Laundry washing machine water box assembly and laundry washing machine

Abstract

This invention discloses a washing machine water tank assembly and a washing machine. The water tank assembly includes: a water tank; a detergent dispenser, which is retractable and located within the water tank; and a slide rail fixed to the water tank for pulling out the detergent dispenser. The slide rail has two slide rail portions arranged left and right, and the detergent dispenser has a groove that matches the slide rail portions. By setting the slide rail portions and the groove, the detergent dispenser can be pulled out smoothly and stably, completely solving the problem of uneven pulling and wobbling of the detergent dispenser. This also greatly improves product quality, enhances user experience, and is convenient to implement. When the detergent dispenser is pulled out, the groove moves on the slide rail portion, which facilitates the smooth pulling out of the detergent dispenser. Furthermore, the slide rail portion is located within the groove and moves relative to the detergent dispenser in the front-to-back direction, avoiding wobbling of the detergent dispenser in the left-to-right direction and increasing stability during the pulling process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of washing machine technology, specifically relating to a washing machine water tank assembly and a washing machine having the water tank assembly. Background Technology

[0002] As the washing machine industry continues to develop, continuously improving product quality and user experience is crucial to winning over consumers. Attention to detail is increasingly becoming a key criterion for judging product quality, and for any company seeking sustainable growth, improving product quality is an inevitable choice.

[0003] Most current top-loading washing machine models use a pull-out water tray. The pull-out mechanism in most existing water trays relies primarily on line contact between components to achieve the pull-out motion. This inevitably leads to uneven pulling and wobbling during the detergent dispenser's operation, resulting in a poor user experience due to frequent use. Some products attempt to optimize the pull-out effect by adding multiple auxiliary rollers. However, the water tray's structural design is primarily for storing and rinsing detergent, so most components are cavity-type structures. Cavity-type structures are prone to deformation, meaning the rollers do not significantly improve the pull-out effect and wobbling still occurs.

[0004] The information disclosed in this background section is only intended to enhance the understanding of the background technology of this application, and therefore may include prior art that is not known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention addresses the aforementioned problems in the prior art by proposing a washing machine water tank assembly. By setting slide rails and slide grooves, the detergent box can be smoothly and stably pulled out, which can completely solve the problem of the detergent box not being pulled out smoothly and being accompanied by shaking, and can also greatly improve product quality.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention employs the following technical solution:

[0007] A washing machine water tank assembly includes:

[0008] Water box;

[0009] A detergent dispenser, which is retractable and located inside the water tank;

[0010] A slide rail, which is fixed on the water box and used for pulling out the detergent box;

[0011] The slide rail has two slide rail sections arranged on the left and right sides, and the detergent box is provided with a slide groove that matches the slide rail section.

[0012] Furthermore, the slide groove extends in the front-to-back direction and has a slide groove body that matches the slide rail portion, and a plurality of slots opened in the slide groove body, the groove walls of the slots being spaced apart from the slide rail portion.

[0013] Furthermore, the chute and the slot are alternately arranged.

[0014] Furthermore, the chute is used to support the detergent dispenser.

[0015] Furthermore, the water box is provided with outwardly extending second folded edges on the left and right sides respectively, and the second folded edges are provided with upwardly extending front support and rear support for supporting the slide rail.

[0016] Furthermore, the rear support portion is provided with an upward-opening slot, and the slide rail portion engages within the slot.

[0017] Furthermore, a downwardly bent positioning part is provided at the front end of the slide rail part, and an upwardly extending positioning frame is provided on the second folded edge, surrounding the outside of the positioning part, with the positioning part located inside the positioning frame.

[0018] Furthermore, the positioning frame is connected to the front support portion.

[0019] Furthermore, the water box also has an upper folded edge extending upward along the outer end of the second folded edge, and the second folded edge is provided with an upwardly extending water-blocking edge that connects the positioning frame and the upper folded edge.

[0020] Furthermore, the slide rail is a circular metal rod, and the slide groove is an arc-shaped groove that matches the slide rail.

[0021] Furthermore, the outer edge of the chute is provided with a downwardly extending edge, which is used to scrape off water droplets on the extending edge during the opening of the detergent box.

[0022] Furthermore, the detergent box has a box body and first folded edges extending outward along the left and right sides of the box body, and the sliding groove is located at the lower part of the first folded edges.

[0023] Furthermore, the slide rail also has a mounting portion connecting the rear ends of the two slide rail portions, and a mounting groove is provided on the water box, with the mounting portion located in the mounting groove.

[0024] Furthermore, the slide rail and the mounting portion are located in the same plane.

