Shelves and cabinets

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of storage equipment, and provides a shelf and a storage cabinet, the shelf comprising a lifting storage plate assembly, at least two driving assemblies and at least two transmission assemblies, the two driving assemblies comprising a driving member and a transmission shaft, the transmission shafts of the two adjacent driving assemblies being arranged at intervals along a set direction, the driving member being arranged between the two adjacent transmission shafts and connected with the corresponding transmission shafts, and the transmission assembly being connected between the transmission shaft and the corresponding lifting storage plate assembly. According to the shelf of the embodiment of the present application, the transmission shaft is driven to rotate by the driving member, the rotating transmission shaft drives the lifting storage plate assembly to lift along the set direction through the transmission assembly, thereby realizing the automatic lifting of the shelf without manual operation, and improving the user experience; by arranging the driving member between the two adjacent transmission shafts, the space between the two adjacent transmission shafts is effectively utilized, the shelf is more compact, the space occupied by the shelf is reduced, and the utilization rate of the internal space of the refrigerator is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of storage equipment, and more particularly to a shelf and a storage cabinet. Background Technology

[0002] In related technologies, the shelves of refrigerators are fixed. When large food items are placed inside, the position of the shelves needs to be manually changed, which is inconvenient and seriously affects the user experience.

[0003] Although some refrigerators with electrically adjustable shelves have appeared on the market, these shelves are not compact enough, take up a lot of internal space, and reduce the utilization rate of the internal space. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention aims to at least solve one of the technical problems existing in related technologies. To this end, this invention proposes a shelf that can effectively reduce the space occupied by the shelf and improve the utilization rate of the internal space of the refrigerator.

[0005] The present invention also proposes a storage cabinet.

[0006] A shelf according to a first aspect embodiment of the present invention includes:

[0007] Lifting shelf assembly;

[0008] At least two drive components, including a drive member and a drive shaft, wherein the drive shafts of two adjacent drive components are spaced apart along a predetermined direction, and the drive member is disposed between two adjacent drive shafts and connected to the corresponding drive shaft;

[0009] At least two of the transmission components are connected between the transmission shaft and the corresponding lifting and lowering plate assembly;

[0010] The drive unit is adapted to drive the lifting shelf assembly to move up and down along the set direction via the drive shaft and the transmission assembly.

[0011] According to the embodiments of the present invention, the shelf is driven by a drive component to rotate the transmission shaft. The rotating transmission shaft drives the lifting shelf assembly to rise and fall in a set direction through the transmission component, thereby realizing the automatic lifting and lowering of the shelf without manual operation, which improves the user experience. By setting the drive component between two adjacent transmission shafts, the space between the two adjacent transmission shafts is effectively utilized, making the shelf more compact, reducing the space occupied by the shelf, and improving the utilization rate of the internal space of the refrigerator.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the transmission assembly includes:

[0013] The disc body has an internal cavity and an arc-shaped groove. The first port of the arc-shaped groove is connected to the cavity, and the second port of the arc-shaped groove is connected to the outside of the disc body.

[0014] The flexible cable has its first end passing through the arc-shaped groove and fixed inside the receiving cavity. The second end of the flexible cable is adapted to be wound around the mounting part of the disc body and then connected to the corresponding lifting and placing plate assembly. The two ends of the drive shaft are respectively connected to the corresponding disc body.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the disc body is provided with a first through hole along the thickness direction, the first through hole is connected to the receiving cavity, and the two ends of the drive shaft are inserted into the corresponding first through hole.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present invention, both ends of the transmission shaft are provided with limiting members and locking members, the limiting members abutting against the first side of the corresponding disc body, and the locking members abutting against the second side of the corresponding disc body.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a second through hole is provided at each end of the transmission shaft, the locking member is inserted into the corresponding second through hole, and the limiting member includes a limiting step provided on the transmission shaft.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the present invention, both ends of the drive shaft are provided with axially extending slots, a clamping component is provided in the receiving cavity, and the first end of the flexible cable is connected to the corresponding clamping component.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the disc body includes a first disc body and a second disc body that are detachably connected, the second disc body being disposed on a first side of the first disc body, the receiving cavity and the arcuate groove being formed on the side of the second disc body facing the first disc body; the mounting portion includes a groove, the groove being formed at the connection between the outer peripheral surface of the first disc body and the outer peripheral surface of the second disc body, or the groove being formed on the outer peripheral surface of the second disc body.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the drive assembly further includes a housing and a transmission component, one end of the transmission shaft is rotatably engaged with the housing, and the other end of the transmission shaft is rotatably engaged with the housing of an adjacent drive assembly; the transmission component is disposed within the housing, and the transmission component includes a driving gear and a driven gear, the driving gear is connected to the rotating shaft of the drive member, the driven gear is connected to one end of the transmission shaft, and the driving gear meshes with the driven gear.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the present invention, two adjacent drive shafts are parallel, and the rotating shaft of the drive member is parallel or perpendicular to the drive shaft.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the lifting shelf assembly includes a shelf body and a guide component. The guide component includes a linear guide rail and a slider. The slider slides in cooperation with the corresponding linear guide rail and is connected to the second end of the corresponding flexible cable. The shelf body is connected to the slider.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the guide component further includes a connecting piece, and the slider is connected to the shelf body and the second end of the corresponding flexible cable through the connecting piece.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the connecting piece is detachably connected to the second end of the corresponding flexible cable.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the connecting piece is provided with a hook, and the hook is attached to the second end of the corresponding flexible rope.

