Shelf assembly and refrigerator

Abstract

The application discloses a shelf assembly and a refrigerator with the shelf assembly, the shelf assembly is arranged in a box body of the refrigerator, and the shelf assembly comprises a supporting mechanism, a shelf plate mechanism and a driving mechanism; the supporting mechanism is provided with a first sliding rail and a second sliding rail; the second sliding rail comprises a first section and a second section; the second section is vertically moved downward relative to the first section; the shelf plate mechanism comprises a first shelf plate and a second shelf plate; the driving mechanism is in transmission connection with the first shelf plate so as to drive the second shelf plate to move along the second sliding rail; the shelf plate mechanism has an unfolded position and a folded position; in the unfolded position, the second shelf plate is located in the first section, the first shelf plate is close to a bottom wall of the box body, and the first shelf plate is arranged side by side with the second shelf plate in a direction away from the bottom wall; in the folded position, the second shelf plate is moved to the second section, and the first shelf plate is moved above the second shelf plate, so that the first shelf plate is close to an opening of the box body; the shelf assembly can automatically control the unfolding or folding of the shelf plate mechanism, and the convenience of the user when using the refrigerator is improved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of refrigerators, in particular to a shelf assembly and a refrigerator. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the related art, a household refrigerator or cabinet is usually provided with a shelf for placing articles. As the design height of the household refrigerator or cabinet is continuously increasing, it is inconvenient for a user to access the articles on the shelf when the height is high. At present, the height of the shelf is adjusted by setting a lifting mechanism (such as a pull basket) so as to facilitate the user to access the articles. However, the lifting mechanism needs to be manually adjusted by the user, which is inconvenient for the user to use, and a large space is required for adjustment. SUMMARY

[0003] The present application aims to at least solve one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, the present application provides a shelf assembly capable of automatically adjusting the position of a shelf plate located close to the bottom wall of a cabinet, so as to facilitate the user to take down the articles on the shelf plate or place the articles on the shelf plate, thereby improving the convenience of the user when using and occupying a smaller space.

[0004] The present application also provides a refrigerator having the above-mentioned shelf assembly.

[0005] According to the shelf assembly of the first aspect of the present application, the support mechanism is provided with a first sliding rail and a second sliding rail, the second sliding rail includes a first section and a second section, the second section is vertically downwardly displaced relative to the first section, the first section is close to the bottom wall of the cabinet, and the second section is close to the opening of the cabinet. The shelf plate mechanism includes a first shelf plate and a second shelf plate, the first shelf plate is slidingly installed on the first sliding rail, and the second shelf plate is slidingly installed on the second sliding rail and movably connected with the first shelf plate. The drive mechanism is drivingly connected with the first shelf plate to drive the first shelf plate to move along the first sliding rail, and the first shelf plate drives the second shelf plate to move along the second sliding rail. The shelf plate mechanism has an unfolded position and a folded position. In the unfolded position, the second shelf plate is located in the first section, the first shelf plate is close to the bottom wall of the cabinet, and is arranged side by side with the second shelf plate in a direction away from the bottom wall. In the folded position, the second shelf plate is moved to the second section, and the first shelf plate is moved above the second shelf plate so that the first shelf plate is close to the opening of the cabinet.

[0006] According to the shelf assembly provided by the embodiment of the present application, the shelf mechanism has the unfolded position and the folded position, the driving mechanism is in transmission connection with the first shelf, the driving mechanism drives the first shelf to move along the first slide rail and drives the second shelf to move along the second slide rail, the shelf mechanism is in the folded position, the second shelf moves to the second section, so that the first shelf is above the second shelf and close to the opening of the cabinet, at this time, it is convenient for the user to take the articles on the first shelf or place the articles on the first shelf, the shelf mechanism is in the unfolded position, the second shelf moves to the first end, the first shelf is close to the bottom wall of the cabinet and is arranged side by side with the second shelf in the direction away from the bottom wall, at this time, the user can store the articles on the second shelf. The shelf assembly provided by the present application drives the first shelf and the second shelf to move through the driving mechanism, so that the automation degree of the shelf assembly is improved, so that the convenience of the user in use is improved, and the mounting structure of the first shelf and the second shelf is simple, and the space required when folding or unfolding is small.