[0025] Furthermore, the water box has an upper part and a lower part, and the upper part is provided with a rear mounting rib extending downward, which is located in the mounting groove.

[0026] Furthermore, a locking and clamping structure is provided between the upper and lower parts of the water box. The locking and clamping structure consists of a locking protrusion on one of the upper and lower parts of the water box and a buckle on the other part of the water box that matches the locking protrusion.

[0027] Furthermore, a limiting protrusion is provided on the detergent box, and a locking groove is provided on the water box that engages with the limiting protrusion and is used to lock the detergent box in a closed state.

[0028] Furthermore, a first limiting block is provided on the detergent dispenser, and a second limiting block is provided on the water dispenser that matches the first limiting block and is used to limit the detergent dispenser to open to the correct position.

[0029] Based on the above-mentioned washing machine water tank assembly, the present invention also proposes a washing machine having the above-mentioned water tank assembly, which realizes smooth and stable pulling of the detergent box, can completely solve the problem of the detergent box not pulling smoothly and accompanied by shaking, and can also greatly improve product quality.

[0030] A washing machine having the aforementioned water tank assembly.

[0031] Compared with existing technologies, the advantages and positive effects of this invention are as follows: By setting the slide rail and the slide groove, the detergent dispenser can be smoothly and stably pulled out, completely solving the problem of uneven pulling and wobbling. This also greatly improves product quality, enhances user experience, and is convenient to implement. When the detergent dispenser is pulled out, the slide groove moves on the slide rail, facilitating smooth pulling. Furthermore, the slide rail, located within the slide groove, moves relative to the detergent dispenser in the front-to-back direction, preventing lateral wobbling and increasing stability during the pulling process.

[0032] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer after reading the detailed embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0033] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0034] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of a washing machine water tank assembly proposed in this invention;

[0035] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the exploded structure;

[0036] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the slide rail structure;

[0037] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure after the water box and slide rail are installed;

[0038] Figure 5 for Figure 4 Enlarged structural diagram of region A in the middle;

[0039] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A magnified structural diagram of region C in the middle;

[0040] Figure 7 for Figure 5 A magnified structural diagram of region D in the middle;

[0041] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the detergent dispenser.

[0042] Figure 9 for Figure 8 A structural diagram from another angle;

[0043] Figure 10 for Figure 9 A magnified structural diagram of region E in the middle;

[0044] Figure 11 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the water box assembly along its centerline.

[0045] Figure 12 for Figure 11 A magnified structural diagram of region B in the middle;

[0046] Figure 13 for Figure 11 Schematic diagram of the detergent dispenser in its fully open position

[0047] Figure 14 A control panel for a washing machine equipped with a water tank assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0048] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0049] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "upper," "lower," "left," and "right," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. In the normal operating state of the water tank assembly, the direction closer to the user is "front," and vice versa. In the left-right direction, the direction closer to the center of the water tank assembly is "inner," and vice versa. These terms are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation; therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance; features defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0050] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0051] See Figures 1-13 This invention provides an embodiment of a washing machine water tank assembly. The washing machine water tank assembly 100 includes: a water tank 10, a detergent dispenser 20, and a slide rail 30. The detergent dispenser 20 is removable and located within the water tank 10, which is fixed inside the washing machine. The slide rail 30 is fixed to the water tank 10 and is used for pulling out the detergent dispenser 20. The detergent dispenser 20 has a groove 23 that matches the slide rail 30, and the slide rail 30 is located within the groove 23. The slide rail 30 has two slide rail portions 31 arranged left and right, which support the groove 23. Pulling out the detergent dispenser 20 involves the relative movement of the slide rail portions 31 and the groove 23. When the detergent dispenser 20 is pulled out, the slide rail 31 moves in the front-back direction relative to the slide groove 23, making the pull-out smooth. The detergent dispenser 20 is provided with two slide grooves 23 on the left and right sides, and the slide rail 30 is provided with two slide rail parts 31 that match the two slide grooves 23, so that when the detergent dispenser 20 is pulled out in the front-back direction, it moves along the slide rail parts 31, ensuring that the detergent dispenser 20 does not wobble in the left-right direction.

[0052] By incorporating the slide rail 31 and the slide groove 23, the slide rail 31 and the slide groove 23 move relative to each other when the detergent dispenser 20 is pulled out, achieving smooth and stable pulling of the detergent dispenser 20. This completely solves the problem of the detergent dispenser 20 not pulling out smoothly and being accompanied by shaking, and also greatly improves product quality, increases user experience, and is convenient to implement. The slide rail 31 is located within the slide groove 23 and moves relative to each other in the front-to-back direction, avoiding shaking of the detergent dispenser 20 in the left-to-right direction, which helps to increase stability during the pulling process.