[0026] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a locker includes a cabinet body and a shelf as described in any one of the preceding claims, the shelf being disposed within the cabinet body.

[0027] The above-described one or more technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention have at least one of the following technical effects:

[0028] According to the embodiments of the present invention, the shelf is driven by a drive component to rotate the transmission shaft. The rotating transmission shaft drives the lifting shelf assembly to rise and fall in a set direction through the transmission component, thereby realizing the automatic lifting and lowering of the shelf without manual operation, which improves the user experience. By setting the drive component between two adjacent transmission shafts, the space between the two adjacent transmission shafts is effectively utilized, making the shelf more compact, reducing the space occupied by the shelf, and improving the utilization rate of the internal space of the refrigerator.

[0029] Furthermore, according to the embodiments of the present invention, the storage cabinet can achieve automatic lifting and lowering of the shelves by using the above-mentioned shelves, thereby improving the user experience and enhancing product competitiveness.

[0030] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0031] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or related technologies, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or related technologies will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0032] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the shelf and air duct provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the shelf after removing the shelf panel provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the transmission assembly provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 4 This is an exploded structural diagram of the transmission assembly provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first disk and the second disk provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 6 This is a top view of the driving component provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure along section line AA;

[0039] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection relationship between the drive component and the transmission component provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the shelf provided in this embodiment of the invention when applied to a refrigerator.

[0041] Figure label:

[0042] 100. Drive assembly; 102. Disc body; 104. Groove; 106. Receiving cavity; 108. Arc groove; 110. First through hole; 111. First disc body; 112. Second disc body; 114. First chuck; 116. Drive shaft; 118. Locking pin; 120. Limiting step; 122. Slot; 124. Mounting port; 126. Flexible cable; 128. Second chuck; 130. Drive component; 132. Housing; 134. Drive gear; 136. Driven gear; 138. Shelf body; 140. Linear guide rail; 142. Slider; 144. Connecting piece; 146. Hook; 148. Air duct; 150. Refrigerator body; 200. Lifting shelf assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0043] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0044] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present invention and 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 embodiments of the present invention. In addition, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0045] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; 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. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of the present invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0046] In embodiments of the present invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0047] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0048] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the shelf and air duct provided in the embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Figure 2An example is a schematic diagram of the structure of the shelf provided in an embodiment of the present invention after the shelf board is removed, as shown below. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the shelf includes a lifting shelf assembly 200, at least two drive assemblies 100, and at least two transmission assemblies. The lifting shelf assembly 200 moves up and down along a predetermined direction. Each drive assembly includes a drive member 130 and a drive shaft 116. The drive shafts 116 of two adjacent drive assemblies are spaced apart along the predetermined direction. The drive member 130 is positioned between two adjacent drive shafts 116 and connected to the corresponding drive shaft 116. The transmission assemblies connect the drive shafts 116 to the corresponding lifting shelf assemblies 200. The drive member 130 is adapted to drive the lifting shelf assembly 200 up and down along the predetermined direction via the drive shafts 116 and the transmission assemblies.

[0049] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the shelf is driven by the drive member 130 to rotate the transmission shaft 116. The rotating transmission shaft 116 drives the lifting shelf assembly 200 to rise and fall in a set direction through the transmission component, thereby realizing the automatic lifting and lowering of the shelf without manual operation, which improves the user experience. By setting the drive member 130 between two adjacent transmission shafts 116, the space between the two adjacent transmission shafts 116 is effectively utilized, making the shelf more compact, reducing the space occupied by the shelf, and improving the utilization rate of the internal space of the refrigerator.

