Dish rack assembly for washing machine and washing machine

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dish rack assembly for a washing machine and a washing machine, wherein the dish rack assembly comprises a bowl basket having a chamber; a shelf for placing objects to be washed thereon, wherein the shelf has at least one and is arranged in the chamber of the bowl basket, and at least one of the shelves can reciprocate relative to the bowl basket on a horizontal plane; and a driving mechanism is connected to the movable shelf. In this way, only one of the shelves can be moved relative to the bowl basket, so that the shelf moves within the spray range of the spray arm, reducing the dead angle of washing; and only the shelf moves without the need for the entire bowl rack assembly to move as a whole, so that the weight is relatively small and the power requirement for the driving mechanism is low; and the shelf is smaller in size relative to the bowl basket, and the volume requirement for the inner cavity of the washing machine is also small, otherwise the bowl basket moves as a whole, and the volume of the inner tank of the washing machine needs to be made very large to meet the requirement that the bowl basket has enough moving space, which occupies a large space.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of washing machines, and in particular to a dish rack assembly for washing machines and the washing machine. Background Art

[0002] The dish racks of existing dishwashers are basically fixed dish racks, and then a rotating spray arm is used to rinse the dishes in the dish rack to achieve the purpose of cleaning. For this cleaning method, in fact, only when the objects to be cleaned in the dish rack are directly rinsed by the washing water sprayed in the oncoming direction can a better effect be achieved, that is, the spray arm can only produce a strong cleaning effect on the objects to be cleaned directly on the oncoming direction, while the other surfaces to be cleaned of the objects to be cleaned in the dish rack are mainly rinsed by backflow and other splashes of water that hit them. This rinsing force is not enough, and it is difficult to produce a cleaning effect on some dirt with strong adhesion. The effect can only be achieved by long-term rinsing of the dishwasher, which results in low cleaning efficiency; and the position of the dish rack relative to the spray arm is fixed, resulting in an increase in the number of spray holes required for the spray arm. Under the same water pump conditions, the head of the water flow of the spray arm is weakened, which will reduce the cleaning efficiency.

[0003] In response to the above problems, the Chinese utility model patent with patent number CN201821624852.8 (publication number CN212438526U) discloses "A reciprocating bowl rack for a dishwasher". The driving shaft of the driving device drives the bowl rack body to move through the transmission mechanism, and the sliding device makes the bowl rack body move back and forth in a straight line within the stroke.

[0004] However, this patent is for the overall movement of the bowl rack body, which is large in size. The accommodating cavity of the cylinder needs to be larger to meet the moving space of the bowl rack body, and the overall weight of the bowl rack body is also heavy, requiring the driving device to have a higher power to drive the bowl rack body to move.

[0005] For example, the "Dishwasher with Rotating Dishwasher" disclosed in the Chinese utility model patent with patent number CN202021192890.8 (publication number CN212679049U) includes a spray assembly and a drum assembly arranged in the machine body; the drum assembly includes a driving motor and a drum, the driving motor is connected to a rotating shaft through a transmission mechanism, the rotating shaft is rotatably arranged in a rotating shaft seat body through a bearing, the rotating shaft seat body is fixedly connected to the machine body, the rotating shaft and the drum are coaxially arranged and connected together, and a dish rack is placed in the drum; the spray assembly is arranged above and / or below the drum.

[0006] However, the dishes outside the spraying range of the spray assembly still cannot be cleaned, and the rotating drum and the dishes inside rotate as a whole, which is heavy and requires a high power for the driving motor. Summary of the invention

[0007] The first technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a dish rack assembly for a washing machine that can reduce cleaning dead angles in view of the current status of the prior art.

[0008] The second technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a dish rack assembly for a washing machine with lower power requirements for the driving mechanism in view of the current status of the prior art.

[0009] The third technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a dish rack assembly for a washing machine with lower requirements on the volume of the inner tank of the washing machine in view of the current status of the prior art.

[0010] The fourth technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a washing machine using the above-mentioned dish rack assembly so that the length of the spray arm can be made shorter and the number of spray holes on the spray arm can be set to be smaller in view of the current status of the prior art.

[0011] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the above three technical problems is: a dish rack assembly for a washing machine, comprising:

[0012] A bowl basket having a chamber;

[0013] It is characterized by that it also includes

[0014] A shelf for placing objects to be cleaned thereon, wherein at least one shelf is provided in the chamber of the bowl basket, and at least one shelf can reciprocate relative to the bowl basket on a horizontal plane;

[0015] The driving mechanism is connected to the movable shelf.

