Water tank and cleaning device

Abstract

The utility model discloses a water tank and cleaning equipment relates to cleaning equipment technical field. Water tank includes box and switch cover subassembly, and switch cover subassembly includes apron, drive arrangement, sliding block, lock catch, first pivot and elastic part, and through setting drive arrangement drive sliding block movement, and sliding block can drive first pivot rotation and drive lock catch rotation to make apron switch -over in closing state and open state, when apron is in closing state, and apron closes water outlet, and lock catch and apron abut and limit, when apron is in open state, and lock catch and apron separate, and apron opens water outlet. Therefore lock catch does not need to reset through elastic part, through cancelling the elastic reset mechanism of lock catch, and the lock catch movement is completely integrated to sliding block drive path, and drive arrangement only needs to resist the resistance of elastic part at apron, effectively reduces the work load of drive arrangement in apron opening -closing process, and prolongs the service life of drive arrangement.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of cleaning equipment technology, and in particular to a water tank and cleaning equipment. Background Technology

[0002] Floor scrubbers, robotic vacuum cleaners, and other cleaning equipment have wastewater tanks. Taking floor scrubbers as an example, to improve automation and free up users' hands, the scrubber and a base station work together to allow the wastewater tank to automatically discharge without user intervention. In related technologies, the cover of the wastewater tank is used to open or close the discharge port, and the cover also needs to be equipped with a latch for double limiting. Usually, both the cover and the latch need to have elastic elements to ensure that the cover and the latch can automatically spring open under the action of the elastic elements. However, this solution results in a large force required for the motor drive, as it needs to overcome the elastic forces of two elastic elements simultaneously, placing high demands on the motor. Utility Model Content

[0003] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, the present invention proposes a water tank that can reduce the driving force required to close the cover.

[0004] This utility model also proposes a cleaning device having the above-mentioned water tank.

[0005] A water tank according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: a tank body with a water outlet; and a cover assembly including a cover plate, a driving device, a slider, a latch, a first rotating shaft, and an elastic element. The first rotating shaft is rotatably connected to the tank body, the cover plate is fixedly connected to the first rotating shaft, the cover plate is configured to open or close the water outlet, the elastic element is connected to the first rotating shaft or the cover plate, the elastic element is configured to provide an elastic force to the cover plate to open the water outlet, the slider is slidably connected to the tank body, the latch is connected to the slider, and the slider is configured to move under the drive of the driving device and drive the first rotating shaft to rotate and drive the latch to rotate, so that the cover plate switches between a closed state and an open state; wherein, when the cover plate is in the closed state, the cover plate closes the water outlet, and the latch and the cover plate abut against each other for a limiting position; when the cover plate is in the open state, the latch and the cover plate separate, and the cover plate opens the water outlet.

[0006] The water tank according to the embodiment of this utility model has at least the following beneficial effects: By setting a drive device to move the slider, the slider can drive the first rotating shaft to rotate, which in turn drives the latch to rotate, so that the cover can switch between a closed state and an open state. When the cover is closed, the cover closes the water outlet, and the latch and the cover abut against the limit. When the cover is open, the latch and the cover separate, and the cover opens the water outlet. Therefore, the latch does not need to be reset by an elastic element. By eliminating the elastic reset mechanism of the latch, the latch movement is fully integrated into the slider drive path, so that the drive device only needs to resist the resistance of the elastic element at the cover. This effectively reduces the workload of the drive device during the opening and closing of the cover, extends the service life of the drive device, and at the same time, the latch does not need to have an independent elastic element, reducing the number of parts, making the overall structure of the water tank more compact, and reducing production costs.

[0007] According to some embodiments of this utility model, the slider is provided with a guide hole, one end of the latch is rotatably connected to the housing, the latch is fixedly connected to a guide post, the guide post is inserted into the guide hole, and the driving device is configured to drive the slider to move along a first direction or a second direction, the first direction and the second direction being opposite. When the slider moves along the first direction, the guide hole drives the latch to rotate through the guide post, so that the latch and the cover plate are separated; when the slider moves along the second direction, the guide hole drives the latch to rotate in the opposite direction through the guide post, so that the latch and the cover plate abut against each other.