[0050] In an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the transmission assembly provided in an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Figure 5 The following are schematic diagrams illustrating the structure of the first and second disk bodies provided in embodiments of the present invention, such as... Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, the transmission assembly includes a disc body 102 and a flexible cable 126. The disc body 102 has an internal cavity 106 and an arc-shaped groove 108. The first port of the arc-shaped groove 108 communicates with the cavity 106, and the second port communicates with the outside of the disc body 102. The first end of the flexible cable 126 passes through the arc-shaped groove 108 and is fixed within the cavity 106. The second end of the flexible cable 126 is adapted to be wound around the mounting portion of the disc body 102 and then connected to the lifting platform assembly 200.

[0051] The drive component 100 drives the disc body 102 to rotate, which in turn drives the lifting shelf assembly 200 to move up and down, thereby realizing the automatic lifting and lowering of the shelf without manual operation, improving the user experience. By setting an arc groove 108 inside the disc body 102, the bending and rotation of the flexible cable 126 can be smoothly transitioned, avoiding the phenomenon of wear and breakage of the flexible cable 126 due to stress concentration during the bending and rotation process along the disc body 102. This improves the bending and rotation load capacity of the flexible cable 126, extends the bending and rotation life of the flexible cable 126, and thus extends the service life of the shelf, improving the reliability of the connection between the flexible cable 126 and the disc body 102.

[0052] In this embodiment of the invention, the shelf includes two lifting shelf assemblies 200, two drive assemblies 100, and four transmission assemblies. Each drive assembly 100 corresponds one-to-one with a lifting shelf assembly 200, and each drive assembly 100 drives one lifting shelf assembly 200 to move up or down via two transmission assemblies. During the control of the two lifting shelf assemblies 200, one assembly can be controlled to move up or down independently, or both can be controlled to move up or down simultaneously.

[0053] It should be noted that the number of lifting shelf assembly 200 and drive assembly 100 is not limited to two; three or more can also be set. The number of transmission assemblies is twice the number of drive assemblies 100.

[0054] In this embodiment of the invention, the shelf includes two drive assemblies 100. The drive shafts 116 of the two drive assemblies 100 are horizontally spaced apart, and both ends of the drive shafts 116 are detachably connected to corresponding discs 102. The drive shafts 116 connect the two discs 102. By connecting the two discs 102 through the drive shafts 116, only one drive assembly 100 is needed to drive the two discs 102 to rotate synchronously, reducing the number of components in the drive assembly 100, simplifying its structure, and lowering production costs. The detachable connection between the drive shafts 116 and the discs 102 facilitates the installation and disassembly of the drive assembly 100 and the maintenance of damaged parts.

[0055] In this embodiment of the invention, the flexible cable 126 is a steel wire rope, which has a large load capacity, ensuring that the shelf can support heavier items. Of course, the flexible cable 126 can also be a rope, steel wire, or chain, etc. The mounting part includes a groove 104 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the disc body 102. The sidewall of the groove 104 is used to limit the flexible cable 126, ensuring that the flexible cable 126 automatically winds into the groove 104 when the disc body 102 rotates in the forward direction.

[0056] In embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 5 As shown, the disc body 102 has a first through hole 110 along its thickness direction. The first through hole 110 is connected to the receiving cavity 106, and both ends of the drive shaft 116 are inserted into the corresponding first through holes 110. The disc body 102 is a circular disc body 102, and the center of the first through hole 110 coincides with the center of the disc body 102.

[0057] In this embodiment of the invention, both ends of the drive shaft 116 are provided with limiting members and locking members. The limiting members abut against the first side of the corresponding disc 102, and the locking members abut against the second side of the corresponding disc 102. Since the disc 102 is located between the limiting members and the locking members, the limiting members and the locking members cooperate to connect the disc 102 to both ends of the drive shaft 116, preventing the disc 102 from moving axially along the drive shaft 116. Using the locking members to lock the disc 102 simplifies the installation and disassembly steps of the disc 102.

[0058] In this embodiment of the invention, each end of the drive shaft 116 is provided with a second through hole, and a locking member is inserted into the corresponding second through hole. The limiting member includes a limiting step 120 provided on the drive shaft 116. Both ends of the drive shaft 116 are provided with two limiting steps 120, which are symmetrically arranged. Since no other limiting member is required after setting the limiting steps 120, the number of shelf components is reduced, and the shelf structure is simplified.

[0059] It should be noted that by milling at least one plane on the outer peripheral surface at both ends of the drive shaft 116, limiting steps 120 are formed on the outer peripheral surface at both ends of the drive shaft 116.

[0060] In one embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 3 As shown, the locking component includes a locking pin 118. After the locking pin 118 is inserted into the second through hole, its clamping part clamps one end of the corresponding drive shaft 116, thus locking both the disc body 102 and the locking pin 118 itself, preventing the locking pin 118 from falling off during the rotation of the disc body 102. Furthermore, the locking pin 118 facilitates the installation and removal of the disc body 102.

