Lifting mechanism and household appliance

Abstract

The lifting mechanism comprises a fixed arm and two swing arms, each swing arm is provided with a first hinge installation part and a second hinge installation part, the first hinge installation part of each swing arm is installed on the fixed arm, and the second hinge installation part of each swing arm is installed on the fixed arm. The second hinge installation of each swing arm is used for being directly or indirectly installed on the first storage rack, each swing arm is provided with an upper swing limit position, so that the first storage rack can be located at the top lifting limit position, and the upper swing limit position is used for enabling the first storage rack to be located at the top lifting limit position. The included angle gamma between the connecting line of the rotating centers of the first hinge mounting part and the second hinge mounting part on the same swing arm and the connecting line of the rotating centers of the two second hinge mounting parts of the two swing arms is 0 degree lt; gamma lt; according to the arrangement, on the premise that the maximum swinging height of the first storage rack is considered, the user operation is more convenient and labor-saving, and the user experience is improved.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the China Patent Office on April 30, 2024, with application number 202420943936.7 and application name “Lifting Mechanism and Dishwasher”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into the application. Technical Field

[0002] The utility model relates to the technical field of household appliances, in particular to a lifting mechanism and a household appliance. Background Art

[0003] In household appliances with internal spaces, movable storage structures such as shelves that can be extended from the interior of the household appliances are usually provided. In the prior art, there are some movable storage structures that have both a pull-out function and a lifting function.

[0004] In some household appliances, storage racks are usually placed at the bottom of the household appliances. During use, operations such as taking and putting tableware require frequent bending. In order to reduce the frequency of bending during use of the storage rack, the existing technology uses a lifting mechanism to lift the storage rack before use, which can reduce the bending frequency. However, the existing lifting mechanism makes the storage rack lift to a low height, and users still need to bend frequently during use, resulting in a poor user experience. Utility Model Content

[0005] The main purpose of this utility model is to provide a lifting mechanism and household appliance, aiming to optimize existing lifting mechanisms to reduce the frequency of bending during operation and improve the user experience. In the scheme of achieving a large-height lifting height of the shelf of the household appliance, after the shelf is lifted to the top lifting limit, the user can pick up and place items on the shelf. After the user finishes using the shelf, the shelf must be returned to the interior of the household appliance. During the process of returning the shelf, how to make the user's operation more convenient and labor-saving determines the performance of the lifting mechanism, and it is necessary to optimize the lifting mechanism of the prior art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a lifting mechanism, which includes:

[0007] a fixed arm; and,

[0008] two swing arms, each having a first hinged mounting portion and a second hinged mounting portion, the first hinged mounting portion of each swing arm being mounted on the fixed arm, and the second hinged mounting portion of each swing arm being directly or indirectly mounted on the first storage rack;

[0009] The swing arm has an upper swing limit position, so as to enable the first storage rack to be in the top lifting limit position. At the upper swing limit position, the angle between the line connecting the rotation centers of the first hinged mounting portion and the second hinged mounting portion on the same swing arm and the line connecting the rotation centers of the two second hinged mounting portions of the two swing arms is γ, and 0°<γ<90°.

[0010] In one embodiment, 30°≤γ<90°.

[0011] In one embodiment, at the upper swing limit position, the two swing arms include a first swing arm at the bottom and a second swing arm at the top, an extension portion is provided on one end of the first swing arm where the first hinged mounting portion is provided, and a third hinged mounting portion is provided on the extension portion;

[0012] The lifting mechanism further includes a damping member, one end of which is connected to the third hinged mounting portion, and the other end of which is hinged to the fixed arm.

[0013] In one embodiment, in the first swing arm, the rotation centers of the first articulated mounting part and the second articulated mounting part form a first connecting line, the rotation centers of the first articulated mounting part and the third articulated mounting part form a second connecting line, and the angle between the first connecting line and the second connecting line is θ, and 95°≤θ≤180°.

[0014] In one embodiment, 95°≤θ≤165°.

[0015] In one embodiment, in the first swing arm, a distance L between the third hinged mounting portion and the first hinged mounting portion is 20 mm ≤ L6 ≤ 170 mm.

[0016] In one embodiment, 20 mm ≤ L6 ≤ 100 mm.

[0017] In one embodiment, the damping element comprises a gas strut.

[0018] In one embodiment, at the upper swing limit position, the swing arm is used to support the first storage rack upward, and in the direction from back to front, the swing arm is tilted upward.

[0019] In one embodiment, corresponding to the upper swing limit position, the angle between the line connecting the rotation centers of the first hinged mounting portion and the second hinged mounting portion on the same swing arm and the horizontal direction is α, and 0°<α≤70°; and / or,

[0020] Corresponding to the upper swing limit position, the difference in vertical direction between the rotation centers of the first hinged mounting portion and the second hinged mounting portion on the same swing arm is L1, and 0<L1≤235mm.

[0021] The present invention further provides a household appliance, comprising a housing, a lifting mechanism, and a first shelf. The housing forms a receiving cavity. A fixed arm of the lifting mechanism is disposed on a side wall of the receiving cavity. The first shelf is directly or indirectly hinged to two swing arms of the lifting mechanism. The lifting mechanism enables the first shelf to be lifted and switched between a bottom position to be lifted and a top lifting limit position.

[0022] Wherein, the lifting mechanism includes:

[0023] a fixed arm; and,

[0024] two swing arms, each having a first hinged mounting portion and a second hinged mounting portion, the first hinged mounting portion of each swing arm being mounted on the fixed arm, and the second hinged mounting portion of each swing arm being directly or indirectly mounted on the first storage rack;

[0025] The swing arm has an upper swing limit position, so as to enable the first storage rack to be in the top lifting limit position. At the upper swing limit position, the angle between the line connecting the rotation centers of the first hinged mounting portion and the second hinged mounting portion on the same swing arm and the line connecting the rotation centers of the two second hinged mounting portions of the two swing arms is γ, and 0°<γ<90°.

[0026] In one embodiment, a second shelf is further provided in the accommodating cavity, and corresponding to the top lifting limit position, the lower end of the first shelf protrudes upward from the lower end of the second shelf.

[0027] In one embodiment, the household appliance includes a dishwasher, the first rack is configured as a lower basket, and the second rack is configured as an upper basket.

[0028] In the technical solution of the present utility model, the lifting mechanism includes a fixed arm and two swing arms, each of the swing arms has a first hinge mounting portion and a second hinge mounting portion, the first hinge mounting portion of each swing arm is mounted on the fixed arm, and the second hinge mounting portion of each swing arm is used to be directly or indirectly mounted on the first storage rack, the swing arm has an upper swing limit position, so that the first storage rack can be in the top lifting limit position, at the upper swing limit position, the angle between the line connecting the rotation centers of the first hinge mounting portion and the second hinge mounting portion on the same swing arm and the angle between the line connecting the rotation centers of the two second hinge mounting portions of the two swing arms is γ, and 0°<γ<90°. With this arrangement, while taking into account the maximum swing height of the first storage rack, the user operation is more convenient and labor-saving, thereby improving the user experience. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0030] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of an embodiment of the household appliance provided by the present invention (the first shelf is in the bottom storage position, and the swing arm of the lifting mechanism is in the lower swing limit position);

[0031] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the main structure of a household appliance;

[0032] Figure 3 for Figure 1 The diagram includes a three-dimensional structure diagram of a lifting mechanism and a first storage rack;

[0033] Figure 4 for Figure 1 The main structural diagram of the lifting mechanism and the first storage rack is included;

[0034] Figure 5 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the household appliance (the first shelf is at the bottom position to be lifted, and the swing arm of the lifting mechanism is at the lower swing limit position);

[0035] Figure 6 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the main structure of a household appliance;

[0036] Figure 7 for Figure 1 The diagram includes a three-dimensional structure diagram of a lifting mechanism and a first storage rack;

[0037] Figure 8 for Figure 1 The main structural diagram of the lifting mechanism and the first storage rack is included;

[0038] Figure 9 for Figure 1 The diagram includes a partial cross-sectional view of the lifting mechanism and the first storage rack;

[0039] Figure 10 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the household appliance (the first shelf is at the top lifting limit position, and the swing arm of the lifting mechanism is at the upper swing limit position);

[0040] Figure 11 for Figure 10 A schematic diagram of the main structure of a household appliance;

[0041] Figure 12 for Figure 10 The diagram includes a three-dimensional structure diagram of a lifting mechanism and a first storage rack;

[0042] Figure 13 for Figure 10 A first main structural diagram including a lifting mechanism and a first storage rack is included;

[0043] Figure 14 for Figure 10 A second main structural diagram including a lifting mechanism and a first storage rack;

[0044] Figure 15 for Figure 10 The diagram includes a partial cross-sectional view of the lifting mechanism and the first storage rack;

[0045] Figure 16 for Figure 10 A schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure including a lifting mechanism, a first rack and a second rack;

[0046] Figure 17 for Figure 10 The main structural diagram of the lifting mechanism, the first rack and the second rack is included;

[0047] Figure 18 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the household appliance (the first shelf is in the top locking position, and the swing arm of the lifting mechanism is in the upper swing limit position);

[0048] Figure 19 for Figure 18 A schematic diagram of the main structure of a household appliance;

[0049] Figure 20 for Figure 18 The diagram includes a three-dimensional structure diagram of a lifting mechanism and a first storage rack;

[0050] Figure 21 for Figure 18 The main structural diagram of the lifting mechanism and the first storage rack is included;

[0051] Figure 22 for Figure 18 The diagram includes a partial cross-sectional view of the lifting mechanism and the first storage rack;

[0052] Figure 23 for Figure 18 Schematic diagram of the installation structure of the middle damping member and the swing arm;

[0053] Figure 24 Schematic diagram of the states of extension parts and damping parts of different lengths at the upper swing limit position.