[0008] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the guide hole includes a first guide section, a transition section, and a second guide section connected in sequence. The first guide section is provided with a first guide slope for abutting against the guide post. The first guide slope is configured to allow the latch and the cover plate to abut against each other. The second guide section is provided with a second guide slope for abutting against the guide post. The second guide slope is configured to allow the latch and the cover plate to separate. The first guide slope and the second guide slope are respectively located on two opposite sidewalls of the guide hole.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the latch is provided with a second rotating shaft, the latch is connected to the housing through the second rotating shaft, the second rotating shaft is located on the side of the slider away from the cover plate, and the axis of the first rotating shaft is perpendicular to the axis of the second rotating shaft.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the first rotating shaft is provided with a baffle, and the slider is configured to push the baffle to drive the first rotating shaft to rotate.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the baffle is provided at one end of the first rotating shaft, and the slider is provided with a guide groove. When the cover plate is in the closed state, the bottom wall of the guide groove and the baffle are in abutment and cooperation. When the cover plate is in the open state, the bottom wall of the guide groove and the baffle are separated.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the elastic element is a torsion spring, and the torsion spring is connected to the first rotating shaft.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the driving device includes a motor, a gear and a rack, the rack and the slider are fixedly connected, the gear is connected to the output end of the motor, and the gear and the rack mesh.

[0014] According to some embodiments of this utility model One end of the cover plate is connected to the first rotating shaft. The cover plate has a third guide slope on the side away from the outlet. The third guide slope is located at the end of the cover plate away from the first rotating shaft. The third guide slope is arranged inclined in a direction away from the first rotating shaft and in a direction close to the outlet. The latch has a locking tongue on the side facing the cover plate. The locking tongue is configured to abut against the third guide slope to restrict the cover plate from opening the outlet.

[0015] The cleaning device according to a second aspect of the present invention includes the water tank described in the above embodiment.

[0016] The cleaning device according to the embodiments of this utility model has at least the following beneficial effects: By employing the water tank of the first embodiment, the water tank is equipped with a driving device that drives a slider to move. The slider can drive a first rotating shaft to rotate and cause a latch to rotate, thereby switching the cover plate between a closed state and an open state. When the cover plate is in the closed state, the cover plate closes the water outlet, and the latch and the cover plate abut against each other for a limit stop. When the cover plate is in the open state, the latch and the cover plate separate, and the cover plate opens the water outlet. Therefore, the latch does not need to be reset by an elastic element. By eliminating the elastic reset mechanism of the latch, the movement of the latch is fully integrated into the slider driving path, so that the driving device only needs to resist the resistance of the elastic element at the cover plate. This effectively reduces the workload of the driving device during the opening and closing of the cover plate and extends the service life of the driving device. At the same time, the latch does not need to be equipped with an independent elastic element, reducing the number of parts, making the overall structure of the water tank more compact, and reducing production costs.

[0017] Additional aspects and advantages of this invention 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 the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, wherein: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a water tank according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the hidden bottom cover of a water tank according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a switch cover assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the switch cover assembly in the closed state according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the slider of the switch cover assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention sliding along a first direction; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a switch cover assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the slider slides along a first direction and the latch and cover plate are separated; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the slider of the switch cover assembly of this utility model sliding in a second direction according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure label: Water tank 1000; Body 100; Outlet 110; Bottom cover 120; Switch cover assembly 200; cover plate 210; third guide slope 212; drive device 220; motor 221; gear 222; rack 223; slider 230; guide hole 231; first guide section 232; first guide slope 2321; transition section 233; second guide section 234; second guide slope 2341; guide groove 235; latch 240; guide post 241; second rotating shaft 242; locking tongue 243; first rotating shaft 250; stop rib 251; elastic element 260; torsion spring 261. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The embodiments of this utility model are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this utility model, and should not be construed as limiting this utility model.

[0021] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the directional descriptions, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., indicate the directional or positional relationship based on the directional or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.

[0022] In the description of this utility model, "several" means one or more, "multiple" means two or more, "greater than," "less than," and "exceeding" are understood to exclude the stated number, while "above," "below," and "within" are understood to include the stated number. If "first" or "second" is used in the description, it is only for the purpose of distinguishing technical features and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features, or implicitly indicating the order of the indicated technical features.

[0023] In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly defined, terms such as "setting," "installation," and "connection" should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0024] In existing technologies, the water tanks of cleaning equipment such as floor scrubbers and robotic vacuum cleaners typically employ a dual-elastic-component structure to achieve the automatic opening of the cover. In this type of structure, the cover and the latch each have elastic components to ensure reliable limiting. However, the drive unit must simultaneously overcome the elastic forces of both components, leading to increased motor load, reduced drive efficiency, reduced equipment lifespan, and increased manufacturing costs. For example, when the drain cover of a floor scrubber is closed, the motor needs to output a large torque to counteract the combined resistance of the latch torsion spring and the cover torsion spring, which can easily cause gear wear failures over long-term operation.

