EP-3381878-B1 - METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A DOMESTIC APPLIANCE PANEL AND DOMESTIC APPLIANCE PANEL

EP3381878B1EP 3381878 B1EP3381878 B1EP 3381878B1EP-3381878-B1

Inventors

Cardenal Orta, Alberto Joaquin
Elduque Viñuales, Ana
GOMEZ BACHILLER, Patricia
PEREZ CABEZA, PILAR
ROMEO VELILLA, ROSARIO
VELA PARDOS, NOELIA

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20180315

Claims (3)

Method for producing a household appliance plate (12), in particular a hob plate, starting from at least one raw plate (16), which consists, at least to a large extent, in particular completely, of glass-ceramic, wherein, in at least one method step (102), at least one optical property of the raw plate (16) in at least one section (18) of the raw plate (16) is altered by means of at least one thermal treatment by means of a furnace (20) at a temperature of at least 500 °C, wherein a duration of the thermal treatment lasts for at least 10 min and at most 1080 min, wherein at least one optical property embodied as a colour is altered, wherein the section (18) corresponds at most to 95 % of a total volume of the raw plate (16), characterised in that an optical property embodied as transparency is retained as part of the thermal treatment in at least one section of the raw plate (16), which section, in the assembled state, is intended for providing a control panel (14).
Method according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one partially transparent and/or translucent raw plate is used as the raw plate (16).
Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that at least one optical property embodied as a transparency and/or as a translucency is altered.

Description

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a household appliance plate according to the preamble of claim 1. From the prior art, raw panels for cooktops are known which have homogeneous optical properties, for example homogeneous transparency and homogeneous color. Out of WO 2015/044168 A1 , WO 2014/170275 A2 and US 3 615 317 A A method for manufacturing a household appliance panel, starting from at least one raw panel which consists at least largely, in particular completely, of a glass ceramic, is known, wherein in at least one process step an optical property of the raw panel is changed by means of high-energy electromagnetic radiation. Furthermore, it is from DE 199 39 787 A1 , US 2014/238971 A1 and EP 3 040 318 A1 Each of the following methods is known: a method for manufacturing a household appliance panel, in particular a cooktop panel, starting from at least one raw panel which consists at least a large part, in particular completely, of a glass ceramic, wherein in at least one process step at least one optical property of the raw panel is changed in at least one section of the raw panel by means of at least one thermal treatment using an oven. Furthermore, it is from EP 3 067 334 B1 A method for manufacturing a household appliance panel, in particular a cooktop panel, starting from at least one raw panel which consists at least largely, in particular entirely, of a glass ceramic, wherein in at least one process step at least one optical property of a coating applied to the raw panel is changed by means of a thermal treatment, is known. The object of the invention is, in particular, to provide a generic device with improved flexibility. This object is achieved by the features of claim 1, while advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims. The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a household appliance panel, in particular a cooktop panel, starting from at least one raw panel which consists at least a large part, in particular entirely, of a glass ceramic, wherein in at least one process step at least one optical property of the raw panel in at least one section of the raw panel is changed by means of at least one thermal treatment using an oven at a temperature of at least 500°C, wherein a duration of the thermal treatment of at least 10 min and at most 1080 min is used, wherein at least one optical property formed as a color is changed, wherein the section corresponds to at most 95% of a total volume of the raw panel. It is proposed that an optical property designed as transparency be retained in at least one section of the raw plate, which is intended to provide a control panel in an assembled state, during thermal treatment. This allows for increased flexibility, particularly in manufacturing, lighting, and/or design of the manufactured product. Furthermore, it can advantageously achieve increased efficiency, especially in manufacturing and/or cost efficiency, and/or simplified production. In addition, it is particularly advantageous to produce a household appliance panel that can be used with a variety of lighting configurations. Moreover, a raw panel available as a mass-produced item and/or purchased component can be advantageously customized. In this context, the term "appliance panel" refers in particular to at least one plate-like component, especially a subassembly, of a household appliance. The household appliance may, for example, be a refrigeration appliance, in particular a refrigerator and/or a freezer, or a cleaning appliance. Advantageously, however, the household appliance is configured as a cooking appliance, in particular an oven, a microwave oven, a grill oven, and/or preferably a cooktop. The household appliance may have several appliance panels, which advantageously form a common cooktop. The household appliance advantageously features exactly one appliance plate. Specifically, the appliance plate is designed as an advantageously flat and/or one-piece element intended to perform at least one function, particularly one related to the household appliance, in at least one operating state. This function can be any function, such as a carrying function, a storage function, an insulating function, a protective function, a soundproofing function, a lighting function, and/or an operating function. Advantageously, the appliance plate is designed for the placement of cooking utensils. The appliance plate also advantageously features at least one control panel intended for the operation of the household appliance by a user. "Designed" is understood to mean specifically programmed, designed, and/or equipped. The fact that an object is designed for a specific function is understood to mean, in particular, that the object fulfills and/or performs this specific function in at least one application and/or operating state. Furthermore, a "planar" object shall be understood to mean, in particular, an object in which t