Rear cover and washing machine comprising the same

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of clothes processing equipment, and particularly provides a rear cover and a washing machine comprising the same, aiming at solving the problem that various elements installed on the rear cover of the existing washing machine will occupy the internal space of the body, resulting in low space utilization. To this end, the rear cover comprises: a back plate arranged at the rear part of the body of the washing machine along the vertical direction; a first extension plate extending from the first side edge of the back plate to the direction of the first frame of the washing machine, and the front edge of the first extension plate is fixedly connected with the rear edge of the first frame; a second extension plate extending from the second side edge of the back plate to the direction of the second frame of the washing machine, and the front edge of the second extension plate is fixedly connected with the rear edge of the second frame; the first extension plate, the second extension plate and the back plate jointly constitute a containing space protruding to the rear of the body, which can contain various electrical elements, avoiding the occupation of the fixed space at the front part of the body.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of clothing handling equipment technology, specifically providing a back cover and a washing machine including the back cover. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, with the development of science and technology and the improvement of people's living standards, washing machines have long been a household appliance, becoming an indispensable part of home life. In order to meet the increasingly diverse needs of users, manufacturers are not only constantly improving various performance indicators, but also constantly optimizing the internal structure of the machine body to make the functional modules reasonably distributed, and to maximize the miniaturization and lightweighting of the washing machine.

[0003] For example, some control modules, wiring harnesses, and pipes can be installed inside the back cover of the washing machine to make the most of the space behind the drum.

[0004] However, the various components installed on the back cover of existing washing machines still encroach on the fixed space at the front of the machine, affecting the utilization rate of the internal space.

[0005] Therefore, a new technical solution is needed in this field to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned technical problem, namely, that the various components installed on the back cover of existing washing machines still encroach on the fixed space at the front of the machine body, affecting the space utilization rate inside the machine body.

[0007] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a rear cover, the rear cover comprising: a back plate, the back plate being disposed vertically at the rear of the washing machine body; a first extension plate, the first extension plate extending from a first side edge of the back plate toward a first frame of the washing machine, and the front edge of the first extension plate being fixedly connected to the rear edge of the first frame; a second extension plate, the second extension plate extending from a second side edge of the back plate toward a second frame of the washing machine, and the front edge of the second extension plate being fixedly connected to the rear edge of the second frame; the first extension plate, the second extension plate, and the back plate together constitute a receiving space protruding toward the rear of the machine body.

[0008] In the preferred embodiment of the back cover described above, the angle between the first extension plate and the back plate inside the body is set to 90° to 180°, and the angle between the second extension plate and the back plate inside the body is set to 90° to 180°.

[0009] In the preferred embodiment of the back cover described above, the back plate is provided with a water inlet pipe passage and a drain pipe passage.

[0010] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned back cover, the edge of the drain pipe passage hole is also provided with a snap-fit ​​notch, which can engage with the buckle on the drain pipe.

[0011] In the preferred embodiment of the aforementioned back cover, the back panel is further provided with an installation port and a cover plate. The installation port is located at the bottom of the back panel corresponding to the drainage system, for disassembling and assembling the drainage system. The cover plate is detachably installed on the installation port. Alternatively, the back panel is further provided with a cleaning port and a plug. The cleaning port is located at the bottom of the back panel corresponding to the drainage pump, for cleaning the drainage pump. The plug is detachably installed on the cleaning port.

[0012] In the preferred embodiment of the back cover described above, the back plate is further provided with a plurality of fixing rod mounting holes, which are spaced apart on the back plate.

[0013] In the preferred embodiment of the back cover described above, the back plate is further provided with a plurality of molding structures, which extend in both vertical and horizontal directions to improve the strength of the back plate; and / or a plurality of groove structures are respectively provided on the fold lines between the first extension plate and the second extension plate and the back plate to improve the strength at the fold lines.

[0014] In the preferred embodiment of the back cover described above, the back panel is further provided with multiple controller mounting structures; and / or the back panel is further provided with wire harness through holes and wire fixing components.

[0015] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned back cover, the front edge of the first extension plate and the front edge of the second extension plate are both provided with side flanges, and the side flanges are provided with slots and / or screw holes.

[0016] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a washing machine including the aforementioned back cover.

