Detergent box assembly and washing machine

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides a detergent box assembly which comprises an inner box, an outer box, an inner box cover and an outer box cover. The outer box is provided with an accommodating cavity for accommodating the inner box; a driving mechanism; the outer connecting terminal is detachably connected to the inner box so as to be electrically connected with the inner box, and during the opening stroke of the inner box, the inner box can be driven by the driving mechanism so as to move outwards from the containing cavity in the opening direction; the driving mechanism can independently drive the outer connecting terminal to move in the opening direction relative to the inner box so that the outer connecting terminal can be kept connected with the inner box, and when the inner box moves beyond the limit position of the opening stroke in the opening direction, the outer connecting terminal is limited in the opening direction and is separated from the inner box. The invention further provides a corresponding washing machine. According to some embodiments of the invention, the structure of the detergent box assembly can be optimized, so that the detergent box assembly is stable in structure, convenient to operate and / or easy to automatically open.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of household appliances, in particular to a detergent box assembly and a washing machine. Background Art

[0002] In household appliances, such as washing machines, a detergent box assembly may be provided, the detergent box assembly comprising an inner box for holding detergent and an outer box for accommodating the inner box. The inner box can be opened by a user manually pulling it to add detergent.

[0003] In order to facilitate user operation, the inner box can also be set to open automatically. The detergent box assembly also includes a connecting terminal to provide electrical connection for the components in the inner box. The connecting terminal is usually fixed to the outer box and connected to the inner box. When the inner box is opened, the inner box is disconnected from the connecting terminal. Therefore, when opening the inner box, it is necessary to overcome a large resistance in order to disconnect the inner box from the connecting terminal. This makes it difficult for the inner box to open automatically. In addition, when the user closes the inner box, it is necessary to ensure that the inner box is reconnected to the connecting terminal, otherwise the washing machine may not operate normally. In addition, it is difficult to maintain a conductive connection between the connecting terminal and the inner box during the opening and closing process of the inner box.

[0004] Currently, the detergent box assembly has the disadvantages of being inconvenient to operate, difficult to open automatically, and having an unstable structure. Summary of the invention

[0005] An object of embodiments of the present invention is to provide an improved detergent box assembly and a washing machine so as to overcome at least one of the above-mentioned deficiencies of the prior art.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, an embodiment of the present invention provides a detergent box assembly, wherein the detergent box assembly includes: an inner box for containing detergent; an outer box, which is provided with a receiving chamber for receiving the inner box; a driving mechanism; and an external connection terminal, which is detachably connected to the inner box so as to form an electrical connection with the inner box. During the opening stroke of the inner box, the inner box can be driven by the driving mechanism so as to move outward from the receiving chamber in an opening direction, and the driving mechanism can independently drive the external connection terminal to move in the opening direction relative to the inner box so that the external connection terminal remains connected to the inner box. When the inner box moves in the opening direction beyond the limit position of its opening stroke, the external connection terminal is restricted in the opening direction and disconnected from the inner box.

[0007] During the opening stroke of the inner box, the external connection terminal can be driven by the drive mechanism to move in the opening direction so as to move synchronously with the inner box without having to disengage from the inner box. This makes it unnecessary for the driving force used to drive the inner box to overcome the connection force between the external connection terminal and the inner box during the opening of the inner box. This is particularly helpful to achieve the automatic opening of the inner box. It is particularly advantageous that during the opening stroke of the inner box, the external connection terminal is not driven by the inner box to move outward, but is driven by the drive mechanism independently of the inner box. Compared with the case where the external connection terminal is driven by the inner box and moves outward therewith, the connection between the external connection terminal and the inner box will be more stable. This is particularly advantageous for the external connection terminal used to form an electrical connection with the inner box. Thus, when the inner box is opened, it is still possible to ensure a stable and reliable electrical connection between the inner box and the external connection terminal.

[0008] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the driving mechanism can be connected to the inner box only through the external connection terminal, so as to indirectly drive the inner box to move in the opening direction through the external connection terminal. The driving element does not need to be directly connected to the inner box. Thus, the structure of the detergent box assembly can be simplified and convenient to use.

[0009] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the external connection terminal can be connected to the inner box via a plug connection, and the plugging direction of the plug connection can be parallel to the opening direction. Thus, it is convenient to completely withdraw the inner box from the accommodating cavity and to reinstall the completely withdrawn inner box into the accommodating cavity without additional operations.

[0010] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the drive mechanism may include a drive element movably arranged relative to the outer box, and the drive element is connected to the external connection terminal in a manner that it cannot move relative to the direction parallel to the opening direction. This helps to simplify the structure of the detergent box assembly and facilitate use.

[0011] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the outer box is provided with a limiting structure. The limiting structure can be configured to limit the limit position of the driving element moving relative to the outer box in the opening direction, thereby indirectly limiting the limit position of the external connection terminal moving relative to the outer box in the opening direction. Optionally, the limiting structure can be configured to limit the limit position of the external connection terminal moving relative to the outer box in the opening direction, thereby indirectly limiting the limit position of the driving element moving relative to the outer box in the opening direction. Thus, the detergent box can be made easy to use with a simple structure.

[0012] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the detergent box assembly may further include a connector connected to the drive element and the external connection terminal in a manner that the connector cannot move relative to the drive element and the external connection terminal in a direction parallel to the opening direction. Thus, there is no need to complicate the structure of the drive element and the external connection terminal.

[0013] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the connector may include a limit housing configured to limit the external connection terminal in a direction parallel to the opening direction. The limit housing may, for example, surround the external connection terminal in a circumferential direction relative to the opening direction. Thereby, a stable and reliable connection between the connector and the external connection terminal may be ensured, particularly when the connection between the external connection terminal and the inner box is formed or disconnected.

[0014] Optionally, the connector may include a sheath for accommodating at least a portion of a cable connected to the external connection terminal, the sheath extending in the opening direction. The sheath may, for example, surround the cable circumferentially relative to the opening direction. Thus, the cable may be protected and the inner box may be prevented from getting stuck due to the cable during movement.

[0015] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, in a cross section perpendicular to the opening direction, the cross-sectional area of ​​the sheath may be smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the limiting housing. The sheath with a smaller cross section can effectively reduce the deformation of the accommodated cable.

