Household appliance structure and dishwasher

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of household appliance structure and dishwasher, and household appliance structure includes shelf connecting piece, shelf assembly and damping component, shelf assembly is movable along front-back direction relative to shelf connecting piece, and shelf connecting piece includes fixed slide rail, and damping component includes damping structure and trigger part, and damping structure includes installation main body and movable part, installation main body is located on shelf assembly, and movable part can reciprocate along front-back direction relative to installation main body, and trigger part is located on fixed slide rail, when along with shelf assembly moving along front-back direction, trigger part can be combined with movable part, to damp the movement of shelf assembly, the cooperation precision of movable part and trigger part is high, can effectively guarantee the smooth realization of damping effect;In addition, damping structure is arranged on a relatively larger shelf assembly, and trigger part is arranged on a relatively smaller fixed slide rail, which optimizes space utilization, making the overall structure more compact and reasonable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of household appliance structure technology, and in particular to a household appliance structure and a dishwasher. Background Technology

[0002] Household appliances include dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, and storage cabinets, which typically have shelves. Understandably, these appliances have inner shelves where items are stored. To retrieve an item, the shelf is pulled out of the inner shelf; after use, the shelf is pushed back into the inner shelf to store both the shelf and the item.

[0003] During the process of pulling back into the inner liner, the shelf tends to continue moving after reaching the preset position due to inertia, which can easily cause the shelf to collide with the inner liner and cause damage. Utility Model Content

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, a damping component is often installed between the shelf and the inner liner to allow the shelf to perform damped movement during the process of being pulled back into the inner liner. However, how to install and set the damping component is a problem that urgently needs to be solved.

[0005] The main purpose of this invention is to propose a household appliance structure that simplifies the installation of damping components to improve the user experience.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model proposes a household appliance structure, comprising:

[0007] A shelf connector and a shelf assembly, the shelf assembly being movable relative to the shelf connector in a front-to-back direction, the shelf connector including a fixed slide rail; and...

[0008] A damping assembly includes a damping structure and a triggering part. The damping structure includes a mounting body and a movable part. The mounting body is disposed on the shelf assembly. The movable part can reciprocate back and forth relative to the mounting body. The triggering part is disposed on the fixed slide rail. When moving along the back and forth direction with the shelf assembly, the triggering part can engage with the movable part to dampen the movement of the shelf assembly.

[0009] In one embodiment, the shelf assembly includes a movable slide rail and a first shelf connected to the movable slide rail, the movable slide rail being slidably mounted on the fixed slide rail in a front-to-back direction;

[0010] The mounting body of the damping structure is connected to the bottom of the movable slide rail or the first shelf.

[0011] In one embodiment, the shelf assembly is provided with a mounting member, the mounting member including a mounting plate and a plug-in plate portion, the upper end of the mounting plate being connected to the shelf assembly, and the lower end of the mounting plate being connected to the plug-in plate portion;

[0012] A limiting groove is provided on the mounting body, and the plug-in plate is inserted into the limiting groove.

[0013] In one embodiment, the damping structure further includes a self-closing unit, which includes a first elastic member disposed between the movable part and the mounting body. During the movement of the movable part, the first elastic member is always in a stretched state, so that the movable part moves under the elastic restoring force of the first elastic member, thereby driving the shelf assembly to move into the receiving cavity of the household appliance.

[0014] In one embodiment, the rear end of the mounting body is provided with a receiving groove, the movable part includes a slide plate, the slide plate is movably mounted on the mounting body in the front-rear direction, and the first elastic member is connected between the slide plate and the mounting body;

[0015] The slider can be at least partially accommodated within the accommodating groove, so that the trigger part and the slider are separated; the slider can be moved out of the accommodating groove, so that the trigger part and the slider are engaged.

[0016] In one embodiment, the slider includes a main body and a sliding buckle rotatably mounted on the main body along an axis extending in the vertical direction. The sliding buckle is provided with a receiving slot for the trigger part to be inserted and engaged.

[0017] When the sliding buckle rotates in the forward direction, it can avoid being accommodated in the receiving groove, and the trigger part disengages from the receiving slot, so that the sliding buckle and the trigger part are separated; when the sliding buckle rotates in the reverse direction, it can move out of the receiving groove, and the trigger part is inserted into the receiving slot, so that the sliding buckle and the trigger part are engaged.

[0018] In one embodiment, the damping structure further includes a buffer unit connected to the movable part for damping the movement of the shelf assembly toward the receiving cavity of the household appliance.

[0019] In one embodiment, the buffer unit includes a buffer cylinder and a connecting rod telescopically connected to the buffer cylinder;

[0020] The connecting rod is connected to the movable part, and the buffer cylinder is fixedly installed on the mounting body.

[0021] In one embodiment, the buffer unit includes a second elastic element connected to the movable part and the mounting body, wherein the second elastic element is always in a compressed state during the movement stroke of the movable part;

[0022] During the movement of the movable part from front to back, the compression of the second elastic element gradually increases to buffer the movement of the movable part.

[0023] In one embodiment, the household appliance structure further includes a housing, the housing having a receiving cavity;

[0024] The household appliance structure also includes at least one swing arm, one end of which is hinged to the receiving cavity and the other end of which is hinged to the fixed slide rail;

[0025] The shelf assembly includes a movable slide rail and a first shelf connected to the movable slide rail, wherein the movable slide rail is slidably mounted on the fixed slide rail in a front-to-back direction;

[0026] The swinging motion of the swing arm causes the first shelf to switch between a low position and a high position. Corresponding to the low position, the fixed slide rail and the movable slide rail move relative to each other, so that the first shelf has an initial bottom position that is entirely inside the receiving cavity and a bottom position that is at least partially outside the receiving cavity and is ready to be lifted.