[0016] In order to reduce as many blind spots as possible for washing objects such as tableware or fruits and vegetables, there are at least two racks, at least two of which can move relative to the bowl basket, and the movable rack is defined as the first rack. In this way, more racks can be moved, and the tableware or fruits and vegetables placed on these racks can also move accordingly, reducing blind spots for washing.

[0017] Because there are at least two first shelves, each first shelf can be equipped with a set of driving mechanisms, but this will result in a large number of driving mechanisms, and the space in the inner tank of the cleaning machine itself is also limited. If there are too many driving mechanisms, there will not be enough space to set them up. Therefore, the driving mechanism includes a motor and a turntable connected to the output shaft of the motor. The turntable is horizontally arranged, and the first shelves are arranged at intervals along the outer circumference of the turntable. The turntable is provided with guide grooves that are the same in number as the first shelves, and each guide groove extends in a spiral shape along the radial direction of the turntable. Each first shelf is provided with a plug that can be inserted into the guide groove and slide along the guide groove. In this way, a set of driving mechanisms can drive all the first shelves, with a simple structure and few components involved. When the turntable rotates, the plug moves along the guide groove, and the first shelf moves in a direction away from or close to the turntable.

[0018] In order to reduce the friction between the two when the plug moves along the guide groove, the plug is sleeved with a first roller. In this way, the rolling friction is smaller than the sliding friction, so that the plug moves smoothly along the guide groove and also reduces the damage caused by the friction between the components.

[0019] The guide groove may be a common arc groove. Preferably, the profile of the guide groove is an Archimedean curve, so that the moving speed of the first shelf is relatively uniform, and the first shelf is prevented from moving fast or slow, resulting in collision and breakage between the dishes. The inner curve of the guide groove provides a guiding function when the plug column moves radially outward (outward refers to the direction away from the turntable), and the outer curve of the guide groove provides a guiding function when the plug column moves radially inward.

[0020] If there is only a guiding fit between the plug post and the guide groove without other guiding or limiting structures, the first shelf will not only move radially relative to the turntable, but may also move circumferentially along the turntable, so that the first shelf may hit other shelves fixed relative to the bowl basket, so the bowl basket is provided with at least two mounting plates fixed relative to it, each of the first shelf is correspondingly mounted on a mounting plate, and the guiding structure is provided between the mounting plate and the first shelf, and the guiding structure includes a slider and a slide groove for the slider to slide therein, and the slide groove extends radially along the turntable, the slider is provided on one of the mounting plate and the first shelf, and the slide groove is provided on the other of the mounting plate and the first shelf. In this way, the first shelf can only move radially relative to the turntable.

[0021] In order to reduce the friction between the slider and the chute, the slider is a second roller that can roll along the chute. In this way, the rolling friction is smaller than the sliding friction, so that the slider moves smoothly along the chute and the damage caused by the friction between the components is also reduced.

[0022] In order to limit the slider in the slide groove in the vertical direction and prevent the slider from falling out of the slide groove, the slide groove is a dovetail groove, which is arranged on the top wall of the mounting plate, and the bottom wall of the first shelf is provided with a guide rail that can be embedded in the slide groove, the guide rail is large at the top and small at the bottom, and the slider is arranged on the guide rail. The structure of the dovetail groove is small at the top and large at the bottom, so that the guide rail can be limited in the vertical direction to prevent the guide rail from falling out of the slide groove, and the slider is arranged on the guide rail, so it will naturally not fall out of the slide groove.

[0023] In order to fix the mounting plate relative to the bowl basket, the bowl basket is a hollow structure composed of a plurality of frame bars, so that a drain hole is formed on the bowl basket, and the mounting plate is provided with a through hole for the frame bar at the bottom of the bowl basket to pass through, and the positioning between the mounting plate and the bowl basket is achieved by passing the frame bar through the through hole; and the structure of the bowl basket is simple and easy to manufacture, and the structure of the bowl basket itself is used as a connecting piece, and there is no need to set up an additional connecting piece for positioning the mounting plate.

[0024] In order to separate the tableware and prevent the tableware from being stacked together and causing collision and breakage, the first shelf includes

[0025] A shelf installed in the bowl basket;

[0026] A connecting rod, one end of which is connected to the shelf plate, and the other end of which extends toward the turntable, and the plug post is provided on the other end of the connecting rod;

[0027] There are at least two partition columns which are spaced apart on the shelf, and a partition area is formed between two adjacent partition columns for tableware to be placed inside.