[0054] Description of Figure Numbers:

[0055] 100. Lifting mechanism; 1. Fixed arm; 2. Swing arm; 2a. First swing arm; 2b. Second swing arm; 21. First hinged mounting portion; 22. Second hinged mounting portion; 23. Third hinged mounting portion; 24. Extension portion; 4. First guide rail; 41. First slide rail; 42. Tail slide rail; 5. Locking structure; 5a. Locking member; 511. First matching slot; 5111. Horizontal slot section; 5112. Arc-shaped slot section; 512. Second matching slot; 513. First sliding axis; 514. Second sliding axis; 6. Damping member;

[0056] 1000, household appliance; 200, housing; 201, accommodating cavity; 300, first shelf; 400, second shelf;

[0057] The functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further described in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0058] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0059] It should be noted that if the embodiments of the present invention involve directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indications are only used to explain the relative position relationship, movement status, etc. between the various components under a certain specific posture (as shown in the accompanying drawings). If the specific posture changes, the directional indications will also change accordingly.

[0060] In addition, if there are descriptions involving "first", "second", etc. in the embodiments of the present invention, the descriptions of "first", "second", etc. are only for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features specified as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of such features. In addition, the technical solutions between the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the fact that ordinary technicians in this field can implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be deemed that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection required by the present invention.

[0061] Household appliances with an internal space are usually equipped with a movable storage structure such as a shelf that can be extended from the interior of the household appliance. In the prior art, there are some movable storage structures that have both a pull-out function and a lifting function.

[0062] In some household appliances, storage racks are usually placed at the bottom of the household appliances. During use, operations such as taking and putting tableware require frequent bending. In order to reduce the frequency of bending during use of the storage rack, the existing technology uses a lifting mechanism to lift the storage rack before use, which can reduce the bending frequency. However, the existing lifting mechanism makes the storage rack lift to a low height, and users still need to bend frequently during use, resulting in a poor user experience.

[0063] In view of this, the present invention proposes a household appliance that can lift the shelf to a higher height, reducing the user's frequent bending during operation and improving the user experience, wherein: Figures 1 to 22 This is a structural diagram of the household appliance provided by the utility model.

[0064] See also Figures 1 to 2 The present invention provides a household appliance 1000, which can be a dishwasher, oven, toaster oven, refrigerator, etc. The household appliance 1000 includes a housing 200, within which is formed a receiving cavity 201. A first storage rack 300 is connected to the receiving cavity 201 via a lifting mechanism 100. Utensils to be placed on the first storage rack 300 include tableware such as bowls, plates, chopsticks, and cutlery, as well as baked ingredients or items to be refrigerated.

[0065] In the present invention, the user is used as a reference for the direction, forward is the direction toward the user, or toward the side of the household appliance 1000 where the door is provided; backward is the direction opposite to the forward direction, specifically the direction away from the user, and the up and down directions are the directions with gravity as a reference.

[0066] It should be noted that some household appliances 1000 have only one shelf, such as the first shelf 300. Some may have multiple shelves. In embodiments where multiple shelves are provided in the household appliance 1000, two shelves may be provided, such as the first shelf 300 and the second shelf 400. When the two shelves are positioned one above the other, they may be referred to as an upper shelf and a lower shelf. In the embodiments of the present invention, the first shelf 300 corresponds to the lower shelf, and the second shelf 400 corresponds to the upper shelf.

[0067] The first rack 300 needs to be moved out of the accommodating cavity 201 of the household appliance 1000, then lifted to a suitable position, and finally locked in a suitable position. Specifically, after the door of the household appliance 1000 is opened, the user needs to put items in or take out items from the first rack 300. The user often pulls the first rack 300 forward. During the movement of the first rack 300, a complex movement process occurs, that is, the first rack 300 moves forward and upward at the same time. At this time, the lifting mechanism 100 will follow the movement and support the first rack 300.

[0068] The first rack 300 has several important positions during its movement, the most common of which are the bottom storage position (such as the attached Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown), the bottom position to be lifted (as shown in the attached Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown), top lifting limit position (as shown in the attached Figure 10 and Figure 11 shown) and top locked position (as shown in the attached Figure 18 and Figure 19 shown).

[0069] In one embodiment, the first rack 300 may have only two positions, namely, a bottom position to be raised and a top lifting limit position; the first rack 300 may also have three positions, namely, a bottom storage position, a bottom position to be raised, and a top lifting limit position. In this case, the top lifting limit position and the top locking position of the first rack 300 may be the same position; the first rack 300 may also have four positions, namely, a bottom storage position, a bottom position to be raised, a top lifting limit position, and a top locking position. In this case, the top lifting limit position and the top locking position of the first rack 300 are different positions.

[0070] The lifting mechanism 100 is mainly used to lift the first rack 300 . The movement of the lifting mechanism 100 may only correspond to the bottom position to be lifted and the top lifting limit position of the first rack 300 .

[0071] The lifting mechanism 100 within the household appliance 1000 often utilizes a linkage mechanism, i.e., a single linkage or a combination of multiple linkages is used to elevate the first shelf 300. In an embodiment with only one linkage, the linkage can be configured as a swing arm 2, with a first hinged mounting portion 21 and a second hinged mounting portion 22 formed at each end. The first hinged mounting portion 21 is hingedly attached to the housing 200 of the household appliance 1000, and the second hinged mounting portion 22 is directly or indirectly connected to the first shelf 300. Furthermore, other supporting structures may be used to support the swinging motion of the swing arm 2. Alternatively, multiple linkage mechanisms may be employed, disposed on either side of the first shelf 300, i.e., two swing arms 2 may be disposed on either side of the first shelf 300 to achieve swing-following motion. Thus, a single swing arm 2 can lift the first shelf 300 throughout its swing stroke.

[0072] Among the combinations of multiple connecting rods, a four-bar linkage is often used. Two of the connecting rods in the four-bar linkage can be configured as swing arms 2, that is, the lifting of the first storage rack 300 is achieved through the form of a double swing arm 2. In this way, the first storage rack 300 will have better stability during the lifting process, which will be described in detail in subsequent embodiments.

[0073] Therefore, corresponding to the swing arm 2, the swing arm 2 has a lower swing limit position and an upper swing limit position. When the first storage rack 300 has only two positions, namely the bottom position to be lifted and the top lifting limit position, when the swing arm 2 is in the lower swing limit position, the corresponding first storage rack 300 is in the bottom position to be lifted; when the swing arm 2 is in the upper swing limit position, the corresponding first storage rack 300 is in the top lifting limit position.

[0074] When the first storage rack 300 has three positions, namely, a bottom storage position, a bottom position to be lifted, and a top lifting limit position, when the swing arm 2 is at the lower swing limit position, the corresponding first storage rack 300 is at the bottom storage position and the bottom position to be lifted; when the swing arm 2 is at the upper swing limit position, the corresponding first storage rack 300 is at the top lifting limit position.

[0075] When the first storage rack 300 has four positions, namely, a bottom storage position, a bottom position to be lifted, a top lifting limit position, and a top locking position, when the swing arm 2 is at the lower swing limit position, the corresponding first storage rack 300 is at the bottom storage position and the bottom position to be lifted; when the swing arm 2 is at the upper swing limit position, the corresponding first storage rack 300 is at the top lifting limit position and the top locking position.