[0007] According to some embodiments of the present application, the second slide rail further comprises a transition section, one end of the transition section is connected to the first section, and the other end of the transition section is connected to the second section.

[0008] According to some embodiments of the present application, the second slide rail comprises two slide rail parts arranged side by side in the direction away from the bottom wall, each of the slide rail parts is provided with the first section, the transition section and the second section.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the present application, the shelf assembly further comprises a linkage, the second shelf is movably connected to the first shelf through the linkage.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present application, the linkage is fixedly connected to the first shelf and is provided with a clamping groove, a sliding wall extending in the vertical direction is arranged on the side of the clamping groove away from the bottom wall, the second shelf is provided with an abutting piece matched with the clamping groove, and the abutting piece can slide along the sliding wall.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present application, the driving mechanism comprises a motor and a ring-shaped transmission part, the first shelf is provided with a connecting piece, the connecting piece is in transmission connection with the transmission part, and the motor drives the transmission part to rotate to drive the first shelf to move.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present application, the support mechanism is provided with a first detection part, the transmission part is provided with a first detection head, when the first shelf moves to the unfolded position, the first detection head triggers the first detection part to send a stop signal to the motor.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present application, the connecting piece is provided with a sleeve hole, and the connecting piece is fixedly sleeved with the first detection head through the sleeve hole.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the present application, the support mechanism is further provided with a second detection member, and the transmission member is provided with a second detection head, when the first shelf moves to the folding position, the second detection head triggers the second detection member to send a stop signal to the motor.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present application, the transmission member is a transmission rope or a transmission belt.

[0016] According to some embodiments of the present application, the shelf assembly further comprises a tensioning mechanism abutting against the transmission member to tension the transmission member.

[0017] The refrigerator according to the second aspect of the embodiments of the present application comprises: a cabinet and the shelf assembly according to the first aspect of the embodiments of the present application, wherein the shelf assembly is arranged in the cabinet.

[0018] The refrigerator according to the embodiments of the present application has at least the following beneficial effects: the cabinet of the refrigerator is provided with the shelf assembly according to the first aspect of the embodiments of the present application, so that the convenience of the user when using the refrigerator can be improved, and the occupied space of the shelf assembly can be reduced.

[0019] Additional aspects and advantages of the present application will be given, partially in the following description, partially become obvious from the following description, or be understood by practice of the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0020] The present application will be further described below in conjunction with the drawings and embodiments, wherein:

[0021] Figure 1 Structure schematic view of the shelf assembly according to one embodiment of the present application;

[0022] Figure 2 Structure schematic view of the shelf assembly according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0023] Figure 3 Structure schematic view of the shelf assembly according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0024] Figure 4 Structure schematic view of the support mechanism according to one embodiment of the present application;

[0025] Figure 5 Structure schematic view of the first shelf and the second shelf according to one embodiment of the present application;

[0026] Figure 6 Structure schematic view of the first shelf and the second shelf according to one embodiment of the present application; Figure 5 Enlarged view of C shown;

[0027] Figure 7 Partial exploded schematic view of the shelf assembly according to one embodiment of the present application;

[0028] Figure 8 For Figure 2 the enlarged view shown at A;

[0029] Figure 9 For Figure 3 the enlarged view shown at B;

[0030] Figure 10 For the enlarged view shown at B;

[0031] Reference signs:

[0032] Supporting mechanism 100; first sliding rail 110; second sliding rail 120; transition section 121; second section 122; first section 123; protective piece 125; avoiding hole 1251; limiting piece 126;

[0033] Shelf mechanism 200; first shelf 210; linkage 211; clamping groove 2111; sliding wall 2112; connecting piece 212; second shelf 220; sliding block 221; abutting piece 222;

[0034] Driving mechanism 300; transmission piece 310; pulley 320; driving shaft 330;

[0035] First detection piece 400; first detection head 410;

[0036] Second detection piece 500; second detection head 510;

[0037] Tensioning mechanism 600; tensioning wheel 610; mounting seat 620; tensioning shaft 630; elastic piece 640;

[0038] Mounting plate 700; baffle 710. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] Embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar notations used throughout the drawings and the specification denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary only, and are used only to explain the present application, and should not be understood as limiting the present application.