[0017] With the above technical solution adopted, the rear cover of the present invention includes: a back plate, which is vertically disposed at the rear of the washing machine body; a first extension plate, which extends from a first side edge of the back plate toward a first frame of the washing machine, and the front edge of the first extension plate is fixedly connected to the rear edge of the first frame; and a second extension plate, which extends from a second side edge of the back plate toward a second frame of the washing machine, and the front edge of the second extension plate is fixedly connected to the rear edge of the second frame; the first extension plate, the second extension plate, and the back plate together constitute a receiving space protruding toward the rear of the machine body. By setting the rear cover as a structure of a back plate and two side extension plates, the rear space of the machine body can be expanded without increasing the size of other parts of the machine body, so that various electrical components installed on the rear cover will not occupy the fixed space inside the machine body, saving sufficient space for the installation and operation of washing and drying systems.

[0018] Furthermore, the angle between the first extension plate and the back plate inside the machine body is set to 90° to 180°, and the angle between the second extension plate and the back plate inside the machine body is set to 90° to 180°. This arrangement allows the first and second extension plates to form chamfered edges on both sides of the back cover, ensuring sufficient internal installation space without excessively occupying external space. This helps control the overall dimensions of the machine body and facilitates flexible placement.

[0019] Furthermore, the back plate of this invention is provided with through holes for water supply pipes and drainage pipes. This arrangement enables the water supply pipes and drainage pipes to pass through and be fixed between the inside and outside of the machine body, making the arrangement of the two pipes more reasonable.

[0020] Furthermore, the edge of the drain pipe passage hole in this invention is provided with a snap-fit ​​notch, which can engage with the snap-fit ​​buckle on the drain pipe. This design enables quick assembly and disassembly of the drain pipe on the back plate, improving ease of use and flexibility.

[0021] Furthermore, the back panel of the present invention is also provided with an installation port and a cover plate. The installation port is located at the bottom of the back panel corresponding to the drainage system, for disassembly and assembly of the drainage system. The cover plate is detachably installed on the installation port. Alternatively, the back panel is also provided with a cleaning port and a plug. The cleaning port is located at the bottom of the back panel corresponding to the drainage pump, for cleaning the drainage pump. The plug is detachably installed on the cleaning port. The installation port provides dedicated operating space for the disassembly, assembly, and maintenance of the drainage system; the cleaning port provides operating space for cleaning the drainage pump; thus, the corresponding operations can be completed without completely disassembling the back cover. The cover plate and plug plate prevent the intrusion of external foreign objects, protecting the internal structure of the machine, and also improve the aesthetics of the machine's exterior.

[0022] Furthermore, the back plate of the present invention is also provided with multiple fixing rod mounting holes, which are spaced apart on the back plate. This arrangement facilitates the quick assembly and disassembly of the fixing rods, thereby enabling the roller to be fixed during transportation and handling, and providing effective support for the roller.

[0023] Furthermore, the back plate of the present invention is also provided with multiple pressed structures, which extend in both vertical and horizontal directions to improve the strength of the back plate; and / or multiple groove structures are respectively provided along the fold line between the first extension plate and the second extension plate and the back plate to improve the strength at the fold line. Through this arrangement, the pressed structures act as reinforcing ribs, thereby improving the overall strength of the back plate; the groove structures improve the bending resistance at the fold line, preventing the first extension plate and the second extension plate from bending along the fold line.

[0024] Furthermore, the back panel of the present invention is also provided with multiple controller mounting structures; and / or the back panel is also provided with wire harness through holes and wire fixing components. This arrangement facilitates the installation of various controllers and the fixing and management of wire harnesses.

[0025] Furthermore, both the leading edges of the first extension plate and the leading edges of the second extension plate of the present invention are provided with side flanges, and the side flanges are provided with slots and / or screw holes. This arrangement allows the rear cover to simultaneously possess multiple connection structures, enabling the connection of the frame and the outer shell to be made together, thereby fixing different components and improving the overall strength of the machine body.

[0026] Furthermore, the washing machine provided by the present invention, based on the aforementioned back cover, possesses the technical effects of the aforementioned back cover due to the adoption of the aforementioned back cover. Compared with the washing machine before the improvement, the functional modules of the washing machine of the present invention are more rationally arranged in the machine body, with higher space utilization, which is conducive to the miniaturization of the machine body. Attached Figure Description

[0027] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the back cover and the frame of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0029] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the back cover of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the back cover and the frame of the present invention. Figure 2 ;

[0031] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A magnified view of a section at point A in the middle;

[0032] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A magnified view of a section at point B.