[0076] It should be noted that the first hinged mounting portion 21 of the swing arm 2 serves as a fixed hinge point, and its position will not change. The swinging movement of the swing arm 2 only indicates the movable hinge point of the swing arm 2, that is, the movement of one end of the swing arm 2 provided with the second hinged mounting portion 22. The upper swing limit position of the swing arm 2 and the lower swing limit position of the swing arm 2 are both based on the movable end of the swing arm 2. That is, when the swing arm 2 is at the lower swing limit position, the end of the swing arm 2 provided with the second hinged mounting portion 22 is at the bottom limit position. When the swing arm 2 is at the upper swing limit position, the end of the swing arm 2 provided with the second hinged mounting portion 22 is at the top limit position.

[0077] In the scheme for achieving a high-height lifting of the shelf of the household appliance 1000, after the shelf is lifted to the upper lifting limit, the user takes out and places items in the shelf. After the user finishes using the shelf, the shelf needs to be returned to the interior of the household appliance 1000. During the process of returning the shelf, the performance of the lifting mechanism 100 is determined by the need to make the operation more convenient and labor-saving for the user.

[0078] In some embodiments, see Figure 14 Two swing arms 2 are provided in the lifting mechanism 100, and the swing arms 2 have an upper swing limit position, so that the first storage rack 300 can be in the top lifting limit position. At the upper swing limit position, the angle between the line connecting the rotation centers of the first hinged mounting portion 21 and the second hinged mounting portion 22 on the same swing arm 2 and the line connecting the rotation centers of the two second hinged mounting portions 22 of the two swing arms 2 is γ, and 0°<γ<90°.

[0079] In the technical solution of the present invention, at the upper swing limit position, the angle between the line connecting the rotation centers of the first hinged mounting portion 21 and the second hinged mounting portion 22 on the same swing arm 2 and the line connecting the rotation centers of the two second hinged mounting portions 22 of the two swing arms 2 is γ, and 0°<γ<90°. With this arrangement, while taking into account the maximum height to which the first storage rack 300 can swing, the user operation is more convenient and labor-saving, thereby improving the user experience.

[0080] The larger the angle between the swing arm 2 and the horizontal direction, the smaller the angle γ, and the greater the force required by the user to press down on the first storage rack 300 to make it fall back; the smaller the angle between the swing arm 2 and the horizontal direction, the larger the angle γ, and the less force required by the user to press down on the first storage rack 300 to make it fall back, and the more comfortable the customer experience.

[0081] When the two swing arms 2 are in the extreme overlapping position, they can swing to their maximum angle. In this extreme case, the included angle γ is 0. When both swing arms 2 are in a horizontal position, the included angle γ is 90°. Considering the swing angle of the swing arms 2 and the force with which the user presses down on the first storage rack 300 to lower it, setting the included angle γ between 0° and 90° is a reasonable choice.

[0082] It should be noted that the angle γ can be any integer value between 0° and 90°, such as 10°, 20°, 30°, 40°, 50°, 60°, 70°, 80°, etc., and of course, it can also be an angle value between any two of the above integers, such as the degrees between 0° and 10° can be 1°, 2°, 3°, 4°, 5°, 6°, 7°, 8°, 9°, etc., and can also be degrees between 10° and 20°, degrees between 20° and 30°, degrees between 30° and 40°, degrees between 40° and 50°, degrees between 50° and 60°, degrees between 60° and 70°, degrees between 80° and 90°, and of course, some decimal degree values. The above values ​​are all within the scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0083] In some embodiments, the angle γ is set between 30° and 90°, such as 30°, 90°, or any integer value between 30° and 90°. In some embodiments, the angle γ is set between 30° and 60°, such as 30°, 60°, or any integer value between 30° and 60°.

[0084] The following describes the relationship between the value of the angle γ and the lifting height of the first rack 300 and the force required to lower and place the first rack 300 , and takes the value of the angle γ of 90° as a reference example.

[0085] When the angle γ is set at 30°, the angle γ is reduced by 60° compared to the reference example. The force arm required to lower and retract the first shelf 300 is reduced by approximately 0.3 times, a significant reduction in the force arm. The first shelf 300 is lifted directly from a horizontal position to an upwardly tilted position. A 30° angle prioritizes the lifting of the first shelf 300. In this embodiment, the swing arm 2 has a larger swing angle, enabling the first shelf 300 to achieve a greater height.

[0086] When the angle γ is set to 60°, the angle γ is reduced by 30° relative to the reference example, and the force arm for applying the force to drop and put back the first shelf 300 is reduced by approximately 0.1 times. The reduction in the force arm is small, and the force required to drop and put back the first shelf 300 is given priority consideration. In this embodiment, the first shelf 300 can be lifted to a suitable height position, and the force required for the user to drop and put back the first shelf 300 is small, making it easier and more convenient to operate the household appliance 1000, thereby improving the user experience.

[0087] In some preferred embodiments, when the angle γ is approximately 45°, the angle is reduced by 45° relative to the reference example, and the maximum height to which the first shelf 300 can be raised is moderate. The lever arm of the force applied by the user to press down on the first shelf 300 is reduced by approximately 0.2 times, and the lever arm of the force applied is moderate, taking into account both the raising height of the first shelf 300 and the force required to lower and retract the first shelf 300.

[0088] During the lifting process of the first storage rack 300, in order to improve the user experience of the shelf lifting process, a damping member 6 is generally provided. The damping member 6 can itself be expanded and contracted, thereby converting potential energy into kinetic energy during the lifting process of the first storage rack 300, thereby achieving the effect of saving effort.

[0089] In some embodiments, at the upper swing limit position, the two swing arms 2 include a first swing arm 2a at the bottom and a second swing arm 2b at the top, and an extension portion 24 is provided at one end of the first swing arm 2a having a first hinged mounting portion 21, and a third hinged mounting portion 23 is provided on the extension portion 24.

[0090] The lifting mechanism 100 further includes a damping member 6 , one end of which is connected to the third hinged mounting portion 23 , and the other end of which is hinged to the fixed arm 1 .

[0091] By arranging the damping member 6 between the first swing arm 2a and the fixed arm 1, the kinetic energy of the first storage rack 300 during lifting is converted into the potential energy of the damping member 6, which saves the user effort during operation and improves the user experience.

[0092] It should be noted that the specific implementation form of the damping element 6 is not limited, and it can be a gas strut, a compression spring, etc.

[0093] The length of the extension portion 24 and the angle between the extension portion 24 and the first swing arm 2 a determine the location of the third hinged mounting portion 23 , and further determine the labor-saving characteristics of the entire lifting mechanism 100 .

[0094] In some embodiments that take into account the angle between the extension portion 24 and the first swing arm 2a, please continue to refer to Figure 14 In the first swing arm 2a, the rotation centers of the first hinged mounting part 21 and the second hinged mounting part 22 form a first connecting line, and the rotation centers of the first hinged mounting part 21 and the third hinged mounting part 23 form a second connecting line. The angle between the first connecting line and the second connecting line is θ, and 95°≤θ≤180°.

[0095] By limiting the angle θ to between 95° and 180°, when the first swing arm 2a is in the upper swing limit position, the extension portion 24 of the first swing arm 2a can be closer to the hinge point connecting the damping member 6 and the fixed arm 1, so that the length of the damping portion is shorter, thereby providing greater supporting force and improving the long-term reliability of the damping member 6.

[0096] It should be noted that the angle θ can be any integer value between 95° and 180°, such as 100°, 110°, 120°, 130°, 140°, 150°, 160°, 170°, etc., and of course, it can also be an angle value between any two of the above integers, such as the degree between 95° and 100° can be 96°, 97°, 98°, 99°, etc., or the degree between 10° and 20°, and the degree between 10° and 20°. Degrees between 0° and 110°, degrees between 110° and 120°, degrees between 120° and 130°, degrees between 130° and 140°, degrees between 140° and 150°, degrees between 150° and 160°, degrees between 160° and 170°, degrees between 170° and 180°, and of course some decimal degree values, all of the above values ​​are within the scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0097] The existing angle θ between the first connecting line and the second connecting line is generally set to 90°. By increasing the setting value of the angle θ, on the premise that the distance between the first hinged mounting part 21 and the third hinged mounting part 23 remains unchanged, when the swing arm 2 is in the upper swing limit position, the first hinged mounting part 21 of the swing arm 2 can be closer to the damping member 6, thereby reducing the length of the damping member 6, allowing it to provide greater supporting force and improve its long-term reliability.

[0098] The angle θ between the first connecting line and the second connecting line cannot be too large. When θ is greater than 180°, if θ is further increased, the length of the damping member 6 may increase. Therefore, the angle θ is set within 180° to avoid the length of the damping member 6 being too long.

