CN109072532B

CN109072532B - Laundry treating machine with drawer assembly

Info

Publication number: CN109072532B
Application number: CN201780023760.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 毛罗·奇内洛
Original assignee: Electrolux Appliances AB
Current assignee: Electrolux Appliances AB
Priority date: 2016-04-18
Filing date: 2017-03-14
Publication date: 2021-07-16
Anticipated expiration: 2037-03-14
Also published as: WO2017182199A1; CN109072532A; AU2017253152B2; AU2017253152A1; EP3235938A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry treating machine (1) having a drawer assembly (1) comprising: a drawer (2); a support structure (3) on which the drawer (2) can slide along a sliding axis (S), the drawer (2) comprising a first side wall (6) and a second side wall (8). The drawer assembly (1) comprises retaining means (60) associated with the first lateral wall (6) such that said retaining means limit the movement of said drawer (2) with respect to said supporting structure (3) in the extraction direction (W) of the drawer (2) so as to provide a maximum extended retaining position of the drawer (2) in the supporting structure (3). The drawer assembly (1) further comprises an anti-shaking device (50) comprising a pushing element (52) associated with the support structure (3) adapted to push a gripping surface (54) arranged to the second side wall (8) when the drawer (2) is in the maximum extended holding position.

Description

Laundry treating machine with drawer assembly

The invention relates to the technical field of clothes treatment.

In particular, the present invention relates to a laundry treating machine having: a drawer for receiving a laundry treatment agent or other product; a support structure on which the drawer can slide; and a retaining arrangement adapted to limit movement of the drawer relative to the support structure.

Background

Nowadays, laundry treating machines are widely used, such as "simple" washing machines (i.e., laundry treating machines capable of washing and rinsing only laundry) or laundry washing-drying machines (i.e., laundry treating machines capable of drying also laundry) or laundry drying machines (i.e., laundry treating machines capable of drying only laundry).

In the present description, the term "laundry washing machine" will refer to both simple laundry washing machines and laundry washing-drying machines.

Conventionally, washing machines comprise a drawer for receiving a detergent used during the washing cycle or other agents for treating the laundry, such as a softener or a bleach.

The drawer may also be adapted to receive other products, such as salt to be used in a water softener of a washing machine.

In addition, laundry dryers typically include a drawer for receiving the moisture tank.

In this case, the drawer is adapted to receive the condensed water formed during the drying cycle, so that it can be emptied easily and regularly by the user.

A drawer of known type is received in an outer casing on which the drawer can slide in a substantially horizontal plane from a normally closed position to an open position.

Advantageously, the user can fill the compartments of the drawer with the products (e.g. detergent or softener) required for treating the laundry.

Drawers of known type are generally equipped with retaining means which safely limit the movement of the drawer in the extraction direction and provide a maximum extended retaining position of the drawer in the casing, i.e. the maximum extended position of the drawer while still supported in the casing.

The retaining means also preferably prevents accidental removal of the drawer from the housing.

The retaining means of known type are also further configured so that the drawer can be disengaged from its maximum retaining position and pulled out of the casing by the user.

A drawer assembly of this type is disclosed, for example, in DE 19505292C 2. The drawer is received in the housing and is equipped with a locking device to prevent accidental removal of the drawer from the housing. The holding element is located on a cover of the drawer, which cover is movable in height and can be accessed by a hand or a finger of a user. The corresponding stop element is located on the underside of the top cover of the housing. By pushing the cover of the drawer downwards, the retaining element is disengaged from the stop element and the drawer can be pulled out of the housing.

Another drawer assembly is known from GB 758,944, which comprises a spring-biased latch arm pivotally mounted on a front of a support structure of the drawer assembly and adapted to engage a slot in a flange under the action of a biasing spring to resist full withdrawal of the drawer when the drawer is almost fully withdrawn from its housing.

The safety catch is equipped with a forwardly extending operating arm that is accessible when the drawer is partially withdrawn so that the safety catch can be manually held in a disengaged position to allow the drawer to be fully withdrawn.

The drawer assemblies of the known art have some drawbacks.

A disadvantage associated with known drawer assemblies is that the drawer cannot be stably maintained therein when the drawer is in the maximum extended retention position.