[0025] To solve the above problems, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown in the embodiment of this utility model, the water tank 1000 includes a tank body 100 and a switch cover assembly 200. The tank body 100 is provided with a water outlet 110, for example, the water outlet 110 is located at the bottom of the tank body 100, and the bottom of the tank body 100 is provided with a bottom cover 120. The switch cover assembly 200 is installed on the tank body 100 through the bottom cover 120. The switch cover assembly 200 includes a cover plate 210, a driving device 220, a slider 230, a latch 240, a first rotating shaft 250, and an elastic element 260. The first rotating shaft 250 is rotatably connected to the tank body 100 and fixed to the cover plate 210, and the elastic element 260 is connected to the first rotating shaft 250 or the cover plate 210 to provide an elastic force for opening. The slider 230 is slidably connected to the housing 100 and linked with the latch 240. When the drive device 220 drives the slider 230 to move, the slider 230 drives the first rotating shaft 250 to rotate and the latch 240 to rotate, realizing the switching of the cover 210 between the closed state and the open state. When the cover 210 is closed, the latch 240 abuts against the cover 210 and is limited; when the cover 210 is open, the latch 240 separates from the cover 210, and the elastic force of the elastic element 260 drives the cover 210 to open the outlet 110.

[0026] The elastic element 260 is an energy storage element that stores mechanical potential energy. It can be implemented using a helical torsion spring 261, a leaf spring, an elastic rubber component, a silicone component, or other structures. Its function is to provide the power required for the cover plate 210 to open automatically after the drive device 220 releases the locking latch 240 from its limit position. The drive device 220 is a power output mechanism, which can be implemented using a motor 221 in conjunction with a gear 222 and rack 223 transmission mechanism. It is used to precisely control the linear displacement of the slider 230.

[0027] It should be noted that the transmission mechanism of motor 221 with gear 222 and rack 223 is only one implementation of drive device 220. In other embodiments, drive device 220 can also be implemented by a motor with a ball screw or other structures.

[0028] The slider 230 refers to a moving component with a guiding structure, which can be implemented by setting a linear guide rail in conjunction with a sliding groove. Its function is to convert the rotational motion of the drive device 220 into linear motion and transmit it to the latch 240. The latch 240 refers to a mechanical latch with a limiting function, which can be manufactured by metal stamping or injection molding. It achieves contact or separation with the limiting surface of the cover plate 210 through rotational movement. In other embodiments, the latch 240 can also be a baffle that can abut against the cover plate 210 for limiting.

[0029] For example, refer to Figure 4 As shown, the cover plate 210 is in the closed state at this time. When the driving device 220 drives the slider 230 to move, for example... Figure 5 and Figure 6As shown, when moving from left to right, the slider 230, through mechanical linkage, drives the latch 240 to release the limiting constraint on the cover plate 210. At this time, the elastic potential energy stored in the elastic element 260 is released, pushing the cover plate 210 to rotate around the first rotating shaft 250 to open the outlet 110. When it is necessary to close the cover plate 210, refer to... Figure 7 Then refer to Figure 4 As shown, the drive device 220 drives the slider 230 to move in the opposite direction. The slider 230 pushes the first rotating shaft 250 to rotate against the resistance of the elastic element 260, while simultaneously driving the latch 240 to reset to the limit position. During this process, the movement trajectory of the latch 240 is completely linearly controlled by the slider 230, without the need for an independent elastic reset mechanism.

[0030] This design eliminates the elastic reset mechanism of the latch 240, integrating its movement entirely into the drive path of the slider 230. This allows the drive unit 220 to only resist the resistance of the elastic element 260 at the cover plate 210. This structural optimization significantly reduces the mechanical load on the drive unit 220, while also reducing the number of parts. This effectively lowers the workload of the drive unit 220 during the opening and closing of the cover plate 210, extending the service life of the motor 221 and transmission components. Since the latch 240 does not require a separate elastic element 260, the overall structure is more compact, reducing production costs. This design achieves miniaturization and high efficiency of the drive unit 220 while ensuring reliable locking of the cover plate 210, making it suitable for cleaning equipment that requires frequent opening and closing of the outlet 110.

[0031] Reference Figure 4 As shown in the embodiment of this utility model, the slider 230 is provided with a guide hole 231, one end of the latch 240 is rotatably connected to the housing 100, and the latch 240 is fixedly connected to a guide post 241, which is inserted into the guide hole 231. The driving device 220 is configured to drive the slider 230 to move along a first direction or a second direction, the first direction and the second direction being opposite. When the slider 230 moves along the first direction, the guide hole 231 drives the latch 240 to rotate through the guide post 241, so that the latch 240 and the cover plate 210 are separated; when the slider 230 moves along the second direction, the guide hole 231 drives the latch 240 to rotate in the opposite direction through the guide post 241, so that the latch 240 and the cover plate 210 abut against each other. The first direction can be Figure 4 The middle direction is from left to right, and the second direction can be... Figure 4 The direction from right to left in the middle.