[0027] During the process of the first shelf moving from the bottom to the initial bottom position, the damping component is used to dampen the movement of the first shelf into the receiving cavity.

[0028] This utility model also proposes a dishwasher, which includes a household appliance structure, the household appliance structure comprising:

[0029] A shelf connector and a shelf assembly, the shelf assembly being movable relative to the shelf connector in a front-to-back direction, the shelf connector including a fixed slide rail; and...

[0030] A damping assembly includes a damping structure and a triggering part. The damping structure includes a mounting body and a movable part. The mounting body is disposed on the shelf assembly. The movable part can reciprocate back and forth relative to the mounting body. The triggering part is disposed on the fixed slide rail. When moving along the back and forth direction with the shelf assembly, the triggering part can engage with the movable part to dampen the movement of the shelf assembly.

[0031] In the technical solution of this utility model, the damping component includes a damping structure and a triggering part. The damping structure includes a mounting body and a movable part. The mounting body is disposed on the shelf assembly, and the movable part can reciprocate back and forth relative to the mounting body. The triggering part is disposed on the fixed slide rail. When moving along the back and forth direction with the shelf assembly, the triggering part can engage with the movable part to dampen the movement of the shelf assembly. With the triggering part disposed on the fixed slide rail, the triggering part is relatively stationary, while the damping structure is disposed on the shelf assembly, and the damping structure is relatively movable. This arrangement ensures high precision in the cooperation between the movable part and the triggering part, effectively guaranteeing the smooth realization of the damping effect and improving the user's operating experience when using household appliances. In addition, placing the damping structure on a relatively large shelf assembly and the triggering part on a relatively small fixed slide rail facilitates the layout of the damping structure and the triggering part, optimizes space utilization, and makes the overall structure more compact and reasonable. Attached Figure Description

[0032] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model 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 utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0033] Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of a portion of the structure of a household appliance provided by the present invention (the trigger part and the movable part are initially combined, and the first shelf is at least partially outside the receiving cavity);

[0034] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A magnified view of a section at point A in the middle;

[0035] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural diagram of a portion of a Chinese household appliance (the trigger part and the moving part move synchronously, and the entire first shelf is located in the receiving cavity);

[0036] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A magnified view of a section at point B in the middle;

[0037] Figure 5 for Figure 1 A side view structural diagram including a fixed arm, a swing arm, a fixed slide rail, a movable slide rail, and a damping assembly;

[0038] Figure 6 for Figure 5A three-dimensional structural diagram of the structure in the diagram;

[0039] Figure 7 for Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the damping structure in the first angle;

[0040] Figure 8 for Figure 7 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the first embodiment of the damping structure in the middle from a second angle;

[0041] Figure 9 for Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the first angle of the second embodiment of the damping structure in the diagram;

[0042] Figure 10 for Figure 9 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the second embodiment of the damping structure in the second angle;

[0043] Figure 11 for Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural diagram of some components of household appliances;

[0044] Figure 12 for Figure 11 A three-dimensional structural diagram of a household appliance (with the first shelf located at the bottom storage position);

[0045] Figure 13 for Figure 11 A three-dimensional structural diagram of a household appliance (the first shelf is at the bottom and awaits lifting).

[0046] Figure 14 for Figure 11 A three-dimensional structural diagram of a household appliance (with the first shelf at its maximum lifting position).

[0047] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0048] 100. Structure of household appliances;

[0049] 10. Shelf connectors; 20. Shelf assemblies;

[0050] 30. Damping assembly; 31. Damping structure; 311. Mounting body; 3111. Limiting groove; 3112. Pressing spring buckle; 312. Moving part; 3121. Sliding piece; 3121a. Sliding piece body; 3122. Sliding buckle; 3122a. Receiving slot; 313. Self-closing unit; 3131. First elastic element; 314. Buffer unit; 3141. Second elastic element; 315. Receiving groove; 32. Triggering part;

[0051] 40. Mounting component; 41. Mounting plate; 42. Connector plate;

[0052] 51. Fixed slide rail; 52. Movable slide rail;

[0053] 60. Shell; 61. Receiving cavity;

[0054] 71. Fixed arm; 72. Swing arm;

[0055] 80. First shelf; 90. Second shelf.

[0056] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of this utility model will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0057] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0058] It should be noted that if the embodiments of this utility model involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0059] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this utility model involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are 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 with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the use of "and / or" or "and / or" throughout the text includes three parallel solutions. For example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution where both A and B are satisfied simultaneously. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model.

[0060] Household appliances include dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, and storage cabinets, which typically have shelves. Understandably, these appliances have inner shelves where items are stored. To retrieve an item, the shelf is pulled out of the inner shelf; after use, the shelf is pushed back into the inner shelf to store both the shelf and the item.

[0061] During the process of pulling back into the inner liner, the shelf tends to continue moving after reaching the preset position due to inertia, which can easily cause the shelf to collide with the inner liner and cause damage.

[0062] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, a damping component is often installed between the shelf and the inner liner to allow the shelf to perform damped movement during the process of being pulled back into the inner liner. However, how to install and set the damping component is a problem that urgently needs to be solved.

[0063] In view of this, the present invention proposes a household appliance structure that aims to simplify the installation of damping components in order to improve the user experience.