[0053] In this embodiment, the slide rail 30 is a circular metal rod, which helps to ensure the smoothness of the slide rail 30 surface, has a low coefficient of friction, and helps to reduce the friction between the slide groove 23 and the slide rail 30, thus reducing the force required to push the detergent box 20 out. Preferably, the slide groove 23 is an arc-shaped groove that matches the slide rail 30. The slide groove 23 covers the outside of the slide rail 30, preventing the slide groove 23 from separating from the slide rail 30 during relative forward and backward movement. The slide groove 23 is a bottom-opening groove that extends in the forward and backward direction, and has a downwardly extending edge 231 at its outer edge.

[0054] See Figures 8-10 As shown, the slide groove 23 extends in the front-to-back direction. The slide groove 23 has a slide groove body 233 that matches the slide rail 31, and multiple slots 232 formed within the slide groove body 233. The walls of the slots 232 are spaced apart from the slide rail 31, meaning the walls of the slots 232 do not contact the slide rail 31, while the walls of the slide groove body 231 do contact the slide rail 31. By providing the slots 232, the contact area between the slide rail 31 and the slide groove 23 can be reduced, preventing the slide rail 31 from tightly clamping the slide groove 23. This results in greater friction between the slide rail 31 and the slide groove 23 when the detergent dispenser 20 is pulled out, thus increasing the smoothness of the detergent dispenser 20's movement.

[0055] Preferably, the slide body 231 and the groove 232 are alternately arranged, with multiple grooves 232 spaced apart. The slide rail 31 contacts the slide body 231, and the slide rail 31 supports the detergent box 20. The alternation of the slide body 231 and the groove 232 facilitates the even distribution of the supporting force on the detergent box 20, which helps improve the stability during the pulling process. The alternation of the slide body 231 and the groove 232 helps avoid continuous large-area contact between the slide rail 31 and the slide 23, and prevents the slide rail 31 and the slide 23 from clamping together.

[0056] In this embodiment, the detergent dispenser 20 has a body 21 and first flanges 22 extending outward from the left and right sides of the body 21, with the first flanges 22 resting on the slide rail 30. A groove 23 is formed on the first flange 22, meaning the groove 23 and the first flange 22 are integrally formed. The body 21, the first flange 22, and the groove 23 are all integrally formed by injection molding. In other embodiments, the groove 23 can be a separate component fixed to the first flange 22, meaning the groove 23 can be made of a different material than the first flange 22.

[0057] On the left and right sides of the water tank 10, there are outwardly extending second folded edges 12. At the second folded edges 12, there are upwardly extending front support portions 13 and rear support portions 14, which support the slide rail portion 31. That is, the slide rail portion 31 is mounted on the support portions 13 and rear support portions 14, and is located above the second folded edges 12, with the upper surfaces of the slide rail portion 31 and the second folded edges 12 spaced apart. By mounting the slide rail portion 31 above the second folded edges 12, the upper surfaces of the slide rail portion 31 and the second folded edges 12 do not contact each other, preventing water droplets from remaining between the slide rail portion 31 and the second folded edges 12 and causing corrosion of the slide rail portion 31. It also prevents contact between the detergent dispenser 20 and the second folded edges 12, further ensuring the smooth sliding of the detergent dispenser 20.

[0058] See Figures 4-7 As shown, for fixing the slide rail part 31, an upward-opening slot 141 is provided on the rear support part 14. The slide rail part 31 is engaged in the slot 141, so that the slot 141 not only supports the slide rail part 31, but also has the function of engaging and fixing it. A downward-bent positioning part 34 is provided at the front end of the slide rail part 31, and an upward-extending positioning frame 17 is provided on the second folded edge 12. The positioning frame 17 surrounds the outside of the positioning part 34, and the positioning part 34 is located inside the positioning frame 17; that is, the positioning frame 17 is configured to form a hole for accommodating the mounting part 34. By setting the positioning part 34 and the positioning frame 17, the front and rear of the slide rail part 31 are fixed, ensuring the stability and firmness of the slide rail part 31.