[0016] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the limiting housing may include a first part and a second part. In a cross section perpendicular to the opening direction, the first part and the second part may have a U-shaped cross section. The first part and the second part may be nested with each other so that the openings of the first part and the second part are opposite to each other and the two side walls of the second part clamp the two side walls of the first part. The external connection terminal may be located between the first part and the second part. The external connection terminal may, for example, be configured to be able to be installed to the first part along an installation direction perpendicular to the opening direction so as to be limited by the first part in a direction perpendicular to the installation direction. The second part may, for example, be configured to be able to be installed to the first part along an installation direction perpendicular to the opening direction. The first part may be configured as an integral component with the sheath in particular. Through this connector, a stable and reliable connection between the connector and the external connection terminal can be achieved in a simple manner.

[0017] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the sheath may include a first wall and a second wall opposite to each other extending in the opening direction, and the cable is held between the first wall and the second wall. The sheath may also include at least one elastic arm extending from one of the first wall and the second wall to the other in a cantilevered manner. The elastic arm may, for example, be configured to be elastically deformable in a direction perpendicular to the opening direction. In the non-deformed state of the elastic arm, the spacing between the elastic arm and the other of the first wall and the second wall may be less than the diameter of the cable. Thereby, the cable can be installed in the sheath in a simple manner, wherein no additional components or tools are required.

[0018] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the driving element can be configured as a rack, and the rack can be arranged on the outer side of the outer box facing away from the accommodating cavity. Thus, the detergent box assembly can be made more stable and reliable, and the volume of the outer box can be reduced.

[0019] For example, the outer box may be provided with a guide groove extending in the opening direction at its outer side facing away from the accommodating cavity, and the rack may be slidably arranged in the guide groove. The guide groove may be provided with a through hole, through which the rack may be connected to the external connection terminal located in the accommodating cavity. This helps to ensure that the inner box is stably and reliably opened and closed.

[0020] Optionally, the drive mechanism may further include a damping gear for meshing with the rack, and the damping gear may be arranged at the outer side of the outer box facing away from the accommodating chamber. Thus, the movement of the rack and thus the inner box may be made more stable.

[0021] The driving mechanism may further include, for example, an elastic member for providing a driving force for causing the inner box to move outward in the opening direction during the opening stroke of the inner box. The elastic member may be arranged at the outer side of the outer box facing away from the accommodating cavity. One end of the elastic member may be fixed to the rack, and the other end of the elastic member may be fixed to the outer box. With the aid of the elastic member, the inner box can be automatically opened with a simple structure.

[0022] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the detergent box assembly further includes a deformable cable protector, which may be configured to accommodate at least a portion of a cable connected to the external connection terminal. The cable protector may be configured to deform synchronously with the movement of the external connection terminal during movement of the external connection terminal in an opening direction and / or in a direction opposite to the opening direction. The cable protector may limit the movement and deformation of the cable, thereby protecting the cable and preventing the inner box from getting stuck due to the cable during movement.

[0023] The cable protection member may be configured to be capable of undergoing telescopic deformation and / or bending deformation synchronously with the movement of the external connection terminal. The cable protection member may include at least one of the following: a corrugated tube, a telescopic sleeve, and a drag chain.

[0024] One end of the cable protector is kinematically coupled to the external connection terminal, and the other end of the cable protector is attached to the outer box. This helps ensure that the cable protector is deformed in a predetermined manner.

[0025] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the cable protector is configured as a drag chain, which includes a plurality of drag chain units. The drag chain can be arranged, for example, so that adjacent drag chain units among the plurality of drag chain units are rotatably connected relative to each other around a rotation axis extending in a vertical direction. This helps to make the detergent box assembly have a compact structure. In particular, there is no need to increase the height of the outer box. Optionally, the plurality of drag chain units are all located in the same horizontal plane, thereby preventing the drag chain from obstructing the movement of the inner box. In particular, when the inner box is in an open state, the drag chain will not sag below the inner box.

[0026] For example, the plurality of drag chain units may include a first end unit and a second end unit located at both ends of the drag chain, respectively, and at least one intermediate unit located between the first end unit and the second end unit. The at least one intermediate unit may be supported only by the drag chain unit adjacent thereto. Thus, friction between the drag chain and the inner box or the outer box during movement can be avoided, thereby preventing wear and noise caused thereby.

[0027] According to a second aspect of the present invention, an embodiment of the present invention provides a washing machine, comprising the detergent box assembly according to the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that the principles, features and advantages of the present invention can be better understood. The accompanying drawings include:

[0029] Figure 1A and Figure 1B Schematically illustrates a detergent box assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 2A and Figure 2B Schematically shows Figure 1A and Figure 1B The detergent box assembly shown;

[0031] Figure 3 Schematically illustrates some components of a detergent box assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 4A , Figure 4B and Figure 4C Schematically illustrates a detergent box assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 5 schematically illustrates some components of a detergent box assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 6 schematically illustrates a connection member of a detergent box assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[0035] Figure 7 The diagram schematically shows the Figure 5 Partial components of the detergent box assembly are shown.

[0036] Reference numerals list

[0037] 1 Inner box

[0038] 11 Electrical devices

[0039] 12 Internal connection terminals

[0040] 2 Outer box

[0041] 20 Accommodation chamber

[0042] 21 Top wall

[0043] 22 Lower box body

[0044] 23 Limiting structure

[0045] 24 Guide slot

[0046] 25 Through Holes

[0047] 3. Driving mechanism

[0048] 31. Driving element

[0049] 32 Damping gear

[0050] 33 Elastic parts

[0051] 4 External connection terminals

[0052] 40 Cables

[0053] 5 Connectors

[0054] 51 Limit housing

[0055] 511 Part 1

[0056] 512 Part 2

[0057] 52 Sheath

[0058] 521 First Wall

[0059] 522 Second Wall

[0060] 523 Elastic Arm

[0061] 6 Cable protector

[0062] 61 Drag chain

[0063] 610 drag chain unit

[0064] 611 First end unit

[0065] 612 Second end unit

[0066] 613 Intermediate Unit DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0067] In order to make the technical problems, technical solutions and beneficial technical effects to be solved by the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and multiple exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention, rather than to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0068] First, for ease of understanding, let's go back to the description in the background technology section. The detergent box assembly in the prior art has problems such as inconvenient operation, high difficulty in automatic opening, and unstable structure.