[0064] Please see Figures 1 to 4 The household appliance structure 100 includes a shelf connector 10, a shelf assembly 20, and a damping assembly 30. The shelf assembly 20 is movable in the front-to-back direction relative to the shelf connector 10. The shelf connector 10 includes a fixed slide rail 51. The damping assembly 30 includes a damping structure 31 and a trigger part 32. The damping structure 31 includes a mounting body 311 and a movable part 312. The mounting body 311 is disposed on the shelf assembly 20. The movable part 312 can reciprocate back and forth relative to the mounting body 311. The trigger part 32 is disposed on the fixed slide rail 51. When moving in the front-to-back direction with the shelf assembly 20, the trigger part 32 can engage with the movable part 312 to dampen the movement of the shelf assembly 20.

[0065] In the technical solution of this utility model, the damping component 30 includes a damping structure 31 and a triggering part 32. The damping structure 31 includes a mounting body 311 and a movable part 312. The mounting body 311 is disposed on the shelf assembly 20. The movable part 312 can reciprocate back and forth relative to the mounting body 311. The triggering part 32 is disposed on the fixed slide rail 51. When moving along the back and forth direction with the shelf assembly 20, the triggering part 32 can engage with the movable part 312 to dampen the movement of the shelf assembly 20. The triggering part 32 is disposed on the fixed slide rail 51. 2. The damping structure 31 is relatively stationary, while the damping structure 31 is mounted on the shelf assembly 20. The damping structure 31 is relatively movable. This arrangement ensures high precision in the cooperation between the movable part 312 and the trigger part 32, effectively guaranteeing the smooth realization of the damping effect and improving the user's operating experience when using household appliances. In addition, placing the damping structure 31 on the relatively large shelf assembly 20 and the trigger part 32 on the relatively small fixed slide rail 51 facilitates the layout of the damping structure 31 and the trigger part 32, optimizes space utilization, and makes the overall structure more compact and reasonable.

[0066] It should be noted that in this utility model, the user is used as the direction reference. Forward is the direction towards the user, backward is the opposite direction to forward, specifically the direction away from the user, and up and down are the directions with gravity as the reference.

[0067] It is understood that the shelf assembly 20 is mainly used to set up utensils to be placed, such as bowls, plates, dishes, chopsticks, knives and forks, as well as baked food or items to be refrigerated.

[0068] The shelf connector 10 is used to connect the housing 60 and the shelf assembly 20. Specifically, it is connected between the inner wall of the receiving cavity 61 and the shelf assembly 20 to enable the shelf assembly 20 to be moved into and out of the receiving cavity 61.

[0069] The mounting body 311, as a carrier, is fixed relative to the inner liner after being installed onto the shelf assembly 20 of the household appliance.

[0070] The movable part 312 can be reciprocally mounted on the mounting body 311, that is, the movable part 312 has two unidirectional movement strokes, and the movement direction of the movable part 312 is opposite in the two unidirectional movement strokes.

[0071] The damping action of the movable part 312 needs to be fed back to the shelf assembly 20 of the household appliance so that the shelf assembly 20 also performs damping action, adapting to the application scenario of the household appliance. The mounting body 311 is disposed on the shelf assembly 20, and the trigger part 32 is disposed on the fixed slide rail 51. During the movement of the movable part 312, the movable part 312 needs to engage and disengage with the trigger part 32, so that when the shelf assembly 20 requires damping action, the movable part 312 and the trigger part 32 engage; when the shelf assembly 20 does not require damping action, the movable part 312 and the trigger part 32 disengage.

[0072] The trigger part 32 can be mounted on the fixed slide rail 51 by means of bonding, welding, threaded connection, or snap-fit ​​connection. Bonding is relatively simple and low-cost, but the connection may be slightly weaker; welding provides a very stable connection, but it requires higher standards of operation and environment; threaded connection has good disassembly, facilitating subsequent maintenance and replacement; snap-fit ​​connection is convenient for installation and disassembly, improving assembly efficiency. Depending on different usage scenarios and needs, the most suitable connection method can be selected to mount the trigger part 32 on the fixed slide rail 51.

[0073] The damping structure 31 can be attached to the shelf assembly 20 by means of bonding, welding, threaded connection, or snap-fit ​​connection of the mounting body 311. Bonding is relatively simple and low-cost, but the connection may be slightly weaker; welding provides a very stable connection, but requires higher standards of operation and environment; threaded connection has good disassembly, facilitating subsequent maintenance and replacement; snap-fit ​​connection is convenient for both installation and disassembly, improving assembly efficiency. Depending on different usage scenarios and needs, the most suitable connection method can be selected to attach the damping structure 31 to the shelf assembly 20.

[0074] It should be noted that the damping component 30 can be configured to dampen the shelf assembly 20 during its unidirectional travel from front to back, or it can be configured to dampen the shelf assembly 20 during its unidirectional travel from back to front. Both of these are within the protection scope of this utility model.

[0075] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6The shelf assembly 20 is provided with a mounting component 40, which includes a mounting piece 41 and a plug-in plate 42. The upper end of the mounting piece 41 is connected to the shelf assembly 20, and the lower end of the mounting piece 41 is connected to the plug-in plate 42. A limiting groove 3111 is provided on the mounting body 311, and the plug-in plate 42 is inserted into the limiting groove 3111. Through the cooperation between the plug-in plate 42 and the limiting groove 3111, when installing the damping structure 31, it is only necessary to insert the plug-in plate 42 into the limiting groove 3111 to realize the installation of the damping structure 31, making the installation of the damping structure 31 more convenient.

