U.S. patent application number 17/167358 was filed with the patent office on 2021-08-12 for humidification apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Sunghyun CHUN, Changwoo JUNG, Nakhyun KIM, Wonhee LEE, Juwan PARK, Moonsun SHIN.
Application Number | 20210247099 17/167358 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005402356 |
Filed Date | 2021-08-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210247099 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PARK; Juwan ; et
al. |
August 12, 2021 |
HUMIDIFICATION APPARATUS
Abstract
Provided is a humidification apparatus including a main body
having a water container accommodating portion, a drawer slidably
coupled to the main body to open and close the water container
accommodating portion and including a basket having an opening that
is open at an upper side thereof, a water container provided to be
accommodated in the basket through the opening, a rail assembly
coupled to a bottom surface of the water container accommodating
portion, and allowing the drawer to be slidably moved, an automatic
driving device coupled to the bottom surface of the water container
accommodating portion, and allowing the drawer to be automatically
inserted into or withdrawn from the water container accommodating
portion, and a fall prevention device coupled to a lower portion of
the basket and configured to support the drawer to prevent the
drawer from falling when the drawer is withdrawn.
Inventors: |
PARK; Juwan; (Suwon-si,
KR) ; CHUN; Sunghyun; (Suwon-si, KR) ; KIM;
Nakhyun; (Suwon-si, KR) ; SHIN; Moonsun;
(Suwon-si, KR) ; LEE; Wonhee; (Suwon-si, KR)
; JUNG; Changwoo; (Suwon-si, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. |
Suwon-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co.,
Ltd.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
1000005402356 |
Appl. No.: |
17/167358 |
Filed: |
February 4, 2021 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 13/20 20130101;
F24F 2006/008 20130101; F24F 6/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24F 13/20 20060101
F24F013/20; F24F 6/02 20060101 F24F006/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 11, 2020 |
KR |
10-2020-0016427 |
Claims
1. A humidification apparatus comprising: a main body; a drawer
slidably coupled to the main body and configured to slide into and
slide out of the main body to open and to close the drawer,
respectively, the drawer including a basket having an opening that
is open at an upper side thereof; a water container configured to
be accommodated in the basket through the opening; an automatic
driving device coupled to a bottom surface of the main body, and
configured to allow the drawer to be automatically inserted into
and withdrawn out of the main body by slidably moving the drawer;
and a fall prevention device coupled to a lower portion of the
basket and configured to support the drawer to inhibit the drawer
from falling when the drawer is withdrawn out of the main body.
2. The humidification apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fall
prevention device includes a pair of fall prevention devices
coupled to a left side of the lower portion of the basket and a
right side of the lower portion of the basket, respectively, and
each fall prevention device of the pair of fall prevention devices
includes a support portion provided to be supported on a floor
surface to inhibit the drawer from falling when the drawer is
withdrawn out of the main body.
3. The humidification apparatus of claim 2, wherein the fall
prevention device includes a case coupled to the lower portion of
the basket, a gear fixed to an inside of the case to enable
rotation when the drawer moves in a forward direction and a
backward direction, and a supporter engaged with and rotated
relative to the gear to thereby rotate the support portion.
4. The humidification apparatus of claim 3, wherein the fall
prevention device further includes a torsion spring configured to
limit a range of rotation of the support portion and fix the
support portion.
5. The humidification apparatus of claim2, wherein a rack gear
provided on the bottom surface of the main body is configured to
rotate the gear in response to withdrawal of the drawer, and the
gear includes a first gear engaged with and rotated relative to the
rack gear and a second gear engaged with and rotated relative to
the first gear to thereby rotate the supporter.
6. The humidification apparatus of claim 5, wherein the supporter
includes a fixed shaft fixed to the case to enable rotation, a
rotating portion fixed to the fixed shaft and engaged with the
second gear to cause the supporter to rotate on the fixed shaft,
and a rotation shaft allowing the support portion to be rotatably
coupled thereto and having a torsion spring coupled between the
support portion and the rotation shaft.
7. The humidification apparatus of claim 6, wherein the support
portion includes a rotation hole rotatably coupled to the rotation
shaft, a body provided to be exposed outside of the case by being
rotated by the supporter when the drawer is withdrawn out of the
main body, a wheel supported on the floor surface in response to
the body being rotated, and a wheel fixing shaft provided at a tip
end of the body and to which the wheel is fixed to enable
rotation.
8. The humidification apparatus of claim 7, wherein when the drawer
is withdrawn out of the main body, the first gear is rotated
counterclockwise by the rack gear, the second gear is rotated
clockwise by the first gear, the supporter is rotated
counterclockwise on the fixed shaft by the rotating portion engaged
with the second gear, and the support portion is rotated
counterclockwise together with the supporter, so that the wheel is
supported on the floor surface.
9. The humidification apparatus of claim 1, wherein the automatic
driving device includes a pair of automatic driving devices and
each automatic driving device of the pair of automatic driving
devices includes a housing coupled to the bottom surface of the
main body, a motor coupled to the housing and configured to
generate a driving force, a pinion gear provided inside the housing
and rotated by the motor, a first link fixed to an inside of the
housing to enable rotation and engaged with and rotated relative to
the pinion gear, and a second link connecting the drawer to the
first link and configured to convert a rotational motion of the
first link into a linear motion such that the drawer is linearly
moved.
10. The humidification apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first link
includes a first rotation hole fixed to the housing to enable
rotation, a gear portion engaged with the pinion gear, and a
rotation protrusion to which the second link is fixed to enable
rotation.
11. The humidification apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second
link includes a second rotation hole rotatably connected to the
rotation protrusion, a connecting hole connected to the drawer, and
a guide protrusion fixed to the housing to enable a linear
motion.
