Dispensing module, dispensing device and washing appliance

Abstract

The application discloses a dispensing module, a dispensing device and a washing appliance. The dispensing module comprises a consumable box and a pump body. The consumable box is provided with a containing cavity adapted to contain consumables. The pump body comprises a pump shell and a main body part. At least part of the consumable box is integrally formed with the pump shell. At least part of the main body part is arranged in the pump shell. The main body part is adapted to dispense the consumables in the containing cavity to a dispensing area. In the application, the pump shell of the pump body is designed to be integrally formed with at least part of the consumable box. In this way, the number of parts can be reduced, the structure is simplified, the cost is reduced, and the structure of the entire dispensing module is more compact.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of washing appliance technology, and in particular to a dispensing module, dispensing device and washing appliance. Background Technology

[0002] Washing appliances need to automatically dispense consumables during the washing process, so these washing appliances are equipped with a dispensing device. The dispensing device is equipped with a detachable dispensing module, but the current dispensing module has a complex structure and needs to be improved. Utility Model Content

[0003] This application aims to at least partially address one of the technical problems in the related art. To this end, this application proposes a delivery module.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, this application discloses a delivery module, which includes:

[0005] Consumable box, having a receiving cavity adapted to receive consumables; and

[0006] The pump body includes a pump housing and a main body, at least a portion of the consumable box is integrally formed with the pump housing, at least a portion of the main body is disposed within the pump housing, and the main body is adapted to dispense consumables from the receiving cavity into the dispensing area.

[0007] In some embodiments of this application, the pump housing has an internal accommodating cavity and an installation port communicating with the accommodating cavity. At least a portion of the main body is adapted to be installed into the accommodating cavity through the installation port, and the main body is connected to the pump housing.

[0008] In some embodiments of this application, the consumable box has a first side and a second side disposed opposite to each other, the pump housing is disposed at the bottom of the second side, the first side and the second side are oriented toward each other in the depth direction, and the depth of the receiving cavity does not exceed the maximum depth of the receiving cavity of the consumable box.

[0009] In some embodiments of this application, the main body includes:

[0010] The pump head is provided with an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe. The inlet pipe is connected to the receiving cavity, and the outlet pipe is adapted to be connected to the dispensing area.

[0011] A flexible hose connecting the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe, the flexible hose being adapted to be installed into the receiving cavity through the mounting port; and

[0012] A drive rotor is disposed in the space surrounded by the hose, the drive rotor being adapted to be installed into the receiving cavity from the mounting port, and the drive rotor being adapted to be connected to a drive mechanism to rotatably compress the hose.

[0013] In some embodiments of this application, one side of the pump housing is opened to form the mounting port, and the pump head and the pump housing are connected to close the mounting port.

[0014] In some embodiments of this application, the pump housing is provided with slots on opposite sides of the mounting port, and the pump head is provided with a snap-fit ​​protrusion corresponding to the slot, the snap-fit ​​protrusion and the slot being snap-fit ​​connected.

[0015] In some embodiments of this application, the feed pipe and the discharge pipe are exposed outside the pump housing.

[0016] In some embodiments of this application, the pump head includes a connecting portion that connects the feed pipe and the discharge pipe. The consumable box is provided with a first discharge connector that communicates with the receiving cavity and a second discharge connector that communicates with the dispensing area. The feed pipe is plugged into the first discharge connector and the discharge pipe is plugged into the second discharge connector.

[0017] In some embodiments of this application, the connecting part, the feed pipe, and the discharge pipe are integrally formed.

[0018] In some embodiments of this application, the feed pipe is adapted to be inserted into the first discharge connector along the first direction, and the discharge pipe is adapted to be inserted into the second discharge connector along the first direction;

[0019] And / or, the hose and the drive rotor are adapted to be installed into the receiving cavity from the mounting port along a second direction, the second direction intersecting the first direction.

[0020] In some embodiments of this application, the feed pipe includes a first feed pipe section and a second feed pipe section that are connected to each other. The first feed pipe section and the second feed pipe section are intersecting to form a corner. The first feed pipe section is connected to the hose, and the second feed pipe section is plugged into the first discharge connector.

[0021] And / or, the discharge pipe includes a first discharge pipe section and a second discharge pipe section that are connected to each other, the first discharge pipe section and the second discharge pipe section are intersecting to form a corner, the first discharge pipe section is connected to the hose, and the second discharge pipe section is plugged into the second discharge connector.

[0022] In some embodiments of this application, the first discharge connector and the second discharge connector are each recessed and flush with one side of the inner wall of the pump housing.

[0023] In some embodiments of this application, the drive rotor has a central portion and a support arm extending away from the central portion, the end of the support arm being provided with a roller, and the roller and the hose rolling into contact.