[0099] Regarding the value range of θ, further explanation will be given below in conjunction with the embodiments of the present invention:

[0100] In one embodiment of the present invention, 95°≤θ≤165°. The selection of “95°≤θ≤165°” is based on the following considerations for further optimization, and the specific analysis is detailed as follows.

[0101] Based on the above embodiment of 95°≤θ≤165°, there are the following refined embodiments:

[0102] In a first detailed embodiment, 95°≤θ<136°, for example, 95°, 100°, 110°, and so on. In this case, when the swing arm 2 is at the upper swing limit position, the length of the damping member 6 is smaller than that of the existing damping member, thereby providing a greater supporting force. The first storage rack 300 is raised higher, and the length of the damping member 6 is still relatively long. In this case, the supporting force that can be provided is limited, and the stability of the support of the first storage rack 300 is not particularly good.

[0103] In a second detailed embodiment, 165° ≥ θ ≥ 136°. Without changing the selection of the damping member 6 , even if the height of the first storage rack 300 at the upper swing limit position is increased, the angle θ is greater than or equal to 136°. This allows the damping member 6 to be shorter, providing sufficient supporting force and better supporting the first storage rack 300 .

[0104] In a third detailed embodiment, 145°<θ≤165°, for example, 146°, 150°, 155°, and so on. At this time, when the swing arm 2 is at the upper swing limit position, the length of the damping member 6 will be much smaller than the length of the existing damping member, thereby being able to provide greater supporting force. The first storage rack 300 is supported with good stability. The damping member 6 will occupy more space and is prone to interference with other components.

[0105] A fourth detailed embodiment: 95°≤θ≤145°, which reduces the space occupied by the damping member 6 upwards and reduces the probability of interference between the swing arm 2 and other components during the upward swinging process.

[0106] The fifth detailed embodiment: 136°≤θ≤145°, at this time, θ is much larger than 90°, and when the swing arm 2 is in the upper swing limit position, the length of the damping member can be greatly reduced so that it can provide greater supporting force, and θ≤145° can avoid the damping member 6 occupying too much space upward, and avoid interference between the swing arm 2 and other components during the upward swing process.

[0107] In some embodiments, the angle θ is limited to between 95° and 160°. This configuration allows the damping member 6 to play a good auxiliary role when the first storage rack 300 is lifted or lowered, thereby optimizing the structure of the lifting mechanism 100 and making it more convenient for users to use the first storage rack 300, thereby improving the user experience.

[0108] In some embodiments taking into account the length factor of the extension portion 24, please continue to refer to Figure 14 In the first swing arm 2a, the distance between the third hinged mounting portion 23 and the first hinged mounting portion 21 is L6, 20mm≤L6≤170mm.

[0109] By setting the distance L6 to a value between 20 mm and 170 mm, when the first swing arm 2a is in a position where the extension portion 24 and the damping member 6 are collinear, the length of the extension portion 24 is reduced, which can increase the length of the damping member 6, thereby reducing the maximum compression amount of the damping member 6 and ensuring the life and long-term stability of the damping member 6. Moreover, under the premise that other existing conditions remain unchanged, when the first swing arm 2a is in the upper swing limit position, the length of the damping member 6 can also be increased, so that it can provide greater supporting force.

[0110] If the distance between the third hinged mounting portion 23 and the first hinged mounting portion 21 is greater than 170 mm, the damping member 6 will be shorter, providing less support. This will also result in excessive compression of the damping member 6 when the first hinged mounting portion 21, the third hinged mounting portion 23, and the fourth hinged mounting portion are collinear. Furthermore, the limited space between the first storage rack 300 and the second storage rack 400 prevents the damping member 6 from achieving both its maximum and minimum travels.

[0111] It should be noted that the distance L6 can be any integer value between 20mm and 170mm, such as 20mm, 50mm, 80mm, 110mm, 140mm, 170mm, etc. Of course, it can also be a value between any two of the above integers, such as, the value between 20mm and 50mm can be 30mm, 40mm, etc., or a value between 30mm and 40mm, a value between 40mm and 50mm, a value between 50mm and 60mm, etc. Of course, it can also be some decimal values. The above values ​​are all within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0112] In some embodiments, the distance L6 is set to a value between 20 mm and 100 mm. At this time, L6 is less than or equal to 100 mm. When the first swing arm 2a is in the upper swing limit position, the length of the damping member 6 can be made smaller, so that its compression amount is greater and it can provide more supporting force, thereby ensuring the effect of stopping the first swing arm 2a from swinging downward when in the upper swing limit position.

[0113] The motion trajectory of the third hinged mounting portion 23 of the extension portion 24 is a circular swing with the first hinged mounting portion 21 as the center. When a tangential force is applied to the extension portion 24, the extension portion 24 can be better driven to rotate or stop rotating. Therefore, when the swing arm 2 is in the upper swing limit position, the damping member 6 stops the swing arm 2 from rotating through the force output by itself. Correspondingly, the force exerted by the damping member 6 on the extension portion 24 of the swing arm 2 is decomposed into two force components, one of which is in the direction of the extension portion 24, and the other is in a direction at 90 degrees to the extension direction of the extension portion 24. The magnitude of the other force component determines the magnitude of the acceleration applied to the extension portion 24 of the swing arm 2, thereby achieving the stopping or rotation of the extension portion 24.

[0114] In order to better prevent the swing arm 2 from rotating, please refer to Figure 23 and Figure 24 The included angle x between the damping member 6 and the extension portion 24 of the swing arm 2 is 80°≤x≤100°. When the included angle x is less than 80° or greater than 100°, the force exerted by the damping member 6 on the extension portion 24 of the swing arm 2 has a larger component in the extension direction of the extension portion 24, while the component in the direction 90° from the extension direction of the extension portion 24 is smaller. Consequently, the anti-rotation effect on the swing arm 2 is poor in the upper swing limit position. Optimally, x is 90°, at which point the component in the extension direction of the extension portion 24 is zero, achieving the best anti-rotation effect.

[0115] When L6 is 100 mm, with other conditions unchanged, the value of X is approximately 75°, which is larger than the existing angle. At this time, compared with the existing solution, X is closer to 90°, thereby making the tangential component of the damping member 6 greater, and providing better support for the first storage rack 300 when it is in the upper limit position.

[0116] Based on the above 20mm≤L6≤100mm, there are the following detailed embodiments:

[0117] A first detailed embodiment: 70mm<L6≤100mm. When L6 is 70mm, the corresponding X is about 80°. At this time, it corresponds to 75°≤X<80°. At this time, when the swing arm 2 is in the upper swing limit position, the length of the damping member 6 is shorter than the existing one, and the damping member 6 can output a greater force. In addition, the angle X is larger than the existing one, closer to 90°. Correspondingly, the tangential component of the damping member 6 is greater, and the component in the extension direction of the extension portion 24 is smaller, and the anti-rotation effect on the swing arm 2 is better than the existing solution.

[0118] Second detailed embodiment: 20mm≤L6≤70mm, at this time, the corresponding angle is 80°≤X≤100°. When the value of L6 is 20mm, the corresponding angle X is about 100°. When the value of L6 is 70mm, the corresponding angle X is about 80°. At this time, compared with the first detailed embodiment, X is closer to 90°, the tangential component of the damping member 6 is greater, and the component in the extension direction of the extension portion 24 is smaller, and the anti-rotation effect on the swing arm 2 is better than that of the first detailed embodiment.

[0119] More specifically, when X is 90°, at the upper swing limit position, the length of the damping member 6 is the shortest, and the tangential component force is the largest. At this time, the anti-rotation effect on the swing arm is optimal. After numerous experiments, it was found that when L6 is 48 mm, X can be approximately 90°, and at this time, the anti-rotation effect on the swing arm is optimal.

[0120] The household appliance 1000 in the present invention can lift the first shelf 300 to a higher position to reduce the user's bending. For the swing arm 2 in the connecting rod mechanism, two factors can be considered: one is the swing amplitude parameter of the swing arm 2. The larger the swing amplitude, the greater the height of the first shelf 300. Conversely, the lifting height is relatively small. The other is the installation position parameter of the fixed hinge point of the swing arm 2 in the accommodating cavity 201 of the household appliance 1000. Relative to the accommodating cavity 201 of the household appliance 1000, the higher the relative height of the installation position is, while avoiding other structures in the accommodating cavity 201, the greater the height of the first shelf 300. Conversely, the lifting height is relatively small.