The drawer in its maximum extended position is cantilevered by the housing and causes an undesirable wobble effect due to gaps between the drawer and/or components of the housing.

In particular, the drawer can swing around the holding device.

Shaking in particular comprises a slight movement of the drawer on a horizontal plane.

The shaking may adversely affect the quality of the laundry treating machine.

Furthermore, the wobble can adversely affect the strength and rigidity of the retaining means and thus the reliability of the same drawer assembly. In order to maintain high quality standards, a reinforced retention device designed with respect to the load must be constructed. This requires additional material to construct the drawer and/or housing.

This may adversely affect the size and/or weight and/or manufacturing cost of the laundry treating machine and the reliability of the laundry treating machine.

Said drawback is particularly evident when the weight of the drawer with laundry treatment agent and/or other products is related. Said drawback is particularly evident, for example, in the case of laundry dryers in which the humidity cabinet may have a relatively high weight, for example of a few kilograms.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages associated with the known art.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a laundry treating machine with a drawer assembly, which has a reduced wobbling effect compared to known types of laundry treating machines.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treating machine with a drawer assembly, which has a reduced complexity and/or size and/or weight compared to laundry treating machines of known type.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a laundry treating machine with a drawer assembly, which has a higher reliability than known types of laundry treating machines.

Disclosure of Invention

The applicant has found that by providing a laundry treating machine with a drawer assembly comprising a retaining device providing a maximum extended retaining position of the drawer with respect to the supporting structure, and by providing a pushing element associated with the supporting structure or with a side wall of the drawer, it is possible to reduce the wobbling of the drawer compared to known systems.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a laundry treating machine having a drawer assembly, the drawer assembly comprising:

-a drawer comprising at least one compartment for receiving an agent for treating laundry and/or for receiving other products/liquids;

-a support structure on which the drawer is slidable along a sliding axis, the drawer comprising a first side wall and a second side wall, the side walls extending along the sliding axis; and

-retaining means associated with said first side wall, such that said retaining means limit the movement of said drawer relative to said supporting structure along said sliding axis from said supporting structure in the direction of extraction of said drawer, so as to provide a maximum extended retaining position of said drawer in said supporting structure;

wherein the drawer assembly comprises a shaking prevention device comprising a pushing element associated with the support structure and/or the second side wall, the pushing element being adapted for pushing a gripping surface arranged to the second side wall and/or the support structure, respectively, when the drawer is in the maximally extended holding position.

The retaining means and the anti-wobble means are two different means, preferably associated with different side walls of the drawer, more preferably said first side wall and said second side wall, respectively.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pushing element is elastically deformable.

Preferably, the pushing element is adapted for applying a pushing force towards the gripping surface. More preferably, the urging force acts in a direction perpendicular to the sliding axis. The urging force preferably acts in a horizontal or substantially horizontal direction.

Preferably, the pushing element is adapted to resiliently deflect and/or move in a horizontal or substantially horizontal direction so as to retract and disengage the gripping surface when the drawer is moved from the maximum extended holding position towards the closed position.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the drawer assembly comprises a first laterally protruding sliding surface at the first side wall and a corresponding first guide member at the support structure and/or a second laterally protruding sliding surface at the second side wall and a corresponding second guide member at the support structure, the first laterally protruding sliding surface being adapted for sliding onto the first guide member and/or the second laterally protruding sliding surface being adapted for sliding onto the second guide member.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first guide member and/or the second guide member is a separate member from the support structure.

Preferably, the first guide member and/or the second guide member are removably associated with the support structure.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pushing element is formed integrally with the second guide member.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the pushing element is formed integrally with the support structure.

Preferably, the gripping surface is defined in the second laterally projecting sliding surface.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the side walls are arranged in a vertical plane or substantially vertical plane when the drawer assembly is mounted in the operative position.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the gripping surface comprises a surface portion adapted to cooperate with a surface portion of the pushing element when the drawer is moved from the maximum protruding holding position inside the support structure in the pushing direction of the drawer, wherein the surface portion of the gripping surface and/or the surface portion of the pushing element are inclined with respect to the sliding axis.