[0024] In some embodiments of this application, the pump housing is provided with a through hole communicating with the accommodating cavity, and the drive rotor is adapted to be connected to the drive mechanism through the through hole.

[0025] In some embodiments of this application, the pump body further includes a drive shaft, the drive rotor is provided with a drive hole, the drive shaft is adapted to pass through the through hole and be inserted into the drive hole to connect with the drive rotor, and the portion of the drive shaft exposed outside the pump housing is adapted to connect with a drive mechanism.

[0026] In some embodiments of this application, the drive hole is a through hole structure, the pump housing is provided with a positioning hole, and the drive shaft is adapted to pass through the drive hole and be inserted into the positioning hole.

[0027] A second aspect of this application discloses a dispensing device, which includes a base and the aforementioned dispensing module, wherein the dispensing module and the base are detachably connected.

[0028] A third aspect of this application discloses a washing appliance, which includes the aforementioned dispensing device.

[0029] In the technical solution of this application, the pump casing of the pump body is designed to be integrally formed with at least part of the consumable box, which can reduce the number of parts, simplify the structure, reduce costs, and make the structure of the entire dispensing module more compact.

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

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

[0032] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the dispensing device in some embodiments;

[0033] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the disassembly of the delivery module in some embodiments;

[0034] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the delivery module in some embodiments;

[0035] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A partial enlarged view of the structure shown;

[0036] Figure 5 This is an exploded view of the delivery module in some embodiments;

[0037] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the integration of the consumable box and pump housing in some embodiments;

[0038] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the integration of the consumable box and pump housing in some embodiments (showing the assembly state of the drive shaft);

[0039] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the main body in some embodiments;

[0040] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the main body portion is provided for some embodiments;

[0041] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram showing the cooperation between the main body and the drive shaft in some embodiments;

[0042] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the drive rotor in some embodiments.

[0043] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0044] Consumable box 100, first discharge connector 110, second discharge connector 120, pump body 200, pump housing 210, accommodating cavity 211, mounting port 212, bayonet 213, through hole 214, positioning hole 215, main body 220, pump head 221, feed pipe 2211, discharge pipe 2212, connecting part 2213, locking protrusion 2214, hose 222, drive rotor 223, drive hole 2231, center part 2232, support arm 2233, roller 2234, drive shaft 230, base 300.

[0045] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of this application will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0046] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0047] It should be noted that all directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of this application are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicator will also change accordingly.

[0048] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "connection," "fixed," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "fixed" can mean a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can mean a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can mean a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can mean the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0049] Furthermore, the use of terms such as "first" and "second" in this application is for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but only on the basis of being achievable by those skilled in the art. If the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, such a combination of technical solutions should be considered non-existent and not within the scope of protection claimed in this application.

[0050] The first aspect of this application discloses a delivery module, which, in some embodiments, is combined with... Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the dispensing module includes a consumable box 100 and a pump body 200. The consumable box 100 is provided with a receiving cavity suitable for containing consumables. The pump body 200 includes a pump housing 210 and a main body 220. At least a portion of the consumable box 100 is integrally formed with the pump housing 210. At least a portion of the main body 220 is disposed inside the pump housing 210. The main body 220 is used to dispense the consumables in the receiving cavity into the dispensing area.

[0051] In this embodiment, the pump housing 210 of the pump body 200 is designed to be integrally formed with at least a portion of the consumable box 100, which can reduce the number of parts, simplify the structure, reduce costs, and make the entire dispensing module more compact.

[0052] The following description refers to the dispensing device. The dispensing device includes a receiving cavity, a pump body 200, and a drive mechanism. The receiving cavity is used to store consumables, which include, but are not limited to, various types such as detergent, detergent powder, detergent tablets, rinse aid, and deodorant. The pump body 200 cooperates with the receiving cavity. The operation of the pump body 200 dispenses the consumables from the receiving cavity into the dispensing area. That is, the pump body 200 and the receiving cavity are in cooperation. When the pump body 200 is activated, the consumables enter the pump body 200 from the receiving cavity and are then discharged and dispensed. The operation of the pump body 200 is achieved by the drive mechanism, which is connected to the pump body 200. The drive mechanism drives the pump body 200 to move, thereby realizing the dispensing of consumables.