[0040] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that, in relation to the orientation description, for example, the orientation or position relationship indicated by the upper, lower, front, rear, left, right, etc. is based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and does not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the present application.

[0041] In the description of this invention, "several" means one or more, "more than" means two or more, "greater than," "less than," and "exceeding" are understood to exclude the stated number, while "above," "below," and "within" are understood to include the stated number. The use of "first" and "second" in the description is merely for distinguishing technical features and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features, or implicitly indicating the order of the indicated technical features.

[0042] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly defined, terms such as "set up," "install," and "connect" should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0043] Reference Figures 1 to 4 A first aspect of the present invention provides a shelf assembly disposed within a box. The shelf assembly includes a support mechanism 100, a shelf mechanism 200, and a drive mechanism 300. The support mechanism 100 has a first slide rail 110 and a second slide rail 120. The second slide rail 120 includes a first segment 123 and a second segment 122. The second segment 122 is vertically downward relative to the first segment 123, with the first segment 123 close to the bottom wall of the box and the second segment 122 close to the opening of the box. The shelf mechanism 200 includes a first shelf 210 and a second shelf 220. The first shelf 210 is slidably mounted on the first slide rail 110, and the second shelf 220 is movably connected to the first shelf 210 and slidably connected to the second slide rail 120. The drive mechanism 300 is connected to the first shelf 210 to drive the first shelf 210 to move along the first slide rail 110, thereby driving the second shelf 220 to slide along the second slide rail 120. The shelf mechanism 200 has an unfolded position and a folded position. In the unfolded position, the second shelf 220 is located in the first section 123, and the first shelf 210 is close to the bottom wall of the box and is arranged side by side with the second shelf 220 in a direction away from the bottom wall. In this position, the user can easily place items on the second shelf 220. In the folded position, the second shelf 220 moves to the second section 122, and the first shelf 210 moves above the second shelf 220, so that the first shelf 210 is close to the opening of the box. In this position, the user can easily remove items from the first shelf 210 or place items on the first shelf 210. In the shelf assembly proposed in this application, both the first shelf 210 and the second shelf 220 are moved by the drive mechanism 300, thereby improving the automation level of the shelf assembly and thus improving the convenience of user operation.

[0044] Reference Figure 4In some embodiments of the present invention, the second slide rail 120 further includes a transition section 121, one end of which is connected to the first section 123 and the other end to the second section 122. The second shelf 220 can slide from the first section 123 to the second section 122 via the transition section 121, or from the second section 122 to the first section 123 via the transition section 121. It should be noted that from the first section 123 to the second section 122, the transition section 121 is gradually inclined downwards so that the second shelf 220 can slide smoothly from the first section 123 to the second section 122, or from the second section 122 to the first section 123. Furthermore, the drive mechanism 300 only needs to overcome the gravity of the second shelf 220 to drive the second shelf 220 to slide from the second section 122 to the first section 123. Since the first shelf 210 slides horizontally with less friction, the drive mechanism 300 requires less power, thereby reducing energy consumption.

[0045] It should be noted that the second slide rail 120 has two slide rail sections arranged side by side along the direction away from the bottom wall, and each slide rail section is provided with a first section 123, a transition section 121, and a second section 122. Two sliders 221 are correspondingly provided on one side of the second shelf 220. The two sliders 221 are slidably mounted on the two slide rail sections respectively, and can slide from the first section 123 through the transition section 121 to the second section 122, or from the second section 122 through the transition section 121 to the first section 123. By providing two sliders 221, each corresponding to one of the two slide rail sections, the movement of the second shelf 220 can be made more stable and smooth.

[0046] Understandably, when the shelf mechanism 200 is in the unfolded position, the first shelf 210 is located on the side of the cabinet furthest from the opening, and the second shelf 220 is located on the side of the cabinet closest to the opening. That is, the first shelf 210 is on the inside, and the second shelf 220 is on the outside. When the user needs to retrieve items from the first shelf 210 or needs to store items on the first shelf 210, the first shelf 210 is moved to the outside. The installation structure of the first shelf 210 and the second shelf 220 proposed in this application is simple, occupies less space, and improves the space utilization of the cabinet.