[0061] In one embodiment of the present invention, the locking member includes a pin. After the pin is inserted into the second through hole, the open end of the pin needs to be bent to prevent the pin from falling off during the rotation of the disc 102.

[0062] In one embodiment of the present invention, a keyway is provided on the edge of the first through hole 110, and the locking member includes a key pin, which is embedded in the keyway, thereby connecting the disc body 102 with the drive shaft 116.

[0063] In one embodiment of the present invention, both ends of the drive shaft 116 are provided with threads, and the locking element includes nuts, with two nuts respectively connected to both ends of the drive shaft 116. Of course, the specific type of locking element can be various, and is not limited to a locking pin 118, a pin, or a nut.

[0064] In one embodiment of the present invention, the limiting member includes a snap ring, and the two ends of the drive shaft 116 are provided with annular grooves. The annular grooves are located on the first side of the disc body 102, and the snap ring is inserted into the annular grooves to limit the disc body 102.

[0065] In one embodiment of the present invention, the limiting member includes a limiting ring. Limiting rings are respectively provided at both ends of the transmission shaft 116. The limiting rings are integrally formed with the transmission shaft 116. The limiting rings are located on the first side of the disc body 102 and can limit the disc body 102.

[0066] It should be noted that the specific type of limiting component is not limited to snap rings, limiting rings, and limiting steps 120; it can also be other types of limiting components.

[0067] In this embodiment of the invention, the first through hole 110 is a rotation stop hole, and the cross-sectional shapes of both ends of the drive shaft 116 are adapted to the shape of the first through hole 110. By setting the first through hole 110 as a rotation stop hole, the drive shaft 116 can be inserted into the first through hole 110 to prevent relative rotation between the disc body 102 and the drive shaft 116.

[0068] It should be noted that the anti-rotation hole can be an oblong hole, a rectangular hole, a regular polygonal hole, a triangular hole, or other types of non-circular holes.

[0069] In this embodiment of the invention, both ends of the drive shaft 116 are provided with axially extending slots 122, and a clamping component is provided in the receiving cavity 106. The first end of the flexible cable 126 passes through the corresponding slot 122 and connects to the corresponding clamping component. The slots 122 allow the first end of the flexible cable 126 to pass through while limiting the clamping component, thereby connecting the first end of the flexible cable 126 to the receiving cavity 106. Moreover, by using the slots 122 to limit the clamping component, there is no need to set up a separate component to fix the clamping component, reducing the number of components and simplifying the structure of the transmission assembly.

[0070] In an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 An exploded structural diagram of the transmission assembly provided in an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, such as... Figure 4 As shown, the clamping component includes a first clamp 114, the width of which is greater than the width of the slot 122. Because the width of the first clamp 114 is greater than the opening width of the slot 122, the first clamp 114 cannot pass through the slot 122, thus securing the first end of the flexible cable 126. Using the first clamp 114 to connect the disc body 102 and the flexible cable 126 ensures a safe and reliable connection between them.

[0071] It should be noted that the method of fixing the first end of the flexible cable 126 is not limited to this. A limiting groove can also be provided in the receiving cavity 106, and the width of the limiting groove is smaller than the width of the first clamp 114. During installation, inserting the first end of the flexible cable 126 into the limiting groove can also achieve the purpose of fixing it.

[0072] In embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 4 As shown, the disc body 102 includes a first disc body 111 and a second disc body 112. Both the first disc body 111 and the second disc body 112 are circular discs, and the diameter of the first disc body 111 is equal to the diameter of the second disc body 112. The second disc body 112 is disposed on the first side of the first disc body 111, and a receiving cavity 106 and an arc-shaped groove 108 are formed on the side of the second disc body 112 facing the first disc body 111. The mounting part includes a groove 104, which is formed at the connection between the outer peripheral surface of the first disc body 111 and the outer peripheral surface of the second disc body 112. At this time, the outer peripheral surface of the first disc body 111 is a first inclined surface that slopes towards the second disc body 112, and the outer peripheral surface of the second disc body 112 is a second inclined surface that slopes towards the first disc body 111. The first inclined surface and the second inclined surface cooperate to form the groove 104. Of course, the groove 104 may also be formed only on the outer peripheral surface of the second disc body 112.

[0073] In this embodiment of the invention, the first disc 111 is provided with a mounting port 124, which is connected to the receiving cavity 106. The size of the mounting port 124 is adapted to the size of the first chuck 114 to ensure that the transmission components can be easily installed through the mounting port 124.