12. The humidification apparatus of claim 11, wherein the housing
includes a motor coupling portion to which the motor is coupled, a
rotation shaft to which the first rotation hole is fixed to enable
rotation, a support rib provided to support the rotation protrusion
to cause the first link to rotate on the rotation shaft, and a
guide groove into which the guide protrusion is inserted and guided
to be linearly moved.
13. The humidification apparatus of claim 12, wherein when the
pinion gear is rotated in response to the motor being driven, the
first link is rotated on the rotation shaft by the pinion gear, and
the second link is rotated on the rotation protrusion so that the
drawer is linearly moved in the forward direction and the backward
direction.
14. The humidification apparatus of claim 13, wherein the pinion
gear is rotated clockwise, the first link is rotated
counterclockwise on the rotation shaft, the second link is rotated
clockwise on the rotation protrusion, the guide protrusion is
linearly moved in a left-to-right side direction along the guide
groove, and an end tip of the second link formed with the
connecting hole is moved forward so that the drawer is withdrawn
out of the main body.
15. The humidification apparatus of claim 14, wherein when the
pinion gear is rotated counterclockwise, the first link is rotated
clockwise on the rotation shaft, the second gear is rotated
counterclockwise on the rotation protrusion, the guide protrusion
is linearly moved in the left-to-right side direction along the
guide groove, and the end tip of the second link formed with the
connecting hole is moved backward so that the drawer is inserted
into the main body.
16. The humidification apparatus of claim 1, wherein the automatic
driving device includes a pair of automatic driving devices and
each automatic driving device of the pair of automatic driving
devices includes a housing coupled to the bottom surface of the
main body, a motor coupled to the housing and configured to
generate a driving force, a belt provided inside the housing and
provided to be driven by the motor, a pulley configured to transfer
the driving force of the motor to the belt, and a connecting
portion connected to the belt and the drawer to cause the drawer to
be linearly moved in a forward direction and a backward direction
by the belt.
17. The humidification apparatus of claim 16, wherein the
connecting portion includes a first connecting portion fixed to the
belt, a second connecting portion coupled to the first connecting
portion to linearly move in the forward direction and the backward
direction together with the first connecting portion, and a third
connecting portion coupled to the second connecting portion and the
drawer to connect the second connecting portion to the drawer.
18. The humidification apparatus of claim 17, wherein the housing
includes a plurality of rollers that allow the belt to move.
19. The humidification apparatus of claim 18, wherein the housing
includes a motor coupling portion to which the motor is coupled, a
belt accommodating portion provided to form a space in which the
belt is driven, a pulley accommodating portion allowing the pulley
to be accommodated therein inside the belt accommodating portion,
an opening that is open to connect the motor to the pulley, a
plurality of roller coupling portions to which the plurality of
rollers are coupled in the belt accommodating portion, and a guide
hole provided to guide the second connecting portion to linearly
move in the forward direction and the backward direction.
20. The humidification apparatus of claim 19, wherein when the
pulley is rotated in response to the motor being driven, the belt
is driven by the pulley, and the belt when driven causes the drawer
connected to the belt through the connecting portion to be linearly
moved in the forward direction and the backward direction.
21. The humidification apparatus of claim 20, wherein when the
pulley is rotated counterclockwise, the belt is driven to cause the
connecting portion connected to the belt to be linearly moved
forward, and cause the drawer to be linearly moved forward together
with the connecting portion to thereby be withdrawn out of the main
body.
22. The humidification apparatus of claim 21, wherein when the
pulley is rotated clockwise, the belt is driven to cause the
connecting portion connected to the belt to be linearly moved
backward and cause the drawer to be linearly moved backward
together with the connecting portion to thereby be inserted into
the main body.
23. The humidification apparatus of claim 1, wherein the automatic
driving device includes a pair of automatic driving devices and
each automatic driving device of the pair of automatic driving
devices includes a motor configured to generate a driving force, a
pinion gear provided to be rotated by the motor, a rack gear
portion engaged with the pinion gear to be linearly moved in a
forward direction and a backward direction, and a connecting
portion connected to the rack gear portion and the drawer to cause
the drawer to be linearly moved in the forward direction and the
backward direction by the rack gear portion.
24. The humidification apparatus of claim 23, wherein the rack gear
portion includes a rack gear engaged with the pinion gear, a fixed
rib fixed to a rail assembly to enable a linear motion in the
forward direction and the backward direction, and a connecting
portion coupling hole to which the connecting portion is
coupled.
25. The humidification apparatus of claim 24, wherein when the
pinion gear is rotated in response to the motor being driven, the
rack gear portion engaged with the pinion gear is linearly moved in
the forward direction and the backward direction, and the drawer is
linearly moved in the forward direction and the backward direction
together with the rack gear portion.
26. The humidification apparatus of claim 25, wherein when the
pinion gear is rotated counterclockwise, the rack gear portion is
linearly moved forward to cause the drawer to be moved forward to
thereby be withdrawn out of the main body.
27. The humidification apparatus of claim 26, wherein when the
pinion gear is rotated clockwise, the rack gear portion is linearly
moved backward to cause the drawer to be moved backward to thereby
be inserted into the main body.
28. A humidification apparatus comprising: a main body; a drawer
slidably coupled to the main body and configured to slide into and
slide out of the main body to open and to close the drawer,
respectively, the drawer including a basket having an opening that
is open at an upper side thereof; a water container configured to
be accommodated in the basket through the opening; and an automatic
driving device configured to allow the drawer to be automatically
inserted into and withdrawn out of the main body by slidably moving
the drawer and to support the drawer to inhibit the drawer from
falling when the drawer is withdrawn out of the main body.
29. The humidification apparatus of claim 28, wherein the automatic
driving device includes a pair of automatic driving devices and
each automatic driving device of the pair of automatic driving
devices includes a motor configured to generate a driving force, a
plurality of links provided to be rotated by the motor to cause the
drawer to be linearly moved in a forward direction and a backward
direction, and a support link provided to rotate and to be
positioned so that the support link is supported on a floor surface
to inhibit the drawer from falling in response to the drawer being
withdrawn out of the main body.