[0028] The shelf plate and the mounting plate can be solid plates, and the water on the tableware or fruits and vegetables will drain into the bowl basket, but the drainage effect is poor because the water may accumulate on the shelf plate and the mounting plate. Preferably, the shelf plate and the mounting plate are both in the shape of a ring with a central hollow. In this way, the water on the tableware or fruits and vegetables will directly flow away from the central hollow area of ​​the shelf plate and the mounting plate, and will not accumulate on the shelf plate and the mounting plate.

[0029] Because the bowl rack assembly is arranged above or below the spray arm, the spray arm sprays water toward the bowl rack assembly to wash dishes or fruits and vegetables. In order to prevent the motor from interfering with the spray arm or disturbing the water flow, the motor is located in the bowl basket. The central area of ​​the bowl basket is generally idle, which makes full use of the space in the bowl basket, and the motor does not occupy the space outside the bowl basket, and does not interfere with the spray arm or disturb the water flow.

[0030] In order to prevent the tableware from falling out of the basket, the top of the chamber of the basket is open. If the side of the chamber is open, the tableware may fall out of the basket from the open part during the movement. In order to allow the water on the tableware to flow out of the basket instead of accumulating in the basket, the basket is provided with a drain hole.

[0031] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the fourth technical problem mentioned above is: a washing machine using the above-mentioned bowl rack assembly, characterized in that it includes an inner tank, the inner tank has a washing cavity, the inner tank is provided with a strip-shaped spray arm, the spray arm extends horizontally, and the bowl basket is arranged in the washing cavity and is located on one side of the spray arm.

[0032] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are as follows: 1. The bowl rack assembly of the present invention includes a bowl basket, and a shelf for placing objects to be washed (such as tableware or fruits and vegetables) is arranged in the bowl basket, so that only one of the shelves can be moved relative to the bowl basket, so that the shelf moves within the spray range of the spray arm, reducing the dead angle of washing; and only the shelf moves, and the entire bowl rack assembly does not need to be moved as a whole, so the weight is relatively small, and the power requirement for the driving mechanism is low; and the shelf is smaller in size than the bowl basket, and the volume requirement for the inner cavity of the washing machine is also small, otherwise the bowl basket moves as a whole, The volume of the inner tank of the washing machine needs to be made very large to ensure that the bowl basket has enough moving space, which occupies a large space; 2. The bowl rack assembly of the present invention is applied to the washing machine. Firstly, the shelf can be moved, which can reduce the spraying dead angle; secondly, because the shelf can be moved on the horizontal plane, even if the length of the spray arm is made shorter and the number of spray holes is designed to be less, the shelf can be moved into the spraying range. Under the same water pump conditions, the water head is improved; and when the bowl rack assembly moves, it can also shake off the dirty water on the tableware or fruits and vegetables, further improving the cleaning effect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure without the inner liner;

[0035] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure without tableware and spray arms;

[0036] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A magnified view of point B;

[0037] Figure 5 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of point C;

[0038] Figure 6 for Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of one of the first shelves and the mounting plate;

[0039] Figure 7 for Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure in another direction;

[0040] Figure 8 for Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the decomposition of

[0041] Fig. 9 for Figure 8 A schematic diagram of another direction of

[0042] Fig.10 for Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the structure of the turntable. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] The present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0044] like Figures 1 to 10 As shown, the cleaning machine of this preferred embodiment includes an inner tank 5, a spray arm 6 and a bowl rack assembly A. The inner tank 5 has a washing chamber 51 therein. The spray arm 6 is strip-shaped and rotatably disposed in the inner tank 5. The spray arm 6 extends laterally. The bowl rack assembly A is disposed in the washing chamber 51 and is located above the spray arm 6.

[0045] like Figure 3 As shown, the bowl rack assembly A includes a bowl basket 1, a shelf, a driving mechanism 3 and a mounting plate 4. The bowl basket 1 has a chamber 11 with an open top, and a drain hole 12 is provided on the bowl basket 1. In this embodiment, the bowl basket 1 is a hollow structure composed of a plurality of frame bars 13, so that the drain hole 12 is formed on the bowl basket 1, and the bowl basket 1 is located above the spray arm 6.

[0046] The shelf is used for placing the objects to be cleaned on it. There is at least one shelf and it is arranged in the chamber 11 of the bowl basket 1. At least one of the shelves can reciprocate on the horizontal plane relative to the bowl basket 1. The movable shelf is defined as the first shelf 2. In this embodiment, there are three shelves, all of which can move relative to the bowl basket 1, that is, there are three first shelves 2. Of course, the number of the first shelves 2 is not limited to three, and can also be two or more than three.