[0074] In one embodiment of the present invention, the first disc 111 and the second disc 112 are connected by screws to facilitate the installation and disassembly of the first disc 111 and the second disc 112. Of course, the connection method between the first disc 111 and the second disc 112 is not limited to this. Alternatively, a latch can be provided in one of the first disc 111 and the second disc 112, and a locking hole can be provided in the other. By inserting the latch into the locking hole, a detachable connection between the first disc 111 and the second disc 112 can be achieved.

[0075] In an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 6 This is a top view of the driving component provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure along section line AA. Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the connection relationship between the drive component and the transmission component provided in an embodiment of the present invention, as shown below. Figure 6 , Figure 7 and Figure 8As shown, the shelf includes two drive assemblies 100, namely a first drive assembly and a second drive assembly. Here, we refer to the drive shaft 116 of the first drive assembly as the first drive shaft and the drive shaft 116 of the second drive assembly as the second drive shaft. The first drive shaft and the second drive shaft are parallel and spaced apart, with the first drive shaft located above the second drive shaft. A certain space is formed between the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft for mounting the drive component 130. The length of the first drive shaft is shorter than the length of the second drive shaft, so that the discs 102 at both ends of the first drive shaft are misaligned with the discs 102 at both ends of the second drive shaft, avoiding mutual interference between the flexible cables 126 of the first drive assembly and the flexible cables 126 of the second drive assembly during movement.

[0076] The drive assembly 100 includes a drive element 130, a drive shaft 116, a housing 132, and a transmission component disposed within the housing 132. The rotating shaft of the drive element 130 is connected to one end of the corresponding drive shaft 116 via the transmission component. One end of the drive shaft 116 is rotatably engaged with the housing 132, and the other end of the drive shaft 116 is rotatably engaged with the housing 132 of another drive assembly 100. To improve the stability of the drive shaft 116 during rotation, a bearing is provided inside the housing 132, and the bearing is sleeved on the outer circumferential surface of the drive shaft 116. The drive shaft 116 is rotatably engaged with the housing 132 via the bearing. By connecting the two drive shafts 116 through the housing 132, the two drive assemblies 100 are integrated into a single design, which simplifies the structure of the drive assembly 100, facilitates installation and disassembly, improves the compactness of the shelves, reduces the space occupied by the shelves, and effectively utilizes the limited space around the refrigerator's internal air duct 148. The transmission components are used to reduce the rotational speed of the drive shaft 116, increase the torque of the drive shaft 116, and thus increase the load on the drive assembly 100.

[0077] In this embodiment of the invention, the drive member 130 is disposed between the drive shafts 116 of the two drive components 100, and the axis of the rotating shaft of the drive member 130 is parallel to the axis of the drive shaft 116. The outer shell of the drive member 130 is connected to the housing 132. Fixing the drive member 130 between the drive shafts 116 of the two drive components 100 can further improve the compactness of the shelf, reduce the space occupied by the shelf, and effectively utilize the limited space around the air duct 148 inside the refrigerator.

[0078] It should be noted that the drive component 130 can be a motor or a motor with a speed reducer. The axis of the drive component 130's rotating shaft can also be perpendicular to the axis of the transmission shaft 116, and the drive component 130 and the transmission shaft 116 are connected by a pair of bevel gears.

[0079] In this embodiment of the invention, the transmission component includes a driving gear 134 and a driven gear 136. The driving gear 134 is connected to the rotating shaft of the driving member 130, and the driven gear 136 is connected to one end of the transmission shaft 116. The driving gear 134 and the driven gear 136 mesh. By using a gear assembly for transmission, the transmission stability and reliability between the driving member 130 and the transmission shaft 116 are improved, as are the transmission efficiency and the load-bearing capacity of the transmission component.

[0080] It should be noted that the number of gears in the transmission component is not limited to two. Multiple gears can be set between the driving gear 134 and the driven gear 136 for transmission. The specific number is determined according to the speed difference between the driving component 130 and the transmission shaft 116.

[0081] In one embodiment of the present invention, the transmission component includes a driving pulley, a driven pulley, and a belt. The driving pulley is connected to the rotating shaft of the driving component 130, and the driven pulley is connected to one end of the transmission shaft 116. The driving pulley is connected to the driven pulley via the belt, and the outer diameter of the driving pulley is smaller than the outer diameter of the driven pulley.