[0053] Typically, dispensing devices need to be installed in a predetermined location. When the consumables in the receiving cavity are about to run out, it is necessary to replenish them. However, replenishing consumables is often inconvenient when the dispensing device is installed in the predetermined location. This is addressed by incorporating a detachable consumable cartridge 100. Specifically, the dispensing device includes a base 300 and a consumable cartridge 100. The consumable cartridge 100 has a receiving cavity. The consumable cartridge 100 can be installed on or removed from the base 300. The pump body 200 and the drive mechanism are located on the base 300. When the consumable cartridge 100 is installed on the base 300, it cooperates with the pump body 200; when the consumable cartridge 100 is removed from the base 300, it separates from the pump body 200. When the consumables are about to run out, the user can detach the consumable cartridge 100 from the base 300 for easy replenishment. After replenishment, the consumable cartridge 100 can be reinstalled on the base 300. Since the consumable box 100 needs to cooperate with the pump body 200, when the consumable box 100 and the base 300 are in a separated state, the part where the consumable box 100 and the pump body 200 cooperate is prone to leakage of consumables. That is, when the consumable box 100 is disassembled, the consumables remaining in the receiving cavity are prone to leakage, or when the consumable box 100 is full of consumables but has not yet been reinstalled on the base 300, the consumables in the receiving cavity are also prone to leakage.

[0054] To address this, the consumable cartridge 100 and pump body 200 are integrated into a single dispensing module. This allows for simultaneous assembly and disassembly of the consumable cartridge 100 and pump body 200, eliminating the need for separation between them and preventing consumable leakage. Specifically, when the consumable cartridge 100 needs to be removed, it is simultaneously disassembled from the pump body 200, and the pump body 200 is separated from the drive mechanism. When the consumable cartridge 100 needs to be installed, it is simultaneously installed onto the base 300, and the pump body 200 is connected to the drive mechanism. This design not only prevents consumable leakage during disassembly of the consumable cartridge 100 but also facilitates maintenance of the pump body 200.

[0055] Furthermore, the pump body 200 includes a pump housing 210 and a main body 220, with at least a portion of the main body 220 installed within the pump housing 210. The pump housing 210 forms the outer surface structure of the pump body 200, protecting its internal structure. The main body 220 is the core component of the pump body 200, and the pump body 200 primarily dispenses consumables through the movement of the main body 220. In this embodiment, at least a portion of the consumable box 100 and the pump housing 210 are integrally formed, meaning that at least a portion of the consumable box 100 and the pump housing 210 are manufactured using an integral molding process. For example, the consumable box 100 includes a bottom shell, and both the bottom shell and the pump housing 210 are made of plastic. Molten plastic can be injected into a mold, and after the molten plastic is formed, the bottom shell and the pump housing 210 are constituted. Another example is that the consumable box 100 includes a bottom shell, and the bottom shell and the pump housing 210 are machined into an integral structure by methods such as cutting and drilling. By integrally molding at least a portion of the consumable box 100 with the pump housing 210, the number of parts is reduced and the structure is simplified.

[0056] It is understandable that the pump body 200 can be assembled separately and then installed into the consumable box 100. However, this approach requires the pump housing 210 and the consumable box 100 to be connected and fixed, which necessitates additional connection structures. In this embodiment, at least a portion of the consumable box 100 is integrally formed with the pump housing 210, eliminating the need for additional connection structures and thus reducing structural complexity. Furthermore, if the pump body 200 is assembled separately and installed into the consumable box 100, the adjacent walls of the pump housing 210 and the consumable box 100 are actually redundant, resulting in a waste of materials and space. In this embodiment, however, by integrally forming at least a portion of the consumable box 100 with the pump housing 210, the pump housing 210 and the consumable box 100 share a wall surface, avoiding waste of materials and space and resulting in a more compact structure.

[0057] In some embodiments, combined with Figures 3 to 7 As shown, the pump housing 210 has an internal accommodating cavity 211 and an installation port 212 communicating with the accommodating cavity 211. At least a portion of the main body 220 is adapted to be installed into the accommodating cavity 211 through the installation port 212, and the main body 220 is connected to the pump housing 210.

[0058] Since at least a portion of the consumable box 100 is integrally formed with the pump housing 210, in order to facilitate the installation of at least a portion of the main body 220 into the pump housing 210, in this embodiment, an installation port 212 is provided in the pump housing 210. The installation port 212 communicates with the receiving cavity 211. When installing the main body 220, the main body 220 is controlled to move from the installation port 212 toward the receiving cavity 211, thereby installing at least a portion of the main body 220 into the pump housing 210. Furthermore, the installation port 212 also lays the foundation for the integral forming of at least a portion of the consumable box 100 and the pump housing 210. For example, at least a portion of the consumable box 100 and the pump housing 210 can be integrally formed by injection molding and demolded through the installation port 212.