[0032] The guide hole 231 refers to the hole-like structure provided on the slider 230, which can be implemented using a straight or curved channel, and is used to constrain the movement trajectory of the guide post 241. The guide post 241 refers to the columnar component fixed on the latch 240, which can be implemented using a cylindrical metal rod or a plastic protrusion structure, and through cooperation with the guide hole 231, converts the linear motion of the slider 230 into the rotational motion of the latch 240.

[0033] For example, refer to Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, when the driving device 220 drives the slider 230 to move along the first direction, the sidewall of the guide hole 231 contacts the guide post 241 and applies force, forcing the latch 240 to rotate around its rotation center. The latch 240 has a locking tongue 243 on the side facing the cover plate 210. The locking tongue 243 disengages from the cover plate 210, and the cover plate 210 automatically pops out and opens the outlet 110 under the action of the elastic member 260. (Refer to...) Figures 7 to 4 As shown, when the drive device 220 drives the slider 230 to move in the second direction, the other side wall of the guide hole 231 pushes the guide post 241 to move in the opposite direction, the latch 240 rotates back to the initial position, and the latch tongue 243 re-abuts against the cover plate 210 for limitation. During this process, the latch 240 does not need to be equipped with an additional elastic element 260, and the movement switching can be completed solely by the mechanical cooperation between the guide hole 231 and the guide post 241.

[0034] This solution replaces the elastic element 260 of the locking buckle 240 with the sliding fit between the guide hole 231 and the guide post 241, so that the drive device 220 only needs to provide the driving force to overcome the single elastic element 260, which significantly reduces the power demand, effectively reduces the workload of the drive device 220, avoids overload damage to the motor 221 due to insufficient driving force, and at the same time reduces the number of parts, simplifies the assembly process, and helps to reduce production costs and improve product reliability.

[0035] Reference Figure 4 As shown in the embodiment of this utility model, the guide hole 231 includes a first guide section 232, a transition section 233, and a second guide section 234 connected in sequence. The first guide section 232 is provided with a first guide slope 2321 for abutting against the guide post 241, so that the latch 240 and the cover plate 210 abut against each other. The second guide section 234 is provided with a second guide slope 2341 for abutting against the guide post 241, so that the latch 240 and the cover plate 210 are separated. The first guide slope 2321 and the second guide slope 2341 are respectively located on two opposite sidewalls of the guide hole 231.

[0036] The guide hole 231 refers to a continuous channel on the slider 230 used to guide the movement of the guide post 241. It can be implemented using a three-section through-groove structure, with the first guide section 232 and the second guide section 234 located at the two ends of the transition section 233, respectively. The first guide slope 2321 refers to the inclined surface located on the side wall of the first guide section 232. It can be implemented using a plane arranged at an acute angle to the direction of movement of the guide post 241. The contact between the slope and the guide post 241 generates a component force that drives the latch 240 to rotate. The second guide slope 2341 refers to the inclined surface located on the side wall of the second guide section 234. It can be implemented using a plane that is symmetrical to the first guide slope 2321. The contact between the slope and the guide post 241 generates a reverse component force that drives the latch 240 to rotate in the opposite direction.

[0037] For example, refer to Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, when the slider 230 moves along the first direction, the guide post 241 slides from the first guide section 232 through the transition section 233 into the second guide section 234. At this time, the guide post 241 does not engage with the first guide ramp 2321 when it is in the first guide section 232. The lock 240 will only rotate when the guide post 241 engages with either the first guide ramp 2321 or the second guide ramp 2341. When the guide post 241 is in the first guide section 232 or the transition section 233, the lock 240 does not rotate. When the guide post 241 moves to the second guide section 234, the second guide ramp 2341 contacts the guide post 241 and generates a lateral force, forcing the lock 240 to rotate around the pivot and disengage from the cover plate 210. When the slider 230 moves in the second direction, the guide post 241 slides into the first guide section 232 in the opposite direction. The first guide ramp 2321 contacts the guide post 241 and generates a reverse force, which pushes the latch 240 to reset and abut against the cover plate 210. The transition section 233 is used to smoothly connect the two guide ramps to avoid jamming during the movement of the guide post 241.

[0038] This solution utilizes the three-section structure of the guide hole 231 and the force component of the inclined plane to ensure that the rotation of the latch 240 is entirely controlled by the movement path of the slider 230, eliminating the need for the elastic element 260 of the latch 240. This reduces the resistance that the drive device 220 needs to overcome, achieving precise control over the separation and contact actions of the latch 240 and the cover plate 210. It eliminates the additional resistance brought by the elastic element 260 of the latch 240, allowing the drive device 220 to complete the opening and closing of the cover plate 210 by overcoming the elastic force of a single elastic element 260, effectively reducing the drive load and extending the service life of the device.

[0039] Reference Figure 3As shown in the embodiment of this utility model, the latch 240 is provided with a second rotating shaft 242. The latch 240 is connected to the housing 100 through the second rotating shaft 242. The second rotating shaft 242 is located on the side of the slider 230 away from the cover plate 210. The axis of the first rotating shaft 250 is perpendicular to the axis of the second rotating shaft 242.