[0121] The swing amplitude parameter of the swing arm 2 and the installation position parameter of the fixed hinge point of the swing arm 2 are two factors that can achieve lifting the first storage rack 300 to a higher position. The above two factors can be considered either alone or simultaneously.

[0122] The swing amplitude parameters of the swing arm 2 can be characterized by the swing angle of the swing arm 2 and the vertical span between the first hinged mounting portion 21 and the second hinged mounting portion 22 when the swing arm 2 is in the upper swing limit position. The larger the swing angle, the greater the height to which the first storage rack 300 is lifted; conversely, the height to which the first storage rack 300 is lifted is relatively small. Regarding the vertical span between the first hinged mounting portion 21 and the second hinged mounting portion 22 when the swing arm 2 is in the upper swing limit position, the larger the span, the greater the height to which the first storage rack 300 is lifted; conversely, the height to which the first storage rack 300 is lifted is relatively small. For the swing arm 2, a larger span also requires a longer length.

[0123] In one embodiment, see Figure 13 At the upper swing limit position, the swing arm 2 is used to support the first storage rack 300 upward, and in the direction from back to front, the swing arm 2 is tilted upward.

[0124] In the technical solution of the present invention, the first storage rack 300 is lifted by the swinging of the swing arm 2, so that the storage rack can be lifted to the top lifting limit position. At the upper swing limit position, the swing arm 2 is used to support the first storage rack 300 upward, and in the direction from back to front, the swing arm 2 is tilted upward. Compared with the swinging of the swing arm 2 to the horizontal direction, the swing arm 2 can swing at a larger angle, so that the first storage rack 300 can be lifted to a greater height, thereby reducing the user's frequent bending during operation and improving the user experience.

[0125] The technical solution of the present invention is not limited to the angle of the swing arm 2 relative to the horizontal direction when the upper swing limit position is in the upper swing limit position. In one embodiment, please refer to Figure 13 Corresponding to the upper swing limit position, the angle α between the line connecting the rotation centers of the first hinged mounting portion 21 and the second hinged mounting portion 22 on the same swing arm 2 and the horizontal direction is greater than 0° and less than or equal to 70°. The larger the angle, the greater the lifting height of the first storage rack 300. Considering that the swing arm 2 needs to cooperate with other structures to achieve lifting, and also considering some interference factors and the structural strength of the swing arm 2, setting the maximum angle of 70° is a relatively reasonable value.

[0126] It should be noted that the angle can be an integer value of 70°, or any integer value between 0° and 70°, such as 10°, 20°, 30°, 40°, 50°, 60°, etc. Of course, it can also be an angle value between any two of the above integers, such as the degrees between 0° and 10° can be 1°, 2°, 3°, 4°, 5°, 6°, 7°, 8°, 9°, etc. It can also be a degree between 10° and 20°, a degree between 20° and 30°, a degree between 30° and 40°, a degree between 40° and 50°, a degree between 50° and 60°, and of course it can also be some decimal degree values. The above values ​​are all within the protection scope of this utility model.

[0127] It can be understood that, when the angle α is large, the lifting height of the first rack 300 is large, the first rack 300 is close to the shell 200 of the household appliance 1000 in the front-to-back direction, and when the lifting mechanism 100 lifts the first rack 300, the risk of interference between the first rack 300 and other structures provided in the upper space of the shell 200 is large; when the angle α is small, the lifting height of the first rack 300 is small, the first rack 300 is away from the shell 200 of the household appliance 1000 in the front-to-back direction, and when the lifting mechanism 100 lifts the first rack 300, the risk of interference between the first rack 300 and other structures provided in the upper space of the shell 200 is small.

[0128] When the angle α is 70°, the first shelf 300 can be raised to a higher position (in the embodiment where the household appliance 1000 has a second shelf 400, the bottom of the first shelf 300 is higher than the bottom of the second shelf 400), thereby meeting the requirement of raising the first shelf 300 to a greater height and improving the user experience.

[0129] In some embodiments, as Figure 13 As shown, two swing arms 2 are provided, and the two swing arms 2 are staggered so that when the two swing arms 2 are swung to the extreme position, their projections in the vertical plane can at least partially overlap; when the angle α is 70°, the rotation centers of the two first hinged mounting parts 21 of the two swing arms 2 and the second hinged mounting parts 22 of the two swing arms 2 can be arranged collinearly at four points to meet the maximum height lifting requirement of the first storage rack 300.

[0130] After the first rack 300 is raised to its upper limit and items are placed in and out of the first rack 300, the rack 300 needs to be lowered and placed back. During this process, the user needs to apply a driving force to the rack 300 to cause the swing arm 2 to swing downward with the first hinged mounting portion 21 as the rotation center. The value of the angle α affects the force applied by the user.

[0131] Specifically, when the angle α is large, the lever arm for the user to press down the first rack 300 is small, and the force required to drop and put back the first rack 300 is large; when the angle α is small, the lever arm for the user to press down the first rack 300 is large, and the force required to drop and put back the first rack 300 is small.

[0132] The value of the angle α needs to take into account various factors such as the lifting height of the first rack 300, the risk of interference between the first rack 300 and other structures provided in the upper space of the shell 200, and the amount of force required to drop and replay the first rack 300. When the angle α is less than 70 degrees, the risk of interference between the first rack 300 and other structures provided in the upper space of the shell 200 is small. ， This element will not be described in detail later.

[0133] In some embodiments, the angle α may be between 15° and 50°, so that the first rack 300 can be lifted to a higher and appropriate position, and the force required to lower and place the first rack 300 back is moderate.

[0134] The following describes the relationship between the angle α and the lifting height of the first rack 300 and the force required to lower and place the first rack 300 , and takes the angle α of 70° as a reference example.

[0135] When the angle α is set to 15°, the angle is reduced by 55° compared to the reference example, resulting in a decrease of approximately 0.7 times in the maximum height to which the first shelf 300 can be raised. This significantly increases the lever arm required to apply downward force to the first shelf 300 by approximately 1.8 times, significantly reducing user effort. When the angle α is set to 15°, the force required to lower the first shelf 300 is prioritized. In this embodiment, the first shelf 300 can be raised to an appropriate maximum height, requiring less force to lower the first shelf 300. This makes operating the household appliance 1000 easier and more convenient, improving the user experience.

[0136] When the angle α is set to 50°, the angle is reduced by 20° compared to the reference example, resulting in a decrease of approximately 0.2 times in the maximum height to which the first shelf 300 can be raised. The force arm required by the user to press down on the first shelf 300 increases by approximately 1.2 times, significantly reducing the height and allowing the first shelf 300 to be positioned at a relatively high height. When the angle α is set to 50°, the lifting height of the first shelf 300 is prioritized. In this embodiment, the force required to lower and re-position the first shelf 300 is moderate, allowing the first shelf 300 to be raised to a suitable high position, thus meeting the maximum height requirement for the first shelf 300.

[0137] In some preferred embodiments, when the angle α is approximately 25°, the angle is reduced by 45° relative to the reference example, resulting in a decrease of approximately 0.6 times in the maximum height that the first rack 300 can be raised to, which is a moderate decrease in height. The lever arm required for the user to press down on the first rack 300 is increased by approximately 1.6 times, which is a moderate increase in the lever arm, taking into account both the lifting height of the first rack 300 and the force required to lower and retract the first rack 300.

[0138] Regarding the vertical span between the first hinged mounting portion 21 and the second hinged mounting portion 22 when the swing arm 2 is at the upper swing limit position, in one embodiment, please continue to refer to Figure 13 The vertical span of the rotation centers of the first hinged mounting portion 21 and the second hinged mounting portion 22 on the same swing arm 2 is L1, and L1 is greater than 0 mm and less than or equal to 235 mm. The larger the span, the greater the height to which the first storage rack 300 is lifted. Considering that the swing arm 2 needs to cooperate with other structures to achieve lifting, and also considering some interference factors and the structural strength of the swing arm 2, setting the maximum span to 235 mm is a relatively reasonable value.

[0139] It should be noted that the span can be any integer value between 0 and 235, such as 50mm, 100mm, 150mm, 200mm, 235mm, etc. Of course, it can also be a span value between any two of the above integers, such as a span value between 0 and 50mm, which can be 10mm, 20m, 30m, 40mm, etc. Of course, it can also be a span value between 150mm and 200mm, which can be 160mm, 170m, 180m, 190mm, etc.; it can also be a span value between 50mm and 100mm, or a span value between 100mm and 150mm, or a span value between 200mm and 235mm. Of course, it can also be some decimal values. The above values ​​are all within the protection scope of this utility model.