[0059] When at least a portion of the main body 220 is installed into the pump housing 210 through the mounting port 212, the connection between the main body 220 and the pump housing 210 is necessary to secure them together. There are various ways to connect the main body 220 and the pump housing 210, as long as they can be relatively fixed. To facilitate later maintenance, in some embodiments, the main body 220 and the pump housing 210 can be designed to be detachably connected. In the event of damage to the main body 220, it can be disassembled for repair or replacement without replacing the entire dispensing module, thus helping to reduce costs.

[0060] In some embodiments, combined with Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the consumable box 100 has a first side and a second side arranged opposite to each other, and the pump housing 210 is disposed at the bottom of the second side. The first side and the second side are oriented towards each other in the depth direction, and the depth of the receiving cavity 211 does not exceed the maximum depth of the receiving cavity of the consumable box 100.

[0061] Based on the dispensing device, the dispensing module and base are detachably connected. When the dispensing module is installed on the base, the first side is exposed on the surface of the dispensing device, and the second side is hidden inside the dispensing device. The pump housing 210 is located at the bottom of the second side with reference to the dispensing module in its installed and used state. For example, when the dispensing device is installed on a door, the dispensing module is vertically positioned when the door is closed, and the pump body 200 is located at the lower position of the dispensing module. When the door is open, the dispensing module is horizontally positioned, with the upper surface of the dispensing module forming the first side and the lower surface forming the second side. By positioning the pump housing 210 at the bottom of the second side and ensuring that the depth of the receiving cavity 211 does not exceed the maximum depth of the receiving cavity of the consumable box 100, the capacity of the receiving cavity is maximized. Simultaneously, with the pump body 200 in the lower position, the consumables in the receiving cavity will flow / move downwards as they are gradually consumed, ensuring that the pump body 200 dispenses the consumables into the dispensing area. In some embodiments, combined with Figures 3 to 11As shown, the main body 220 includes a pump head 221, a hose 222, and a drive rotor 223. The pump head 221 is provided with an inlet pipe 2211 and an outlet pipe 2212. The inlet pipe 2211 is connected to the receiving cavity, and the outlet pipe 2212 is adapted to be connected to the delivery area. The hose 222 connects the inlet pipe 2211 and the outlet pipe 2212. The hose 222 is adapted to be installed into the receiving cavity 211 through the installation port 212. The drive rotor 223 is disposed in the space surrounded by the hose 222. The drive rotor 223 is adapted to be installed into the receiving cavity 211 through the installation port 212, and the drive rotor 223 is adapted to be connected to the drive mechanism to rotatably squeeze the hose 222.

[0062] One end of the hose 222 is connected to the feed pipe 2211, and the other end of the hose 222 is connected to the discharge pipe 2212, thus connecting the feed pipe 2211 and the discharge pipe 2212. The hose 222 connects the feed pipe 2211 and the discharge pipe 2212, and the hose 222 surrounds a corresponding space in which the drive rotor 223 is placed. In this way, the pump head 221, the hose 222 and the drive rotor 223 can be assembled together first, and then the hose 222 and the drive rotor 223 are installed into the receiving cavity 211 through the mounting port 212. After installation, the feed pipe 2211 is connected to the receiving cavity, and the discharge pipe 2212 is connected to the delivery area.

[0063] The drive mechanism drives the drive rotor 223 to rotate, which in turn squeezes the hose 222 along the rotation direction. This causes the consumable to be drawn into the hose 222 from the feed pipe 2211 and then discharged from the discharge pipe 2212 into the delivery area. For example, the drive rotor 223 has a central portion 2232 and a support arm 2233 extending from the central portion 2232 away from it. The end of the support arm 2233 is provided with a roller 2234. When the drive rotor 223 rotates, the roller 2234 and the hose 222 roll and abut against each other, realizing the suction and discharge of the consumable. In other words, the pump body 200 in this embodiment constitutes a peristaltic pump structure, and the corresponding consumable is a liquid consumable.

[0064] In some embodiments, combined with Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 6 and Figure 9 As shown, the main body 220 is connected to the pump housing 210 via the pump head 221. That is, when the main body 220 is installed into the pump housing 210, as it is installed in place, the connection between the pump head 221 and the pump housing 210 achieves a certain degree of relative fixation between the main body 220 and the pump housing 210, preventing the main body 220 from coming out of the mounting port 212.

[0065] Optionally, the pump head 221 and the pump housing 210 are detachably connected, thus achieving a detachable connection between the main body 220 and the pump housing 210. The snap-fit ​​connection can be achieved as the pump head 221 moves, improving the ease of assembly and disassembly of the main body 220. For example, the pump housing 210 has snap-fit ​​slots 213 on opposite sides of the mounting port 212, and the pump head 221 has snap-fit ​​protrusions 2214 on opposite sides. The pump head 221, hose 222, and drive rotor 223 are first assembled together, and then the hose 222 and drive rotor 223 are installed from the mounting port 212 into the receiving cavity 211. As the installation is completed, the pump head 221 is snap-fitted to the snap-fit ​​slots 213 of the pump housing 210 through the snap-fit ​​protrusions 2214. Since the hose 222 connects the feed pipe 2211 and the discharge pipe 2212, and the drive rotor 223 is located in the space surrounded by the hose 222, the relative fixation between the main body 220 and the pump housing 210 can be achieved.