30. The humidification apparatus of claim 29, wherein the plurality
of links includes a first link fixed to a sidewall of the main body
to enable rotation and provided to be rotated by the motor, a
second link having one end rotatably connected to the first link
and having an other end to which the support link is rotatably
coupled, and a third link having one end rotatably connected to the
first link and an other end rotatably connected to a sidewall of
the drawer.
31. The humidification apparatus of claim 30, wherein the first
link includes a first fixed portion provided at one end of the
first link and fixed to the sidewall of the main body, a gear
portion provided to allow the first link to be rotated on the first
fixed portion, a first connecting portion provided at an other end
of the first link and rotatably connected to the third link, and a
second connecting portion provided between the first fixed portion
and the first connecting portion and to which one end of the second
link is rotatably connected.
32. The humidification apparatus of claim 31, wherein the second
link includes a third connecting portion provided at one end of the
second link and rotatably connected to the second connecting
portion of the first link, and a second fixed portion provided at
an other end of the second link and to which the support link is
fixed to enable rotation.
33. The humidification apparatus of claim 32, wherein the third
link includes a fourth connecting portion provided at one end of
the third link and rotatably connected to the first connecting
portion of the first link and a third fixed portion provided at an
other end of the third link and fixed to the sidewall of the drawer
to enable rotation.
34. The humidification apparatus of claim 33, wherein the support
link includes a drawer fixed portion fixed to the sidewall of the
drawer, a link connecting portion rotatably connected to the second
fixed portion of the second link, and a support portion provided to
be supported on the floor surface when the drawer is withdrawn out
of the main body.
35. The humidification apparatus of claim 34, wherein when the
first link is rotated on the first fixed portion in response to the
motor being driven, the second link and the third link are rotated
by the first link to cause the drawer to be linearly moved in the
forward direction and the backward direction.
36. The humidification apparatus of claim 35, wherein when the
first link is rotated counterclockwise on the first fixed portion
by the motor, the second link is rotated counterclockwise on the
third connecting portion, and the third link is rotated
counterclockwise on the forth connecting portion to cause the
drawer to be moved forward to thereby be withdrawn out of the main
body.
37. The humidification apparatus of claim 36, wherein when the
drawer is withdrawn out of the main body, the support link is
rotated counterclockwise on the link connecting portion by the
second link, to cause the support portion to be supported on the
floor surface.
38. The humidification apparatus of claim 37, wherein when the
second link is rotated clockwise on the first fixed portion by the
motor, the second link is rotated clockwise on the third connecting
portion, and the third link is rotated clockwise on the fourth
connecting portion to cause the drawer to be moved backward to
thereby be inserted into the main body.
39. The humidification apparatus of claim 38, wherein when the
drawer is inserted into the main body, the support link is rotated
clockwise on the link connecting portion by the second link to
cause the support portion to be separated from the floor surface.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based on and claims priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn. 119 to Korean Patent Applications No.
10-2020-0016427, filed on Feb. 11, 2020 in the Korean Intellectual
Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND
1. Field
[0002] The disclosure relates to a humidification apparatus having
an improved structure that allows a drawer in which accommodating
water is accommodated to be automatically withdrawn and inserted
and prevents the drawer from falling.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] In general, a humidification apparatus is largely divided
into an evaporation type humidification apparatus, an ultrasonic
type humidification apparatus, and a heating type humidification
apparatus according to the humidification method.
[0004] The evaporation type humidification apparatus may have a
structure in which water is continuously supplied to a
humidification cloth of the humidification apparatus to wet the
humidification cloth. In order to continuously supply water to the
humidification cloth, the humidification apparatus may accommodate
a water container that is filled with water.
[0005] When a user withdraws the water container filled with water
from the humidification apparatus, the water container may not be
easily withdrawn due to the weight of the water container, and in a
process of the water container being withdrawn, water may leak out
of the water container due to an impact applied to the water
container.
[0006] In order to compensate for the above limitation, the water
container may be accommodated in a drawer that is inserted into and
withdrawn from in a sliding manner.
[0007] However, when the water container is filled with water, the
drawer in which the water container is accommodated is not easily
inserted and withdrawn due to the weight of the water container,
and water may leak out of the water container due to the drawer
being fallen or tilted.
SUMMARY
[0008] According to an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided
a humidification apparatus including: a main body having a water
container accommodating portion; a drawer slidably coupled to the
main body to open and close the water container accommodating
portion and including a basket having an opening that is open at an
upper side thereof; a water container provided to be accommodated
in the basket through the opening; a rail assembly coupled to a
bottom surface of the water container accommodating portion, and
allowing the drawer to be slidably moved; an automatic driving
device coupled to the bottom surface of the water container
accommodating portion, and allowing the drawer to be automatically
inserted into or withdrawn from the water container accommodating
portion; and a fall prevention device coupled to a lower portion of
the basket and configured to support the drawer to prevent the
drawer from falling when the drawer is withdrawn.
[0009] The fall prevention device may include a pair of fall
prevention devices coupled to a left side and a right side of the
lower portion of the basket, respectively, and each including a
support portion, when the drawer is withdrawn, provided to be
supported on a floor surface to prevent the drawer from
falling.
[0010] The fall prevention device may include a case coupled to the
lower portion of the basket, a gear fixed to an inside of the case
to enable rotation when the drawer moves in a forward and backward
direction, and a supporter engaged with and rotated relative to the
gear to thereby rotate the support portion.
[0011] The fall prevention device may further include a torsion
spring configured to limit a range of rotation of the support
portion to fix the support portion.
[0012] The water container accommodating portion may be provided on
the bottom surface thereof with a rack gear configured to rotate
the gear in response to withdrawal of the drawer, and the gear may
include a first gear engaged with and rotated relative to the rack
gear and a second gear engaged with and rotated relative to the
first gear to thereby rotate the supporter.