[0047] Reference Figure 4In some embodiments of the present invention, the first segment 123 and the second segment 122 are both horizontally arranged so that the second shelf 220 can be stably located in either the first segment 123 or the second segment 122 when the shelf mechanism 200 is in the unfolded or folded position, thereby improving the overall stability of the shelf mechanism 200. It should be noted that there are two support mechanisms 100. The two support mechanisms 100 can be fixedly installed on the side walls of the box by fasteners such as screws or bolts, and are located on the left and right sides of the first shelf 210 and the second shelf 220, respectively. The left and right sides of the first shelf 210 are slidably connected to the two support mechanisms 100, and rollers are provided on both sides of the first shelf 210. The slidable connection between the first shelf 210 and the two support mechanisms 100 through the rollers improves the smoothness and stability of the first shelf during sliding. Two sliders 221 are provided on each of the left and right sides of the second shelf 220, and the sliders 221 on both sides are slidably connected to the second slide rails 120 of the two support mechanisms 100. By setting two support mechanisms 100, the stability and smoothness of the first shelf 210 and the second shelf 220 during sliding can be improved.

[0048] Reference Figure 4 It should be noted that a limiting member 126 is installed on the support mechanism 100, located at the open ends of the first slide rail 110 and the second slide rail 120, to limit the movement of the first shelf 210 and the second shelf 220. It can be understood that the limiting member 126 can be a limiting plate, which is connected to the support mechanism 100 by fasteners such as screws or bolts. Alternatively, the limiting member 126 can be integrally formed with the support mechanism 100, thereby simplifying the installation process.

[0049] Reference Figures 5 to 7 In some embodiments of the present invention, the shelf assembly further includes a linkage 211, through which the second shelf 220 can be movably connected to the first shelf 210 via the linkage 211. It is understood that one end of the linkage 211 is fixedly connected to the first shelf 210. The linkage 211 is provided with a slot 2111. A sliding wall 2112 extending vertically is provided on the side of the slot 2111 away from the bottom wall of the box. The second shelf 220 is provided with an abutment 222 that cooperates with the slot 2111. The abutment 222 can slide up or down along the sliding wall 2112. When the first shelf 210 moves, it can drive the second shelf 220 to move through the linkage 211. When the first shelf 210 drives the second shelf 220 to move from the first section 123 to the second section 122, the slot 2111 can abut against the abutment 222 relative to the side wall of the sliding wall 2112 and push the second shelf 220 to the transition section 121, and then slide along the transition section 121 to the second section 122.

[0050] Reference Figure 5The abutment 222 can be an abutment rod connected to the second shelf 220. The abutment rod can pass through the slot 2111. When the first shelf 210 moves backward, the front side wall of the slot 2111 can push the abutment rod to slide backward, thereby causing the two sliders 221 on the second shelf 220 to slide from the corresponding first section 123 to the first transition section 121. Then, under the action of gravity, the second shelf 220 can slide down along the transition section 121, and the abutment rod can abut against the sliding wall 2112 of the slot 2111 and move backward with the first shelf 210 until it slides to the second section 122. At this time, the shelf mechanism 200 is in the folded position. When the first shelf 210 moves from back to front, the sliding wall 2112 of the slot 2111 can abut against the abutment rod, thereby driving the second shelf 220 to move along the transition section 121. When the front end of the first shelf 210 slides, that is, when the shelf mechanism 200 is in the unfolded position, the abutment rod can be engaged in the slot 2111, thereby limiting the second shelf 220 and improving its stability. It should be noted that the sliding wall 2112 of the slot 2111 can be set to be relatively long so that when the first shelf 210 moves forward, the sliding wall 2112 of the slot 2111 can abut against the abutment rod, thereby driving the second shelf 220 to move. It should also be noted that there are linkages 211 on both the left and right sides of the first shelf 210. By setting two linkages 211, the stability and smoothness of the sliding of the first shelf 210 and the second shelf 220 can be improved.