Preferably, the surface portion of the gripping surface and/or the surface portion of the pushing element are inclined at an angle of between 5 ° and 20 °, preferably between 10 ° and 15 °, with respect to the sliding axis.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the holding means comprise a removable holding element connectable to the support structure.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the removable holding element comprises an attachment portion and the support structure comprises a receiving portion into which the attachment portion can be engaged in order to connect the removable holding element to the support structure.

Preferably, the drawer comprises a stop element and the removable retaining element comprises a catch portion adapted to engage with the stop element so as to limit movement of the drawer relative to the support structure, said catch portion being rotatably connected to the attachment portion.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the grip portion and the attachment portion are formed as a single body.

Preferably, the grip portion is rotatable relative to the attachment portion about an axis parallel to the attachment portion. More preferably, the axis of rotation is perpendicular to the sliding axis.

In another aspect thereof, the present invention relates to a method for removing a drawer from a supporting structure in a laundry treatment machine of the above-mentioned type, wherein said method comprises the steps of:

-moving the drawer in the extraction direction with respect to the support structure until the maximum extended retaining position of the drawer in the support structure;

-disengaging the drawer from the retaining means associated with the first side wall;

-rotating the drawer relative to the support structure about a pivot point at the second side wall;

-moving the drawer further in the extraction direction with respect to the support structure until it is removed from the support structure.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be highlighted in more detail in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention provided below with reference to the attached drawings. In the drawings, corresponding features and/or components are identified by the same reference numerals. In these drawings:

figure 1 is a partial front perspective view of a laundry machine with a drawer assembly according to the present invention, with the drawer in a maximum extended retaining position with respect to the respective supporting structure;

figure 2 shows a detail of the drawer assembly of figure 1, separated from the rest;

figure 3 shows the drawer assembly of figure 2 from another angle;

figure 4 shows the top view of figure 2 with the top cover removed therefrom;

figure 5 shows an enlarged view of a detail of figure 4;

fig. 6 to 9: details of the partial cross-sectional top view of fig. 4 before, during and after the drawer is removed from the support structure;

figure 10 shows the laundry washing machine of figure 1, with the drawer removed from the supporting structure;

figure 11 shows a perspective view of the support structure of the drawer assembly of figure 2;

figure 12 shows the element of figure 11 separated from the rest;

figure 13 shows an enlarged view of a detail of figure 12;

figure 14 shows another perspective view of the support structure of the drawer assembly of figure 2;

figure 15 shows the element of figure 14 separated from the rest;

figure 16 shows a top plan view of the drawer assembly of figure 2, with the drawer in its closed position;

figure 17 shows a plan view of figure 16 taken along line XVII-XVII;

figure 18 shows an enlarged view of a detail of figure 17;

figure 19 shows another enlarged view of the detail of figure 17;

figure 20 shows a partial perspective view of another preferred embodiment of figure 2;

fig. 21 shows an enlarged top view of a detail of fig. 20.

Detailed Description

The invention has proved to be particularly advantageous when applied to a washing machine, as described below. In any case, it should be emphasized that the invention is not limited to washing machines. In contrast, the present invention may be conveniently applied to general laundry treating machines, such as a "simple" washing machine (i.e., a laundry treating machine capable of washing and rinsing laundry only) or a laundry washing-drying machine (i.e., a laundry treating machine capable of drying laundry also) or a laundry drying machine (i.e., a laundry treating machine capable of drying laundry only).

Furthermore, in the present description, the term "laundry washing machine" will refer to both simple laundry washing machines and laundry washing-drying machines.

Fig. 1 depicts details of a laundry machine 100 comprising a drawer assembly 1.

The drawer assembly 1 comprises a drawer 2 slidably associated with a supporting structure 3, preferably formed by a container that can house the drawer 2.

As will be better shown below, according to a preferred embodiment, the support structure 3 defines an outer casing 20 able to receive the drawer 2 therein, as better shown for example in fig. 10.

The drawer 2 preferably comprises two

side walls

6, 8, a rear wall 9, a front wall 12 and a front panel 15.