[0013] The supporter may include a fixed shaft fixed to the case to
enable rotation, a rotating portion fixed to the fixed shaft and
engaged with the second gear to cause the supporter to rotate on
the fixed shaft, and a rotation shaft allowing the support portion
to be rotatably coupled thereto and having the torsion spring
coupled between the support portion and the rotation shaft.
[0014] The support portion may include a rotation hole rotatably
coupled to the rotation shaft, a body provided to be exposed
outside of the case by being rotated by the supporter when the
drawer is withdrawn, a wheel supported on the floor surface in
response to the body being rotated, and a wheel fixing shaft
provided at a tip end of the body and to which the wheel is fixed
to enable rotation.
[0015] When the drawer may be withdrawn, the first gear may be
rotated counterclockwise by the rack gear, the second gear may be
rotated clockwise by the first gear, the supporter may be rotated
counterclockwise on the fixed shaft by the rotating portion engaged
with the second gear, and the support portion may be rotated
counterclockwise together with the supporter, so that the wheel may
be supported on the floor surface.
[0016] The automatic driving device may include a pair of automatic
driving devices each including a housing coupled to the bottom
surface of the water container accommodating portion, a motor
coupled to the housing and configured to generate a driving force,
a pinion gear provided inside the housing and rotated by the motor,
a first link fixed to an inside of the housing to enable rotation
and engaged with and rotated relative to the pinion gear, and a
second link connecting the drawer to the first link and configured
to convert a rotational motion of the first link into a linear
motion such that the drawer is linearly moved.
[0017] The first link may include a first rotation hole fixed to
the housing to enable rotation, a gear portion engaged with the
pinion gear, and a rotation protrusion to which the second link is
fixed to enable rotation.
[0018] The second link may include a second rotation hole rotatably
connected to the rotation protrusion, a connecting hole connected
to the drawer, and a guide protrusion fixed to the housing to
enable a linear motion.
[0019] The housing may include a motor coupling portion to which
the motor is coupled, a rotation shaft to which the first rotation
hole is fixed to enable rotation, a support rib provided to support
the rotation protrusion to cause the first link to rotate on the
rotation shaft, and a guide groove into which the guide protrusion
is inserted and guided to be linearly moved.
[0020] When the pinion gear is rotated in response to the motor
being driven, the first link may be rotated on the rotation shaft
by the pinion gear, and the second link may be rotated on the
rotation protrusion so that the drawer is linearly moved in a
forward and backward direction.
[0021] When the pinion gear may be rotated clockwise, the first
link may be rotated counterclockwise on the rotation shaft, the
second link may be rotated clockwise on the rotation protrusion,
the guide protrusion may be linearly moved in a left-to-right side
direction along the guide groove, and an end tip of the second link
formed with the coupling hole may be moved forward so that the
drawer is withdrawn forward.
[0022] When the pinion gear is rotated counterclockwise, the first
link may be rotated clockwise on the rotation shaft, the second
gear may be rotated counterclockwise on the rotation protrusion,
the guide protrusion may be linearly moved in the left-to-right
side direction along the guide groove, and the end tip of the
second link formed with the coupling hole may be moved backward so
that the drawer is inserted backward.
[0023] The automatic driving device may include a pair of automatic
driving devices each including a housing coupled to the bottom
surface of the water container accommodating portion, a motor
coupled to the housing and configured to generate a driving force,
a belt provided inside the housing and provided to be driven by the
motor, a pulley configured to transfer the driving force of the
motor to the belt, and a connecting portion connected to the belt
and the drawer to cause the drawer to be linearly moved in a
forward and backward direction by the belt.
[0024] The connecting portion may include a first connecting
portion fixed to the belt, a second connecting portion coupled to
the first connecting portion to linearly move in a forward and
backward direction together with the first connecting portion, and
a third connecting portion coupled to the second connecting portion
and the drawer to connect the second connecting portion to the
drawer.
[0025] The housing may include a plurality of rollers that allow
the belt to smoothly operate.
[0026] The housing may include a motor coupling portion to which
the motor is coupled, a belt accommodating portion provided to form
a space in which the belt is driven, a pulley accommodating portion
allowing the pulley to be accommodated therein inside the belt
accommodating portion, an opening that is open to connect the motor
to the pulley, a plurality of roller coupling portions to which the
plurality of rollers are coupled in the belt accommodating portion,
and a guide hole provided to guide the second connecting portion to
linearly move in a forward and backward direction.
[0027] When the pulley is rotated in response to the motor being
driven, the belt may be driven by the pulley, and the belt when
driven may cause the drawer connected to the belt through the
connecting portion to be linearly moved in a forward and backward
direction.
[0028] When the pulley is rotated counterclockwise, the belt may be
driven to cause the connecting portion connected to the belt to be
linearly moved forward, and cause the drawer to be linearly moved
forward together with the connecting portion to thereby be
withdrawn from the water container accommodating portion.
[0029] When the pulley is rotated clockwise, the belt may be driven
to cause the connecting portion connected to the belt to be
linearly moved backward and cause the drawer to be linearly moved
backward together with the connecting portion to thereby be
inserted into the water container accommodating portion.
[0030] The automatic driving device may include a pair of automatic
driving devices each including a motor configured to generate a
driving force, a pinion gear provided to be rotated by the motor, a
rack gear portion engaged with the pinion gear to be linearly moved
in a forward and backward direction, and a connecting portion
connected to the rack gear portion and the drawer to cause the
drawer to be linearly moved in a forward and backward direction by
the rack gear portion.
[0031] The rack gear portion may include a rack gear engaged with
the pinion gear, a fixed rib fixed to the rail assembly to enable a
linear motion in a forward and backward direction, and a connecting
portion coupling hole to which the connecting portion is
coupled.
[0032] When the pinion gear is rotated in response to the motor
being driven, the rack gear portion engaged with the pinion gear
may be linearly moved in a forward and backward direction, and the
drawer may be linearly moved in a forward and backward direction
together with the rack gear portion.