[0076] The upper end of the mounting plate 41 is connected to the shelf assembly 20, which can be done by bonding, welding, threaded connection or snap-fit ​​connection, etc., which will not be described in detail here.

[0077] The mounting plate 41 and the plug-in plate 42 can be formed by bending on a single plate, or the mounting plate 41 and the plug-in plate 42 can be connected as a single unit through a connecting structure.

[0078] Further, please refer to Figures 7 to 10 The limiting groove 3111 has a partially hollowed-out sidewall to form a pressing snap 3112. The pressing snap 3112 is used to press the plug plate portion 42 that extends into the limiting groove 3111. The elastic pressing force of the pressing snap 3112 increases the static pressure of the plug plate portion 42, thereby increasing the static friction force that causes the plug plate portion 42 to detach outward, and greatly increasing the risk of the plug plate portion 42 detaching.

[0079] In some embodiments, the shelf assembly 20 includes a movable slide rail 52 and a first shelf 80 connected to the movable slide rail 52. The movable slide rail 52 is slidably mounted on the fixed slide rail 51 in a front-to-back direction. The mounting body 311 of the damping structure 31 is connected to the bottom of the movable slide rail 52 or the first shelf 80, such that the engagement position of the movable part 312 and the trigger part 32 is located at the bottom of the first shelf 80, so that the first shelf 80 is not affected by interference from other structures during its movement. Please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 11 The mounting body 311 of the damping structure 31 is connected to the movable slide rail 52.

[0080] When the mounting body 311 of the damping structure 31 is connected to the movable slide rail 52, it can move synchronously with the sliding of the movable slide rail 52, thereby better exerting the damping effect during the sliding of the movable slide rail 52, reducing the impact and vibration during the sliding of the movable slide rail 52, and making the sliding of the movable slide rail 52 more stable and smooth. When the mounting body 311 of the damping structure 31 is connected to the bottom of the first shelf 80, during the movement of the first shelf 80 with the movable slide rail 52, the damping structure 31 can effectively buffer the inertial force generated by the movement of the first shelf 80, preventing items on the first shelf 80 from falling or being damaged due to shaking; and the sliding fit between the movable slide rail 52 and the fixed slide rail 51 has high precision, which can ensure that the movable slide rail 52 will not jam or deviate during the sliding process, further improving the stability and reliability of the shelf assembly 20.

[0081] It is understood that the damping structure 31 enables the damping activity of the movable part 312, thereby enabling the damping activity of the shelf assembly 20. The damping structure 31 needs to provide not only the pull-back force for the shelf assembly 20 to enter the inner liner of the household appliance, but also the buffer force for the shelf assembly 20 to enter the inner liner, so as to achieve a smooth entry into the inner liner.

[0082] Please continue reading. Figures 7 to 10 A self-priming unit 313 and a buffer unit 314 may be provided within the damping structure 31. The self-priming unit 313 provides a pull-back force for the shelf assembly 20 as it enters the inner liner of the household appliance, and the buffer unit 314 provides a buffering force for the shelf assembly 20 as it enters the inner liner.

[0083] The damping structure 31 may consist only of the self-priming unit 313, providing only the pull-back force for the shelf assembly 20 as it enters the inner liner of the household appliance, which can assist in absorbing energy through deformation after impact using an elastic buffer pad. Alternatively, the damping structure 31 may consist only of the buffer unit 314, providing only the buffering force for the shelf assembly 20 as it enters the inner liner, which can assist the force applied by the user to push the shelf assembly 20 into the inner liner of the household appliance. Of course, both the self-priming unit 313 and the buffer unit 314 can be provided simultaneously.

[0084] In some embodiments, the self-closing unit 313 includes a first elastic member 3131 disposed between the movable part 312 and the mounting body 311. During the forward and backward movement of the movable part 312, the first elastic member 3131 is always in a stretched state, so that the movable part 312 moves back under the elastic restoring force of the first elastic member 3131, thereby driving the shelf assembly 20 to move towards the receiving cavity 61. The stretching amount of the first elastic member 3131 gradually decreases, so that the movable part 312 moves under the elastic restoring force of the first elastic member 3131, thereby converting the elastic potential energy of the first elastic member 3131 into the kinetic energy of the movable part 312. In the case of household appliances, the movement of the shelf assembly 20 and the movable part 312 are associated, so that the shelf assembly 20 of the household appliance automatically moves towards the inner liner of the household appliance.

[0085] The movable part 312 can be reciprocally mounted on the mounting body 311. During one unidirectional stroke of the movable part 312, the power of the movable part 312 comes from the release of the elastic potential energy of the first elastic element 3131. During the other unidirectional stroke, the power of the movable part 312 comes from human power, such as the force applied by the user when the shelf assembly 20 of the household appliance is pulled out from the inside.

[0086] The first elastic element 3131 can elastically store energy and release elastic potential energy. The first elastic element 3131 is always in a stretched state, that is, the first elastic element 3131 always has elastic deformation. During one unidirectional movement of the movable part 312, the stretch of the first elastic element 3131 gradually decreases, that is, the elastic deformation of the first elastic element gradually decreases. At this time, the first elastic element 3131 releases elastic potential energy, which is converted into the kinetic energy of the movable part 312 and the kinetic energy of the shelf assembly 20.