Preferably, the front panel 15, or more generally the drawer 2, comprises a handle 16 by means of which the drawer 2 can be moved from a closed position (shown only in fig. 16) to an extended retaining position (in which the drawer 2 is still supported by the support structure 3), and vice versa, from the extended retaining position to the closed position.

The movement of the drawer 2 is performed along the sliding axis S, and the drawer 2 can move in the withdrawal direction W when the drawer 2 is opened and in the push direction P when the drawer 2 is closed. The withdrawal direction W and the pushing direction P are parallel to the sliding axis S.

The movement of the drawer 2 is preferably carried out in a horizontal or substantially horizontal plane, i.e. the sliding axis S lies in a horizontal or substantially horizontal plane.

The two

side walls

6, 8 are preferably arranged in a vertical plane or substantially vertical plane when the drawer assembly is mounted in the operating position.

The two

side walls

6, 8 are preferably aligned along the sliding axis S.

The drawer 2 then preferably comprises

compartments

10a, 10b and 10c adapted to receive detergent and other agents, such as bleach, softener, salt for softening the device, etc.

Fig. 1-4 depict the drawer 2 in a maximum extended holding position. In this position, detergent and other reagents may be poured into

compartments

10a, 10b and 10 c.

The maximum extended retaining position corresponds to an extended position, preferably a maximum extended position, of the drawer 2 in the extraction direction W while still supported by the support structure 3 in the casing 20.

The housing 20 comprises an upper wall element 30, which is a water dispenser and comprises

water inlets

31a, 31b and 31c connectable to a water supply source of the laundry washing machine 100 by means of

respective valves

32a, 32b, 32c for supplying cold and/or hot/warm water into the compartments 10a and/or 10b and/or 10 c. The housing 20 further comprises a conduit 33 for guiding water or water mixed with detergent or other agents from the drawer assembly 1 into a washing tub (not shown) of the washing machine 100.

Preferably, in order to allow the drawer 2 to slide on the supporting structure 3, the drawer 2 comprises a first laterally projecting sliding surface 11 at the first side wall 6 (left side wall in the figures). The drawer 2 preferably comprises a second laterally protruding sliding surface 13 at the second side wall 8 (the right side wall in the figure).

The first and second laterally protruding sliding

surfaces

11, 13 are adapted for sliding preferably on

respective guide members

21, 22 of the support structure 3.

The

guide members

21, 22 are better described later with reference to fig. 11 to 15.

In different embodiments, the sliding of the drawer on the support structure along the sliding axis can be obtained with different means, for example with rolling elements (wheels) associated with the drawer that roll on guide members of the support structure.

According to an aspect of the invention, the movement of the drawer 2 along the extraction direction W is limited by a retaining device 60, better described later. The retaining means 60 preferably comprise a stop element 43, preferably connected to the first side wall 6 of the drawer 2, which can engage with a grip portion 41 formed in the removable retaining element 40, as shown in fig. 6 and better described later.

The retaining means 60 is preferably associated with the first side wall 6 of the drawer 2, but in a different embodiment it may be associated with the second side wall 8 of the drawer 2.

The retaining means 60 limit the movement of the drawer 2 with respect to the supporting structure 3, so as to prevent the complete removal of the drawer 2, as will be better explained below.

The retaining means 60 limit the movement of the drawer 2 to a maximum extended retaining position.

In this position, the drawer 2 is still associated with the support structure 3, so that the drawer 2 does not fall down due to gravity.

In the preferred embodiment shown and described herein, the drawer 2 can be pulled further in order to remove it from the enclosure 20 defined by the support structure 3. The construction details will be better described later.

However, the invention may be advantageously applied to drawer assemblies in which the retaining means define a maximum extended retaining position of the drawer, but the drawer cannot be removed from the housing.

Furthermore, the retaining means of the preferred embodiment shown here are preferably of the removable type, as better described later.

However, in different embodiments, the retaining means may be implemented differently and configured to define said maximum protruding retaining position of the drawer. For example, the retaining means may comprise a first element protruding from the drawer or from the support structure, which abuts against a second element protruding from the support structure or from the drawer, respectively.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the drawer assembly 1 includes a shaking prevention device 50.