[0051] It should also be noted that the abutment member 222 can be an abutment rod or an abutment shaft. One end of the abutment rod can be threaded, and one side of the second shelf 220 has a threaded hole that matches the thread of the abutment rod. The abutment rod can be threaded into the threaded hole of the second shelf 220, thereby fixing it to the second shelf 220. The threaded connection can improve the ease of installation of the abutment member 222. Alternatively, the abutment rod can also be integrally formed with the second shelf 220, thereby simplifying the installation steps of the second shelf 220. Of course, the abutment rod can also be connected to the second shelf 220 by fasteners such as screws or bolts, depending on the actual situation, and no specific limitation is made here.

[0052] Reference Figure 7In some embodiments of the present invention, the shelf assembly further includes a protective member 125. The protective member 125 is installed on the side wall of the refrigerator cavity by fasteners such as screws or bolts. The protective member 125 covers the support mechanism 100, that is, it covers the first slide rail 110 and the second slide rail 120, which can prevent foreign objects from entering the first slide rail 110 or the second slide rail 120, and can also cover the support mechanism 100 to improve the overall aesthetics of the shelf assembly. The protective member 125 is also provided with clearance holes 1251 corresponding to the first slide rail 110 and the second slide rail 120, so that one side of the first shelf 210 and the second shelf 220 can be slidably connected to the support mechanism 100. For example, two sliders 221 on one side of the second shelf 220 can pass through the clearance holes 1251 and be slidably connected to the second slide rail 120. It should be noted that the protective component 125 can be a protective cover plate. The protective cover plate has a protective groove at one end facing the support mechanism 100, so that it can cover the support mechanism 100 and protect the first slide rail 110 and the second slide rail 120.

[0053] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments of the present invention, the drive mechanism 300 includes a motor and a ring-shaped transmission member 310. The first shelf 210 is provided with a connecting member 212. The transmission member 310 is connected to the first shelf 210 through the connecting member 212. The motor drives the transmission member 310 to rotate, thereby enabling the first shelf 210 to move. By setting the drive mechanism 300, the first shelf 210 can be moved automatically, improving the automation level of the shelf assembly and thus enhancing the user experience.

[0054] It should be noted that the shelf assembly is provided with multiple pulleys 320, and the transmission component 310 is sequentially wound around the multiple pulleys 320 to form a closed loop. The transmission component 310 can drive the connector 212 connected to the first shelf 210. The rotation of the transmission component 310 can drive the first shelf 210 to slide forward or backward. The transmission component 310 can be a transmission rope, with the connector fixedly connected to the transmission rope. A motor can drive the transmission rope to rotate around the multiple pulleys 320, so that the transmission rope can drive the connector 212 to move, thereby driving the first shelf 210 to move. The transmission component 310 can also be a transmission belt or a conveyor chain structure, etc., depending on the actual situation, and is not specifically limited here. The drive mechanism 300 proposed in this application has a simple principle and low cost and failure rate.

[0055] It should also be noted that, referring to Figure 2One of the pulleys 320 can be connected to a drive shaft 330. The drive shaft 330 drives the pulley 320 to rotate, which in turn drives the transmission component 310 to rotate, thereby moving the first shelf 210. The drive shaft 330 can be driven by a motor; that is, a transmission gear is mounted on the drive shaft 330, and a drive gear is mounted on the output shaft of the motor. The drive gear meshes with the transmission gear, and the rotation of the motor output shaft drives the drive shaft 330 to rotate. It should also be noted that two sets of transmission components 310 can be provided, connected to the left and right sides of the first shelf 210 respectively. The two ends of the drive shaft 330 are connected to the pulleys 320 on both sides. Only one motor needs to drive the drive shaft 330 to rotate, which can simultaneously drive both transmission components 310, thereby reducing the number of motors and saving installation space for the shelf assembly.