[0033] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0034] 1. Rear cover; 11. First extension plate; 111. Clearance opening; 12. Second extension plate; 13. Back plate; 131. Water supply pipe through hole; 132. Drainage pipe through hole; 1321. Snap-fit ​​notch; 133. Mounting port; 1331. Cover plate; 134. Cleaning port; 1341. Plug; 135. Fixing rod mounting hole; 136. Molded structure; 137. Groove structure; 1381. Wiring harness through hole; 1382. Wire fixing component; 139. Controller mounting structure; 14. Side flange; 141. Slot; 15. Top flange; 21. First frame; 22. Second frame. Detailed Implementation

[0035] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art should understand that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the technical principles of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0036] It should be noted that in the description of this invention, terms such as "inner," "outer," "upper," "lower," "top," and "bottom," which indicate direction or positional relationships, are based on the direction or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. These are used merely for ease of description and do not indicate or imply that the device or element must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0037] Furthermore, it should be noted that, in the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "set," "install," and "connect" should be interpreted broadly, for example, referring to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0038] As pointed out in the background art, the various components installed on the back cover of existing washing machines encroach on the internal space of the machine body, resulting in low space utilization. This invention provides a back cover and a washing machine including the back cover. By dividing the back cover into three parts—a back panel, a first extension panel, and a second extension panel—and having the first and second extension panels extend forward from the side edges of the back panel respectively, a portion of the space is extended backward from the original space of the machine body to accommodate various electrical components, wiring harnesses, and pipes, thus avoiding encroachment on the internal space of the machine body and improving the space utilization rate of the internal space.

[0039] For example, in order to maximize the miniaturization and weight reduction of washing machines, manufacturers continuously optimize the internal structure of the machine body, striving to make the layout of each functional module more reasonable and reduce the waste of internal space.

[0040] Taking a drum washing machine as an example, the washing machine body includes the outer shell, frame, and internal drying and washing system, control components, and water and electricity pipes. Typically, the drum, air duct, and other drying and washing modules are installed in the front middle part of the machine body. The remaining small amount of rear space is used to install various pipes, wiring harnesses, and control components. Since various control components are fixed inside the back cover, they will encroach on the front space of the machine body to a certain extent, affecting the installation and operation of the drying and washing modules. Ultimately, the only way to ensure the installation space of each component is to increase the size of the machine body, which is not conducive to the development trend of equipment miniaturization.

[0041] Based on this, such as Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the present invention provides a back cover 1 and a washing machine including the back cover 1. The washing machine body includes an outer shell, a frame and internal components. The frame is used to strengthen the body structure and includes a first side frame 21 and a second side frame 22 disposed on both sides of the body. The back cover 1 is disposed at the rear of the body and its two sides are fixedly connected to the first side frame 21 and the second side frame 22 respectively to strengthen the frame structure.

[0042] The back cover 1 includes a back panel 13 and a first extension plate 11 and a second extension plate 12 respectively disposed on the two sides of the back panel 13. The first extension plate 11 extends from the first side edge of the back panel 13 toward the first frame 21 of the washing machine, and the front edge of the first extension plate 11 is fixedly connected to the rear edge of the first frame 21. The second extension plate 12 extends from the second side edge of the back panel 13 toward the second frame 22 of the washing machine, and the front edge of the second extension plate 12 is fixedly connected to the rear edge of the second frame 22. When the back cover 1 is assembled with the first frame 21 and the second frame 22, the back panel 13 and the two extension plates together form a receiving space protruding toward the rear of the machine body, thereby expanding the installation space of various electrical components to the rear based on the original space of the machine body, avoiding the encroachment of various electrical components on the front space, and leaving enough space for the installation and operation of washing and drying systems.

[0043] The lateral width of the back panel 13 is slightly smaller than the distance between the first frame 21 and the second frame 22, so that the first extension plate 11 and the second extension plate 12 extend forward and outward from the edge of the back panel 13, respectively. Preferably, the included angle between the first extension plate 11 and the second extension plate 12 and the back panel 13 inside the machine body is set to 135°, so that the first extension plate 11 and the second extension plate 12 form a 45° chamfer structure on both sides of the back cover 1. While ensuring sufficient installation space inside, it will not occupy too much external space, which helps to control the external dimensions of the machine body and facilitates the flexible placement of the machine body.

[0044] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, since various water and electrical circuits are also located at the rear of the machine body, a water supply pipe through hole 131 is provided on the back plate 13 so that the water supply pipe can extend from the roller to the outside of the machine body and connect with the tap water pipe.