[0047] The driving mechanism 3 is connected to the first shelf 2 to drive the first shelf 2 to move. Because there are more than one first shelf 2 in this embodiment, if each first shelf 2 is equipped with a set of driving mechanisms 3, the number of parts of the bowl rack assembly A will be large and the structure will be complicated. Therefore, this embodiment uses the following structure to achieve a set of driving mechanisms 3 to drive all the first shelves 2 to move.

[0048] like Figure 3 , 6As shown in Figures 10, the driving mechanism 3 of this embodiment includes a motor 31 and a turntable 32 connected to the output shaft of the motor 31. The motor 31 is located in the bowl basket 1. The motor 31 is provided with a support bar 311 extending obliquely downward. The support bar is provided with a groove 3111. The frame bar 13 at the bottom of the bowl basket 1 can be partially inserted into the groove 3111, thereby realizing the positioning of the motor 31.

[0049] The turntable 32 is arranged horizontally, and the first shelves 2 are arranged at intervals along the outer circumference of the turntable 32. The turntable 32 is provided with guide grooves 321 whose number is the same as the first shelves 2. Each guide groove 321 extends spirally along the radial direction of the turntable 32. Each first shelf 2 is provided with a column 21 that can be inserted into the guide groove 321 and slide along the guide groove 321.

[0050] In this embodiment, the first roller 211 is sleeved on the plug post 21 to reduce the friction between the plug post 21 and the guide groove 321. The profile of the guide groove 321 is an Archimedean curve, so that the moving speed of the first shelf 2 is relatively uniform, and the first shelf 2 is prevented from moving fast and slow, resulting in collision and breakage of the tableware 7.

[0051] like Figure 3 , 5 As shown, the bowl basket 1 is provided with at least two mounting plates 4 fixed relative thereto, and the mounting plates 4 are provided with through holes 41 for the frame bars 13 to pass through. The mounting plates 4 and the bowl basket 1 are positioned with each other by passing the frame bars 13 at the bottom of the bowl basket 1 through the through holes 41.

[0052] like Figure 3 , 7 As shown in Figure 9, each first shelf 2 is correspondingly mounted on a mounting plate 4. In this embodiment, the first shelf 2 includes a shelf plate 22, a connecting rod 23 and a partition column 24. A guide structure is provided between the shelf plate 22 and the mounting plate 4 to enable the first shelf 2 to move radially along the turntable 32. The guide structure includes a slider 221 and a slide groove 42 for the slider 221 to slide therein. The slide groove 42 extends radially along the turntable 32. The slider 221 is provided on the shelf plate 22, and the slide groove 42 is provided on the mounting plate 4. The slider 221 is a second roller that can roll along the slide groove 42 to reduce the friction between the slider 221 and the slide groove 42. The slide groove 42 is a dovetail groove, which is provided on the top wall surface of the mounting plate 4. A guide rail 222 that can be embedded in the slide groove 42 is provided on the bottom wall surface of the shelf plate 22. The guide rail 222 is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom, and the slider 221 is provided on the guide rail 222. The structure of the dovetail groove is small at the top and large at the bottom, so that the guide rail 222 can be limited in the vertical direction to prevent the guide rail 222 from escaping from the slide groove 42. The slider 221 is set on the guide rail 222 and naturally will not escape from the slide groove 42.

[0053] One end of the connecting rod 23 is connected to the shelf plate 22, and the other end extends toward the turntable 32. The plug 21 is set on the other end of the connecting rod 23. There are at least two partition columns 24 that are spaced apart on the shelf plate 22. A partition area 241 for placing tableware 7 is formed between two adjacent partition columns 24, and the tableware 7 can abut against at least one partition column 24 in the partition area.

[0054] In this embodiment, the shelf plate 22 and the mounting plate 4 are both in the shape of a ring with a central hollow. In this way, water on the tableware 7 or fruits and vegetables will directly flow away from the central hollow area of ​​the shelf plate 22 and the mounting plate 4, and will not accumulate on the shelf plate 22 and the mounting plate 4.

[0055] The working process of the bowl rack assembly A of this embodiment is as follows:

[0056] When the spray arm 6 is rotating, the motor 31 works to drive the turntable 32 to rotate around its axis, the plug post 21 moves along the guide groove 321, and the slider 221 moves along the slide groove 42, so that the first shelf 2 moves along the radial direction of the turntable 32; when the motor 31 rotates in a certain direction (such as clockwise), the first shelf 2 moves away from the turntable 32; when the motor 31 rotates in the opposite direction (such as counterclockwise), the first shelf 2 moves towards the turntable 32.