[0040] The second rotating shaft 242 refers to the shaft that forms a rotatable connection between the latch 240 and the housing 100. It can be a cylindrical shaft, allowing the latch 240 to rotate around its axis to abut or separate from the cover plate 210. The side of the slider 230 away from the cover plate 210 refers to the area where the slider 230 is far from the plane containing the cover plate 210. Positioning the second rotating shaft 242 in this area prevents spatial interference between the latch 240 and the cover plate 210 during rotation. The axes of the first rotating shaft 250 and the second rotating shaft 242 are perpendicular, meaning their spatial directions intersect at a 90-degree angle. This can be achieved by arranging the first rotating shaft 250 horizontally and the second rotating shaft 242 vertically, thereby optimizing the motion transmission direction between the latch 240 and the cover plate 210.

[0041] For example, the latch 240 is rotatably connected to the housing 100 via the second rotating shaft 242. When the slider 230 moves under the action of the driving device 220, the latch 240 rotates around the second rotating shaft 242 to achieve contact or disengagement with the cover plate 210. The second rotating shaft 242 is located on the side of the slider 230 away from the cover plate 210, so that the rotation trajectory of the latch 240 and the moving direction of the slider 230 are spatially misaligned, avoiding motion interference. The perpendicular arrangement of the first rotating shaft 250 and the second rotating shaft 242 means that the cover plate 210 provides a vertical force to the latch 240 under the elastic force of the elastic element 260, thereby preventing the cover plate 210 from driving the latch 240 to rotate.

[0042] This solution improves the reliability of the lock 240 in limiting the cover plate 210 by independently setting the second rotating shaft 242 and limiting its axial direction.

[0043] Reference Figure 3As shown in the embodiment of this utility model, the first rotating shaft 250 is provided with a baffle 251, and the slider 230 is configured to push the baffle 251 to drive the first rotating shaft 250 to rotate, thereby overcoming the elastic force of the elastic member 260 to close the outlet 110 of the cover plate 210. The baffle 251 refers to a protruding structure provided on the first rotating shaft 250, which can be implemented by metal or plastic protrusion integrally formed with the first rotating shaft 250. Its function is to cooperate with the guide groove 235 of the slider 230 to form a thrust transmission structure, so that the linear motion of the slider 230 is converted into the rotational motion of the first rotating shaft 250. The guide groove 235 refers to a groove structure provided on the slider 230, which can be implemented by strip groove or arc groove. After its bottom wall contacts the baffle 251, it can apply a thrust to ensure that the baffle 251 moves along a predetermined trajectory when the slider 230 moves, thereby accurately controlling the rotation angle of the first rotating shaft 250.

[0044] For example, refer to Figure 5 As shown, when the driving device 220 drives the slider 230 to move along the first direction, the slider 230 will separate from the baffle 251. After losing the limiting groove, the cover plate 210 should be able to open the outlet 110 under the elastic force of the elastic member 260. However, because the latch 240 is still abutting against the cover plate 210 at this time, the cover plate 210 cannot open the outlet 110. (Refer to...) Figure 6 As shown, as the slider 230 continues to move along the first direction, until the second guide slope 2341 and the guide post 241 cooperate, the latch 240 rotates and separates from the cover plate 210. At this time, the cover plate 210 can open the outlet 110 under the elastic force of the elastic element 260.

[0045] Reference Figure 7 As shown, when the driving device 220 drives the slider 230 to move in the second direction, the lock 240 will not rotate at this time because the guide post 241 needs to pass through the transition section 233 first, and will remain separated from the cover plate 210. The bottom wall of the guide groove 235 can then re-contact with the baffle 251 and apply a pushing force, forcing the first rotating shaft 250 to overcome the elastic force of the elastic element 260 and rotate, thus driving the cover plate 210 from the open state to the closed state. As the slider 230 continues to move, the first guide inclined surface 2321 will then cooperate with the guide post 241, and only then can the lock 240 be driven to rotate to the position where it abuts against the cover plate 210. During this process, the slider 230 only needs to push the baffle 251 to directly drive the first rotating shaft 250, without needing to indirectly transmit the force through the lock 240. Therefore, the resistance that the driving device 220 needs to overcome only comes from the elastic force of the elastic element 260, and does not need to overcome the elastic force of the lock 240 and the elastic element 260.

[0046] This solution eliminates the elastic element 260 of the latch 240 and applies the driving force directly to the retaining rib 251 of the first rotating shaft 250. This allows the driving device 220 to complete the closing action of the cover 210 by overcoming the elastic force of the single elastic element 260, which significantly reduces the driving load, effectively reduces the thrust required by the driving device 220 when closing the cover 210, and reduces the power requirements of the motor 221, thereby extending the service life of the driving device 220. At the same time, it simplifies the structure of the latch 240 assembly and reduces manufacturing costs.