[0066] In some embodiments, combined with Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, the pump head 221 closes the mounting port 212. As described above, by providing the mounting port 212, the hose 222 and the drive rotor 223 are installed into the receiving cavity 211 through the mounting port 212. During consumable dispensing, the drive mechanism drives the drive rotor 223 to rotate, thereby causing the drive rotor 223 to act on the hose 222. To prevent foreign objects from entering the receiving cavity 211 through the mounting port 212 and interfering with the fit between the drive rotor 223 and the hose 222, in this embodiment, after the pump head 221, hose 222, and drive rotor 223 are installed in place, the pump head 221 closes the mounting port 212. The so-called "closed" means that the pump head 221 blocks most of the mounting port 212, thus effectively preventing foreign objects from entering the receiving cavity 211 through the mounting port 212. In some embodiments, combined with... Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the inlet pipe 2211 and the outlet pipe 2212 are exposed outside the pump casing 210, which facilitates the connection between the inlet pipe 2211 and the receiving cavity, and the connection between the outlet pipe 2212 and the dispensing area. It is understood that consumables flow from the receiving cavity through the inlet pipe 2211, through the hose 222, and then through the outlet pipe 2212 to the dispensing area. Since the hose 222 connects the inlet pipe 2211 and the outlet pipe 2212, the hose 222 and the drive rotor 223 need to be installed into the receiving cavity 211 through the mounting port 212. The inlet pipe 2211 and the outlet pipe 2212 are exposed outside the pump casing 210. This allows the connection between the inlet pipe 2211 and the receiving cavity, and the connection between the outlet pipe 2212 and the dispensing area, to be established only after the hose 222 and the drive rotor 223 are installed into the receiving cavity 211.

[0067] For example, combining Figures 3 to 8As shown, the consumable box 100 is provided with a first discharge connector 110 and a second discharge connector 120. The first discharge connector 110 is connected to the receiving cavity, and the second discharge connector 120 is connected to the dispensing area. The feed pipe 2211 is connected to the first discharge connector 110, and the discharge pipe 2212 is connected to the second discharge connector 120. Thus, when the drive rotor 223 rotates, the consumables in the receiving cavity are discharged from the first discharge connector 110 and enter the hose 222 through the feed pipe 2211. The consumables flow through the hose 222 and are discharged through the discharge pipe 2212, and then discharged to the dispensing area through the second discharge connector 120. The feed pipe 2211 and the discharge pipe 2212 are exposed outside the pump casing 210 for easy connection to the first discharge connector 110 and the second discharge connector 120.

[0068] In some embodiments, combined with Figure 8 As shown, the pump head 221 includes a connecting part 2213, which connects the feed pipe 2211 and the discharge pipe 2212. The connecting part 2213 integrates the connecting part 2213, the feed pipe 2211, and the discharge pipe 2212 into one unit, which is more convenient for assembling and disassembling the pump head 221 compared to the separate design of the feed pipe 2211 and the discharge pipe 2212. Furthermore, the feed pipe 2211 and the discharge pipe 2212 are connected by the connecting part 2213, so that the relative positions between the feed pipe 2211 and the discharge pipe 2212 are fixed. When one end of the hose 222 is connected to the feed pipe 2211 and the other end of the hose 222 is connected to the discharge pipe 2212, the hose 222 is fixed. When the drive rotor 223 is placed in the space surrounded by the hose 222, it helps to temporarily fix the drive rotor 223. It is also more convenient for the hose 222 and the drive rotor 223 to be installed into the receiving cavity 211 from the installation port 212. Moreover, the drive rotor 223 is less likely to shift when the dispensing module is disassembled.

[0069] Optionally, the connecting part 2213, the feed pipe 2211, and the discharge pipe 2212 are designed to be integrally molded. For example, the connecting part 2213, the feed pipe 2211, and the discharge pipe 2212 are all made of plastic. In this way, the connecting part 2213, the feed pipe 2211, and the discharge pipe 2212 can be integrally molded by injection molding, resulting in higher overall structural strength, further reducing the number of parts, and simplifying the structure.