[0033] When the pinion gear is rotated counterclockwise, the rack
gear portion may be linearly moved forward to cause the drawer to
be moved forward to thereby be withdrawn out of the water container
accommodating portion.
[0034] When the pinion gear is rotated clockwise, the rack gear
portion may be linearly moved backward to cause the drawer to be
moved backward to thereby be inserted into the water container
accommodating portion.
[0035] According to another aspect of the disclosure, there is
provided a humidification apparatus comprising: a main body having
a water container accommodating portion; a drawer slidably coupled
to the main body to open and close the water container
accommodating portion and including a basket having an opening that
is open at an upper side thereof; a water container provided to be
accommodated in the basket through the opening; a rail assembly
coupled to a bottom surface of the water container accommodating
portion, and allowing the drawer to be slidably moved; and an
automatic driving device allowing the drawer to be automatically
inserted into or withdrawn from the water container accommodating
portion, and support the drawer to prevent the drawer from falling
when the drawer is withdrawn.
[0036] The automatic driving device may include a pair of automatic
driving devices each including a motor configured to generate a
driving force, a plurality of links provided to be rotated by the
motor to cause the drawer to be linearly moved in a forward and
backward direction, and a support link provided to rotate in
response to the drawer being withdrawn, to be supported on a floor
surface to prevent the drawer from falling.
[0037] The plurality of links may include a first link fixed to a
sidewall of the water container accommodating portion to enable
rotation and provided to be rotated by the motor, a second link
having one end rotatably connected to the first link and having an
other end to which the support link is rotatably coupled, and a
third link having one end rotatably connected to the first link and
an other end rotatably connected to a sidewall of the drawer.
[0038] The first link may include a first fixed portion provided at
one end of the first link and fixed to the sidewall of the water
container accommodating portion, a gear portion provided to allow
the first link to be rotated on the first fixed portion, a first
connecting portion provided at an other end of the first link and
rotatably connected to the third link, and a second connecting
portion provided between the first fixed portion and the first
connecting portion and to which one end of the second link is
rotatably connected.
[0039] The second link may include a third connecting portion
provided at one end of the second link and rotatably connected to
the second connecting portion of the first link, and a second fixed
portion provided at an other end of the second link and to which
the support link is fixed to enable rotation.
[0040] The third link may include a fourth connecting portion
provided at one end of the third link and rotatably connected to
the first connecting portion of the first link and a third fixed
portion provided at an other end of the third link and fixed to the
sidewall of the drawer to enable rotation.
[0041] The support link may include a drawer fixed portion fixed to
the sidewall of the drawer, a link connecting portion rotatably
connected to the second fixed portion of the second link, and a
support portion provided to be supported on the floor surface when
the drawer is withdrawn.
[0042] When the first link is rotated on the first fixed portion in
response to the motor being driven, the second and the third link
may be rotated by the first link to cause the drawer to be linearly
moved in a forward and backward direction.
[0043] When the first link is rotated counterclockwise on the first
fixed portion by the motor, the second link may be rotated
counterclockwise on the third connecting portion, and the third
link may be rotated counterclockwise on the forth connecting
portion to cause the drawer to be moved forward to thereby be
withdrawn out of the water container accommodating portion.
[0044] When the drawer is withdrawn, the support link may be
rotated counterclockwise on the link connecting portion by the
second link, to cause the support portion to be supported on the
floor surface.
[0045] When the second link may be rotated clockwise on the first
fixed portion by the motor, the second link is rotated clockwise on
the third connecting portion, and the third link may be rotated
clockwise on the fourth connecting portion to cause the drawer to
be moved backward to thereby be inserted into the water container
accommodating portion.
[0046] When the drawer is inserted into the water container
accommodating portion, the support link may be rotated clockwise on
the link connecting portion by the second link to cause the support
portion to be separated from the floor surface.
[0047] Additional aspects of the disclosure 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
disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0048] These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become
apparent and more readily appreciated from the following
description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings of which:
[0049] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the external
appearance of a humidification apparatus according to an embodiment
of the disclosure;
[0050] FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a state in which a drawer is
inserted into a water container accommodating portion of a
humidification apparatus according to an embodiment of the
disclosure;
[0051] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a state in which a drawer is
withdrawn from a water container accommodating portion of a
humidification apparatus according to an embodiment of the
disclosure;
[0052] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state
in which a rail assembly, an automatic driving device, and a fall
prevention device are provided inside a water container
accommodating portion according to an embodiment of the
disclosure;
[0053] FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a state in which a fall
prevention device and an automatic driving device are coupled to a
lower portion of a basket according to an embodiment of the
disclosure;
[0054] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a fall
prevention device according to an embodiment of the disclosure;
[0055] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an
automatic driving device according to an embodiment of the
disclosure;
[0056] FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating an automatic driving
device in a state in which a drawer is inserted according to an
embodiment of the disclosure;
[0057] FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a fall prevention device in a
state in which a drawer is inserted according to an embodiment of
the disclosure;
[0058] FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating an operation of an
automatic driving device when a drawer is being withdrawn according
to an embodiment of the disclosure;
[0059] FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a fall prevention device when
a drawer is being withdrawn according to an embodiment of the
disclosure;
[0060] FIG. 12 is a plan view showing an operation of an automatic
driving device when a drawer is fully withdrawn according to an
embodiment of the disclosure;
[0061] FIG. 13 is a view illustrating an operation of a fall
prevention device when a drawer is fully withdrawn according to an
embodiment of the disclosure;
[0062] FIG. 14 is a view illustrating a state in which a water
container is being separated from a drawer with the drawer
withdrawn according to an embodiment of the disclosure;
[0063] FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state
in which a rail assembly, an automatic driving device, and a fall
prevention device are provided inside a water container