[0069] In response to at least one of the above-mentioned technical problems or other possible technical problems, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a detergent box assembly, wherein the detergent box assembly includes: an inner box for containing detergent; an outer box, which is provided with a accommodating cavity for accommodating the inner box; a driving mechanism; and an external connecting terminal, which is detachably connected to the inner box so as to form an electrical connection with the inner box, wherein, during the opening stroke of the inner box, the inner box can be driven by the driving mechanism to move outward from the accommodating cavity along an opening direction, and the driving mechanism can independently drive the external connecting terminal to move along the opening direction relative to the inner box so that the external connecting terminal remains connected to the inner box, and when the inner box moves in the opening direction beyond the limit position of its opening stroke, the external connecting terminal is restricted in the opening direction and disconnected from the inner box.

[0070] In order to better understand the present invention, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0071] Before starting the specific description, it should be pointed out that the directional terms used in the description process refer to the normal use state of the household appliance for the purpose of convenience of description and should not be understood as an absolute limitation on the corresponding characteristics.

[0072] Figure 1A and Figure 1B A detergent box assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown. In this embodiment, the detergent box assembly can be applied to a washing machine. In other embodiments, the detergent box assembly according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be applied to various household appliances, such as dishwashers, washing and drying machines, etc.

[0073] like Figure 1A and Figure 1BAs shown, the detergent box assembly includes: an inner box 1 for containing detergent; an outer box 2, which is provided with a receiving cavity 20 for receiving the inner box 1; a driving mechanism 3; and an external connection terminal 4, which is detachably connected to the inner box 1 so as to form an electrical connection with the inner box 1. With the help of the external connection terminal 4, the inner box 1 can form a conductive connection with other components of the washing machine, so as to transmit power or communication signals between the inner box 1 and the other components, for example. In order to ensure that the electrical connection between the external connection terminal 4 and the inner box 1 is stable and reliable, a relatively strong physical connection is usually formed between the external connection terminal 4 and the inner box 1. Therefore, a large force needs to be provided to disconnect the external connection terminal 4 from the inner box 1. Figure 1A The inner box 1 is shown in a closed state, wherein the inner box 1 is substantially completely located in the accommodating cavity 20. For example, in the closed state of the inner box 1, the detergent contained in the inner box 1 can be flushed into the drum of the washing machine for washing clothes. Figure 1B The inner box 1 is shown in an open state, wherein the inner box 1 moves outward from the accommodating chamber 20 so as to be partially exposed to the outside, for example, so as to facilitate the user to add detergent to the inner box 1. The outer box 2 may include, for example, a top wall 21 and a lower box body 22. The lower box body 22 may be formed with a groove, and the inner box 1 is located in the groove. The top wall 21 may cover the lower box body 22 so as to enclose the accommodating chamber 20 together with the lower box body 22. Figure 1A In the figure, the external connection terminals 4 are not visible because they are blocked by the top wall 21 .

[0074] Figure 2A and Figure 2B Schematically shows Figure 1A and Figure 1B The detergent box assembly is shown, wherein the top wall 21 of the outer box 2 is omitted in order to illustrate the internal structure of the detergent box assembly. Figure 2A and Figure 2B The inner box 1 is shown in a closed state and an open state respectively.

[0075] During the opening stroke of the inner box 1, the inner box 1 can be driven by the driving mechanism 3 so as to move outward from the accommodating chamber 20 along the opening direction D1. The driving mechanism 3 can independently drive the external connection terminal 4 to move along the opening direction D1 relative to the inner box 1 so that the external connection terminal 4 remains connected to the inner box 1. When the inner box 1 moves beyond the limit position of its opening stroke along the opening direction D1, the external connection terminal 4 is restricted in the opening direction D1 and is disconnected from the inner box 1.

[0076] “The driving mechanism 3 drives the external connection terminal 4 independently of the inner box 1” means that the force transmission path or motion transmission path of the driving mechanism 3 driving the external connection terminal 4 does not pass through the inner box 1. For example, the driving mechanism 3 may directly drive the external connection terminal 4, or indirectly drive the external connection terminal 4 through a component other than the inner box 1.

[0077] During the opening stroke of the inner box 1, the external connection terminal 4 can be driven by the drive mechanism 3 to move in the opening direction D1 so as to move synchronously with the inner box 1 without being disengaged from the inner box 1. The external connection terminal 4 is disconnected from the inner box 1 until the inner box 1 moves in the opening direction D1 beyond the limit position of its opening stroke. This makes it unnecessary for the driving force used to drive the inner box 1 to overcome the connection force between the external connection terminal 4 and the inner box 1 during the opening process of the inner box 1. This is particularly helpful for achieving the automatic opening of the inner box 1. In particular, when opening the inner box 1, it is not necessary to provide a relatively large initial actuation force to separate the external connection terminal 4 and the inner box 1, so the opening process of the inner box 1 is smoother. It is particularly advantageous that during the opening stroke of the inner box 1, the external connection terminal 4 is not driven by the inner box 1 to move outward, but is driven by the drive mechanism 3 independently of the inner box 1. Compared with the case where the external connection terminal 4 is driven by the inner box 1 and moves outward therewith, the connection between the external connection terminal 4 and the inner box 1 will be more stable. This is particularly advantageous for the external connection terminals 4 used to form an electrical connection with the inner box 1. As a result, it is possible to prevent the connection between the inner box 1 and the external connection terminals 4 from loosening during the opening stroke of the inner box 1, thereby preventing the electrical connection between the two from being unreliable or failing. If the connection between the inner box 1 and the external connection terminals 4 becomes loose and reconnection between the inner box 1 and the external connection terminals 4 is not ensured when the inner box 1 is closed, the washing machine may not be able to operate normally. According to the present invention, when the inner box 1 is opened, a stable and reliable electrical connection between the inner box 1 and the external connection terminals 4 can still be maintained. This can also provide support for the inner box 2 to achieve specific functions, such as detection functions, when it is opened.