[0140] It is understood that the larger the span L1, the greater the height of the first shelf 300. Assuming the swing arm 2's swing limit angle α remains unchanged, raising the first shelf 300 to a greater height requires a longer swing arm 2. When the first shelf 300 is raised to its upper limit, it occupies a greater amount of space outside the housing 200 of the household appliance 1000.

[0141] When the span L1 is 235 mm, Figure 13 As shown, the first rack 300 can be lifted to a higher position (in the embodiment where the household appliance 1000 has a second rack 400, the bottom of the first rack 300 is higher than the bottom of the second rack 400), meeting the lifting requirement of a large height.

[0142] In some embodiments, the value of the span L1 can be between 60 mm and 190 mm. The following is explained using the span L1 value, the maximum swing angle of the swing arm 2, and the length of the swing arm 2, and the span L1 value of 235 mm and the maximum swing angle of the swing arm 2 of 70° are used as reference examples for explanation.

[0143] When the span L1 is 60 mm, the span is reduced by approximately 175 mm relative to the reference example, resulting in the arm length of the swing arm 2 being shortened by approximately 0.7 times. When the first shelf 300 is raised to the top lifting limit position, the first shelf 300 occupies a relatively small amount of external space of the housing 200 of the household appliance 1000, thereby saving usable space.

[0144] When the span L1 is 190 mm, the span is reduced by approximately 45 mm relative to the reference example, resulting in the arm length of the swing arm 2 being shortened by approximately 0.2 times, and the raised height of the first shelf 300 being reduced by approximately 0.2 times. When the first shelf 300 is raised to the top lifting limit position, the first shelf 300 occupies a moderate amount of external space of the housing 200 of the household appliance 1000, and the raised height of the first shelf 300 is relatively large.

[0145] In some preferred embodiments, when the span L1 is around 100 mm, the span is reduced by about 135 mm, resulting in the arm length of the swing arm 2 being shortened by about 0.5 times, and the maximum height that the first shelf 300 can be lifted to is reduced by about 0.6 times. When the first shelf 300 is lifted to the top lifting limit position, the first shelf 300 occupies a relatively moderate amount of external space of the shell 200 of the household appliance 1000, saving usable space. The height of the first shelf 300 is moderate, meeting the lifting requirements of a large height.

[0146] It can be understood that the value of the angle α and the value of the span L1 are correlated with each other. When the arm length of the swing arm 2 remains unchanged, the value of the angle α and the value of the span L1 are positively correlated, that is, the larger the value of the angle α, the larger the span L1, the greater the height that the first shelf 300 can be lifted, and the closer the first shelf 300 is to the housing of the household appliance 1000 in the front-to-back direction, the faster the lifting mechanism 100 will lift the first shelf 300. ， The greater the risk of interference between the first storage rack 300 and other structures disposed in the upper space of the housing 200 .

[0147] The value of the angle α is positively correlated with the value of the span L1, that is, the smaller the value of the angle α, the smaller the span L1, the smaller the height to which the first shelf 300 can be lifted, and the further the first shelf 300 is away from the housing of the household appliance 1000 in the front-to-back direction, the smaller the risk of interference between the first shelf 300 and other structures provided in the upper space of the housing 200 during the process of the lifting mechanism 100 lifting the first shelf 300. 。

[0148] In some embodiments, the value of the angle α can be between 15° and 50°, and the corresponding value of the span L1 can be between 60mm and 190mm. Please refer to the above-mentioned relevant explanations on the value of the angle α and the value of the span L1, which will not be repeated here.

[0149] The upper swing limit position of the swing arm 2 defines the upper swing limit position of the swing arm 2. When the lower swing limit position of the swing arm 2 is taken into consideration, the swing angle of the same swing arm 2 between the lower swing limit position and the upper swing limit position is taken as the object of consideration. In some embodiments, please continue to refer to Figure 13 The swing arm 2 has a lower swing limit position corresponding to the position of the bottom of the first storage rack 300 to be raised, and the swing arm 2 has a swing angle limited to between the upper swing limit position and the lower swing limit position, and the swing angle is set as an obtuse angle. Such a setting increases the swing angle of the swing arm 2, so that the first storage rack 300 can be moved to a higher position, raising the height of the first storage rack 300, reducing the frequency of bending of the user during use, and improving the user experience.

[0150] The swing angle is the angle between the lower swing limit position and the upper swing limit position of the same swing arm 2. The obtuse angle is an angle range greater than 90° and less than 180°. In this embodiment, the swing angles of the two swing arms 2 are exactly the same.

[0151] See also Figure 13 , Figure 13 The figure shows the lower swing limit position and the upper swing limit position of the swing arm 2. The swing angle is the angle between the lower swing limit position and the upper swing limit position of the same swing arm 2. In the embodiment where there are two swing arms 2, the swing angles of the two swing arms 2 are set to be the same.

[0152] In the technical solution of the present invention, the specific angle value of the swing angle is not limited, as long as it is an obtuse angle, in some embodiments, please continue to refer to Figure 13 The swing angle is β, and β is greater than 90° and less than or equal to 160°. The larger the swing angle, the greater the lifting height of the first storage rack 300. Considering that the swing arm 2 needs to cooperate with other structures to achieve lifting, and also considering some interference factors and the structural strength of the swing arm 2, setting the maximum angle of 160° is a relatively reasonable value.

[0153] It should be noted that the swing angle can be an integer value of 160°, or any integer value between 90° and 160°, such as 100°, 110°, 120°, 130°, 140°, 150°, etc. Of course, it can also be an angle value between any two of the above integers, such as the degrees between 90° and 100° can be 91°, 92°, 93°, 94°, 95°, 96°, 97°, 98°, 99°, etc., or a degree between 100° and 110°; a degree between 110° and 120°; a degree between 120° and 130°; a degree between 130° and 140°; a degree between 140° and 150°; a degree between 150° and 160°; and of course, some decimal degree values. All of the above values ​​are within the scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0154] In one embodiment, see Figure 3 、 Figure 7 、 Figure 12 、 Figure 20 The lifting mechanism 100 also includes a first guide rail 4, which includes a plurality of slide rails that are telescopically and slidably connected to each other. The plurality of slide rails include at least a first slide rail 41 and a tail slide rail 42. The first slide rail 41 is connected to the connector, and the tail slide rail 42 is used to connect the first shelf 300 of the household appliance 1000, so that the first shelf 300 can be switched between a bottom storage position and a bottom position to be lifted. The positional relationship of the first shelf 300 relative to the connector can be adjusted by the telescopic movement of the first guide rail 4. In this way, the first shelf 300 can be moved to the bottom storage position and stored in the accommodating cavity 201.

[0155] After the lifting mechanism 100 lifts the first rack 300 to a suitable position, the first rack 300 needs to be locked to prevent the first rack 300 from falling back due to gravity rather than human intervention, thereby reducing user experience. In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 20-22 The lifting mechanism 100 further includes a locking structure 5, which is used to prevent the swing arm 2 and the first rack 300 from rotating relative to each other after the first rack 300 is lifted. That is, the locking structure 5 locks the first rack 300, so that the swing arm 2 and the first rack 300 are prevented from rotating relative to each other. During use by a user, unless manually unlocked, the swing arm 2 and the first rack 300 always remain in a relatively fixed rotation state. In this way, the user can conveniently operate when taking and placing items to be placed, and the user experience is good.

[0156] In the embodiment in which the first storage rack 300 is movably locked relative to the swing arm 2, the first storage rack 300 can be movably locked in the front-to-back direction, such as being locked by being pulled forward or pushed backward. The first storage rack 300 moves upward and forward during the swinging movement of the swing arm 2. Therefore, locking by being pulled forward is more in line with the user's usage habits.

[0157] In one embodiment, the lifting mechanism 100 further includes a connecting member, and the locking structure 5 includes a locking member 5 a that can be movably installed relative to the connecting member along the front-back direction, and the locking member 5 a is used to be installed on the first storage rack 300 .

[0158] It should be noted that, in the forward-pull locking mode, the first storage rack 300 is locked by being moved forward relative to the swing arm 2. That is, for the first storage rack 300, when the first storage rack 300 is at the top lifting limit position, the first storage rack 300 continues to move forward to correspond to the top locking position. There is a horizontal distance difference between the top lifting limit position and the top locking position, and the first storage rack 300 is in two different positions.

[0159] A sliding fit structure is provided between the locking member 5a and the swing arm 2. When the locking member 5a moves forward relative to the connecting member, the sliding fit structure slides and fits, so that the first storage rack 300 can move from the top lifting limit position to the top locking position. The forward pulling lock of the first storage rack 300 can be achieved through the cooperation of the sliding fit structure, without the need for additional complex locking and unlocking mechanisms, making user operation more convenient.