accommodating portion according to another embodiment of the
disclosure;
[0064] FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an
automatic driving device according to another embodiment of the
disclosure;
[0065] FIG. 17 is a view illustrating an automatic driving device
in a state in which a drawer is inserted according to another
embodiment of the disclosure;
[0066] FIG. 18 is a view illustrating an operation of an automatic
driving device when a drawer is being withdrawn according to
another embodiment of the disclosure;
[0067] FIG. 19 is a view illustrating an automatic driving device
when a drawer is fully withdrawn according to another embodiment of
the disclosure;
[0068] FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state
in which a rail assembly, an automatic driving device, and a fall
prevention device are provided inside a water container
accommodating portion according to still another embodiment of the
disclosure;
[0069] FIG. 21 is a view illustrating an automatic driving device
in a state in which a drawer is inserted according to still another
embodiment of the disclosure;
[0070] FIG. 22 is a view illustrating an operation of an automatic
driving device when a drawer is being withdrawn according to still
another embodiment of the disclosure;
[0071] FIG. 23 is a view illustrating an automatic driving device
when a drawer is fully withdrawn according to still another
embodiment of the disclosure;
[0072] FIG. 24 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state
in which a rail assembly and an automatic driving device are
provided in a water container accommodating portion according to
still another embodiment of the disclosure;
[0073] FIG. 25 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an
automatic driving device according to still another embodiment of
the disclosure;
[0074] FIG. 26 is a view illustrating an automatic driving device
in a state in which a drawer is inserted according to still another
embodiment of the disclosure;
[0075] FIG. 27 is a view illustrating an operation of an automatic
driving device when a drawer is being withdrawn according to still
another embodiment of the disclosure; and
[0076] FIG. 28 is a view illustrating an automatic driving device
when a drawer is fully withdrawn according to still another
embodiment of the disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0077] Embodiments and features as described and illustrated in the
disclosure are only preferred examples, and various modifications
thereof may also fall within the scope of the disclosure.
[0078] Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals refer to
like parts or components.
[0079] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the
disclosure. It is to be understood that the singular forms "a,"
"an," and "the" include plural references unless the context
clearly dictates otherwise. It will be further understood that the
terms "include", "comprise" and/or "have" when used in this
specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude
the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
[0080] The terms including ordinal numbers like "first" and
"second" may be used to explain various components, but the
components are not limited by the terms. The terms are only for the
purpose of distinguishing a component from another. Thus, a first
element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could
be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section
without departing from the teachings of the disclosure.
Descriptions shall be understood as to include any and all
combinations of one or more of the associated listed items when the
items are described by using the conjunctive term ".about. and/or
.about.," or the like.
[0081] The terms "front", "rear", "upper", "lower", "top", and
"bottom" as herein used are defined with respect to the drawings,
but the terms may not restrict the shape and position of the
respective components.
[0082] Hereinafter, embodiments of the disclosure will be described
in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0083] Therefore, it is an object of the disclosure to provide a
humidification apparatus having an improved structure that allows a
drawer in which a water container is accommodated to be
automatically withdrawn and inserted, and prevents the withdrawn
drawer from falling.
[0084] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the external
appearance of a humidification apparatus according to an embodiment
of the disclosure. FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a state in which a
drawer is inserted into a water container accommodating portion of
a humidification apparatus according to an embodiment of the
disclosure. FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a state in which a drawer
is withdrawn from a water container accommodating portion of a
humidification apparatus according to an embodiment of the
disclosure.
[0085] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a humidification apparatus
includes a main body 10 forming the external appearance, a drawer
20 slidably coupled to the main body 10, a water container 30
accommodated in the drawer 20, a rail assembly 40 allowing the
drawer 20 to be slidably coupled to the main body 10, a fall
prevention device 100 supporting the drawer 20 to prevent the
drawer 20 from falling when the drawer 20 is withdrawn, and an
automatic driving device 200 allowing the drawer 20 to be
automatically inserted into and withdrawn from the main body 1 (see
FIG. 4).
[0086] The main body 10 may include a water container accommodating
portion 11 provided inside the main body 10 and configured to
accommodate the water container 30 in which water is stored. The
water container accommodating portion 11 may be opened and closed
by the drawer 20 slidably coupled to the main body 10.
[0087] The drawer 20 may be slidably coupled to the main body 10 by
the rail assembly (40 in FIG. 4). The drawer 20 may be slidably
moved to open and close the water container accommodating portion
11. The drawer 20 may include a basket 21 having an opening 22
provided to be open at an upper side thereof. The water container
30 may be accommodated in the basket 21. The water container 30 may
be accommodated in the basket 21 through the opening 22 of the
basket 21. Therefore, in order to take out the water container 30
accommodated in the basket 21, the drawer 20 may need to be fully
opened. That is, in a state in which the drawer 20 is not fully
opened, the water container 30 may not be taken out from the basket
21. In a state in which the drawer 20 is not fully opened, the
water container 30 may not be taken out, so that the stability may
be improved.
[0088] The rail assembly (40 in FIG. 4) may be coupled to the
bottom surface of the water container accommodating portion 11. The
rail assembly 40 may include a pair of rail assemblies 40. The rail
assemblies 40 may be coupled to the left and right sides of the
bottom surface of the water container accommodating portion 11,
respectively, to enable the drawer 20 to slide.
[0089] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state
in which a rail assembly, an automatic driving device, and a fall
prevention device are provided inside a water container
accommodating portion according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a state in which a fall prevention
device and an automatic driving device are coupled to a lower
portion of a basket according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a fall
prevention device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an automatic
driving device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
[0090] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the humidification apparatus may
include the fall prevention device 100 that supports the drawer 20
to prevent the drawer 20 from falling when the drawer 20 is
withdrawn and the automatic driving device 200 that allows the
drawer 20 to be automatically inserted into and withdrawn from the
water container accommodating portion 11.