[0078] As an example, the driving mechanism 3 may drive the external connection terminal 4 and the inner box 1 in parallel. For example, the driving mechanism 3 may include a driving element 31 movably arranged relative to the outer box 2, and the driving element 31 may be connected to the external connection terminal 4 and the inner box 1, respectively, so that when the driving element 31 moves, the external connection terminal 4 and the inner box 1 may be synchronously moved under the drive of the driving element 31.

[0079] Optionally, the drive mechanism 3 can be connected to the inner box 1 only through the external connection terminal 4, so as to indirectly drive the inner box 1 to move along the opening direction D1 through the external connection terminal 4. Therefore, the external connection terminal 4 drives the inner box 1 to move outward from the accommodating chamber 20 along the opening direction D1 under the drive of the drive mechanism 3. The drive element 31 does not need to be directly connected to the inner box 1. As a result, the detergent box assembly can be convenient for use. For example, for the purpose of cleaning or maintenance, the inner box 1 can be completely withdrawn from the accommodating chamber 20. In this process, since the drive element 31 is not directly connected to the inner box 1, there is no need to perform an additional operation of disassembling or engaging the drive element 31 with the inner box 1. In addition, the structure of the detergent box assembly can be simplified. The detergent box assembly usually has only a small installation space. In this case, a more complex structural design is often required to realize the automatic opening of the inner box 1. By connecting the drive mechanism 3 to the inner box 1 only through the external connection terminal 4, the structure of the detergent box assembly can be simplified and the volume of the detergent box assembly can be reduced.

[0080] The external connection terminal 4 can be connected to the inner box 1 via a plug connection, for example, and the plug connection direction is parallel to the opening direction D1. Figure 2B It is schematically shown that the inner box 1 is in the extreme position of its opening stroke. Here, the external connection terminal 4 is limited in the opening direction D1. If the inner box 1 continues to move in the opening direction D1, the plug connection between the inner box 1 and the external connection terminal 4 will be disengaged, so that the external connection terminal 4 is disconnected from the inner box 1. As a result, the inner box 1 can be completely withdrawn from the accommodating chamber 20. Conversely, in the process of reinstalling the completely withdrawn inner box 1 into the accommodating chamber 20, the inner box 1 can be inserted into the accommodating chamber 20 along the closing direction D2 opposite to the opening direction D1. In this process, the inner box 1 can be reconnected to the external connection terminal 4 along the closing direction D2. This plug connection between the external connection terminal 4 and the inner box 1 can facilitate the complete withdrawal of the inner box 1 from the accommodating chamber 20 and the reinstallation of the completely withdrawn inner box 1 into the accommodating chamber 20 without the need for additional operations.

[0081] Optionally, the driving mechanism 3 may include a driving element 31 movably arranged relative to the outer box 2, and the driving element 31 is connected to the external connection terminal 4 in a manner that it cannot move relative to the direction parallel to the opening direction D1. For example, the driving element 31 may be fixed to the external connection terminal 4 by means of a screw. This helps to simplify the structure of the detergent box assembly and facilitates use. Figure 2A and Figure 2B, when the driving element 31 moves along the opening direction D1, the external connection terminal 4 will move accordingly. Furthermore, the external connection terminal 4 can push the inner box 1 to move along the opening direction D1. Conversely, when the opened inner box 1 is inserted into the accommodating chamber 20 along the closing direction D2, the inner box 1 can push the external connection terminal 4 to move along the closing direction D2. The driving element 31 can move along the closing direction D2 with the external connection terminal 4. Thus, the driving element 31 can be reset.

[0082] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the outer box 2 may be provided with a limiting structure 23. For example, the limiting structure 23 may be configured to limit the limit position of the movement of the driving element 31 relative to the outer box 2 along the opening direction D1, thereby indirectly limiting the limit position of the movement of the external connection terminal 4 relative to the outer box 2 along the opening direction D1. The limiting structure 23 may be formed, for example, as a stopper located at the upper side of the top wall 21. The stopper may be arranged to block the driving element 31 in front of the driving element 31 when the inner box 1 moves beyond the limit position of its opening stroke along the opening direction D1.

[0083] Alternatively or additionally, the limiting structure 23 may be configured to limit the limit position of the movement of the external connection terminal 4 relative to the outer box 2 along the opening direction D1, thereby indirectly limiting the limit position of the movement of the driving element 31 along the opening direction D1 relative to the outer box 2. For example, the limiting structure 23 may be formed as a stopper located at the lower side of the top wall 21, which blocks the external connection terminal 4 in front of the external connection terminal 4 when the inner box 1 moves beyond the limit position of its opening stroke along the opening direction D1.

[0084] As an example, the driving element 31 may be configured as a gear rack, which may be arranged on the outer side of the outer box 2 facing away from the accommodating chamber 20. This may make the detergent box assembly more stable and reliable, and help reduce the volume of the outer box 2. In the case where the inner box 1 is configured to be automatically ejected with the aid of the driving mechanism 3, the internal structure of the detergent box assembly is often more complicated. Providing the gear rack on the outer side of the outer box 2 helps to simplify the structure inside the outer box 2 and prevent interference between the moving parts. For example, the gear rack may be arranged on the upper side of the top wall 21 of the outer box 2. In particular, the gear rack may be arranged in the middle of the inner box 1 in the width direction perpendicular to the opening direction D1, so that the inner box 1 can move more stably relative to the outer box 2. See FIG. Figure 1A and Figure 1B, the outer box 2 may, for example, be provided with a guide groove 24 extending along the opening direction D1 at its outer side facing away from the accommodating chamber 20. The rack may be slidably arranged in the guide groove 24. The guide groove 24 may be provided with a through hole 25, through which the rack is connected to the external connection terminal 4 located in the accommodating chamber 20. The guide groove 24 and / or the through hole 25 may also be used as a limiting structure 23. That is, when the inner box 1 moves in the opening direction D1 beyond the limit position of its opening stroke, the rack abuts against the end of the guide groove 24 and / or the through hole 25 and is blocked, so that it cannot continue to move in the opening direction D1. Optionally, the through hole 25 may limit the range of motion of the driving element 31 at both ends, so that the length of the through hole 25 extending in the opening direction D1 may correspond to the length of the opening stroke of the inner box 1.