[0059] To further ensure the structural strength of the positioning frame 17, the positioning frame 17 is connected to the front support 13. The water box 10 also has an upper folded edge 18 extending upward along the outer end of the second folded edge 12. The second folded edge 12 is provided with an upwardly extending water-blocking edge 19, which connects the positioning frame 17 and the upper folded edge 18. By providing the water-blocking edge 19, water droplets that condense or drip onto the upper surface of the second folded edge 12 are prevented from flowing out along the front end of the upper surface of the second folded edge 12. At the same time, it helps to increase the structural strength of the positioning frame 17. The water-blocking edge 19 is also used to scrape off water droplets hanging at the lower end of the extension edge 231. During the opening of the detergent box 20, water droplets at the lower end of the extension edge 231 are caught by the water-blocking edge 19, preventing the detergent box 20 from dripping onto the outside of the water box 10 after it is pulled out.

[0060] The slide rail 30 has two slide rail sections 31 arranged in parallel to each other on the left and right sides and a mounting section 32 located at the rear end. The left and right ends of the mounting section 32 are respectively connected to the rear ends of the two slide rail sections 31. The two slide rail sections 31 are matched with two slide grooves 23. By setting the two slide rail sections 31 to be connected as a whole, it is beneficial to ensure the structural strength of the slide rail 30 and the stability after fixing.

[0061] The slide rail 31 and the mounting part 32 are located in the same plane, which is beneficial for the forming of the slide rail 30, which is formed by bending. A mounting groove 162 is provided on the water box 10, and the mounting part 62 is located within the mounting groove 162. When the detergent box 20 is pulled out, the slide rail 30 is subjected to downward pressure and front-to-back friction. The mounting groove 162 is positioned in the left-to-right direction. By installing the mounting part 62 into the mounting groove 162, the mounting groove 162 matches the mounting part 62, allowing the mounting groove 162 to withstand the front-to-back friction transmitted by the slide rail 30, which is beneficial for the stability and firmness of the slide rail 30 after installation.

[0062] See Figure 2 As shown, the water tank 10 has an upper water tank 15 and a lower water tank 16, which are sealed together. The upper water tank 15 has a downwardly extending rear mounting rib 151, which is located within the mounting groove 162. The mounting groove 162 serves to seal the water tank upper 15 and also to fix the mounting part 32.

[0063] To further enhance the secure fixing of the upper water tank 15 and the lower water tank 16, a locking and clamping structure is provided between them. This structure consists of a locking protrusion 155 on the upper water tank 15 and a locking buckle 165 on the lower water tank 16, with the protrusion 155 and buckle 165 matching. A rearwardly extending locking protrusion 155 is provided at the rear end of the upper water tank 15, and a locking buckle 165 is provided at the rear end of the lower water tank 16, ensuring the secure fixing of the upper water tank 15 and the lower water tank 16 at their rear ends.

[0064] In other embodiments, a buckle can be provided on the water tank 15 and a protrusion 155 can be provided on the water tank 16.

[0065] See Figures 11-13 As shown, to limit the position of the detergent dispenser 20, a limiting protrusion 29 is provided on the detergent dispenser 20, and a locking groove 156 is provided on the water tank 10 to engage with the limiting protrusion 29. The locking groove 156 is used to lock the detergent dispenser 20 in the closed state. A first limiting block 28 is provided on the detergent dispenser 20, and a second limiting block 157 is provided on the water tank 10 to match the first limiting block 28. The second limiting block 157 is used to limit the detergent dispenser 20 to open to the correct position. The limiting protrusion 29 is located behind the first limiting block 28. When the detergent dispenser 20 is in the closed state, the limiting protrusion 29 engages in the locking groove 156 to prevent the detergent dispenser 20 from vibrating and opening during the washing machine's washing process. After the detergent dispenser 20 is opened to the correct position, the second limiting block 157 blocks the front of the first limiting block 28, preventing the detergent dispenser 20 from moving further forward.

[0066] See Figure 14 This is a washing machine with the water tank assembly of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, it is a pulsator washing machine, and the water tank 10 is fixedly installed in the control panel base 200. A washing machine water tank assembly 100 includes: a water tank 10, a detergent box 20, and a slide rail 30. The detergent box 20 is removable and located inside the water tank 10, which is fixed inside the washing machine. The slide rail 30 is fixed on the water tank 10 and is used for pulling out the detergent box 20. The detergent box 20 is provided with a slide groove 23 that matches the slide rail 30, and the slide rail 30 is located in the slide groove 23. The slide rail 30 has two slide rail parts 31 arranged on the left and right, which support the slide groove 23. Pulling out the detergent box 20 is the relative movement of the slide rail parts 31 and the slide groove 23. When the detergent dispenser 20 is pulled out, the slide rail 31 moves in the front-back direction relative to the slide groove 23, making the pull-out smooth. The detergent dispenser 20 is provided with two left and right slide grooves 23, and the slide rail 30 is provided with two slide rail parts 31 that match the two slide grooves 23, so that when the detergent dispenser 20 is pulled out in the front-back direction, it moves along the slide rail parts 31, ensuring that the detergent dispenser 20 does not wobble in the left-right direction.