[0056] It should be noted that the shelf assembly also includes a mounting plate 700 and a baffle 710. The mounting plate 700 can be fixedly installed to the side wall of the refrigerator cavity using fasteners such as screws or bolts. The drive mechanism 300 is mounted on the mounting plate 700, and the baffle 710 is connected to the mounting plate 700. The drive shaft 330 and other components such as the motor can be located between the baffle 710 and the mounting plate 700. That is, the baffle 710 can block the drive shaft 330 and other components, thus protecting them and improving the overall aesthetics of the shelf assembly. It is understood that a connecting post is provided between the mounting plate 700 and the baffle 710. One end of the connecting post is connected to the baffle 710 using fasteners such as screws or bolts, and the other end is also connected to the baffle 710 using fasteners such as screws or bolts, creating a gap between the baffle 710 and the mounting plate 700 to avoid obstructing the drive shaft 330 and other components.

[0057] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 8 The shelf assembly also includes a first detection element 400, which can be mounted on the support mechanism 100 or the protective element 125 and is located on one side of the first shelf 210, capable of detecting the position of the first shelf 210. Specifically, the transmission member 310 is provided with a first detection head 410. When the first shelf 210 moves to the unfolded position, the first detection head 410 can trigger the first detection element 400 to send a stop signal to the motor, causing the motor to stop rotating, thereby stopping the drive shaft 330 and thus stopping the first shelf 210 from moving. It should be noted that the connecting member 212 is provided with a sleeve hole, through which the connecting member 212 can be sleeved and fixed to the first detection head 410. The rotation of the transmission member 310 drives the first detection head 410 to move, thereby driving the connecting member 212 to move, and thus driving the first shelf 210 to move.

[0058] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 9In some embodiments of the present invention, the shelf assembly further includes a second detection element 500. The second detection element 500 can be installed on the support mechanism 100 or the protective element 125 and is located on one side of the first shelf 210, and can also detect the position of the first shelf 210. That is, the conveyor belt is provided with a second detection head 510. When the first shelf 210 moves to the folded position, the second detection head 510 can trigger the second detection element 500 to send a stop signal to the motor, the motor stops rotating, so that the drive shaft 330 stops rotating, thereby stopping the first shelf 210 from moving. By setting the first detection element 400 and the second detection element 500, and the first detection head 410 and the second detection head 510 that cooperate with them, the movement of the first shelf 210 to the folded position can be automatically controlled, thereby improving the accuracy of the sliding of the first shelf 210 and improving the automation level of the shelf assembly, thereby improving the convenience for users.

[0059] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 10 In some embodiments of the present invention, the shelf assembly further includes a tensioning mechanism 600, which can abut against the transmission member 310 to tension the transmission member 310, thereby improving the smoothness of the rotation of the transmission member 310 and preventing the transmission member 310 from being too loose and disengaging from the pulley 320.

[0060] It should be noted that the tensioning mechanism 600 includes a tensioning wheel 610, which abuts against the transmission member 310, thereby keeping the transmission member 310 in a tensioned state. The tensioning mechanism 600 also includes a tensioning shaft 630, a mounting base 620, and an elastic member 640. The mounting base 620 is mounted on the mounting plate 700. One end of the tensioning shaft 630 is rotatably mounted on the mounting base 620, and the tensioning wheel 610 is rotatably mounted on the other end of the tensioning shaft 630. The fixed end of the elastic member 640 abuts against the mounting base 620, and the movable end of the elastic member 640 abuts against the tensioning shaft 630, and can push the tensioning shaft 630 to rotate, causing the tensioning wheel 610 to abut against the transmission member 310, thus keeping the transmission member 310 in a tensioned state. By setting the transmission member 310 to push the tensioning wheel 610 against the transmission member 310, the tension of the transmission member 310 can be adjusted in real time.

[0061] It should also be noted that the elastic element 640 can be a spring, with its fixed end abutting against the mounting base 620 and its movable end abutting against the tension shaft 630, thus driving the tension shaft 630 to rotate and allowing the tension wheel 610 to abut against the transmission element 310. Alternatively, the elastic element 640 can be a torsion spring, with a fixed rod provided on the mounting base 620, the torsion spring sleeved on the fixed rod, and its fixed end abutting against the mounting base 620, while its movable end abutting against the tension shaft 630, thus driving the tension shaft 630 to rotate and allowing the tension wheel 610 to abut against the transmission element 310.