[0085] Optionally, the drive mechanism 3 may also include a damping gear 32 for meshing with the rack. The damping gear 32 may be arranged at the outer side of the outer box 2 facing away from the accommodating chamber 20. For example, the damping gear 32 may be arranged on the top wall 21 of the outer box 2. The damping gear 32 may be located beside the guide groove 24 and arranged approximately centrally relative to the guide groove 24. In the process of the rack driving the inner box 1 to open, the damping gear 32 meshing with the rack rotates, thereby generating a damping force. Thus, the movement of the rack and the inner box 1 can be made smoother. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the damping force generated by the damping gear 32 may be proportional to its rotation speed. Therefore, the faster the moving speed of the rack, the faster the rotation speed of the damping gear 32, and the greater the damping force generated, and vice versa. The damping gear 32 may be, for example, a hydraulic damping gear, a spring damping gear, a rubber damping gear, etc.

[0086] The driving mechanism 3 may further include an elastic member 33 for providing a driving force to move the inner box 1 outward along the opening direction D1 during the opening stroke of the inner box 1. The elastic member 33 is arranged on the outer side of the outer box 2 facing away from the accommodating cavity 20, one end of the elastic member 33 is fixed to the rack, and the other end of the elastic member 33 is fixed to the outer box 2. The elastic member 33 may be implemented as a spring, or may include a component made of other elastic materials. For example, Figure 1A and Figure 2AAs shown, when the inner box 1 is in a closed state, the elastic member 33 can be stretched and locked by the locking mechanism (not shown here) of the detergent box assembly. When the locking mechanism is unlocked, the elastic member 33 can shrink and pull the drive element 31 to move in the opening direction D1. Furthermore, the drive element 31 drives the external connection terminal 4 and the inner box 1 to move in the opening direction D1. In this process, the elastic member 33 only needs to provide a force that can overcome the friction force to push the external connection terminal 4 and the inner box 1, without having to additionally provide a force that can release the connection between the external connection terminal 4 and the inner box 1. Thereby, for example, the deformation amount and / or elastic modulus required for the elastic member 33 can be reduced accordingly. This helps to improve the feasibility and reliability of opening the inner box 1 by the elastic force of the elastic member 33. As shown Figure 1B and Figure 2B As shown, when the inner box 1 is in the open state, the elastic member 33 can be in a relaxed state, for example. When the user pushes the inner box 1 to move into the accommodating chamber 20 along the closing direction D2, the external connection terminal 4 can be pushed by the inner box 1 and drive the driving element 31 along the closing direction D2. The elastic member 33 can be reset to the stretched state through the driving element 31 and can be locked again by the locking mechanism. During the reset process, the force required to be provided by the user can also be reduced accordingly.

[0087] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the driving mechanism 3 may also include a motor, which may be connected to the driving element 31. For example, the motor may rotate in response to a user's operation to drive the driving element 31. The driving element 31 may also include a screw, a slider, and the like.

[0088] Figure 3 Schematically shows some components of a detergent box assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 In the embodiment, the external connection terminal 4 is connected to the inner box 1. The inner box 1 may include, for example, an electrical device 11 and an internal connection terminal 12 for electrically connecting the electrical device 11 to the external connection terminal 4. The electrical device 11 may include, for example, a pump and / or a sensor. The internal connection terminal 12 may be configured to be able to form a plug connection with the external connection terminal 4 in a direction opposite to the opening direction D1. One end of the external connection terminal 4 may be connected to the internal connection terminal 12, and the other end of the external connection terminal 4 may be connected to, for example, a power supply device and / or a control device of a washing machine. For example, a cable 40 may be connected to the other end of the external connection terminal 4, and the cable 40 passes through the outer box 2 and is connected to a power supply device and / or a control device. The cable 40 may include a power cable and / or a communication cable. With the help of the external connection terminal 4, power may be provided to the electrical device 11 in the inner box 1. Alternatively or additionally, with the help of the external connection terminal 4, for example, a communication connection may be provided between the electrical device 11 and a control device. See Figure 2A and Figure 2B, when the inner box 1 is closed, the cable 40 can be curled and stored in the accommodating chamber 20; when the inner box 1 is opened, the external connection terminal 4 moves along the opening direction D1, so that the cable 40 can be unfolded under the traction of the external connection terminal 4. When the inner box 1 is opened, the external connection terminal 4 can still be stably and reliably electrically connected to the inner box 1. Therefore, the electrical device 11 of the inner box 1 can still operate. For example, when the inner box 1 is opened to add detergent, the sensor in the inner box 1 can detect the amount of detergent added, and transmit the detection result to the control device, and then the user can be notified of the detection result.

[0089] Figure 4A , Figure 4B and Figure 4C A detergent box assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown, wherein the top wall 21 of the outer box 2 is omitted in order to illustrate the internal structure of the detergent box assembly. Figure 4C The driving mechanism 3 is also omitted.

[0090] In this embodiment, the detergent box assembly may further include a connector 5, which is connected to the drive element 31 and the external connection terminal 4 in a manner that the drive element 31 cannot move relative to the external connection terminal 4 in a direction parallel to the opening direction D1. In other words, the drive element 31 is connected to the external connection terminal 4 through the connector 5. As a result, there is no need to complicate the structure of the drive element 31 and the external connection terminal 4. In particular, the concept of the present invention can also be applied without changing the configuration of the existing external connection terminal 4.

[0091] Figure 4A and Figure 4B The inner box 1 is shown in a closed state and an open state respectively. During the opening stroke of the inner box 1, that is, from Figure 4A The state shown moves to Figure 4B During the state shown, the driving element 31 can drive the connecting member 5 to move outward along the opening direction D1. Thus, the connecting member 5 can apply a driving force to the external connecting terminal 4 along the opening direction D1 so as to make the external connecting terminal 4 move synchronously with the inner box 1. Figure 4C As shown, when the inner box 1 moves to the limit position of its opening stroke along the opening direction D1, the inner box 1 can continue to move along the opening direction D1, and the external connection terminal 4 and the connection member 5 are limited and do not continue to move along the opening direction D1. Therefore, the external connection terminal 4 is disconnected from the inner box 1.

[0092] Figure 5 Partial components of a detergent box assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention are schematically illustrated. Figure 6 A connector 5 of a detergent box assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is schematically illustrated. Figure 7 The diagram schematically shows the Figure 5Partial components of the detergent box assembly are shown.