[0082] In one embodiment of the present invention, the lifting shelf assembly 200 includes a shelf body 138 and a guide component. The guide component includes two linear guide rails 140 and two sliders 142. The two linear guide rails 140 are arranged parallel and spaced apart. When the shelf is used inside a refrigerator, the two linear guide rails 140 are respectively arranged on both sides of the air duct 148, and the two linear guide rails 140 are symmetrical about left and right. The two sliders 142 are slidably engaged with the corresponding linear guide rails 140. The sliders 142 are connected to the second end of the corresponding flexible cables 126. The two ends of the shelf body 138 are connected to the two sliders 142 one-to-one by bolts. The shelf body 138 is guided by the cooperation of the two linear guide rails 140 and the two sliders 142, so that the shelf body 138 can only move in a predetermined direction. The two flexible cables 126 drive the two sliders to move together, so as to ensure that the shelf can be raised and lowered smoothly and reliably even under off-center load, effectively improving the anti-off-center capability of the shelf body 138 and improving the stability of the shelf body 138 during movement.

[0083] It should be noted that in this embodiment, only one shelf body 138 is provided between the two sliders 142, that is, one lifting shelf assembly 200 includes one shelf body 138. Of course, a group of lifting shelf assemblies 200 may also include two or more shelf bodies 138. In this case, the distance between the shelf bodies 138 of the same group of lifting shelf assemblies 200 is fixed. When one shelf body 138 moves, the other shelf bodies 138 in the same group also move together. The number of linear guide rails 140 is not limited to two; only one may be provided.

[0084] In this embodiment of the invention, the guide component further includes a connecting piece 144, which is connected to the slider 142 by bolts. Both ends of the shelf body 138 are respectively connected to the two connecting pieces 144 one-to-one by bolts. The connecting piece 144 is connected to the second end of the corresponding flexible cable 126. Using the flexible cable 126 to connect the shelf body 138 and the slider 142 facilitates the installation and disassembly of the shelf body 138.

[0085] In this embodiment of the invention, the connecting piece 144 is detachably connected to the second end of the corresponding flexible cable 126. Detachably connecting the connecting piece 144 to the second end of the flexible cable 126 facilitates the installation and disassembly of the shelf and makes it convenient to replace the damaged flexible cable 126.

[0086] In this embodiment of the invention, the connecting piece 144 is provided with a hook 146, and the second end of the flexible cable 126 is provided with a hanging ring. The hanging ring is fixed by a second clamp 128, and the hook 146 is hooked to the hanging ring, thereby realizing the hook 146 being hooked to the second end of the corresponding flexible cable 126. Compared with other connection methods, the hook connection method makes the installation and disassembly of the shelf simpler and enhances the user experience.

[0087] In embodiments of the present invention, such as Figures 1 to 8 As shown, the shelf includes two lifting shelf assemblies 200, two drive assemblies 100, and four transmission assemblies. Each drive assembly 100 includes a drive member 130, a drive shaft 116, a housing 132, and a transmission component disposed within the housing 132. The rotating shaft of the drive member 130 is connected to one end of the corresponding drive shaft 116 through the transmission component. One end of the drive shaft 116 is rotatably engaged with the housing 132 through a bearing, and the other end of the drive shaft 116 is rotatably engaged with the housing 132 of another drive assembly 100 through a bearing.

[0088] The two drive components 100 are a first drive component and a second drive component, respectively. The first drive shaft of the first drive component and the second drive shaft of the second drive component are parallel and spaced apart. The first drive shaft is located above the second drive shaft, and an installation space is formed between the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft. The length of the first drive shaft is less than the length of the second drive shaft, so that the discs 102 at both ends of the first drive shaft are misaligned with the discs 102 at both ends of the second drive shaft, thus avoiding mutual interference between the flexible cables 126 corresponding to the first drive component and the flexible cables 126 corresponding to the second drive component.

[0089] The drive component 130 is disposed between the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft. The outer casing of the drive component 130 is connected to the housing 132, and the axis of the drive shaft is parallel to the axis of the drive shaft 116. The transmission components include a drive gear 134 and a driven gear 136. The drive gear 134 is connected to the drive shaft of the drive component 130, and the driven gear 136 is connected to one end of the drive shaft 116. The drive gear 134 and the driven gear 136 mesh.

[0090] Each drive assembly 100 corresponds to two transmission assemblies, which are spaced apart and arranged on both sides of the air duct 148. The transmission assembly includes a disc body 102 and a flexible cable 126. The disc body 102 includes a first disc body 111 and a second disc body 112. Both the first disc body 111 and the second disc body 112 are circular discs, and the diameter of the first disc body 111 is equal to the diameter of the second disc body 112. The second disc body 112 is disposed on the first side of the first disc body 111, and the first disc body 111 and the second disc body 112 are connected by screws. The mounting part includes a groove 104 for accommodating the flexible cable 126. The groove 104 is formed at the connection between the outer peripheral surface of the first disc 111 and the outer peripheral surface of the second disc 112. At this time, the outer peripheral surface of the first disc 111 is a first inclined surface that is inclined towards the second disc 112, and the outer peripheral surface of the second disc 112 is a second inclined surface that is inclined towards the first disc 111. The first inclined surface and the second inclined surface cooperate to form the groove 104.