The shaking prevention device 50 is preferably associated with the second side wall 8 of the drawer 2 and is thus arranged opposite the holding device 40.

The anti-wobble device 50 comprises a pushing element 52 associated with the support structure 3 and a gripping surface 54 arranged to the second side wall 8 of the drawer 2.

The pushing element 52 is preferably integrally formed with the right guide member 22, as better seen in fig. 12 and 13.

In various embodiments, the pushing element may preferably be integrally formed with the support structure.

The pushing element 52 and the gripping surface 54 are located in the support structure 3 and the second side wall 8, respectively, so that the pushing element 52 pushes against the gripping surface 54 when the drawer 2 is in the maximum extended holding position.

The engagement of the pushing element 52 with the gripping surface 54 prevents accidental or unintentional movement of the drawer 2 relative to the support structure 3.

More specifically, said engagement of the pushing element 52 with the gripping surface 54 prevents accidental or unintentional movement of the drawer 2 on a horizontal or substantially horizontal plane.

The pushing element 52 is preferably elastically deformable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sliding axis S, i.e. the pushing element 52 is deformed and its elasticity generates an urging force F towards the gripping surface 54 (to the left with reference to fig. 5).

Preferably, the pushing element 52 comprises two

inclined surface portions

52a, 52b and an intermediate surface portion 52c comprised therebetween. The

surface portions

52a, 52b are inclined at angles a1, a2 relative to the sliding axis S, and the intermediate surface portion 52c is preferably parallel to the sliding axis S.

The gripping surface 54 is preferably defined by a recess of the second sliding surface 13.

Similarly and preferably, the gripping surface 54 includes two

inclined surface portions

54a, 54b and an intermediate surface portion 54c included therebetween.

The

surface portions

54a, 54b are inclined at angles a1, a2 with respect to the sliding axis S of the drawer 2 or the side wall 13, and the intermediate surface portion 54c is preferably parallel to the sliding axis S.

The angle a1 of the inclined surface 52a of the pushing element 52 and the inclined surface 54a of the gripping surface 54 preferably correspond to each other, and is preferably in the range of 5 ° to 20 °, preferably the angle is about 15 °.

The angle a2 of the inclined surface 52b of the pushing element 52 and the inclined surface 54b of the gripping surface 54 preferably correspond to each other, and is preferably in the range of 60 ° to 90 °, preferably the angle is about 80 °.

The inclined surface 52a of the pushing element 52 and the inclined surface 54a of the gripping surface 54 cooperate when the drawer 2 moves from the maximum-extended holding position toward the closed position. The angle a1 provides a shallow ramp for retracting the pushing element 52 during insertion of the drawer 2 into the housing 20.

Advantageously, the pushing element 52 is adapted to elastically deflect and/or move in a horizontal or substantially horizontal direction so as to retract and disengage the gripping surface 54.

Preferably, the pushing element 52 in its deflected position is at least partially received in a seat 57 defined in the support structure 3.

As better shown in fig. 13, the elasticity of the pushing element 52 is preferably obtained by means of a slot 55 defined at the periphery of the pushing element 52. The push member 52 can rotate about the elastic hinge portion 52 i.

The shapes of the pushing element 52 and gripping surface 54 shown and described herein are merely exemplary and not limiting. In different embodiments, this shape may be different, for example a circular shape may be used.

Advantageously, as mentioned above, the anti-shaking device 50 prevents accidental or unintentional movement of the drawer 2 with respect to the supporting structure 3 (in particular, in a horizontal or substantially horizontal plane) when the drawer 2 is in the maximum extended retaining position.

In particular, the movement of the drawer 2 is prevented due to the pushing force F exerted by the pushing element 52 and due to the contact of the pushing element 52 with the gripping surface 54, and more particularly due to the contact of the

surface portions

52a and 52c of the pushing element 52 with the

surface portions

54a and 54c of the gripping surface 54.

In the maximum extended holding position, the drawer is thus stably maintained therein.

This is an indication of the quality of the washing machine.

Furthermore, the stability of the drawer 2 improves the reliability of the drawer assembly 1 compared to known systems.

According to the preferred embodiment described herein, the gripping surface 54 is realized at the second laterally protruding sliding surface 13.