[0091] The fall prevention device 100 may include a pair of fall
prevention devices 100 that may be coupled to the left and right
sides of the lower portion of the basket 21, respectively. The
basket 21 may include fall prevention device coupling portions 23
to which the fall prevention devices 100 are coupled. The fall
prevention device 100 may be moved together with the drawer 20 when
the drawer 20 is inserted or withdrawn, and have a support portion
140 rotated by a rack gear 12 provided at a front end of the bottom
surface of the water container accommodating portion 11.The rack
gear 12 may include a pair of rack gears 12 to cause the fall
prevention devices 100 to operate. When the drawer 20 is withdrawn
from the water container accommodating portion 11, the support
portion 140 may be rotated by the rack gear 12 to thereby be
supported on the bottom surface.
[0092] The automatic driving device 200 may be coupled to and fixed
to the bottom surface of the water container accommodating portion
11. The automatic driving device 200 may be connected to the basket
21 such that the drawer 20 is inserted into and withdrawn from the
water container accommodating portion 11. The basket 21 may include
a connecting protrusion 24 connected to the automatic driving
device 200. The automatic driving device 200 may include a second
link 250 having a connecting hole 252 connected to the connecting
protrusion 24.
[0093] Referring to 6, the fall prevention device 100 includes a
case 110 coupled to the lower portion of the basket 21, a pair of
gears 120 fixed to the inside of the case 110 to enable rotation, a
supporter 130 engaged with and rotated relative to the pair of
gears 120,the support portion 140 rotated by the supporter 130 to
be supported on the bottom surface when the drawer 20 is withdrawn,
and a torsion spring 150 to limit the rotation range of the support
portion 140.
[0094] The pair of gears 120 may include a first gear 121 engaged
with and rotate relative to the rack gear (12 in FIG. 4), and a
second gear 122 engaged with and rotated relative to the first gear
1211. When the drawer 20 is inserted and withdrawn, the first gear
121 may be rotated by the rack gear (12 in FIG. 4). The second gear
122 may be engaged with the first gear 121 and a rotating portion
132 of the supporter 130. The second gear 122 may be rotated by the
first gear 121 to rotate the supporter 130.
[0095] The case 110 may include a first case 111 and a second case
112. The case 110 may be formed by the first case 111 and the
second case 112 coupled to each other. The case 110 may include a
first gear rotation shaft 113 to which the first gear 121 is fixed
to enable rotation, a second gear rotation shaft 114 to which the
second gear 122 is fixed to enable rotation, a supporter rotation
hole 115 to which the supporter 130 is fixed to enable rotation),
and a drawer coupling portion 116 coupled to the drawer 20.
[0096] The supporter 130 may include a fixed shaft 131 fixed to the
supporter rotation hole 115 of the case 110 to enable rotation, a
rotating portion 132 fixed to the fixed shaft 131 and engaged with
the second gear 122 so that the supporter 130 is rotated about the
fixed shaft 131, and a rotation shaft 133 to which the support
portion 140 is rotatably coupled. When the drawer 20 is moved in
the front-rear direction, the supporter 130 may be rotated by the
second gear 122 to rotate the support portion 140.
[0097] The support portion 140 may include a body 141, a rotation
hole 142 rotatably coupled to the rotation shaft 133 of the
supporter 130, a wheel 143 supported on the floor surface in
response to the drawer 20 being withdrawn, and a wheel fixing shaft
144 to which the wheel 143 is fixed to enable rotation.
[0098] When the drawer 20 is withdrawn to cause the supporter 130
to be rotated, the body 141 may be rotated together with the
supporter 130. Since the torsion spring 150 is coupled to the
rotation shaft 133 of the supporter 130, the body 141 may rotate
only within a certain range around the rotation shaft 133. That is,
the body 141 is rotated together with the supporter 130, but may be
rotated only in a predetermined range around the rotation shaft 133
of the supporter 130 separately from the supporter 130. With such a
configuration, the wheel 143 of the support portion 140 is safely
supported on the floor surface to prevent the drawer 20 from
falling (see FIG. 14).
[0099] Referring to FIG. 7, the automatic driving device 200
includes a housing 210 coupled to the bottom surface of the water
container accommodating portion 11, a motor 220 coupled to the
housing 210 to generate a driving force, a pinion gear 230 provided
inside the housing 210 and rotated by the motor 220, a first link
240 engaged with and rotated relative to the pinion gear 230, and a
second link 250 connecting the first link 240 to the drawer 20 (see
FIG. 5).
[0100] The housing 210 may include a first housing 211 coupled to
the bottom surface of the water container accommodating portion 11
and a second housing 217 coupled to an upper portion of the first
housing 211.
[0101] The first housing 211 may include a motor coupling portion
212 to which the motor 220 is coupled, a through hole 213 through
which a part of the motor 220 passes, a rotation shaft 214 to which
the first link 240 is fixed to enable rotation, a support rib 215
supporting a rotation protrusion 243 of the first link 240 so that
the first link 240 rotates about the rotation shaft 214, and a
guide groove 216 into which a guide protrusion 253 of the second
link 250 is inserted to be guided to thereby be linearly moved.
[0102] The motor coupling portion 212 may be provided on the outer
surface of the first housing 211. The motor 220 coupled to the
motor coupling portion 212 may be connected to the pinion gear 230
through the through hole 213.
[0103] The through hole 213 may be provided such that the motor 220
coupled to the outer surface of the first housing 211 is connected
to the pinion gear 230 provided inside the first housing 211. A
part of the motor 220 may pass through the through hole 213 so that
the motor 220 is connected to the pinion gear 230.
[0104] The rotation shaft 214 may be provided to protrude upward at
an inside of the first housing 211. The first link 240 fixed to the
rotation shaft 214 may be rotated around the rotation shaft
214.
[0105] The support rib 215 may be provided to protrude upward at an
inside of the first housing 211. The support rib 215 may be
provided to have an arc shape around the rotation shaft 214 so as
to support the rotation protrusion 243 of the first link 240
rotated about the rotation shaft 214.