[0045] A drain pipe through-hole 132 is also provided so that the drain pipe can extend from the roller to the outside of the machine body and connect with the sewer. Preferably, such as Figure 4 As shown, the drain pipe through hole 132 is circular, and at least one snap-fit ​​notch 1321 is provided on the edge of the drain pipe through hole 132. The snap-fit ​​notch 1321 can engage with the buckle on the drain pipe. During installation, the buckle on the drain pipe must be aligned with the snap-fit ​​notch 1321 before the drain pipe can be inserted into the drain pipe through hole 132. After insertion, the drain pipe can be rotated at a certain angle so that the buckle can be locked in the drain pipe through hole 132, thereby fixing the drain pipe.

[0046] It should be noted that, in practical applications, those skilled in the art can flexibly set the connection structure between the drainage pipe and the drainage pipe through hole 132, such as a snap-fit ​​structure, a screw connection structure, etc., as long as it can fix the drainage pipe. Such flexible adjustments and changes do not deviate from the principle and scope of the present invention and should be limited to the protection scope of the present invention.

[0047] The washing machine in this application adopts a top-drainage system. Therefore, the water inlet pipe through hole 131 and the drain pipe through hole 132 are both located in the upper middle part of the back plate 13.

[0048] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, an installation port 133 is provided at the bottom of the back plate 13 at the position corresponding to the drainage system. The installation port 133 can fully expose the drainage system, so as to reserve an operating space for the disassembly and maintenance of the drainage system. A cover plate 1331 is also provided on the installation port 133, which can open or close the installation port 133.

[0049] Since the filter screen at the drain pump needs to be cleaned regularly, a cleaning port 134 is also provided below the installation port 133, so that the position of the cleaning port 134 corresponds to the installation position of the drain pump. A plug 1341 is also provided on the cleaning port 134. When the filter screen needs to be cleaned, the filter screen can be removed and cleaned simply by removing the plug 1341.

[0050] The installation port 133 and cleaning port 134 allow users to inspect, maintain and clean the drainage system without disassembling the entire rear cover 1, improving the convenience and flexibility of maintenance. The cover plate 1331 and plug 1341 can prevent the intrusion of foreign objects and protect the internal structure of the machine, while also improving the aesthetics of the machine's exterior.

[0051] Since a shock absorber is installed between the drum and the frame, the shock absorber can achieve an elastic connection between the two to absorb the vibration generated during operation. Therefore, in order to prevent the drum from shaking during the transportation or handling of the washing machine, the drum and the frame need to be fixed to make the two rigidly connected. In this application, multiple fixing rods are used to pass through the front panel, the drum connector and the back cover 1 in sequence to fix the drum.

[0052] Therefore, as Figures 1 to 3 As shown, a plurality of fixing rod mounting holes 135 are provided on the back plate 13. The plurality of fixing rod mounting holes 135 are distributed at intervals on the back plate 13. Preferably, this application provides three fixing rod mounting holes 135 to achieve force balance of the roller and improve stability.

[0053] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in order to improve the structural strength of the back cover 1 and reduce its deformation under external force, this application provides a plurality of molding structures 136 of different shapes on the back plate 13, of which a portion extends in the horizontal direction and the other portion extends in the vertical direction. These molding structures 136 can act as reinforcing ribs and improve the overall strength of the back plate 13.

[0054] Meanwhile, in order to improve the bending resistance of the two extension plates and prevent them from flipping towards or away from the back plate 13 under the action of external force, causing deformation of the accommodating space, this application provides a plurality of groove structures 137 on the fold line between the first extension plate 11 and the second extension plate 12 and the back plate 13. Preferably, the groove structure 137 is perpendicular to the fold line. These groove structures 137 can improve the bending resistance at the fold line and prevent the first extension plate 11 and the second extension plate 12 from bending along the fold line.

[0055] Regarding the fixing of each control element, multiple controller mounting structures 139 are provided on the back plate 13, such as various shaped clip holes, which can be engaged with the clips on each control element to ensure the firmness of the installation of each control element and facilitate quick assembly and disassembly.

[0056] The slots in this design not only secure the control components but also increase the air exchange rate between the inside and outside of the enclosure, thus promoting heat dissipation.

[0057] In addition, such as Figure 2 As shown, a clearance opening 111 is also provided on the first extension plate 11 or the second extension plate 12 to allow clearance for internal control components, improve the space utilization on the back plate 13, and also serve as a ventilation and heat dissipation function.

