic film 6, for example made of PC or PET, and an adhesive layer 6, by means of which the sticker 5 can be attached to the control panel 1. The control panel 1 includes a control panel base body 2 as the component base body. The control panel base body 2 is provided with two first recesses 3 and a first raised area 4. The control panel base body 2 is coated with a layer of lacquer 11. The pre-formed sticker 5 shown in Fig. 2 has two second protrusions 8, which correspond to the two first recesses 3 on the control panel base 2. This means that the second protrusions 8 fit into the first recesses 3. When the pre-formed sticker 5 is applied to the control panel base 2, the adhesive layer 7 creates a strong bond between the sticker and the control panel base, although in the embodiment shown here the sticker lies on a layer of lacquer 11. The applicator shown in Figs. 3 and 4 can be used for application. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, a release film 10 is attached to the sticker 5, which is removed after the application of the preformed sticker 5 according to step (d) of the inventive method in order to obtain the inventive control panel 1 provided with a sticker. Fig. 3 shows the underside 13 of an applicator 12 for applying a sticker to a component base (not shown here) to create a sticker-covered component of a household appliance. The sticker (also not shown here) is held in place by suction cups 15. Fig. 4 shows a side view 14 of the applicator 12 of Fig. 3 for applying a sticker to a component base body not shown here, in order to obtain a sticker-covered component of a household appliance.

Claims

Method for manufacturing a component (1) of a household appliance provided with a sticker (5), comprising the steps: (a) providing a component body (2) having first depressions (3) and / or first protrusions (4); (b) providing a sticker (5) comprising a plastic film (6) and an adhesive layer (7); (c) preforming the sticker (5) such that the sticker (5) has second protrusions (8) and / or second depressions (9) corresponding to the first depressions (3) and / or first protrusions (4); and (d) applying the preformed sticker (5) from step (c) to the component body (2). Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the component base body (2) is made of glass or plastic. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the plastic contains or consists of an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS) or a polycarbonate (PC) alone or in a mixture. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the component (1) is a control panel of the household appliance. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a release film (10) is attached to the sticker (5). Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the release film (10) is removed after step (d). Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the component base body (4) is provided with a layer of paint (11) before step (d) is carried out, so that the sticker (5) is at least partially applied to the layer of paint (11) in step (d). Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the sticker (5) is printed by inkjet printing or pad printing before step (b) or after step (d). Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the sticker (5) is applied in step (d) under pressure and / or at temperatures above 50°C. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the plastic film (6) contains polyethylene terephthalate and / or polycarbonate or consists of polyethylene terephthalate and / or polycarbonate. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the adhesive layer (7) consists of an adhesive based on acrylates, polyvinyl chlorides or a mixture of both. Method according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the preformed sticker (5) used in step (d) is applied to the component base body (4) using an applicator (12). Component (4) of a household appliance, obtainable by a method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a component base body (2) having first depressions (3) and / or first protrusions (4); (b) providing a sticker (5) comprising a plastic film (6) and an adhesive layer (7); (c) preforming the sticker (5) such that the sticker (5) has second protrusions (8) and / or second depressions (9) corresponding to the first depressions (3) and / or first protrusions (4); and (d) applying the preformed sticker (5) of step (c) to the component base body (2). Use of the component (4) according to claim 13 in a household appliance Use of the component (4) according to claim 14 in a household appliance wherein the household appliance is selected from the group consisting of laundry treatment appliances such as washing machines, dryers and washer-dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, microwave ovens, ovens, cookers, mixers and coffee machines.

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