However, in different embodiments, the gripping surface 54 may be implemented at any suitable different area of the second side wall 8 of the drawer 2.

Furthermore, according to the preferred embodiment described herein, the pushing element 52 is associated with the supporting structure 3 and the gripping surface 54 is associated with the side wall 8 of the drawer 2.

However, in different embodiments, the pushing element may be associated with a side wall of the drawer and the gripping surface may be associated with the support structure.

As explained previously, the sliding of the sliding surface 11 on the guide member 21 along the sliding axis S is limited by the retaining means 60. The retaining means 60 preferably comprises a stop element 43 which can be engaged with a grip portion 41 formed in the removable retaining element 40.

As will be described in further detail below, the grip portion 41 can be displaced so as to disengage from the stop element 43 of the drawer 2, allowing the drawer 2 to be fully extracted, as shown in fig. 6 to 9.

Further details of the retention system may be found in WO 2015074954 a1, which is assigned to the same assignee as the present application and is hereby incorporated by reference.

The removable retaining element 40 can be connected to the supporting structure 3, preferably to the side wall 23 thereof, so as to be fixed thereto. According to a preferred embodiment, the removable holding element 40 comprises an attachment portion 42, as shown in fig. 6, and the support structure 3 comprises a corresponding receiving portion in which the attachment portion 42 is received.

As shown in fig. 6 to 9, which show the removable holding element 40 in detail, according to a preferred embodiment the grip portion 41 is connected to the attachment portion 42 by means of an elastic connection 44. Preferably, the elastic connector 44 is located at the edge of the grip portion 41. Thus, the elastic connection 44 allows the grip portion 41 to rotate with respect to the attachment portion 42, about an axis X parallel to the attachment portion 42 and preferably perpendicular to the sliding axis S. The rotation of the grip portion 41 allows to displace it from an engaged position, in which the movement of the drawer 2 is limited, to a disengaged position, in which the drawer 2 can be fully extended.

Preferably, the grip portion 41 and said attachment portion 42 are formed as a single body and they are made of plastic, for example by molding. It will be understood that, in particular when the elastic element is formed as a single body, the movement of the grip portion 41 with respect to the attachment portion 42 may be different from a perfect rotation about the axis X, and it may for example be formed by a translational movement consisting of a rotation and a linear translation, or a rotation about a non-fixed axis.

According to a preferred embodiment, in order to operate the grip portion 41, the holding element 40 comprises an operating portion 40a symmetrical to the elastic connection 44. Therefore, when the operating portion 40a is pushed by the thumb or finger of the user, the grip portion 41 is displaced from the engaged position to the disengaged position.

At the same time, the drawer 2 is initially rotated about the pivot point V on the right side wall 8 of the drawer 2, as shown in fig. 7, until the pushing element 52 is out of contact with the gripping surface 54. The angle of rotation may have a low value, for example preferably comprised between 1 ° and 5 °.

The drawer 2 is then moved in the extraction direction W until it is removed from the casing 20, as shown in fig. 8 and 9.

With reference to fig. 11 to 19, a preferred embodiment of the

guide members

21, 22 of the support structure 3 is described in detail below.

According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the

guide members

21, 22 are removably associated with the support structure 3. Preferably, the

guide members

21, 22 are realized separately from the support structure 3 and subsequently attached thereto by means of fixing means 24, 25.

The fixing means 24, 25 preferably comprise

openings

24a, 25a defined in the

guide members

21, 22 and a hook 24b forming a snap connection in association with the support structure 3.

In different embodiments, the fixing means may be implemented differently.

In a preferred embodiment, polypropylene (PP), preferably with calcium carbonate (CaCO), is preferably used₃) Or talc, polypropylene, which enhances wear resistance and/or sliding properties. The support structure 3 is preferably realized in Polyoxymethylene (POM).

The left guide member 21 preferably has a U-shaped cross section, and preferably includes a lower rib 21a and an upper rib 21b extending substantially along the sliding axis S.

The lower and

upper ribs

21a, 21b advantageously receive the first projecting sliding surface 11 of the first side wall 6 of the drawer 2, as shown in fig. 18.

