Control panel, manufacturing method for same, and washing machine having same
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing washing machine control panels suffer from an enlarged visual gap due to assembly gaps and draft tapers, leading to instability and an unsightly aesthetic appearance, as the mating surfaces are not parallel, causing the panels to sway during assembly and affecting visual coherence.
Innovation Solution
The control panel design features parallel mating surfaces between the first and second panels, with complementary obtuse and acute corners, and matching decorative sheets to conceal the gap, ensuring the visual gap is minimized and aesthetically uniform.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If draft tapers are applied to mating surfaces for demolding, then manufacturing ease is improved, but the included angle between mating surfaces increases causing enlarged visual gap
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetric draft taper distribution by making the first draft taper angle different from the second draft taper angle. Specifically, the first panel has a larger draft taper angle than the second panel, which compensates for the thickness of the second panel and achieves parallel mating surfaces despite the demolding requirements. This asymmetric design resolves the contradiction by allowing easy demolding while maintaining precise parallel alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of draft taper angles to achieve parallel mating surfaces. By adjusting the first draft taper angle and second draft taper angle to different values, the invention compensates for panel thickness variations and achieves zero included angle between mating surfaces, thereby minimizing the visual gap while maintaining manufacturability.
2Manufacturing precision
If assembly gap is reduced for better appearance, then visual gap is minimized, but assembly stability and panel movement smoothness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric draft taper design allows the mating surfaces to be parallel while maintaining an optimal assembly gap. The first panel has a larger draft taper angle than the second panel, which compensates for the second panel's thickness and achieves parallel alignment. This enables the assembly gap to be minimized for aesthetic purposes while still providing sufficient clearance for stable assembly and smooth movement of the movable panel.
3Manufacturing precision
If mating surfaces are made parallel to minimize visual gap, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but the draft taper angles must be asymmetric increasing manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately employs asymmetric draft taper angles as its core design feature. The first draft taper angle is set differently from the second draft taper angle, with the first being larger. This asymmetric configuration is not seen as increasing complexity but rather as the elegant solution that achieves parallel mating surfaces. The asymmetry is systematically applied to compensate for panel thickness differences and achieve the desired parallel alignment.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The present invention discloses a control panel (10, 1), including a first panel (12, 14, 2, 4) and a second panel (12, 14, 2, 4) formed by injection molding, where the second panel (12, 14, 2, 4) is movably disposed on the first panel (12, 14, 2, 4), the first panel (12, 14, 2, 4) has a user-oriented first working surface (120, 140), the second panel (12, 14, 2, 4) has a second working surface (120, 140) substantially flush with the first working surface (120, 140), the first panel (12, 14, 2, 4) has a first mating surface (121, 141, 142, 21, 41) angularly connected to the first working surface (120, 140) and facing the second panel (12, 14, 2, 4), the second panel (12, 14, 2, 4) has a second mating surface (121, 141, 142, 21, 41) angularly connected to the second working surface (120, 140) and facing the first panel (12, 14, 2, 4), a gap (13) exists between the first mating surface (121, 141, 142, 21, 41) and the second mating surface (121, 141, 142, 21, 41), and the first mating surface (121, 141, 142, 21, 41) and the second mating surface (121, 141, 142, 21, 41) are parallel to each other.The present invention further discloses a manufacturing method for the control panel (10, 1), a washing machine having the control panel (10, 1), and a washing machine manufactured by using the manufacturing method.