[0062] The refrigerator of the second aspect of the present invention includes a cabinet, and the shelf assembly of the first aspect embodiment is installed in the cabinet. By setting the shelf assembly, it is convenient for the user to take down the items on the first shelf 210 or store the items on the first shelf. Furthermore, the installation structure of the first shelf 210 and the second shelf 220 of the shelf assembly proposed in this application is simple, thereby reducing the overall space occupied by the shelf assembly and the space required for the shelf mechanism 200 to move is also small, thereby improving the utilization rate of the refrigerator's storage space. It should be noted that the first shelf 210 and the second shelf 220 of the shelf assembly can be located on the top layer of the refrigerator cavity. When it is inconvenient for the user to remove items from the first shelf 210 located on the inside, the first shelf 210 can be moved backward to the side of the cabinet near the opening, that is, when the shelf mechanism 200 is in the folded position, the first shelf 210 is located above the second shelf 220, thereby facilitating the user to remove items from or place items on the first shelf 210. Then, it can be moved forward to the side of the cabinet near the bottom wall, where it is arranged side by side with the second shelf 220 in a direction away from the bottom wall, allowing items to be placed on the second shelf 220. It should be noted that the refrigerator proposed in this embodiment also has at least all the beneficial effects of the shelf assembly of the first aspect embodiment described above, which will not be repeated here.

[0063] The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Within the scope of knowledge possessed by those skilled in the art, various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A shelf assembly disposed within a box, characterized in that, include: The support mechanism is provided with a first slide rail and a second slide rail. The second slide rail includes a first section and a second section. The second section moves vertically downward relative to the first section. The first section is close to the bottom wall of the box, and the second section is close to the opening of the box. The shelf mechanism includes a first shelf and a second shelf, wherein the first shelf is slidably mounted on the first slide rail, and the second shelf is slidably mounted on the second slide rail and movably connected to the first shelf; A drive mechanism is connected to the first shelf via a transmission to drive the first shelf to move along the first slide rail, and the first shelf drives the second shelf to move along the second slide rail; The shelf mechanism has an unfolded position and a folded position. In the unfolded position, the second shelf is located in the first section, the first shelf is close to the bottom wall of the box, and is arranged side by side with the second shelf in a direction away from the bottom wall. In the folded position, the second shelf moves to the second section, and the first shelf moves above the second shelf, so that the first shelf is close to the opening of the box.

2. The shelf assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second slide rail also includes a transition section, one end of which is connected to the first section and the other end of which is connected to the second section.

3. The shelf assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second slide rail includes two slide rail sections arranged side by side along a direction away from the bottom wall, and each slide rail section is provided with the first section, the transition section and the second section.

4. The shelf assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The shelf assembly also includes a linkage, through which the second shelf is movably connected to the first shelf.

5. The shelf assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The linkage component is fixedly connected to the first shelf and has a slot. The slot is positioned with the slot facing downwards. A sliding wall extending downwards is provided on the side of the slot away from the bottom wall. The second shelf has an abutment component that mates with the slot. The abutment component can slide along the sliding wall.

6. The shelf assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The driving mechanism includes a motor and a ring-shaped transmission component. The first shelf is provided with a connecting component, which is tractively connected to the transmission component. The motor drives the transmission component to rotate, thereby moving the first shelf.

7. The shelf assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, The support mechanism is equipped with a first detection element, and the transmission component is equipped with a first detection head. When the first shelf moves to the unfolded position, the first detection head triggers the first detection element to send a stop signal to the motor.

8. The shelf assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that, The connector is provided with a sleeve hole, and the connector is fixed to the first detection head through the sleeve hole.

9. The shelf assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, The support mechanism is also equipped with a second detection element, and the transmission element is equipped with a second detection head. When the first shelf moves to the folded position, the second detection head triggers the second detection element to send a stop signal to the motor.

10. The shelf assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, The transmission component is a transmission rope or a transmission belt.

11. The shelf assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that, The shelf assembly also includes a tensioning mechanism that abuts against the transmission member to tension the transmission member.

12. A refrigerator, characterized in that, It includes a housing and a shelf assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 11, the shelf assembly being installed within the housing.

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