[0047] Reference Figure 3 As shown in the embodiment of this utility model, the baffle 251 is provided at one end of the first rotating shaft 250, and the slider 230 is provided with a guide groove 235. When the cover plate 210 is in the closed state, the bottom wall of the guide groove 235 and the baffle 251 abut against each other. When the cover plate 210 is in the open state, the bottom wall of the guide groove 235 and the baffle 251 separate.

[0048] For example, when the cover plate 210 needs to switch from the open state to the closed state, the drive device 220 drives the slider 230 to move along a set direction. The bottom wall of the guide groove 235 contacts the baffle 251 and applies a pushing force, forcing the first rotating shaft 250 to rotate against the elastic force of the elastic element 260, thereby driving the cover plate 210 to close the outlet 110. In this process, the geometry of the guide groove 235 defines the movement trajectory of the baffle 251, so that the linear displacement of the slider 230 and the rotation angle of the first rotating shaft 250 form a precise correspondence. Since the force transmission can be completed by the baffle 251 and the guide groove 235 with only a single point of contact, no additional transmission components are required, thereby reducing the structural complexity.

[0049] This solution, through the cooperation of the baffle 251 and the guide groove 235, shortens the transmission path to a single contact surface, significantly reducing the number of kinematic pairs and energy loss. It enables stable closing of the cover plate 210 with a simpler mechanical structure, avoiding the problem of dispersed driving force caused by multi-component linkage, thereby reducing the workload of the drive device 220. Simultaneously, the rigid contact between the baffle 251 and the guide groove 235 eliminates the energy loss caused by elastic deformation in the traditional elastic element 260 reset mechanism, further improving transmission efficiency.

[0050] Reference Figure 3As shown in the embodiment of this utility model, the elastic element 260 is a torsion spring 261, which is connected to the first rotating shaft 250. For example, it can be connected to the end of the first rotating shaft 250 away from the slider 230, or it can be set at the end closer to the slider 230 or in the middle of the first rotating shaft 250. The torsion spring 261 is a mechanical element that generates elastic force through its own torsional deformation. It can be implemented using a spiral structure made of metal wire, with its two ends fixedly connected to the first rotating shaft 250 and the housing 100, respectively. This design directly mounts the torsion spring 261 on the rotating shaft, so that the rotation of the rotating shaft directly drives the deformation of the torsion spring 261 during the opening and closing of the cover plate 210, thereby simplifying the elastic force transmission path. One end of the first rotating shaft 250 refers to the axial end region of the rotating shaft. The torsion spring 261 can be positioned and installed by setting a groove or boss structure at the end of the rotating shaft, for example, by fitting the inner ring of the torsion spring 261 onto the end of the rotating shaft and fixing it with a buckle. This connection method ensures that the torsion center of the torsion spring 261 coincides with the rotation axis of the shaft, thus avoiding additional torque loss.

[0051] For example, when the drive device 220 pushes the slider 230 to move, the slider 230 drives the first rotating shaft 250 to rotate against the elastic force of the torsion spring 261, causing the cover plate 210 to close the outlet 110. At this time, the torsion spring 261 undergoes torsional deformation due to the rotation of the shaft and stores elastic potential energy. When the drive device 220 releases the drive on the slider 230, the torsion spring 261 releases the stored elastic potential energy, driving the rotating shaft to rotate in the opposite direction, thereby causing the cover plate 210 to automatically open the outlet 110. In this process, the elastic force acts on the rotating shaft only through the single torsion spring 261, without the need for an additional locking element 240 260.

[0052] This design eliminates the elastic element 260 at the latch 240 and places the torsion spring 261 at the end of the shaft. This allows the drive unit 220 to withstand only the force of the single torsion spring 261, significantly reducing the power load and effectively lowering the resistance the drive unit 220 needs to overcome during the opening and closing of the cover plate 210. This also extends the service life of power components such as the motor 221. Furthermore, the integrated torsion spring 261 at the shaft end reduces the number of parts, simplifies the assembly process, and helps control production costs.

[0053] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 4As shown in the embodiment of this utility model, the driving device 220 includes a motor 221, a gear 222, and a rack 223. The rack 223 and the slider 230 are fixedly connected. The gear 222 is drivenly connected to the output end of the motor 221, and the gear 222 and the rack 223 mesh. The motor 221 is a power source that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy, and can be implemented using a DC geared motor 221, used to provide power to drive the slider 230. The gear 222 is a transmission component with a toothed structure, and can be implemented using a steel helical gear 222, used to transmit the rotational motion of the motor 221 to the rack 223. The rack 223 is a linear motion component with continuous teeth, and can be implemented using an injection-molded engineering plastic rack 223, which converts the rotational motion into the linear displacement of the slider 230 by meshing with the gear 222.