[0058] Since the power cord is located at the rear of the machine body, this application also provides a wire harness through-hole 1381 and a wire fixing member 1382 on the back plate 13. The wire harness through-hole 1381 allows the power cord, etc., to pass through the back plate 13 and be electrically connected to the electrical components inside the machine body, such as... Figure 5 As shown, the cable fixing component 1382 is preferably configured as a cable management clip, which can fix and organize the cable bundle so that the cable bundle can be neatly fixed on the back plate 13 and prevent it from falling to the ground.

[0059] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, regarding the connection between the rear cover 1 and the frame and outer shell, this application provides side flanges 14 at the front edge of the first extension plate 11 and the front edge of the second extension plate 12. The side flanges 14 are provided with slots 141 and screw holes. The slots 141 can engage with the outer shell to fix the installation of the outer shell, and can also quickly position the outer shell to achieve rapid installation of the outer shell and improve the assembly efficiency of the machine body. The screw holes can be threaded to the frame, so that the back plate 13 can fix the outer shell and the frame at the same time, further improving the structural strength of the machine body.

[0060] Meanwhile, an upper flange 15 is provided on the top of the back plate 13. The two ends of the upper flange 15 can overlap and cooperate with the first frame 21 and the second frame 22 respectively to achieve quick positioning. By providing threaded holes on the upper flange 15, the upper flange 15 can be tightened with the first frame 21 and the second frame 21. This improves assembly efficiency and enhances the connection strength between the top of the back plate 13 and the frame.

[0061] Furthermore, the washing machine provided by the present invention, based on the aforementioned rear cover 1, possesses the technical effects of the aforementioned rear cover 1. Compared with the washing machine before the improvement, the functional modules of the washing machine of the present invention are more rationally arranged in the machine body, with higher space utilization, which is conducive to the miniaturization of the machine body.

[0062] The technical solution of the present invention has been described above with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the scope of protection of the present invention is obviously not limited to these specific embodiments. Without departing from the principles of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make equivalent changes or substitutions to the relevant technical features, and the technical solutions after such changes or substitutions will all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A back cover (1) and a washing machine including the back cover (1), characterized in that, The rear cover (1) includes: Back panel (13), the back panel (13) is arranged vertically at the rear of the washing machine body; The first extension plate (11) extends from the first side edge of the back plate (13) toward the first frame (21) of the washing machine, and the front edge of the first extension plate (11) is fixedly connected to the rear edge of the first frame (21). The second extension plate (12) extends from the second side edge of the back plate (13) toward the second frame (22) of the washing machine, and the front edge of the second extension plate (12) is fixedly connected to the rear edge of the second frame (22). The first extension plate (11), the second extension plate (12), and the back plate (13) together form a receiving space that protrudes to the rear of the body.

2. The back cover (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The angle between the first extension plate (11) and the back plate (13) inside the body is set to 90° to 180°, and the angle between the second extension plate (12) and the back plate (13) inside the body is set to 90° to 180°.

3. The back cover (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The back plate (13) is provided with a water supply pipe through hole (131) and a drainage pipe through hole (132).

4. The back cover (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The edge of the drain pipe passage hole (132) is also provided with a snap-fit ​​notch (1321), which can be snapped into place with the buckle on the drain pipe.

5. The back cover (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The back plate (13) is also provided with an installation port (133) and a cover plate (1331). The installation port (133) is located at the bottom of the back plate (13) corresponding to the drainage system, so as to allow for the installation and removal of the drainage system. The cover plate (1331) is detachably installed on the installation port (133); and / or The back plate (13) is also provided with a cleaning port (134) and a plug (1341). The cleaning port (134) is located at the bottom of the back plate (13) and at a position corresponding to the drain pump, so as to clean the drain pump. The plug (1341) is detachably installed on the cleaning port (134).

6. The back cover (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The back plate (13) is also provided with a plurality of fixing rod mounting holes (135), which are spaced apart on the back plate (13).

7. The back cover (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The back plate (13) is also provided with a plurality of molding structures (136), which extend in both vertical and horizontal directions to improve the strength of the back plate (13); and / or Multiple groove structures (137) are respectively provided on the fold line between the first extension plate (11) and the second extension plate (12) and the back plate (13) to improve the strength at the fold line.

8. The back cover (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The backplate (13) is also provided with a plurality of controller mounting structures (139); and / or the backplate (13) is also provided with wire harness through holes (1381) and wire fixing components (1382).

9. The back cover (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The front edge of the first extension plate (11) and the front edge of the second extension plate (12) are both provided with side flanges (14), and the side flanges (14) are provided with slots (141) and / or screw holes.

10. A washing machine, characterized in that, The washing machine includes a rear cover (1) as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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