[0091] A receiving cavity 106 and an arc-shaped groove 108 are formed on the side of the second disc 112 facing the first disc 111. The first port of the arc-shaped groove 108 communicates with the receiving cavity 106, and the second port of the arc-shaped groove 108 communicates with the arc-shaped groove 108. The first end of the flexible cable 126 passes through the arc-shaped groove 108 and connects to the first clamp 114 inside the receiving cavity 106. The second end of the flexible cable 126 is adapted to be wound around the mounting part of the disc 102 and then connected to the lifting shelf assembly 200. The disc 102 is provided with a first through hole 110 along its thickness direction. The first through hole 110 passes through the first disc 111 and the second disc 112 and communicates with the receiving cavity 106. Both ends of the drive shaft 116 are inserted into the corresponding first through holes 110. The first through hole 110 is a rotation hole, and the cross-sectional shape of both ends of the drive shaft 116 is adapted to the shape of the first through hole 110. The first plate 111 is provided with an installation port 124, which is connected to the receiving cavity 106. The size of the installation port 124 is adapted to the size of the first chuck 114 to ensure that the first chuck 114 can pass through the installation port 124.

[0092] Both ends of the drive shaft 116 are provided with limiting members and locking members. The limiting members abut against the first side of the corresponding disc 102, and the locking members abut against the second side of the corresponding disc 102. Each end of the drive shaft 116 has a second through hole. The locking member includes a locking pin 118. After the locking pin 118 is inserted into the second through hole, its clamping part clamps one end of the corresponding drive shaft 116. The limiting members include limiting steps 120 provided on the drive shaft 116. Two limiting steps 120 are provided at either end of the drive shaft 116, and the two limiting steps 120 are arranged symmetrically.

[0093] Both ends of the drive shaft 116 are provided with axially extending slots 122. A first clamp 114 is provided in the receiving cavity 106. The first end of the flexible cable 126 passes through the corresponding slot 122 and connects to the corresponding first clamp 114. The width of the first clamp 114 is greater than the opening width of the slot 122. The slot 122 not only allows the first end of the flexible cable 126 to pass through, but also limits the first clamp 114, thereby connecting the first end of the flexible cable 126 to the receiving cavity 106. Moreover, by using the slot 122 to limit the clamping component, there is no need to set up a separate component to fix the clamping component, reducing the number of components and simplifying the structure of the transmission assembly.

[0094] The lifting shelf assembly 200 includes a shelf body 138 and a guide component. The guide component includes two linear guide rails 140, two sliders 142, and two connecting pieces 144. The two linear guide rails 140 are arranged parallel and spaced apart. When the shelf is used in a refrigerator, the two linear guide rails 140 are vertically installed inside the refrigerator, and are respectively arranged on both sides of the air duct 148. The two sliders 142 are slidably engaged with their corresponding linear guide rails 140. The two connecting pieces 144 are connected to their corresponding sliders 142 by bolts. Both ends of the shelf body 138 are respectively connected to the two connecting pieces 144 by bolts. The connecting piece 144 is provided with a hook 146, and the second end of the flexible cable 126 is provided with a hanging ring. The hanging ring is fixed by a second clamp 128, and the hook 146 is engaged with the hanging ring, thereby enabling the hook 146 to engage with the second end of the corresponding flexible cable 126.

[0095] When the drive unit 130 drives the drive gear 134 to rotate, the drive gear 134 drives the driven gear 136 to rotate, the driven gear 136 drives the transmission shaft 116 to rotate, and the transmission shaft 116 drives the two discs 102 to rotate synchronously. The two rotating discs 102 drive the shelf body 138 to move up and down along the linear guide rail 140 through two flexible cables 126, thereby changing the height of the shelf body 138 to meet the needs of placing food of different heights. Since no manual adjustment is required, the user experience is improved and the product competitiveness is enhanced.

[0096] A second aspect of the present invention provides a storage cabinet, including a cabinet body and a shelf as described in any of the above embodiments, the shelf being disposed within the cabinet body.

[0097] In an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 9 A schematic diagram illustrating the structure of the shelf provided in an embodiment of the present invention when applied to a refrigerator is shown, such as... Figure 9 As shown, the storage cabinet is a refrigerator, with shelves set on the refrigerator body 150 inside the cabinet. Two linear guide rails 140 of the same lifting shelf assembly are respectively arranged on both sides of the air duct 148 to make full use of the limited space around the air duct 148 inside the refrigerator. Of course, the specific type of storage cabinet is not limited to this, and the storage cabinet can also be a freezer or other storage cabinets.