[0057] In this way, the first shelf 2 moves the tableware 7 or fruits and vegetables thereon to the spray range of the spray arm 6, thereby improving the cleaning effect and reducing the cleaning dead corners; the area outside the first shelf 2 in the bowl basket 1 can also be used to place tableware 7 or fruits and vegetables.

[0058] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Since the embodiments disclosed in the present invention can be arranged in different directions, these terms indicating directions are only for illustration and should not be regarded as limitations. For example, "up" and "down" are not necessarily limited to directions opposite to or consistent with the direction of gravity.

Claims

1. A dish rack assembly for a washing machine, comprising: A bowl basket (1) having a chamber (11); It is characterized in that Also includes A shelf for placing objects to be cleaned thereon, the shelf comprising at least one and arranged in the chamber (11) of the bowl basket (1), at least one of the shelfs being capable of reciprocating relative to the bowl basket (1) on a horizontal plane; A driving mechanism (3) is drivingly connected to the movable shelf; There are at least two of the shelves, at least two of which are capable of moving relative to the bowl basket (1), and the movable shelf is defined as a first shelf (2); The driving mechanism (3) comprises a motor (31) and a turntable (32) connected to an output shaft of the motor (31); the turntable (32) is arranged horizontally; the first shelves (2) are arranged at intervals along the outer circumference of the turntable (32); the turntable (32) is provided with guide grooves (321) the same number as the first shelves (2); each guide groove (321) extends in a spiral shape along the radial direction of the turntable (32); and each first shelf (2) is provided with an insertion column (21) that can be inserted into the guide groove (321) and slide along the guide groove (321).

2. The bowl rack assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plug post (21) is sleeved with a first roller (211).

3. The bowl rack assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The profile of the guide groove (321) is an Archimedean curve.

4. The bowl rack assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bowl basket (1) is provided with at least two mounting plates (4) fixed relative to the bowl basket, each of the first shelf racks (2) is correspondingly mounted on one mounting plate (4), a guide structure is provided between the mounting plate (4) and the first shelf rack (2), the guide structure comprises a slider (221) and a slide groove (42) for the slider (221) to slide therein, the slide groove (42) extending in the radial direction of the turntable (32), the slider (221) being provided on one of the mounting plate (4) and the first shelf rack (2), and the slide groove (42) being provided on the other of the mounting plate (4) and the first shelf rack (2).

5. The bowl rack assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that: The sliding block (221) is a second roller capable of rolling along the sliding groove (42).

6. The bowl rack assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that: The slide groove (42) is a dovetail groove, which is arranged on the top wall surface of the mounting plate (4); the bottom wall surface of the first shelf (2) is provided with a guide rail (222) which can be embedded in the slide groove (42); the guide rail (222) is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom; and the slider (221) is arranged on the guide rail (222).

7. The bowl rack assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that: The bowl basket (1) is a hollow structure composed of a plurality of frame bars (13), so that a drain hole (12) is formed on the bowl basket (1), and the mounting plate (4) is provided with a through hole (41) through which the frame bars (13) at the bottom of the bowl basket (1) can pass.

8. The bowl rack assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that: The first shelf (2) comprises A shelf (22) installed in the bowl basket (1); A connecting rod (23), one end of which is connected to the shelf plate (22), and the other end of which extends toward the rotating disk (32), and the plug post (21) is provided on the other end of the connecting rod (23); There are at least two partition columns (24) which are spaced apart on the shelf plate (22), and a partition area (241) for placing tableware (7) therein is formed between two adjacent partition columns (24).

9. The bowl rack assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that: The shelf plate (22) and the mounting plate (4) are both in the shape of a ring with a hollow center.

10. The bowl rack assembly according to any one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that: The motor (31) is located in the bowl basket (1).

11. The bowl rack assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top of the chamber (11) of the bowl basket (1) is open, and a drainage hole (12) is provided on the bowl basket (1).

12. A washing machine using the dish rack assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that: The invention comprises an inner container (5), wherein the inner container (5) has a washing chamber (51) inside, wherein a strip-shaped spray arm (6) is arranged in the inner container (5), wherein the spray arm (6) extends transversely, and wherein the bowl basket (1) is arranged in the washing chamber (51) and is located on one side of the spray arm (6).

Images