[0070] In some embodiments, combined with Figure 5 and Figure 6As shown, when the consumable box 100 is equipped with a first discharge connector 110 and a second discharge connector 120, the feed pipe 2211 is adapted to be inserted into the first discharge connector 110 along the first direction, and the discharge pipe 2212 is adapted to be inserted into the second discharge connector 120 along the first direction. The insertion direction of the feed pipe 2211 and the first discharge connector 110 is the same as the insertion direction of the discharge pipe 2212 and the second discharge connector 120, which facilitates assembly. In particular, when the feed pipe 2211 and the discharge pipe 2212 are connected together by the connecting part 2213, both the feed pipe 2211 and the discharge pipe 2212 are inserted into the corresponding first discharge connector 110 and second discharge connector 120 along the first direction (the orientation is with reference to the dispensing module in the installation and use state, and the first direction is the front and back direction), which facilitates operation.

[0071] With the feed pipe 2211 connected to the first discharge connector 110 along the first direction and the discharge pipe 2212 connected to the second discharge connector 120 along the first direction, the hose 222 and the drive rotor 223 are installed into the receiving cavity 211 from the mounting port 212 along the second direction, and the second direction intersects with the first direction.

[0072] For example, the pump head 221, hose 222, and drive rotor 223 are first assembled together. Then, the hose 222 and drive rotor 223 are controlled to be installed into the receiving cavity 211 from the mounting port 212 along the second direction (the orientation is with the dispensing module in the installation and use state as a reference, and the second direction is from bottom to top) until the feed pipe 2211 is aligned with the first discharge connector 110 and the discharge pipe 2212 is aligned with the second discharge connector 120. Then, the feed pipe 2211 and the first discharge connector 110 are connected by insertion, and the discharge pipe 2212 and the second discharge connector 120 are connected by insertion. In addition, the intersection of the second direction and the first direction, for example, their perpendicularity, helps to prevent the main body 220 from detaching from the pump housing 210 in the opposite direction of the first direction, and also prevents the main body 220 from detaching from the first discharge connector 110 and the second discharge connector 120 in the opposite direction of the second direction.

[0073] Optionally, combined Figure 10 and Figure 11As shown, the feed pipe 2211 includes a first feed pipe section and a second feed pipe section that are connected to each other. The first feed pipe section and the second feed pipe section intersect to form a corner. The first feed pipe section is connected to the hose 222, and the second feed pipe section is plugged into the first discharge connector 110. The first feed pipe section and the second feed pipe section intersect to form a corner, for example, 90°. Taking a 90° corner as an example, this arrangement ensures that the hose 222 is roughly on the same plane as the first feed pipe section, avoiding occupying too much space in the first direction and making the overall dispensing module flatter. Similarly, the discharge pipe 2212 includes a first discharge pipe section and a second discharge pipe section that are connected to each other. The first discharge pipe section and the second discharge pipe section intersect to form a corner. The first discharge pipe section is connected to the hose 222, and the second discharge pipe section is plugged into the second discharge connector 120.

[0074] In some embodiments, combined with Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the feed pipe 2211 is adapted to be inserted into the first discharge connector 110, and the discharge pipe 2212 is adapted to be inserted into the second discharge connector 120. When assembling the main body 220 into the pump housing 210, the main body 220 moves from the mounting port 212 along the second direction so that the hose 222 and the drive rotor 223 are installed into the receiving cavity 211. After the hose 222 and the drive rotor 223 are installed in place, the first discharge connector 110 is inserted through the feed pipe 2211, and the discharge pipe 2212 is inserted into the second discharge connector 120. This avoids the first discharge connector 110 and the second discharge connector 120 protruding and interfering with the movement of the main body 220.

[0075] For example, the first discharge connector 110 and the second discharge connector 120 are each recessed and flush with one side of the inner wall of the pump housing 210. In this way, when the main body 220 is installed in the receiving cavity 211 along the first direction, the hose 222 and the drive rotor 223 will not be interfered with by the first discharge connector 110 and the second discharge connector 120. When the main body 220 moves to the point where the feed pipe 2211 corresponds to the first discharge connector 110 and the discharge pipe 2212 corresponds to the second discharge connector 120, the feed pipe 2211 can be inserted into the first discharge connector 110 along the second direction and the discharge pipe 2212 can be inserted into the second discharge connector 120 along the second direction.

[0076] In some embodiments, combined with Figures 5 to 7As shown, the pump housing 210 is provided with a through hole 214 communicating with the receiving cavity 211. The drive rotor 223 is adapted to be connected to the drive mechanism through the through hole 214. When the drive rotor 223 is installed into the receiving cavity 211, the center of the drive rotor 223 is exposed in the through hole 214, thus allowing it to be connected to the drive mechanism through the through hole 214. It can be understood that the so-called adaptation of the drive rotor 223 to be connected to the drive mechanism through the through hole 214 lays the foundation for the connection between the drive rotor 223 and the drive mechanism. Corresponding components can pass through the through hole 214 to achieve force transmission, thus allowing the drive mechanism to be located outside the dispensing module.