This particular shape of the left guide member 21 enhances the stability of the drawer 2 during movement in the housing 20.

Similarly, the right guide member 22 preferably has a U-shaped cross section, and preferably includes a lower rib 22a and an upper rib 22b extending substantially along the sliding axis S.

The lower rib 22a and the upper rib 22b advantageously receive the second projecting sliding surface 13 of the second side wall 8 of the drawer 2, as shown in fig. 19.

This particular shape of the right guide member 23 enhances the stability of the drawer 2 during movement in the housing 20.

In various embodiments, the upper rib of the guide member may be omitted.

The

guide members

21, 22 then preferably comprise recessed

areas

21c, 22c extending along the sliding axis S. The recessed

areas

21c, 22c are preferably realized at opposite sides of the

ribs

21a, 21b and 22a, 22b and preferably at half the height.

The recessed

areas

21c, 22c increase the rigidity of the

guide members

21, 22. The recessed

areas

21c, 22c ensure parallelism between the

ribs

21a, 21b and 22a, 22b, in particular during the forming process of the

guide members

21, 22.

In a preferred embodiment, the lower and

upper ribs

21a, 21b of the guide member 21 and the lower and

upper ribs

22a, 22b of the guide member 22 are preferably slightly inclined in the sliding direction S with respect to a horizontal plane so as to provide a slope inclined downward toward the rear side of the housing 20.

Advantageously, the drawer 2 with its weight is always subjected to a force in the pushing direction P.

Advantageously, the combined effect of the inclination and the weight of the drawer allows the drawer 2 to maintain a substantially horizontal position when placed in the maximum extended holding position.

Referring to fig. 20 and 21, a drawer assembly 101 according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention is described. In the drawings, corresponding features and/or components of the previously described first embodiment are identified by the same reference numerals.

This drawer assembly 101 differs from the drawer assembly 1 previously described with reference to fig. 1-19 in the different shape of the gripping surface 154 of the anti-wobble device 150.

The gripping surface 154 is still preferably defined by a recess of the second sliding surface 113.

The gripping surface 154 includes an inclined surface portion 154b and a linear surface portion 154 c.

As previously described, the surface portion 154b is inclined at an angle A2 relative to the sliding axis S of the drawer 102.

Here, advantageously, the anti-wobble device 150 prevents accidental or unintentional movement of the drawer 102 relative to the support structure 3 when the drawer 102 is in the maximum extended holding position.

Specifically, movement of the drawer 102 is prevented due to the urging force F exerted by the urging member 52 and due to contact of the urging member 52 with the gripping surface 154, and more specifically, due to contact of the surface portion 52c of the urging member 52 with the surface portion 154c of the gripping surface 154.

It has thus been shown that the invention allows all the set purposes to be achieved. In particular, it is possible to provide a laundry treating machine with a drawer assembly having a reduced wobbling effect compared to known types of laundry treating machines.

It is emphasized that the washing machine shown in the figures is of the front-loading type; it is clear, however, that the system according to the invention can also be applied to a top-loading washing machine without substantially any modifications. It is also clear that the system according to the invention can be applied to a laundry dryer also, substantially without any modifications.

Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A laundry treating machine (100) having a drawer assembly (1; 101) comprising:

-a drawer (2; 102) comprising at least one compartment (10a, 10b, 10c) for receiving agents for treating laundry and/or for receiving other products/liquids;

-a support structure (3) on which the drawer (2; 102) is slidable along a sliding axis (S), the drawer (2; 102) comprising a first side wall (6) and a second side wall (8), the side walls (6, 8) extending along the sliding axis (S); and

-retaining means (60) associated with said first side wall (6) such that they define a movement of said drawer (2; 102) with respect to said supporting structure (3) along said sliding axis (S) from said supporting structure (3) in an extraction direction (W) of said drawer (2; 102) so as to provide a maximum protruding retaining position of said drawer (2; 102) in said supporting structure (3);

characterized in that said drawer assembly (1; 101) comprises an anti-shake device (50; 150) comprising a pushing element (52) associated with said supporting structure (3) and/or said second side wall (8) adapted to push a gripping surface (54; 154) arranged to said second side wall (8) and/or said supporting structure (3), respectively, when said drawer (2; 102) is in said maximum protruding holding position;

wherein the retaining means and the anti-wobble device are two different devices.