[0160] The technical solution of the present invention does not limit the specific structural form of the sliding fitting structure. For example, two mutually fitting structures, one can be a shaft and the other can be a rib or a groove, or a fitting method in which part of the structure is a rib and part of the structure is a groove.

[0161] In one embodiment, see Figure 20-22 The sliding engagement structure includes a sliding groove and a sliding shaft that slidably engage with each other. At least one of the sliding grooves includes a horizontal groove section 5111 extending in a forward-backward direction. The locking member 5a moves forward relative to the connecting member, and the corresponding sliding shaft can slide into the horizontal groove section 5111 to prevent the swing arm 2 from swinging.

[0162] The horizontal groove section 5111 has an upper groove wall and a lower groove wall in the up and down directions. The sliding shaft and the upper groove wall or the lower groove wall abut to achieve positioning in the up and down directions. At this time, the swing arm 2 stops swinging, that is, the first storage rack 300 is locked relative to the swing arm 2. The sliding locking is achieved by the cooperation between the sliding shaft and the matching slide groove. No additional mechanism is required, the structure is simple, and it also conforms to the user's operating habits, thereby improving the user experience.

[0163] The present invention does not limit the specific setting positions of the sliding shaft and the matching groove. For example, the sliding shaft may be arranged on the swing arm 2, and the matching groove may be arranged on the locking member 5a; or the sliding shaft may be arranged on the locking member 5a, and the matching groove may be arranged on the swing arm 2.

[0164] In one embodiment, the mating slot may consist of only the horizontal slot section 5111. When the swing arm 2 is at the upper swing limit position, the sliding shaft is located at the front notch of the horizontal slot section 5111. When the locking member 5a is pulled forward, the sliding shaft slides backward into the horizontal slot section 5111. When the swing arm 2 has not reached the upper swing limit position, the sliding shaft may be located outside the locking member 5a or the swing arm 2.

[0165] In one embodiment, the mating groove also includes an arcuate groove section 5112, and the extension path of the arcuate groove section 5112 is adapted to the rotation of the sliding shaft, that is, during the entire swing stroke of the swing arm 2, the sliding shaft is in the arcuate groove section 5112, thereby improving the stability of the swing arm 2 during the swinging process.

[0166] The mating groove can be provided on the locking member 5a or on the swing arm 2. In one embodiment, the mating groove is provided on the locking member 5a, and two groups of sliding mating structures are provided. The sliding shafts of the two groups of sliding mating structures are both provided on the same swing arm 2, and the mating grooves of the two groups of sliding mating structures are both provided on the locking member 5a. By providing two groups of sliding mating structures, the locking stability of the first storage rack 300 is improved.

[0167] Since the positions of the sliding axes of the two sets of sliding fitting structures relative to the second hinged mounting portion 22 are different, the corresponding rotation radii and the corresponding rotation arc trajectories are also different. For the same locking member 5a, the trajectory lines formed on the locking member 5a are different.

[0168] Specifically, the two sliding shafts include a first sliding shaft 513 adjacent to the second hinged mounting portion 22 , and a second sliding shaft 514 away from the second hinged mounting portion 22 .

[0169] The two mating grooves include a first mating groove 511 arranged corresponding to the first sliding shaft 513, and a second mating groove 512 arranged corresponding to the second sliding shaft 514. The introduction port of the first mating groove 511 is opened at the lower side end of the locking member 5a, and the introduction port of the second mating groove 512 is opened at the front side end of the locking member 5a. By introducing at different positions, the stability of the first storage rack 300 during the lifting process is better.

[0170] The inlet of the first mating slot 511 is opened at the lower side end of the locking member 5a, and the inlet of the second mating slot 512 is opened at the front side end of the locking member 5a. The first sliding shaft 513 and the second sliding shaft 514 are respectively installed in correspondence, and when the swing arm 2 swings between the lower swing limit position and the upper swing limit position, the first sliding shaft 513 and the second sliding shaft 514 alternately perform similar horizontal sliding and up and down sliding, so that the first storage rack 300 is in a stable state.

[0171] The first storage rack 300 is connected to the locking member 5a. To enable the first storage rack 300 to move linearly in the front-to-back direction relative to the connecting member, as described above, a first guide rail 4 is provided between the connecting member and the locking member 5a. The first guide rail 41 and the tail guide rail 42 of the first guide rail 4 can move linearly in the front-to-back direction relative to the connecting member through relative movement.

[0172] In an embodiment in which two swing arms 2 are provided, the above-mentioned locking structure 5 can be provided on both of the swing arms 2. By providing two locking structures 5 to respectively lock the two swing arms 2 and repeatedly lock, the first storage rack 300 is more securely locked in the top locking position, thereby reducing the risk of falling on its own.

[0173] In one embodiment, the locking structure 5 only prevents one of the swing arms 2 and the first storage rack 300 from rotating relative to each other, and any one of the two swing arms 2 is sufficient.

[0174] To ensure the stability of the lifting mechanism 100 during the process of lifting the first storage rack 300, the lifting mechanism 100 utilizes a four-bar linkage, namely, the fixed arm 1, the two swing arms 2, and the connecting member. The four-bar linkage is configured as a parallelogram linkage. Therefore, the two swing arms 2 can be installed in the fixed arm 1 in a position of one up and one down. In one embodiment, when both swing arms 2 are in the lowered extreme position, the two swing arms 2 include a first swing arm 2a on the left and a second swing arm 2b on the right. The first swing arm 2a is installed in a lower position on the fixed arm 1, while the second swing arm 2b is installed in an upper position on the fixed arm 1.

[0175] As for the two sliding shafts, both are arranged on the second swing arm 2b. In this way, when the second swing arm 2b corresponds to the upper swing limit position, the upper end of the second swing arm 2b is higher than the upper end of the first swing arm 2a. At this time, it is convenient for the second swing arm 2b and the locking piece 5a provided on the storage rack to cooperate and lock.

[0176] In addition, it should be noted that, in the household appliance 1000, two lifting mechanisms 100 are provided and are spaced apart in the left and right directions, that is, two support points are formed on both sides of the first storage rack 300 in the left and right directions. By providing two lifting mechanisms 100, the first storage rack 300 can be stably lifted.

[0177] Of course, in the embodiment where two lifting mechanisms 100 are provided, two or four swing arms 2 may be provided accordingly to jointly support the first storage rack 300 .

[0178] In the lifting mechanism 100 , a damping structure such as a gas strut or a spring may be provided between the swing arm 2 and the fixed arm 1 to reduce the force exerted by the user when lifting or lowering the first storage rack 300 .

[0179] The following describes some specific structures of the household appliance 1000 in detail in combination with some features of the lifting mechanism 100 proposed in the present invention.

[0180] The household appliance 1000 includes a shell 200, which forms a accommodating cavity 201. The shell 200 also has an opening on the front side, and a door is provided at the opening. The door is opened to a suitable position to open the opening. At this time, the user can pull out the first storage rack 300, and with the cooperation of the lifting mechanism 100, the first storage rack 300 is lifted and extended out of the accommodating cavity 201 for the user to take out or put in items to be placed.

[0181] The accommodating cavity 201 has a rear wall opposite to the opening and two side walls on both sides of the rear wall. The fixed arm 1 is fixed to the side walls. The swing arm 2 of the lifting mechanism 100 moves inside and outside the accommodating cavity 201 with the connection position of the side walls as a hinge point to achieve the lifting of the first storage rack 300.

[0182] Corresponding to the household appliance 1000, the first shelf 300 can have two positions, namely, a bottom position to be raised and a top limit position. Considering the embodiment in which the first shelf 300 can move in the front-to-back direction relative to the connecting member, the first shelf 300 can have three positions, namely, a bottom storage position, a bottom position to be raised, and a top limit position. Considering the embodiment in which the first shelf 300 can be locked relative to the connecting member in a forward movement, the first shelf 300 can have four positions, namely, a bottom storage position, a bottom position to be raised, a top limit position, and a top locked position.

[0183] In some household appliances 1000, only one shelf is provided, some are provided with two, and some are provided with more. In the technical solution of the present utility model, please refer to Figure 16 and Figure 17 A second rack 400 is further provided in the accommodating cavity 201. Corresponding to the top lifting limit position, the lower end of the first rack 300 protrudes upward from the lower end of the second rack 400. That is, at the lifting limit position of the first rack 300, the lifting height of the first rack 300 is higher than that of the second rack 400. At this time, the lifting height is larger, which reduces the frequency of users bending over and improves the user experience.