[0077] For example, combining Figures 5 to 7 as well as Figure 10 As shown, the pump body 200 also includes a drive shaft 230, the drive rotor 223 is provided with a drive hole 2231, the drive shaft 230 is adapted to pass through the through hole 214 and be inserted into the drive hole 2231 to connect with the drive rotor 223, and the part of the drive shaft 230 exposed outside the pump housing 210 is adapted to be connected with the drive mechanism.

[0078] In other words, after the drive rotor 223 is installed into the receiving cavity 211, the drive shaft 230 is then passed through the through hole 214 from the outside in and inserted into the drive hole 2231. This allows for the installation of the main body 220 without obstructing its installation, while also enabling the drive connection between the main body 220 and the drive mechanism. It is understandable that the insertion of the drive shaft 230 into the drive hole 2231 means it can also be removed from the drive hole 2231, thus achieving a detachable connection. Since the drive shaft 230 needs to drive the drive rotor 223 to rotate, the drive shaft 230 and the drive hole 2231 can be connected via a spline structure. This allows the drive shaft 230 to rotate while driving the drive rotor 223, and also facilitates the installation and removal of the drive shaft 230.

[0079] The portion of the drive shaft 230 exposed outside the pump housing 210 is connected to the drive mechanism. Since the dispensing module is detachable, the portion of the drive shaft 230 exposed outside the pump housing 210 also needs to be detachable from the drive mechanism. Similar to the fit between the drive shaft 230 and the drive hole 2231, the drive mechanism can also be provided with a corresponding hole structure. The drive shaft 230 is inserted into the hole structure of the drive mechanism to achieve connection. This facilitates the disassembly and assembly of the drive shaft 230 and the drive mechanism when the dispensing module is disassembled and assembled.

[0080] In some embodiments, combined with Figure 6 , Figure 7 and Figure 10As shown, the drive hole 2231 is a through hole structure, and the pump housing 210 is provided with a positioning hole 215. The drive shaft 230 is adapted to pass through the drive hole 2231 and be inserted into the positioning hole 215. In this way, one end of the drive shaft 230 is constrained by the positioning hole 215, and the other end of the drive shaft 230 is constrained by the drive mechanism, making the rotation of the drive shaft 230 more stable, which in turn makes the rotation of the drive rotor 223 more stable.

[0081] A second aspect of this application discloses a dispensing device, which, in some embodiments, is combined with... Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the dispensing device includes a base 300 and the aforementioned dispensing module. The dispensing module and the base 300 are detachably connected. The dispensing module includes a consumable box 100 and a pump body 200. The consumable box 100 has a receiving cavity suitable for containing consumables. The pump body 200 includes a pump housing 210 and a main body 220. At least a portion of the consumable box 100 is integrally formed with the pump housing 210, and at least a portion of the main body 220 is disposed within the pump housing 210. The main body 220 is used to dispense the consumables from the receiving cavity into the dispensing area. The pump housing 210 of the pump body 200 is designed to be integrally formed with at least a portion of the consumable box 100, which reduces the number of parts, simplifies the structure, reduces costs, and makes the entire dispensing module more compact. A drive mechanism can be located in the base 300. When the dispensing module is installed on the base 300, the pump body 200 and the drive mechanism cooperate; when the dispensing module is removed from the base 300, it separates from the drive mechanism. The dispensing module of the dispensing device in this embodiment adopts the technical solution of the above embodiment, and therefore has at least the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solution of the above embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0082] The third aspect of this application discloses a washing appliance, which includes the aforementioned dispensing device. The washing appliance includes, but is not limited to, dishwashers, washing machines, etc. For example, if the washing appliance is a dishwasher, the base 300 of the dispensing device can be connected and fixed to the door of the dishwasher (the door has a predetermined position) or to the side wall of the inner tub of the dishwasher (the side wall has a predetermined position), so that consumables can be dispensed into the inner tub.

[0083] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and do not limit the patent scope of this application. Any equivalent structural transformations made based on the concept of this application and the contents of the specification and drawings of this application, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A delivery module, characterized in that, The delivery module includes: Consumable box (100), having a receiving cavity adapted to receive consumables; and The pump body (200) includes a pump housing (210) and a main body (220). At least a portion of the consumable box (100) is integrally formed with the pump housing (210). At least a portion of the main body (220) is disposed within the pump housing (210). The main body (220) is adapted to dispense consumables from the receiving cavity into the dispensing area.