[0087] The first elastic element 3131 can be a spring, an elastic pad, or other elastic components, such as rubber blocks or silicone strips. These different types of elastic elements can be selected according to the specific design requirements, space constraints, and cost considerations of household appliances. Springs have good linear elastic characteristics and can maintain a relatively stable elastic force over a large deformation range; elastic pads can provide elasticity while also playing a certain role in cushioning and shock absorption; components such as rubber blocks and silicone strips not only have elasticity but may also have additional functions such as anti-slip and sealing.

[0088] In some embodiments, the damping structure 31 further includes a buffer unit 314 connected to the movable part 312 for damping the movement of the shelf assembly 20 toward the receiving cavity 61. The buffer unit 314 provides a buffering force for the shelf assembly 20 to enter the inner liner, so that the shelf assembly 20 can enter the inner liner smoothly.

[0089] The buffer unit 314 serves a buffering function. The buffer unit 314 can be a damping unit, such as a damping cylinder or a damping hydraulic cylinder; the buffer unit 314 can also be a buffer elastic element, such as a spring or a rubber pad.

[0090] In some embodiments, the buffer unit 314 includes a buffer cylinder and a connecting rod telescopically connected to the buffer cylinder. The connecting rod is connected to the movable part 312, and the buffer cylinder is fixedly mounted on the mounting body 311. When the movable part 312 drives the shelf assembly 20 to move, the connecting rod extends and retracts within the buffer cylinder. The change in air or hydraulic pressure within the buffer cylinder generates a buffering force, effectively slowing the movement speed of the shelf assembly 20 toward the receiving cavity 61, ensuring that the shelf assembly 20 smoothly enters the inner liner. This design of the buffer unit 314 allows for flexible adjustment of the buffering effect according to different household appliance usage scenarios and needs, improving safety and comfort. Furthermore, the buffer cylinder and the connecting rod can be made of high-strength, corrosion-resistant materials to ensure the durability and reliability of the buffer unit 314.

[0091] In other embodiments, please refer to Figure 9 and Figure 10 The buffer unit 314 includes a second elastic element 3141, which is connected to the movable part 312 and the mounting body 311. During the movement of the movable part 312, the second elastic element 3141 is always in a compressed state. Specifically, as the movable part 312 moves from front to back, the compression of the second elastic element 3141 gradually increases to buffer the movement of the movable part 312. During the automatic movement of the shelf assembly 20 toward the inner liner of the household appliance, the compression of the second elastic element 3141 gradually increases, increasing its elastic potential energy and storing energy to buffer the movement of the shelf assembly 20, thus reducing the probability of damage to the shelf assembly 20 due to collision.

[0092] The second elastic element 3141 can elastically store and release elastic potential energy. The second elastic element 3141 is always in a compressed state, meaning it always exhibits elastic deformation. During another unidirectional stroke of the movable part 312, the compression of the second elastic element 3141 gradually increases, meaning its elastic deformation gradually increases. At this point, the second elastic element 3141 is further compressed and stores energy to absorb the kinetic energy of the movable part 312 and the shelf assembly 20.

[0093] The second elastic element can be a spring, an elastic pad, or other elastic components, such as rubber blocks or silicone strips. These different types of elastic elements can be selected based on the specific design requirements, space constraints, and cost considerations of the household appliance. Springs have good linear elastic characteristics and can maintain relatively stable elastic force over a large deformation range; elastic pads can provide elasticity while also acting as a buffer and shock absorber; components such as rubber blocks and silicone strips not only have elasticity but may also have additional functions such as anti-slip and sealing.

[0094] It is understood that in the embodiment where the self-priming unit 313 includes the first elastic element 3131 and the buffer unit 314 includes the second elastic element 3141, the interaction between the first elastic element 3131 and the second elastic element 3141 can be adapted to the entire stroke of the movable part 312. At any position of the movable part 312 in its stroke, the first elastic element 3131 and the second elastic element 3141 cooperate throughout the entire stroke.

[0095] During the movement of the movable part 312, when the movable part 312 moves in a certain direction, the first elastic element 3131 and the second elastic element 3141 will produce different elastic deformations according to their movement state. For example, when the movable part 312 just starts to move, the first elastic element 3131 may be in an initial elastic tension state, while the second elastic element 3141 begins to change elastically according to the movement direction of the movable part 312. The two work together to provide suitable resistance for the movable part 312, preventing the movable part 312 from moving too fast or generating too large an impact.

[0096] As the movable part 312 continues to move, if the movable part 312 moves to the middle position of its stroke, the degree of elastic deformation of the first elastic element 3131 and the second elastic element 3141 will change, but they will always maintain mutual cooperation so that the movable part 312 can move smoothly at this position without sudden stops or accelerations.

[0097] When the movable part 312 moves to the end of its stroke, the first elastic element 3131 and the second elastic element 3141 will buffer and position the movable part 312 through their own elastic restoring force, ensuring that the movable part 312 stops accurately in the appropriate position. At the same time, they absorb the remaining kinetic energy of the movable part 312, preventing the movable part 312 from causing unnecessary shaking or rebound due to inertia, thereby ensuring the stability and reliability of the entire household appliance structure 100.

[0098] The damping action of the movable part 312 needs to be fed back to the shelf assembly 20 of the household appliance so that the shelf assembly 20 also performs damping action, adapting to the application scenario of the household appliance. The movable part 312 and the trigger part 32 are respectively disposed on different structural components of the household appliance. During the movement of the movable part 312, it needs to engage and disengage with the trigger part 32, so that when the shelf assembly 20 requires damping action, the movable part 312 and the trigger part 32 engage; and when the shelf assembly 20 does not require damping action, the movable part 312 and the trigger part 32 disengage.