[0093] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the connector 5 may include a limiting housing 51, which is configured to limit the external connection terminal 4 in a direction parallel to the opening direction D1. The connector 5 can be fixedly connected to the external connection terminal 4 in the opening direction D1 through the limiting housing 51. The limiting housing 51 can particularly surround the external connection terminal 4 in the circumferential direction relative to the opening direction D1. Thereby, in particular, when the connection between the external connection terminal 4 and the inner box 1 is formed or disconnected, a stable and reliable connection between the connector 5 and the external connection terminal 4 can be ensured.

[0094] Optionally, the drive element 31 can be fixed to the connector 5 by a threaded connection. For example, a screw can pass through the drive element 31 and be screwed into a threaded hole of the connector 5 to fix the drive element 31 to the connector 5, in particular to the limiting housing 51.

[0095] The connector 5 may, for example, include a sheath 52 for accommodating at least a portion of a section of a cable 40 connected to the external connection terminal 4. The sheath 52 may extend in the opening direction D1. The sheath 52 can constrain a section of the cable 40 adjacent to the external connection terminal 4 so that the section is still held in the sheath 52 even if it is deformed, thereby preventing the section of the cable 40 adjacent to the external connection terminal 4 from uncontrolled movement and deformation during the opening and closing of the inner box 1. The cable 40 can thus be protected. This also helps prevent the inner box 1 from getting stuck due to the cable 40 during movement. For example, the curled cable 40 can be prevented from getting stuck between the inner box 1 and the outer box 2, thereby causing the inner box 1 to get stuck during movement. The sheath 52 may particularly surround the cable 40 circumferentially relative to the opening direction D1. In other words, the sheath 52 may confine the cable 40 so that the cable 40 does not leave the sheath 52 in any direction perpendicular to the opening direction D1. Thus, the movement and deformation of the cable 40 can be effectively limited, and the cable 40 can be prevented from being caught between relatively moving parts. The connector 5 can realize multiple functions with a simple and easy-to-install structure.

[0096] In a cross section perpendicular to the opening direction D1, the cross-sectional area of ​​the sheath 52 may be smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the limiting housing 51. Figure 5 and Figure 6 The cross-sectional area of ​​the sheath 52 is significantly smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the limiting housing 51, for example, it may be smaller than half of the cross-sectional area of ​​the limiting housing 51. The sheath 52 with a smaller cross-sectional area can effectively reduce the deformation of the accommodated cable 40.

[0097] See also Figure 6, the limiting housing 51 may include, for example, a first portion 511 and a second portion 512. In a cross section perpendicular to the opening direction D1, the first portion 511 and the second portion 512 may have a U-shaped cross section. The first portion 511 and the second portion 512 may be nested with each other so that the openings of the first portion 511 and the second portion 512 are opposite to each other and the two side walls of the second portion 512 clamp the two side walls of the first portion 511. In this way, the strength of the limiting housing 51 may be enhanced. The external connection terminal 4 may be located between the first portion 511 and the second portion 512. This structure helps to prevent the external connection terminal 4 from accidentally detaching from the limiting housing 51. Figure 7 As shown, the external connection terminal 4 can be configured to be installed to the first part 511 along the installation direction D3 perpendicular to the opening direction D1 so as to be limited by the first part 511 in the direction perpendicular to the installation direction D3. For example, the first part 511 can be formed with a slot extending along the installation direction D3, and the external connection terminal 4 can be inserted along the slot and limited in the opening direction D1. The second part 512 can be configured to be installed to the first part 511 along the installation direction D3. The first part 511 and the second part 512 can be engaged with each other, for example, by a snap connection. The first part 511 can be configured as an integral component with the sheath 52 in particular. Through this connector 5, a stable and reliable connection between the connector 5 and the external connection terminal 4 can be achieved in a simple manner. The assembly process between the external connection terminal 4 and the connector 5 is simple and convenient. In another embodiment, the second part 512 can also be omitted. For example, the connector 5 can be composed of the first part 511 and the sheath 52.

[0098] like Figure 6As shown, the sheath 52 may include a first wall 521 and a second wall 522 opposite to each other extending in the opening direction D1, and the cable 40 is held between the first wall 521 and the second wall 522. The sheath 52 may also include at least one elastic arm 523 extending from one of the first wall 521 and the second wall 522 to the other in a cantilevered manner. The elastic arm 523 may be configured to be elastically deformable in a direction perpendicular to the opening direction D1. The at least one elastic arm 523 may, for example, include a plurality of elastic arms 523 distributed at intervals in the opening direction D1. Optionally, the sheath 52 may also include a third wall opposite to the elastic arm 523, which extends in the opening direction D1 and connects the first wall 521 to the second wall 522. The cable 40 may press the elastic arm 523 from the outside of the elastic arm 523 so as to enter the sheath 52 by means of the elastic deformation of the elastic arm 523. Therefore, the cable 40 can be installed in the sheath 52 in a simple manner, wherein no additional components or tools are required. In the non-deformed state of the elastic arm 523, the distance between the elastic arm 523 and the other of the first wall 521 and the second wall 522 may be smaller than the diameter of the cable 40. Thus, the elastic arm 523 can hold the cable 40 in the sheath 52. The distance may be set to be greater than or equal to 0. As an example, Figure 6 As shown, the elastic arm 523 may extend from the first wall 521 to the second wall 522. The elastic arm 523 may include a narrowing section adjacent to the first wall 521 and an expanding section away from the first wall 521, wherein the narrowing section has a smaller cross-sectional area than the expanding section. This facilitates elastic deformation of the elastic arm 523.

[0099] Back to Figure 4A and Figure 4B , the detergent box assembly, for example, further includes a deformable cable protector 6, which is configured to accommodate at least a partial section of the cable 40 connected to the external connection terminal 4. The cable protector 6 can be configured to be deformed synchronously with the movement of the external connection terminal 4 during the movement of the external connection terminal 4 along the opening direction D1 and / or in the direction opposite to the opening direction D1. The cable protector 6 can limit the movement and deformation of the cable 40. The cable 40 can be protected thereby. In addition, the inner box 1 can be prevented from getting stuck due to the cable 40 during the movement.