[0054] For example, the output shaft of motor 221 drives gear 222 to rotate, and gear 222 meshes with rack 223 fixed on slider 230 for transmission. When motor 221 rotates in the forward direction, gear 222 drives rack 223 to move in the first direction, causing slider 230 to move synchronously to release latch 240 from limiting cover plate 210; when motor 221 rotates in the reverse direction, gear 222 drives rack 223 to move in the second direction, causing slider 230 to reset and push latch 240 to relock cover plate 210. This transmission method transmits power through the meshing contact surface of gear 222 and rack 223, and there is no elastic deformation loss during the motion conversion process.

[0055] This solution replaces the elastic drive structure with a rigid transmission using gears 222 and racks 223, eliminating the additional resistance generated by the locking buckle 240 and elastic element 260. This allows the motor 221 to overcome only the friction of the mechanical transmission system, significantly reducing the drive load and achieving directional transmission of the output force of the drive device 220. It avoids energy loss caused by the deformation of the elastic element 260, reduces the workload of the motor 221 during the opening and closing of the water tank 1000 cover plate 210, and extends the service life of the motor 221. At the same time, the gear 222 and rack 223 meshing structure has the advantages of high positioning accuracy and stable transmission efficiency, ensuring the reliability of the fit between the locking buckle 240 and the cover plate 210.

[0056] Reference Figure 3 As shown in the embodiment of this utility model, one end of the cover plate 210 is connected to the first rotating shaft 250. The cover plate 210 is provided with a third guide slope 212 on the side away from the outlet 110. The third guide slope 212 is located at the end of the cover plate 210 away from the first rotating shaft 250. The third guide slope 212 is arranged inclined in the direction away from the first rotating shaft 250 and in the direction close to the outlet 110. The latch 240 is provided with a locking tongue 243 on the side facing the cover plate 210. The locking tongue 243 is configured to abut against the third guide slope 212 to restrict the cover plate 210 from opening the outlet 110.

[0057] The third guide slope 212 refers to the inclined surface of the cover plate 210 away from the rotating shaft. It can be achieved by processing the edge of the cover plate 210 into a slope or by adding an inclined structure. Its inclined direction is designed to be away from the rotating shaft and towards the outlet 110, so that the locking tongue 243 generates a sliding force when it contacts the slope. The locking tongue 243 refers to the protruding structure on the latch 240 that contacts the cover plate 210. It can be a wedge-shaped block made of metal or plastic, which is fixed or integrally formed to the surface of the latch 240 to form a sliding fit with the third guide slope 212.

[0058] For example, when the drive device 220 drives the slider 230 to move, the latch 240 moves with the slider 230 and drives the latch 243 to slide along the third guide slope 212. Since the inclination direction of the third guide slope 212 forms an angle with the movement direction of the latch 243, the latch 243 generates a lateral displacement component under the action of the slope, causing the latch 240 to quickly separate from or abut against the cover plate 210. During the closing process of the cover plate 210, the latch 243 slides along the third guide slope 212 to the limit point, and the precise alignment of the latch 240 and the cover plate 210 is achieved through the guiding action of the slope, avoiding rigid collision.

[0059] In some embodiments, the inclination angle of the third guide ramp 212 can be any angle between 30° and 60°, for example, the inclination angle of the third guide ramp 212 can be 30°, 35°, 45°, 50°, 60°, etc. The end of the latch 243 can be rounded to reduce frictional resistance. The latch 240 and the slider 230 can be connected by a pivot, so that the latch 243 maintains stable contact with the ramp during sliding.

[0060] This solution converts the linear motion of the latch 243 into a sliding component force through the inclined arrangement of the third guide slope 212, significantly reducing the friction of the contact surface. At the same time, the self-guiding characteristics of the slope improve the fitting accuracy between the latch 240 and the cover plate 210, which can reduce the frictional loss when the latch 243 contacts the cover plate 210, reduce the driving force required by the drive device 220, and improve the smoothness of the opening and closing action of the cover plate 210. Meanwhile, the inclined limiting structure enhances the fitting stability between the latch 240 and the cover plate 210, avoiding jamming problems caused by mechanical errors.

[0061] Reference Figure 1As shown, one embodiment of the cleaning equipment of this utility model includes the water tank 1000 of the above embodiment. The cleaning equipment refers to a device with an autonomous cleaning function, which can be implemented by using equipment with sewage collection functions such as floor scrubbers and sweeping robots. Automated sewage discharge is achieved by integrating the water tank 1000 with an automatic opening and closing function. The water tank 1000 is a container used for storing and discharging liquids. It can be implemented by adopting a tank body 100 structure with a water outlet 110 and a switch cover assembly 200. The opening and closing of the water outlet 110 is achieved by controlling the linkage action of the cover plate 210 and the latch 240 through the drive device 220.