[0098] According to the embodiments of the present invention, the storage cabinet can automatically lift and lower the shelf body 138 by using the above-mentioned shelf, thereby improving the user experience and enhancing product competitiveness.

[0099] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0100] The above embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to the embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that various combinations, modifications, or equivalent substitutions of the technical solutions of the invention do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention and should be covered within the scope of the claims of the invention.

Claims

1. A shelf, characterized in that, include: Lifting shelf assembly; At least two drive components, including a drive member and a transmission shaft, wherein the transmission shafts of two adjacent drive components are spaced apart along a predetermined direction, the drive member is disposed between two adjacent transmission shafts and connected to the corresponding transmission shaft, and the rotation shaft of the drive member is parallel to the transmission shaft; At least two transmission components are connected between the transmission shaft and the corresponding lifting and lowering plate assembly; The drive component is adapted to drive the lifting shelf assembly to move up and down along the set direction via the drive shaft and the transmission assembly; The shelf includes a first drive assembly and a second drive assembly. The drive shaft of the first drive assembly is a first drive shaft, and the drive shaft of the second drive assembly is a second drive shaft. The first drive shaft and the second drive shaft are parallel and spaced apart. The first drive shaft is located above the second drive shaft. The length of the first drive shaft is less than the length of the second drive shaft, so that the discs at both ends of the first drive shaft are misaligned with the discs at both ends of the second drive shaft. The transmission assembly includes a disc and a flexible cable. The disc has an internal cavity and an arc-shaped groove. The first port of the arc-shaped groove communicates with the cavity, and the second port communicates with the outside of the disc. The first end of the flexible cable passes through the arc-shaped groove and is fixed in the cavity. Both ends of the transmission shaft are provided with axially extending slots. A clamping component is provided in the cavity. The first end of the flexible cable is connected to the corresponding clamping component. The slots allow the first end of the flexible cable to pass through and also limit the clamping component. The disc body includes a first disc body and a second disc body that are detachably connected. The second disc body is disposed on a first side of the first disc body. The receiving cavity and the arc-shaped groove are formed on the side of the second disc body facing the first disc body. The first disc body is provided with an installation port, which is connected to the receiving cavity. The disc body has a first through hole along its thickness direction, and the first through hole communicates with the receiving cavity. Both ends of the drive shaft are inserted into the corresponding first through holes.

2. The shelf according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second end of the flexible cable is adapted to be wound around the mounting part of the disc body and connected to the corresponding lifting and placing plate assembly, and the two ends of the drive shaft are respectively connected to the corresponding disc body.

3. The shelf according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Both ends of the drive shaft are provided with limiting members and locking members. The limiting members abut against the first side of the corresponding disc body, and the locking members abut against the second side of the corresponding disc body.

4. The shelf according to claim 3, characterized in that, The drive shaft has a second through hole at each end, the locking member is inserted into the corresponding second through hole, and the limiting member includes a limiting step provided on the drive shaft.

5. The shelf according to claim 2, characterized in that, The mounting portion includes a groove, which is formed at the connection between the outer peripheral surface of the first disc and the outer peripheral surface of the second disc, or the groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the second disc.

6. The shelf according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The drive assembly further includes a housing and a transmission component. One end of the transmission shaft is rotatably engaged with the housing, and the other end of the transmission shaft is rotatably engaged with the housing of the adjacent drive assembly. The transmission component is disposed inside the housing and includes a drive gear and a driven gear. The drive gear is connected to the rotating shaft of the drive component, and the driven gear is connected to one end of the transmission shaft. The drive gear meshes with the driven gear.

7. The shelf according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The lifting shelf assembly includes a shelf body and a guide component. The guide component includes a linear guide rail and a slider. The slider slides in cooperation with the corresponding linear guide rail and is connected to the second end of the corresponding flexible cable. The shelf body is connected to the slider.

8. The shelf according to claim 7, characterized in that, The guide component also includes a connecting piece, through which the slider is connected to the shelf body and the second end of the corresponding flexible cable, respectively.

9. The shelf according to claim 8, characterized in that, The connecting piece is detachably connected to the second end of the corresponding flexible cable.

10. The shelf according to claim 9, characterized in that, The connecting piece is provided with a hook, and the hook is attached to the second end of the corresponding flexible rope.

11. A storage cabinet, comprising a cabinet body, characterized in that, It also includes a shelf as described in any one of claims 1 to 10, the shelf being disposed within the cabinet.

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