[0184] It should be noted that, in an embodiment in which there are two shelves in the household appliance 1000, the first shelf 300 is a lower shelf and the second shelf 400 is an upper shelf. When the first shelf 300 is in the top storage position and the second shelf 400 is in the accommodating cavity 201, the first shelf 300 is below the second shelf 400, and the two are arranged opposite to each other.

[0185] In view of some of the above embodiments, the user needs to alternately use the first rack 300 and the second rack 400. That is, when the first rack 300 is raised, the second rack 400 should be kept in the accommodating cavity 201 as much as possible; when the second rack 400 is used, the first rack 300 should be kept in the accommodating cavity 201 as much as possible, or the second rack 400 should not be raised as much as possible.

[0186] Of course, with respect to the upper end of the first rack 300 and the upper end of the second rack 400, in one embodiment, corresponding to the top lifting limit position and the top lifting locking position of the first rack 300, the upper end of the first rack 300 protrudes upward from the upper end of the second rack 400, that is, under the premise that the first rack 300 and the second rack 400 have the same depth, the first rack 300 can be located at a higher position.

[0187] In a product corresponding to the household appliance 1000 being a dishwasher, the first rack 300 corresponds to the lower basket of the dishwasher, and the second rack 400 corresponds to the upper basket of the dishwasher. When the lower basket of the dishwasher is in use, the lifting mechanism 100 lifts the lower basket of the dishwasher to a position higher than the upper basket. In this state, the operating height is the same as when the user uses the upper basket of the dishwasher, or a higher height, which provides a better user operating experience.

[0188] The following describes the process of a user using the household appliance 1000 based on the relevant structure of the household appliance 1000, with the first storage rack 300 as a reference:

[0189] 1. The first storage rack 300 is in the bottom storage position, such as Figure 1-4 As shown:

[0190] This state is the state in which the user has not used it, has just started using it, or has finished using it. In these states, the first rack 300 is in the receiving cavity 201 of the household appliance 1000. Figures 1 to 4 It can be seen that the first storage rack 300 is retracted into the accommodating cavity 201 , at which time the distance between the first section slide rail 41 and the tail section slide rail 42 of the first guide rail 4 is the smallest or the overlapping distance is the largest, and the swing arm 2 is at the lower swing limit position.

[0191] 2. The first shelf 300 is at the bottom position to be lifted, such as Figure 5-9 As shown:

[0192] This state is when the user pulls out the first rack 300 from the accommodating cavity 201, or when the user lowers the first rack 300 after using the first rack 300. In these states, the first rack 300 is at the opening of the accommodating cavity 201. Figure 5-9 It can be seen that at this time, the distance between the first section slide rail 41 and the tail section slide rail 42 of the first guide rail 4 is relatively large or the overlapping distance is small, the first storage rack 300 moves forward a distance relative to the accommodating cavity 201, and the swing arm 2 is still at the lower swing limit position.

[0193] 3. The first storage rack 300 is at the top lifting limit position, such as Figure 10-17 As shown:

[0194] This state is when the user lifts the first rack 300, or when the user exits the locked state after using the first rack 300. In these states, the first rack 300 is at the maximum height of the lift. Figure 10-17 It can be seen that at this time, the distance between the first section slide rail 41 and the tail section slide rail 42 of the first guide rail 4 is relatively large or the overlapping distance is small, and the distance between the first shelf 300 at the bottom position to be lifted or the overlapping distance has not changed, and the swing arm 2 is at the upper swing limit position.

[0195] 4. The first storage rack 300 is in the top locked position, as shown in FIG. Figure 18-22 As shown:

[0196] This state is a locked state after the user lifts the first shelf 300. At this time, the user can take out and put down the items to be placed. In these states, the first shelf 300 is at the maximum height of the lift. Figure 18-22 It can be seen that at this time, the distance between the first section slide rail 41 and the tail section slide rail 42 of the first guide rail 4 is the largest or the overlapping distance is the smallest, the first storage rack 300 moves forward a certain distance in the top locking position relative to the top lifting limit position, and the swing arm 2 is still in the upper swing limit position.

[0197] The following is an introduction to the complete user process:

[0198] When the user needs to use the household appliance 1000, the user first opens the door of the household appliance 1000, and then pulls the first shelf 300 forward from the bottom storage position out of the accommodating cavity 201 to the bottom lifting position; under the swinging action of the swing arm 2 of the lifting mechanism 100, the user continues to pull the first shelf 300 forward and upward, so that the first shelf 300 moves from the bottom lifting position to the top lifting limit position; the user continues to pull the first shelf 300 forward, and the first shelf 300 moves from the top lifting limit position to the top locking position. In the locked state, the user can take and place items to be placed in the first shelf 300 without bending over frequently.

[0199] When the user finishes taking or placing items to be placed, the user pushes the first rack 300 backward to unlock the first rack 300 and move it from the top unlocked position to the top lifting limit position; the user lowers the first rack 300 to move it from the top lifting limit position to the bottom position to be lifted; the user continues to push the first rack 300 backward to move it from the bottom position to be lifted to the bottom storage position. When the first rack 300 is in the bottom storage position, the user can close the door to complete the use of the household appliance 1000.

[0200] The above description is merely an optional embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. All equivalent structural transformations made based on the contents of the present invention specification and drawings, or direct / indirect application in other related technical fields, are included in the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A lifting mechanism for lifting a first shelf of a household appliance, so that the first shelf can be switched between a bottom position to be lifted and a top lifting limit position, characterized in that: The lifting mechanism comprises: a fixed arm; and, two swing arms, each having a first hinged mounting portion and a second hinged mounting portion, the first hinged mounting portion of each swing arm being mounted on the fixed arm, and the second hinged mounting portion of each swing arm being directly or indirectly mounted on the first storage rack; The swing arm has an upper swing limit position, so as to enable the first storage rack to be in the top lifting limit position. At the upper swing limit position, the angle between the line connecting the rotation centers of the first hinged mounting portion and the second hinged mounting portion on the same swing arm and the line connecting the rotation centers of the two second hinged mounting portions of the two swing arms is γ, and 0°<γ<90°.

2. The lifting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: 30°≤γ<90°.

3. The lifting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: At the upper swing limit position, the two swing arms include a first swing arm at the bottom and a second swing arm at the top, an extension portion is provided on one end of the first swing arm where the first hinged mounting portion is provided, and a third hinged mounting portion is provided on the extension portion; The lifting mechanism further includes a damping member, one end of which is connected to the third hinged mounting portion, and the other end of which is hinged to the fixed arm.

4. The lifting mechanism according to claim 3, wherein: In the first swing arm, the rotation centers of the first articulated mounting part and the second articulated mounting part form a first connecting line, and the rotation centers of the first articulated mounting part and the third articulated mounting part form a second connecting line. The angle between the first connecting line and the second connecting line is θ, and 95°≤θ≤180°.

5. The lifting mechanism according to claim 3, wherein: 95°≤θ≤165°.

6. The lifting mechanism according to claim 3, wherein: In the first swing arm, a distance L between the third hinged mounting portion and the first hinged mounting portion is 20 mm ≤ L6 ≤ 170 mm.

7. The lifting mechanism according to claim 6, wherein: 20mm≤L6≤100mm.

8. The lifting mechanism according to claim 3, wherein: The damping member includes a gas strut.

9. The lifting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: At the upper swing limit position, the swing arm is used to support the first storage rack upward, and in the direction from back to front, the swing arm is tilted upward.

10. The lifting mechanism according to claim 9, wherein: Corresponding to the upper swing limit position, the angle between the line connecting the rotation centers of the first hinged mounting portion and the second hinged mounting portion on the same swing arm and the horizontal direction is α, and 0°<α≤70°; and / or, Corresponding to the upper swing limit position, the difference in vertical direction between the rotation centers of the first hinged mounting portion and the second hinged mounting portion on the same swing arm is L1, and 0<L1≤235mm.

11. A household appliance, characterized in that: include: a housing, forming a receiving cavity; A lifting mechanism, comprising the lifting mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the fixed arm of the lifting mechanism is provided on the side wall of the accommodating cavity; and The first storage rack is directly or indirectly hinged to the two swing arms of the lifting mechanism; The lifting mechanism enables the first storage rack to switch between a bottom position to be lifted and a top lifting limit position.

12. The household appliance according to claim 11, wherein A second storage rack is further provided in the accommodating cavity. Corresponding to the top lifting limit position, the lower end of the first storage rack protrudes upward from the lower end of the second storage rack.

13. The household appliance according to claim 12, characterized in that The household appliance includes a dishwasher, the first rack is configured as a lower basket, and the second rack is configured as an upper basket.

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