[0067] By incorporating the slide rail 31 and the slide groove 23, the slide rail 31 and the slide groove 23 move relative to each other when the detergent dispenser 20 is pulled out, achieving smooth and stable pulling of the detergent dispenser 20. This completely solves the problem of the detergent dispenser 20 not pulling out smoothly and being accompanied by shaking, and also greatly improves product quality, increases user experience, and is convenient to implement. The slide rail 31 is located within the slide groove 23 and moves relative to each other in the front-to-back direction, avoiding shaking of the detergent dispenser 20 in the left-to-right direction, which helps to increase stability during the pulling process.

[0068] In this embodiment, the slide rail 30 is a circular metal rod, which helps to ensure the smoothness of the slide rail 30 surface, has a low coefficient of friction, and helps to reduce the friction between the slide groove 23 and the slide rail 30, thus reducing the force required to push the detergent box 20 out. Preferably, the slide groove 23 is an arc-shaped groove that matches the slide rail 30. The slide groove 23 covers the outside of the slide rail 30, preventing the slide groove 23 from separating from the slide rail 30 during relative forward and backward movement. The slide groove 23 is a bottom-opening groove that extends in the forward and backward direction, and has a downwardly extending edge 231 at its outer edge.

[0069] The slide groove 23 extends in the front-to-back direction and has a slide groove body 231 that matches the slide rail 31. Multiple slots 232 are formed within the slide groove body 231. The walls of the slots 232 are spaced apart from the slide rail 31, meaning the walls of the slots 232 do not contact the slide rail 31, while the walls of the slide groove body 231 do contact the slide rail 31. By providing the slots 232, the contact area between the slide rail 31 and the slide groove 23 is reduced, preventing the slide rail 31 from tightly clamping together. This reduces the friction between the slide rail 31 and the slide groove 23 when the detergent dispenser 20 is pulled out, thus increasing the smoothness of the detergent dispenser 20's movement.

[0070] Preferably, the slide body 231 and the groove 232 are alternately arranged, with multiple grooves 232 spaced apart. The slide rail 31 contacts the slide body 231, and the slide rail 31 supports the detergent box 20. The alternation of the slide body 231 and the groove 232 facilitates the even distribution of the supporting force on the detergent box 20, which helps improve the stability during the pulling process. The alternation of the slide body 231 and the groove 232 helps avoid continuous large-area contact between the slide rail 31 and the slide 23, and prevents the slide rail 31 and the slide 23 from clamping together.

[0071] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit them. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions claimed by the present invention.

Claims

1. A washing machine water tank assembly, characterized in that, include: Water box; A detergent dispenser, which is retractable and located inside the water tank; A slide rail, which is fixed on the water box and used for pulling out the detergent box; The slide rail has two slide rail sections arranged on the left and right, and the detergent box is provided with a slide groove that matches the slide rail section; The water box has outwardly extending second folded edges on its left and right sides, and upwardly extending water-blocking edges on the second folded edges. The outer edge of the slide groove has a downwardly extending extension edge. During the opening of the detergent box, the water-blocking edges are used to scrape off water droplets on the extension edges.

2. The water box assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The slide groove extends in the front-to-back direction and has a slide groove body that matches the slide rail part, and a plurality of slots opened in the slide groove body. The groove walls of the slots are spaced apart from the slide rail part.

3. The water box assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second folded edge is provided with an upwardly extending front support and a rear support for supporting the slide rail.

4. The water box assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The front end of the slide rail is provided with a downwardly bent positioning part, and the second folded edge is provided with an upwardly extending positioning frame surrounding the outside of the positioning part, and the positioning part is located inside the positioning frame.

5. The water box assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The water box also has an upper folded edge extending upward along the outer end of the second folded edge, and the water-blocking edge connects the positioning frame and the upper folded edge.

6. The water tank assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The slide rail is a circular metal rod, and the slide groove is an arc-shaped groove that matches the slide rail.

7. The water tank assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The slide rail also has a mounting portion connecting the rear ends of the two slide rail portions, and the slide rail portions and the mounting portion are located in the same plane.

8. The water box assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that, The water box is provided with a mounting groove, and the mounting part is located in the mounting groove; the water box has a water box top and a water box bottom, and the water box is provided with a rear mounting rib extending downward, and the rear mounting rib is located in the mounting groove.

9. A washing machine, characterized in that, It has a water box assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

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