[0062] The cleaning equipment of this embodiment uses the water tank 1000 of the above embodiment. By eliminating the elastic reset mechanism of the latch 240, the movement of the latch 240 is fully integrated into the drive path of the slider 230, so that the drive device 220 only needs to resist the resistance of the elastic element 260 at the cover plate 210. This structural optimization significantly reduces the mechanical load of the drive device 220, while reducing the number of parts, effectively reducing the workload of the drive device 220 during the opening and closing of the cover plate 210, and extending the service life of the motor 221 and transmission components. Since the latch 240 does not need to be equipped with an independent elastic element 260, the overall structure is more compact and the production cost is reduced. This design achieves miniaturization and high efficiency of the drive device 220 while ensuring reliable locking of the cover plate 210, and is suitable for cleaning equipment that requires frequent opening and closing of the water outlet 110.

[0063] Since the cleaning equipment adopts all the technical solutions of the water tank 1000 in the above embodiments, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions in the above embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0064] The embodiments of the present utility model have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present utility model is not limited to the above embodiments. Within the scope of knowledge possessed by those skilled in the art, various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A water tank, characterized in that, include: The tank is equipped with a water outlet; A cover assembly includes a cover plate, a drive device, a slider, a latch, a first rotating shaft, and an elastic element. The first rotating shaft is rotatably connected to the housing. The cover plate is fixedly connected to the first rotating shaft. The cover plate is configured to open or close the water outlet. The elastic element is connected to the first rotating shaft or the cover plate. The elastic element is configured to provide an elastic force to the cover plate to open the water outlet. The slider is slidably connected to the housing. The latch is connected to the slider. The slider is configured to move under the drive of the drive device and drive the first rotating shaft to rotate and drive the latch to rotate, so that the cover plate switches between a closed state and an open state. When the cover is in the closed state, the cover closes the water outlet, and the latch and the cover abut against each other to limit the movement; when the cover is in the open state, the latch and the cover separate, and the cover opens the water outlet.

2. The water tank according to claim 1, characterized in that: The slider is provided with a guide hole, one end of the latch is rotatably connected to the housing, the latch is fixedly connected to a guide post, the guide post is inserted into the guide hole, and the driving device is configured to drive the slider to move in a first direction or a second direction, the first direction and the second direction being opposite. When the slider moves in the first direction, the guide hole drives the latch to rotate through the guide post, so that the latch and the cover plate are separated; when the slider moves in the second direction, the guide hole drives the latch to rotate in the opposite direction through the guide post, so that the latch and the cover plate abut against each other.

3. The water tank according to claim 2, characterized in that: The guide hole includes a first guide section, a transition section, and a second guide section connected in sequence. The first guide section is provided with a first guide slope for abutting against the guide post. The first guide slope is configured to allow the latch and the cover plate to abut against each other. The second guide section is provided with a second guide slope for abutting against the guide post. The second guide slope is configured to allow the latch and the cover plate to separate. The first guide slope and the second guide slope are located on two opposite sidewalls of the guide hole.

4. The water tank according to claim 1, characterized in that: The latch is provided with a second rotating shaft, and the latch is connected to the housing through the second rotating shaft. The second rotating shaft is located on the side of the slider away from the cover plate, and the axis of the first rotating shaft is perpendicular to the axis of the second rotating shaft.

5. The water tank according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first rotating shaft is provided with a stop rib, and the slider is configured to push the stop rib to drive the first rotating shaft to rotate.

6. The water tank according to claim 5, characterized in that: The baffle is located at one end of the first rotating shaft, and the slider is provided with a guide groove. When the cover plate is in the closed state, the bottom wall of the guide groove and the baffle are in contact. When the cover plate is in the open state, the bottom wall of the guide groove and the baffle are separated.

7. The water tank according to claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic element is a torsion spring, which is connected to the first rotating shaft.

8. The water tank according to claim 1, characterized in that: The driving device includes a motor, a gear, and a rack. The rack and the slider are fixedly connected. The gear is connected to the output end of the motor, and the gear and the rack mesh.

9. The water tank according to claim 1, characterized in that: One end of the cover plate is connected to the first rotating shaft. The cover plate has a third guide slope on the side away from the outlet. The third guide slope is located at the end of the cover plate away from the first rotating shaft. The third guide slope is arranged inclined in a direction away from the first rotating shaft and in a direction close to the outlet. The latch has a locking tongue on the side facing the cover plate. The locking tongue is configured to abut against the third guide slope to restrict the cover plate from opening the outlet.

10. A cleaning device, characterized in that: The water tank includes any one of claims 1 to 9.

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