[0100] See also Figure 4A and Figure 4B, the first end of the cable protector 6 is movably coupled to the external connection terminal 4, and the second end of the cable protector 6 can be attached to the outer box 2. The first end of the cable protector 6 can be attached to the external connection terminal 4 or to the connector 5, etc. Thus, the first end of the cable protector 6 can move with the external connection terminal 4, so that the cable protector 6 can be deformed synchronously with the movement of the external connection terminal 4. By attaching the second end of the cable protector 6 to the outer box 2, it helps to ensure that the cable protector 6 is deformed in a predetermined manner. During the opening and closing process of the inner box 1, the cable protector 6 is always located in the accommodating cavity 20.

[0101] The cable protection member 6 may be configured to be capable of telescopic deformation and / or bending deformation synchronously with the movement of the external connection terminal 4. Optionally, the cable protection member 6 may include a corrugated tube, a telescopic sleeve, a drag chain 61, and the like.

[0102] Here, the cable protection member 6 is exemplarily shown as a drag chain 61. The drag chain 61 includes a plurality of drag chain units 610. Adjacent drag chain units 610 of the plurality of drag chain units 610 are rotatably connected relative to each other. The cable 40 passes through each drag chain unit 610 and extends in the drag chain 61. During the opening and closing process of the inner box 1, the drag chain 61 can be deformed in a predetermined manner, thereby restricting the movement and deformation of the cable 40, see Figure 4A and Figure 4B . The drag chain 61 can be particularly arranged so that adjacent drag chain units 610 among the plurality of drag chain units 610 are rotatably connected relative to each other around a rotation axis extending in the vertical direction. This helps to make the detergent box assembly have a compact structure. In particular, there is no need to increase the height of the outer box 2. Optionally, the plurality of drag chain units 610 are all located in the same horizontal plane. Thereby, the drag chain 61 can be prevented from obstructing the movement of the inner box 1. In particular, when the inner box 1 is in an open state, the drag chain 61 will not sag below the inner box 1. It should be understood that it is acceptable for the drag chain 61 to have a slight sag.

[0103] The plurality of drag chain units 610 may include a first end unit 611 and a second end unit 612 located at both ends of the drag chain 61, respectively, and at least one middle unit 613 located between the first end unit 611 and the second end unit 612. It is particularly advantageous that the at least one middle unit 613 is supported only by the drag chain units 610 adjacent thereto. For example, see Figure 5, the first end unit 611 can be mounted to the connector 5. The second end unit 612 can be mounted on the top wall 21 of the outer box 2. The middle unit 613 is located above the inner box 1 in a suspended manner without contacting the inner box 1 and the outer box 2. As a result, the drag chain 61 can be prevented from rubbing against the inner box 1 or the outer box 2 during movement, thereby preventing wear and noise caused thereby. Arranging the drag chain 61 so that its drag chain units 610 are all located on the same horizontal plane helps to arrange the middle unit 613 of the drag chain 61 in a suspended manner.

[0104] Optionally, the connector 5 may include a sheath 52, and the first end of the drag chain 61 may be attached to the end of the sheath 52 away from the external connection terminal 4. The sheath 52 may be configured as described above. The sheath 52 may reduce the length of the drag chain 61, thereby helping to prevent the drag chain 61 from sagging. In this case, the adjacent drag chain units 610 of the plurality of drag chain units 610 are rotatably connected relative to each other around a rotation axis extending in the vertical direction, which is particularly conducive to preventing the drag chain 61 from sagging.

[0105] See also Figure 4A When the inner box 1 is in the closed position, the two ends of the sheath 52 are respectively located in front of and behind the second end of the drag chain 61 in the opening direction D1. Figure 4C , when the inner box 1 is in the extreme position of the opening stroke, the end of the sheath 52 away from the external connection terminal 4 is located in front of the second end of the drag chain 61 in the opening direction D1. This is conducive to preventing the drag chain 61 from sagging. With the help of the sheath 52, the relative positions of the two ends of the drag chain 61 during the movement can be set as needed. In the case where the connector 5 is not provided with a sheath 52, the first end of the drag chain 61 can be attached to the limiting housing 51 of the connector 5 or to the external connection terminal 4, for example. When the inner box 1 is in the closed position and in the extreme position of the opening stroke, the first end of the drag chain 61 will be located in front of the second end of the drag chain 61 in the opening direction D1. This arrangement will make the drag chain 61 more likely to sag. In other words, this arrangement makes it difficult for the drag chain 61 to still meet the length requirements of the cable 40 connected to the external connection terminal 4 while ensuring that it does not sag.

[0106] See also Figure 5 and Figure 7 The sheath 52 may terminate at a first position along the closing direction D2 on a side facing the second end of the drag chain 61, and terminate at a second position along the closing direction D2 on a side facing away from the second end of the drag chain 61, and the second position may be located behind the first position in the opening direction D1. This helps ensure that the drag chain 61 is deformed in a predetermined manner.

[0107] Although specific embodiments have been described above, these embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, even when only a single embodiment is described with respect to specific features. The feature examples provided in the present disclosure are intended to be illustrative, not limiting, unless otherwise stated. In specific implementations, multiple features may be combined with each other as required and as technically feasible. In particular, features in different embodiments may also be combined with each other. Various substitutions, changes, and modifications may also be conceived without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A detergent box assembly, wherein: The detergent box assembly comprises: An inner box (1) for containing detergent; An outer box (2) provided with a receiving cavity (20) for receiving the inner box (1); A driving mechanism (3); and An external connection terminal (4) is detachably connected to the inner box (1) so as to form an electrical connection with the inner box (1), wherein: During the opening stroke of the inner box (1), the inner box (1) can be driven by the driving mechanism (3) to move outward from the accommodating chamber (20) in an opening direction, and the driving mechanism (3) can independently drive the external connection terminal (4) to move in the opening direction relative to the inner box (1) so that the external connection terminal (4) remains connected to the inner box (1). When the inner box (1) moves in the opening direction beyond the limit position of its opening stroke, the external connection terminal (4) is restricted in the opening direction and is disconnected from the inner box (1).

2. The detergent box assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The driving mechanism (3) is connected to the inner box (1) only through the external connection terminal (4), so as to indirectly drive the inner box (1) to move in the opening direction through the external connection terminal (4).