2. The delivery module as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The pump housing (210) has an internal accommodating cavity (211) and an installation port (212) communicating with the accommodating cavity (211). At least a portion of the main body (220) is adapted to be installed into the accommodating cavity (211) through the installation port (212), and the main body (220) and the pump housing (210) are connected.

3. The delivery module as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The consumable box (100) has a first side and a second side arranged opposite to each other, the pump housing (210) is disposed at the bottom of the second side, the first side and the second side are oriented toward each other in the depth direction, and the depth of the receiving cavity (211) does not exceed the maximum depth of the receiving cavity of the consumable box (100).

4. The delivery module as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The main body (220) includes: A pump head (221) is provided with an inlet pipe (2211) and an outlet pipe (2212). The inlet pipe (2211) is connected to the receiving cavity, and the outlet pipe (2212) is adapted to be connected to the dispensing area. A flexible hose (222) connecting the feed pipe (2211) and the discharge pipe (2212), the hose (222) being adapted to be installed into the receiving cavity (211) from the mounting port (212); and A drive rotor (223) is disposed in the space surrounded by the hose (222), the drive rotor (223) being adapted to be installed into the receiving cavity (211) from the mounting port (212), and the drive rotor (223) being adapted to be connected to a drive mechanism to rotatably compress the hose (222).

5. The delivery module as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The pump housing (210) has an opening on one side to form the mounting port (212), and the pump head (221) is connected to the pump housing (210) to close the mounting port (212).

6. The delivery module as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The pump housing (210) is provided with slots (213) on opposite sides of the mounting port (212), and the pump head (221) is provided with a protrusion (2214) corresponding to the slot (213), and the protrusion (2214) and the slot (213) are snapped together.

7. The delivery module as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The feed pipe (2211) and the discharge pipe (2212) are exposed outside the pump casing (210).

8. The delivery module as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The pump head (221) includes a connecting part (2213) that connects the feed pipe (2211) and the discharge pipe (2212). The consumable box (100) is provided with a first discharge connector (110) that communicates with the receiving cavity and a second discharge connector (120) that communicates with the delivery area. The feed pipe (2211) and the first discharge connector (110) are plugged in and connected, and the discharge pipe (2212) and the second discharge connector (120) are plugged in and connected.

9. The delivery module as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The connecting part (2213), the feed pipe (2211), and the discharge pipe (2212) are integrally formed.

10. The delivery module as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The feed pipe (2211) is adapted to be inserted into the first discharge connector (110) along the first direction, and the discharge pipe (2212) is adapted to be inserted into the second discharge connector (120) along the first direction; And / or, the hose (222) and the drive rotor (223) are adapted to be installed into the receiving cavity (211) from the mounting port (212) along a second direction, the second direction intersecting the first direction.

11. The delivery module as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The feed pipe (2211) includes a first feed pipe section and a second feed pipe section that are connected to each other. The first feed pipe section and the second feed pipe section are intersected to form a corner. The first feed pipe section is connected to the hose (222), and the second feed pipe section is plugged into the first discharge connector (110). And / or, the discharge pipe (2212) includes a first discharge pipe section and a second discharge pipe section that are connected to each other. The first discharge pipe section and the second discharge pipe section are intersected to form a corner. The first discharge pipe section is connected to the hose (222), and the second discharge pipe section is plugged into the second discharge connector (120).

12. The delivery module as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The first discharge connector (110) and the second discharge connector (120) are each recessed and flush with one side of the inner wall of the pump housing (210).

13. The delivery module as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The drive rotor (223) has a central portion (2232) and a support arm (2233) extending away from the central portion (2232). A roller (2234) is provided at the end of the support arm (2233), and the roller (2234) and the hose (222) roll against each other.

14. The delivery module as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The pump housing (210) is provided with a through hole (214) communicating with the accommodating cavity (211), and the drive rotor (223) is adapted to be connected to the drive mechanism through the through hole (214).

15. The delivery module as described in claim 14, characterized in that, The pump body (200) further includes a drive shaft (230), the drive rotor (223) is provided with a drive hole (2231), the drive shaft (230) is adapted to pass through the through hole (214) and be inserted into the drive hole (2231) to connect with the drive rotor (223), and the portion of the drive shaft (230) exposed in the pump housing (210) is adapted to be connected with a drive mechanism.

16. The delivery module as described in claim 15, characterized in that, The drive hole (2231) is a through hole structure, the pump housing (210) is provided with a positioning hole (215), and the drive shaft (230) is adapted to pass through the drive hole (2231) and be inserted into the positioning hole (215).

17. A dispensing device, characterized in that, It includes a base (300) and a dispensing module as described in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the dispensing module and the base (300) are detachably connected.

18. A washing appliance, characterized in that, Includes the dispensing device as described in claim 17.

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