[0099] The switching between the engagement and disengagement of the trigger part 32 and the movable part 312 can be achieved by partial deformation of the mounting body 311. For example, the movable part 312 can be made of a deformable material (such as rubber or plastic) so that the trigger part 32 can be installed with the movable part 312.

[0100] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 8 and Figure 10 The movable part 312 reciprocates along the horizontal direction. The rear end of the mounting body 311 is recessed to form a receiving groove 315. The movable part 312 includes a slider 3121, which is movably mounted relative to the mounting body 311. The first elastic member 3131 is connected between the slider 3121 and the mounting body 311. The slider 3121 can at least partially avoid being received in the receiving groove 315, so that the slider 3121 and the trigger part 32 can be separated. The slider 3121 can move out of the receiving groove 315, so that the slider 3121 and the trigger part 32 can be engaged. Through the cooperation of the slider 3121 and the receiving groove 315, the switching of engagement and disengagement of the trigger part 32 and the movable part 312 can be well adapted.

[0101] Further, in some embodiments, the slider 3121 includes a main body 3121a and a sliding buckle 3122 rotatably connected to the main body 3121a. A receiving slot 3122a is provided on the sliding buckle 3122 for the trigger part 32 to be inserted and engaged. When the sliding buckle 3122 rotates forward, it can avoid being accommodated within the receiving groove 315. The trigger part 32 disengages from the receiving slot 3122a, thereby separating the sliding buckle 3122 from the trigger part 32. When the sliding buckle 3122 rotates in the opposite direction, it can move out of the receiving groove 315, and the trigger part 32 is inserted into the receiving slot 3122a, so that the sliding buckle 3122 and the trigger part 32 are engaged. With this configuration, the movement mode of the movable part 312 can be decomposed into two types: one is linear movement in the front-back direction, and the other is rotational connection. The rotational connection allows the sliding buckle 3122 to avoid the trigger part 32 and separate from it, and also allows the sliding buckle 3122 and the trigger part 32 to engage.

[0102] When the sliding buckle 3122 rotates to the position corresponding to the trigger part 32, the sliding buckle 3122 can move in the front-back direction under the drive of the sliding piece 3121 until it engages with the trigger part 32. At this time, the shelf assembly 20 of the household appliance can automatically move into the inner liner of the housing 60 under the drive of the movable part 312. Furthermore, by providing the receiving groove 315, a dedicated receiving space is provided for the sliding buckle 3122. When it is necessary to separate the sliding buckle 3122 from the trigger part 32, the sliding buckle 3122 can be stably accommodated therein, ensuring the stability and reliability of the structure operation.

[0103] The sliding buckle 3122 and the trigger part 32 can be joined by magnetic attraction or by a convex-concave fit. In some embodiments, the sliding buckle 3122 has a receiving slot 3122a, and the trigger part 32 has a trigger protrusion. The trigger protrusion can be inserted into the receiving slot 3122a to allow the sliding buckle 3122 and the trigger part 32 to engage. The precise engagement of the trigger protrusion and the receiving slot 3122a not only achieves a stable connection between the sliding buckle 3122 and the trigger part 32 but also ensures the accuracy and reliability of their engagement. This convex-concave fit is simple yet highly effective, capable of withstanding certain external forces and preventing accidental separation during use.

[0104] The sliding buckle 3122 and the main body 3121a can be connected in two ways: the sliding buckle 3122 can be rotatably installed along an axis extending in the left-right direction, and the trigger part 32 and the receiving slot 3122a can be inserted and engaged in the up-down direction; or the sliding buckle 3122 can be rotatably installed along an axis extending in the up-down direction, and the trigger part 32 and the receiving slot 3122a can be inserted and engaged in the left-right direction.

[0105] In the embodiment where the sliding buckle 3122 is rotated along an axis extending vertically, the sliding buckle 3122 can rotate flexibly around this axis. When rotated to a suitable position, the trigger part 32 can be precisely inserted into the receiving slot 3122a in the left-right direction. This installation and connection method can make full use of space and is more convenient during operation. Users can choose the appropriate rotation connection and insertion direction according to actual usage needs and space layout, further improving the applicability and flexibility of the structure. At the same time, this design reduces unnecessary parts and complex operation steps while ensuring structural stability, thereby reducing production costs and maintenance difficulty.

[0106] To guide the movement of the movable part 312 in the front-back direction, in some embodiments, a guide rib extending horizontally is provided on the mounting body 311, and a mating groove that slides and engages with the guide rib is provided on the slider 3121. The cooperation between the guide rib and the mating groove provides precise guidance for the movement of the slider 3121 relative to the mounting body 311, ensuring that the slider 3121 drives the sliding buckle 3122 to move stably in the front-back direction. This ensures that the movable part 312 moves accurately in the predetermined front-back direction, avoiding deviation or shaking, and improving the stability and accuracy of the entire household appliance structure 100.

[0107] In some embodiments, one end of the guide rib extends to connect to the receiving groove 315, which is located below the guide rib. That is, the guide rib guides the entire movement of the main body 3121a until the position where the sliding buckle 3122 rotates, so that the main body 3121a can always be effectively guided by the guide rib during the movement, ensuring the accuracy and stability of the rotation of the sliding buckle 3122.

[0108] In addition, the receiving groove 315 is located below the guide rib, that is, the guide rib and the receiving groove are located on different side end faces of the mounting body 311. This arrangement makes the guide rib and the receiving groove 315 spatially staggered, which can make full use of the space of the mounting body 311 and make the whole structure more compact and reasonable.