2. Laundry treating machine (100) with a drawer assembly (1; 101) according to claim 1, wherein said pushing element (52) is elastically deformable.

3. Laundry treating machine (100) with a drawer assembly (1; 101) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said pushing element (52) is adapted for applying a pushing force (F) towards said gripping surface (54; 154).

4. Laundry treating machine (100) with a drawer assembly (1; 101) according to claim 3, wherein said pushing force (F) acts in a direction perpendicular to said sliding axis (S).

5. Laundry treating machine (100) with a drawer assembly (1; 101) according to claim 3, wherein said pushing force (F) acts in a horizontal or substantially horizontal direction.

6. Laundry treating machine (100) with a drawer assembly (1; 101) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said pushing element (52) is adapted for elastically deflecting and/or moving in a horizontal or substantially horizontal direction so as to retract and disengage said gripping surface (54; 154) when said drawer (2; 102) is moved from said maximum extended holding position towards a closed position.

7. Laundry treatment machine (100) with a drawer assembly (1; 101) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said drawer assembly (1; 101) comprises a first laterally protruding sliding surface (11) at said first side wall (6) and a respective first guide member (21) at said support structure (3) and/or a second laterally protruding sliding surface (13; 113) at said second side wall (8) and a respective second guide member (22) at said support structure (3), said first laterally protruding sliding surface (11) being adapted for sliding onto said first guide member (21) and/or said second laterally protruding sliding surface (13; 113) being adapted for sliding onto said second guide member (22).

8. Laundry treating machine (100) with a drawer assembly (1; 101) according to claim 7, wherein said gripping surface (54; 154) is defined in said second laterally protruding sliding surface (13; 113).

9. Laundry treating machine (100) with drawer assembly (1; 101) according to claim 7, said first guide member (21) and/or said second guide member (22) being a separate member from said supporting structure (3).

10. Laundry treating machine (100) with drawer assembly (1; 101) according to claim 9, said first guide member (21) and/or said second guide member (22) being removably associated with said supporting structure (3).

11. Laundry treating machine (100) with a drawer assembly (1; 101) according to claim 7, wherein said pushing element (52) is integral with said second guide member (22).

12. Laundry treating machine (100) with a drawer assembly (1; 101) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said pushing element (52) is integral with said supporting structure (3).

13. Laundry treating machine (100) with a drawer assembly (1; 101) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said gripping surface (54) comprises a surface portion (54a) adapted to cooperate with a surface portion (52a) of said pushing element (52) when said drawer (2) moves from said maximum protruding holding position inside said supporting structure (3) along a pushing direction (P) of said drawer (2), wherein said surface portion (54a) of said gripping surface (54) and/or said surface portion (52a) of said pushing element (52) are inclined with respect to said sliding axis (S).

14. Laundry treating machine (100) with drawer assembly (1; 101) according to claim 13, wherein said surface portion (54a) of said gripping surface (54) and/or said surface portion (52a) of said pushing element (52) are inclined with respect to said sliding axis (S) by an angle (a1) comprised between 5 ° and 20 °.

15. Laundry treating machine (100) with drawer assembly (1; 101) according to claim 14, wherein said surface portion (54a) of said gripping surface (54) and/or said surface portion (52a) of said pushing element (52) are inclined with respect to said sliding axis (S) by an angle (a1) comprised between 10 ° and 15 °.

16. Method for removing the drawer (2; 102) from the supporting structure (3) in a laundry treating machine (100) with a drawer assembly (1; 101) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

-moving the drawer (2; 102) in the extraction direction (W) with respect to the support structure (3) up to the maximum extended retaining position of the drawer (2; 102) in the support structure (3);

-disengaging the drawer (2; 102) from the retaining means (60) associated with the first side wall (6);

-rotating the drawer (2; 102) relative to the support structure (3) about a pivot point (V) at the second side wall (8);

-moving the drawer (2; 102) further in the extraction direction (W) with respect to the support structure (3) until it is removed from the support structure (3).