3. The detergent box assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The external connection terminal (4) is connected to the inner box (1) via a plug connection, wherein the plugging direction of the plug connection is parallel to the opening direction.

4. The detergent box assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The drive mechanism (3) comprises a drive element (31) arranged movably relative to the outer box (2), and the drive element (31) is connected to the external connection terminal (4) in a manner that it cannot move relatively in a direction parallel to the opening direction.

5. The detergent box assembly according to claim 4, wherein: The outer box (2) is provided with a limiting structure (23), wherein: The limiting structure (23) is configured to limit the limit position of the movement of the driving element (31) relative to the outer box (2) along the opening direction, thereby indirectly limiting the limit position of the movement of the external connection terminal (4) relative to the outer box (2) along the opening direction; or The limiting structure (23) is configured to limit the extreme position of the movement of the external connection terminal (4) relative to the outer box (2) along the opening direction, thereby indirectly limiting the extreme position of the movement of the driving element (31) relative to the outer box (2) along the opening direction.

6. The detergent box assembly according to claim 4 or 5, wherein: The detergent box assembly further comprises a connecting member (5) which is connected to the driving element (31) and the external connection terminal (4) in a manner that the connecting member (5) cannot move relative to each other in a direction parallel to the opening direction.

7. The detergent box assembly according to claim 6, wherein: The connecting member (5) comprises at least one of the following: A limiting housing (51) configured to limit the external connection terminal (4) in a direction parallel to the opening direction; A sheath (52) for accommodating at least a partial section of a cable (40) connected to an external connection terminal (4), the sheath (52) extending in an opening direction.

8. The detergent box assembly according to claim 7, wherein: In a cross section perpendicular to the opening direction, the cross-sectional area of ​​the sheath (52) is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the limiting housing (51); and / or The limiting housing (51) surrounds the external connection terminal (4) in a circumferential direction relative to the opening direction; and / or The sheath (52) circumferentially surrounds the cable (40) relative to the opening direction.

9. The detergent box assembly according to claim 7 or 8, wherein: The limiting housing (51) comprises a first part (511) and a second part (512), wherein in a cross section perpendicular to the opening direction, the first part (511) and the second part (512) have a U-shaped cross section, the first part (511) and the second part (512) are nested with each other so that the openings of the first part (511) and the second part (512) are opposite to each other and the two side walls of the second part (512) clamp the two side walls of the first part (511), wherein: The external connection terminal (4) is located between the first part (511) and the second part (512); and / or The external connection terminal (4) is configured to be mounted to the first part (511) along a mounting direction perpendicular to the opening direction so as to be limited by the first part (511) in a direction perpendicular to the mounting direction; and / or The second part (512) is configured to be mountable to the first part (511) along a mounting direction perpendicular to the opening direction; and / or The first portion (511) is constructed as a one-piece component with the sheath (52).

10. The detergent box assembly according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein: The sheath (52) includes a first wall (521) and a second wall (522) extending in an opening direction and facing each other, the cable (40) being held between the first wall (521) and the second wall (522), and the sheath (52) further includes at least one elastic arm (523) extending from one of the first wall (521) and the second wall (522) to the other in a cantilevered manner, wherein: The elastic arm (523) is configured to be elastically deformable in a direction perpendicular to the opening direction; and / or In a non-deformed state of the elastic arm (523), a distance between the elastic arm (523) and the other of the first wall (521) and the second wall (522) is smaller than a diameter of the cable (40).

11. The detergent box assembly according to any one of claims 4 to 10, wherein: The drive element (31) is configured as a toothed rack, which is arranged on the outer side of the outer box (2) facing away from the receiving chamber (20), wherein: The outer box (2) is provided with a guide groove (24) extending in the opening direction at the outer side thereof facing away from the accommodating cavity (20), the rack is slidably arranged in the guide groove (24), the guide groove (24) is provided with a through hole (25), and the rack is connected to the external connection terminal (4) located in the accommodating cavity (20) through the through hole (25); and / or The driving mechanism (3) further comprises a damping gear (32) for meshing with the rack, wherein the damping gear (32) is arranged on the outer side of the outer box (2) facing away from the accommodating chamber (20); and / or The driving mechanism (3) also includes an elastic member (33) for providing a driving force to move the inner box (1) outward in an opening direction during the opening stroke of the inner box (1), wherein the elastic member (33) is arranged on the outer side of the outer box (2) facing away from the accommodating cavity (20), one end of the elastic member (33) is fixed to the rack, and the other end of the elastic member (33) is fixed to the outer box (2).

12. The detergent box assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein: The detergent assembly further comprises a deformable cable protector (6), wherein the cable protector (6) is configured to accommodate at least a partial section of a cable (40) connected to the external connection terminal (4), and the cable protector (6) is configured to deform synchronously with the movement of the external connection terminal (4) when the external connection terminal (4) moves in an opening direction and / or in a direction opposite to the opening direction.

13. The detergent box assembly according to claim 12, wherein: The cable protection member (6) is configured to be capable of undergoing telescopic deformation and / or bending deformation in sync with the movement of the external connection terminal (4); and / or One end of the cable protection member (6) is connected to the external connection terminal (4) in a kinematically coupled manner, and the other end of the cable protection member (6) is attached to the outer box (2); and / or The cable protection element (6) comprises at least one of the following: a corrugated tube, a telescopic sleeve, and a drag chain (61).

14. The detergent box assembly according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein: The cable protection element (6) is configured as a drag chain (61), wherein the drag chain (61) comprises a plurality of drag chain units, wherein: The drag chain (61) is arranged so that adjacent drag chain units among the plurality of drag chain units are rotatably connected relative to each other around a rotation axis extending in a vertical direction; and / or The plurality of drag chain units are all located on the same horizontal plane; and / or The plurality of drag chain units include a first end unit (611) and a second end unit (612) respectively located at two ends of the drag chain (61) and at least one intermediate unit (613) located between the first end unit (611) and the second end unit (612), wherein the at least one intermediate unit (613) is supported only by the drag chain units adjacent thereto.

15. A washing machine, wherein: The washing machine comprises a detergent box assembly according to any one of claims 1-14.

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