[0109] In some household appliances, such as refrigerators, freezers, or storage cabinets, the shelf assembly 20 only moves in the front-to-back direction, that is, it moves into or out of the inner liner's receiving cavity 61. In other household appliances, such as dishwashers, the shelf assembly 20 moves not only in the front-to-back direction but also in the up-and-down direction, so that the shelf assembly 20 can not only move into or out of the inner liner's receiving cavity 61, but also be raised to a suitable position after being moved out of the inner liner's receiving cavity 61, so as to reduce the user's bending over and facilitate the user's loading and unloading operations.

[0110] Specifically, in some embodiments, please refer to Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 11 The shelf connector 10 also includes a swing arm 72, one end of which is hinged to the receiving cavity 61 of the inner liner, and the other end of which is hinged to the fixed slide rail 51. This is applicable in scenarios where the shelf assembly 20 not only moves in the front-back direction but also moves in the up-down direction.

[0111] It should be noted that the fixed slide rail 51 is not fixedly installed relative to the receiving cavity 61 of the inner liner. Instead, after the swing arm 72 swings to its limit position, the fixed slide rail 51 is fixed relative to the swing arm 72, that is, there is no relative movement between the fixed slide rail 51 and the swing arm 72.

[0112] The shelf assembly 20 includes a movable slide rail 52 and a first shelf 80 connected to the movable slide rail 52. The movable slide rail 52 is slidably mounted on the fixed slide rail 51 in a front-back direction. The movable slide rail 52 is movable relative to the inner liner and also relative to the shelf connector 10. The movable slide rail 52 is fixedly mounted relative to the first shelf 80.

[0113] Specifically, the swinging motion of the swing arm 72 causes the first shelf 80 to switch between a low position and a high position. Corresponding to the low position, the fixed slide rail 51 and the movable slide rail 52 move relative to each other, so that the first shelf 80 has an initial bottom position that is entirely inside the inner liner and a bottom position that is at least partially outside the inner liner and is waiting to be lifted. During the process of the first shelf 80 moving from the bottom position waiting to be lifted to the initial bottom position, the damping structure 31 is used to dampen the movement of the first shelf 80 into the inner liner. The damping structure 31 is applied to the process of the first shelf 80 returning from the bottom position waiting to be lifted to the initial bottom position to buffer the movement of the first shelf 80. Through the damping structure 31, the movement of the first shelf 80 during the return stroke is smooth and stable, improving the user experience.

[0114] When the first shelf 80 needs to be raised from its initial bottom position, the swing arm 72 swings upward around the hinge point, causing the first shelf 80 to gradually change from a low position to a high position. At the same time, the movable slide rail 52 slides forward along the fixed slide rail 51, causing part of the first shelf 80 to move out of the receiving cavity 61 for easy access to items. After the items are placed, the swing arm 72 swings downward, causing the first shelf 80 to descend. The movable slide rail 52 slides backward along the fixed slide rail 51, and the first shelf 80 returns to its initial bottom position within the receiving cavity 61.

[0115] This utility model also proposes a dishwasher, which adopts all the technical solutions of all the above embodiments, and therefore has at least all the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, which will not be described in detail here.

[0116] Inside the dishwasher, a second shelf 90 is provided inside the inner liner of the housing 60. After the first shelf 80 is stored in the receiving cavity 61 of the housing 60, the second shelf 90 is above the first shelf 80. After the first shelf 80 moves upward to the top position, the first shelf 80 is in front of the second shelf 90.

[0117] The following describes the user's experience using a household appliance (dishwasher) based on its structure, with the first shelf 80 as a reference:

[0118] 1. The first shelf 80 is in the initial position at the bottom, such as... Figure 12 As shown:

[0119] This state represents when the user is not using the appliance, has just started using it, or has finished using it. In these states, the first shelf 80 is located within the receiving cavity 61 of the household appliance. Figure 12 As can be seen, the first shelf 80 is retracted into the receiving cavity 61; at this time, the fixed slide rail 51 and the movable slide rail 52 move relative to each other to the minimum stroke position. At this time, the sliding buckle 3122 of the trigger part 32 and the movable part 312 are engaged, the first elastic member 3131 and the second elastic member 3141 cooperate, the first elastic member 3131 is at the minimum tensile elastic deformation position, and the second elastic member 3141 is at the maximum compressive elastic deformation position.

[0120] 2. The first shelf 80 is in the bottom position to be lifted, such as... Figure 13 As shown:

[0121] This state refers to the user pulling out the first shelf 80 from the receiving cavity 61, or the user lowering the first shelf 80 after using it. In these states, the first shelf 80 is at the opening of the receiving cavity 61. At this time, the fixed slide rail 51 and the movable slide rail 52 move relative to each other to their maximum stroke. At this time, the sliding buckle 3122 of the trigger part 32 and the movable part 312 separates. The first elastic element 3131 is at the maximum tensile elastic deformation position, and the second elastic element 3141 is at the minimum compressive elastic deformation position.

[0122] 3. The first shelf 80 is at its maximum lifting position at the top, such as... Figure 14 As shown:

[0123] This state occurs when the user lifts the first shelf 80 to its top limit position. At this time, the fixed slide rail 51 and the movable slide rail 52 move relative to each other to their maximum stroke. At this time, the sliding buckle 3122 of the trigger part 32 and the movable part 312 separates. The first elastic element 3131 is at the maximum tensile elastic deformation position, and the second elastic element 3141 is at the minimum compressive elastic deformation position.

[0124] The following will describe a complete user experience flow, based on the above embodiments:

[0125] When a user needs to use a household appliance, they first open the appliance's door. The user then pulls the first shelf 80 forward from the bottom initial position out of the receiving cavity 61 to the bottom lifting position. With the combined effect of the swing arm 72, the user continues to pull the first shelf 80 forward and upward, causing the first shelf 80 to move from the bottom lifting position to the top lifting limit position. The user continues to pull the first shelf 80 forward, causing the first shelf 80 to move from the top lifting limit position to the top locking position. In the locked state, the user can retrieve and place items within the first shelf 80 with reduced bending frequency.

[0126] When the user finishes retrieving or placing the item, the user pushes the first shelf 80 back to unlock it and move it from the top unlocked position to the top raised limit position. The user then lowers the first shelf 80 to move it from the top raised limit position to the bottom ready-to-raise position. The user continues to push the first shelf 80 back to move it from the bottom ready-to-raise position to the bottom initial position. When the first shelf 80 is in the bottom initial position, the user can close the door to complete the use of the household appliance.

[0127] The above description is merely an exemplary embodiment of the present utility model and does not limit the patent scope of the present utility model. Any equivalent structural transformations made based on the technical concept of the present utility model and the contents of the present utility model specification and drawings, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A household appliance structure, characterized in that, include: A shelf connector and a shelf assembly, the shelf assembly being movable relative to the shelf connector in a front-to-back direction, the shelf connector including a fixed slide rail; and... A damping assembly includes a damping structure and a triggering part. The damping structure includes a mounting body and a movable part. The mounting body is disposed on the shelf assembly. The movable part can reciprocate back and forth relative to the mounting body. The triggering part is disposed on the fixed slide rail. When moving along the back and forth direction with the shelf assembly, the triggering part can engage with the movable part to dampen the movement of the shelf assembly.

2. The household appliance structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The shelf assembly includes a movable slide rail and a first shelf connected to the movable slide rail, wherein the movable slide rail is slidably mounted on the fixed slide rail in a front-to-back direction; The mounting body of the damping structure is connected to the bottom of the movable slide rail or the first shelf.

3. The household appliance structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The shelf assembly is provided with a mounting component, which includes a mounting plate and a plug-in plate. The upper end of the mounting plate is connected to the shelf assembly, and the lower end of the mounting plate is connected to the plug-in plate. A limiting groove is provided on the mounting body, and the plug-in plate is inserted into the limiting groove.

4. The household appliance structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The damping structure also includes a self-closing unit, which includes a first elastic element disposed between the movable part and the mounting body. During the movement of the movable part, the first elastic element is always in a stretched state, so that the movable part moves under the elastic restoring force of the first elastic element, thereby driving the shelf assembly to move into the receiving cavity of the household appliance.

5. The household appliance structure as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The rear end of the mounting body is provided with a receiving groove, the movable part includes a sliding piece, the sliding piece is movably mounted on the mounting body in the front-back direction, and the first elastic element is connected between the sliding piece and the mounting body; The slider can be at least partially accommodated within the accommodating groove, so that the trigger part and the slider are separated; the slider can be moved out of the accommodating groove, so that the trigger part and the slider are engaged.

6. The household appliance structure as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The slider includes a main body and a sliding buckle rotatably mounted on the main body along an axis extending in the vertical direction. The sliding buckle is provided with a receiving slot for the trigger part to be inserted and engaged. When the sliding buckle rotates in the forward direction, it can avoid being accommodated in the receiving groove, and the trigger part disengages from the receiving slot, so that the sliding buckle and the trigger part are separated; when the sliding buckle rotates in the reverse direction, it can move out of the receiving groove, and the trigger part is inserted into the receiving slot, so that the sliding buckle and the trigger part are engaged.

7. The household appliance structure as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The damping structure further includes a buffer unit connected to the movable part for damping the movement of the shelf assembly toward the receiving cavity of the household appliance.

8. The household appliance structure as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The buffer unit includes a buffer cylinder and a connecting rod that is retractably connected to the buffer cylinder. The connecting rod is connected to the movable part, and the buffer cylinder is fixedly installed on the mounting body.

9. The household appliance structure as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The buffer unit includes a second elastic element, which is connected to the movable part and the mounting body. During the movement of the movable part, the second elastic element is always in a compressed state. During the movement of the movable part from front to back, the compression of the second elastic element gradually increases to buffer the movement of the movable part.

10. The household appliance structure according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The household appliance structure also includes a housing, which has a receiving cavity; The household appliance structure also includes at least one swing arm, one end of which is hinged to the receiving cavity and the other end of which is hinged to the fixed slide rail; The shelf assembly includes a movable slide rail and a first shelf connected to the movable slide rail, wherein the movable slide rail is slidably mounted on the fixed slide rail in a front-to-back direction; The swinging motion of the swing arm causes the first shelf to switch between a low position and a high position. Corresponding to the low position, the fixed slide rail and the movable slide rail move relative to each other, so that the first shelf has an initial bottom position that is entirely inside the receiving cavity and a bottom position that is at least partially outside the receiving cavity and is ready to be lifted. During the process of the first shelf moving from the bottom to the initial bottom position, the damping component is used to dampen the movement of the first shelf into the receiving cavity.

11. A dishwasher, characterized in that, Includes the household appliance structure as described in any one of claims 1 to 10.

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