[0106] The guide groove 216 guides the guide protrusion 253 of the
second link 250 to be linearly moved so that the second link 250
connected to the first link 240 converts a rotational motion of the
first link 240 into a linear motion.
[0107] The second housing 217 may include an accommodating portion
218 in which the pinion gear 230 accommodated and a guide hole 219
guiding the second link 250 to be rotated around the rotation
protrusion 243 of the first link 230.
[0108] The accommodating portion 218 may be provided at a position
corresponding to the through hole 213 of the first housing 211. The
accommodating portion 218 may be provided as a groove recessed
upward of the inside of the second housing 217.
[0109] The guide hole 219 may guide the second link 250 connected
to the rotation protrusion 243 of the first link 240 to be rotated
in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction around the rotation
protrusion 243 by a predetermined range. The second link 250
provided inside the housing 210 may be partially exposed to the
outside of the housing 210 through the guide hole 219. The part of
the second link 250 exposed to the outside of the housing 210 may
be connected to the drawer 20 (see FIGS. 4 and 5).
[0110] The motor 220 may be coupled to the housing 210 outside the
housing 210. The motor 220 may be connected to the pinion gear 230
through the through hole 213 of the first housing 211. When the
motor 220 is operated, the pinion gear 230 connected to the motor
220 may be rotated.
[0111] The pinion gear 230 may be disposed inside the housing 210.
A part of the pinion gear 230 may be accommodated in the
accommodating portion 218 in the housing 210. The pinion gear 230
may include a shaft portion 231 rotatably connected to the motor
220. The pinion gear 230 rotated by the driving force of the motor
220 may be engaged with a gear portion 242 of the first link 240.
The first link 240 may be rotated about the rotation shaft 214 by
the gear portion 242 engaged with the pinion gear 230.
[0112] The first link 240 may be rotatably provided inside the
housing 210. The first link 240 includes a first rotation hole 241
rotatably fixed to the rotation shaft 214 of the housing 210, the
gear portion 242 engaged with the pinion gear 230, and the rotation
protrusion 243 to which the second link 250 is fixed to enable
rotation.
[0113] With the first rotation hole 241 fixed to the rotation shaft
214 to enable rotation, the first link 240 may, when the pinion
gear 230 is rotated, be rotated around the rotation shaft 214 by
the gear portion 242 engaged with the pinion gear 230.
[0114] With the rotation protrusion 243 connected to the second
link 250, the second link 250 may, when the first link 240 is
rotated about the rotation shaft 214, be rotated about the rotation
protrusion 243.The second link 250 may be rotated around the
rotation protrusion 243 to cause the drawer 20 to be linearly moved
in the front and rear direction.
[0115] The second link 250 may be rotatably provided inside the
housing 210. The second link 250 may include a second rotation hole
251 rotatably connected to the rotation protrusion 243 of the first
link 240, the connecting hole 252 connected to the drawer 20, and
the guide protrusion 253 fixed to the housing 210 to enable linear
motion (see FIGS. 4 and 5).
[0116] The second rotation hole 251 may be provided in a central
portion of the second link 250. With the second rotation hole 251
rotatably connected to the rotation protrusion 243, the second link
250 may be rotated around the rotation protrusion 243 when the
first link 240 is rotated about the rotation shaft 214. The second
link 250 may be rotated about the rotation protrusion 243 to cause
the drawer 20 to be moved linearly in the front and rear direction
(see FIGS. 4 and 5).
[0117] The connecting hole 252 may be provided at one end of the
second link 250. The connecting hole 252 may be connected to the
connecting protrusion connecting protrusion 24 of the drawer 20.
With such a configuration, the automatic driving device 200 may be
connected to the drawer 20. The second link 250 connected to the
connecting protrusion 24 of the drawer 20 may be rotated around the
rotating protrusion 243 when the first link 240 is rotated, to
cause the drawer 20 to be linearly moved in the front and rear
direction (see FIGS. 4 and 5).
[0118] The guide protrusion 253 may be provided at the other end of
the second link 250. The guide protrusion 253 may be inserted into
the guide groove 216 of the housing 210. When the second link 250
is rotated around the rotation protrusion 243, the guide protrusion
253 may be linearly moved in the left and right direction while
being inserted into the guide groove 216. When the second link 250
is rotated around the rotation protrusion 243, the guide protrusion
253 may be linearly moved in the left and right direction along the
guide groove 216, and the connecting hole 252 may be linearly moved
in the front and rear direction. With such a configuration, the
drawer 20 connected to the connecting hole 252 may be linearly
moved in the front and rear direction (see FIGS. 4 and 5).
[0119] Hereinafter, an operation in which the drawer 20 is
automatically withdrawn by the automatic driving device 200 and an
operation in which the fall prevention device 100 is supported on
the floor surface when the drawer 20 is withdrawn will be described
in detail with reference to FIGS. 8 to 14.
[0120] FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating an automatic driving
device in a state in which a drawer is inserted according to an
embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a fall
prevention device in a state in which a drawer is inserted
according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 10 is a plan
view illustrating an operation of an automatic driving device when
a drawer is being withdrawn according to an embodiment of the
disclosure. FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a fall prevention device
when a drawer is being withdrawn according to an embodiment of the
disclosure. FIG. 12 is a plan view showing an operation of an
automatic driving device when a drawer is fully withdrawn according
to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 13 is a view illustrating
an operation of a fall prevention device when a drawer is withdrawn
according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 14 is a view
illustrating a state in which a water container is being separated
from a drawer with the drawer withdrawn according to an embodiment
of the disclosure.
[0121] The directions specified in the disclosure will be described
based on the configuration shown in the drawings.
[0122] Referring to FIG. 8, in a state in which the drawer 20 is
inserted into the water container accommodating portion 11, the
connecting hole 252 of the second link 250 is connected to the
connecting protrusion 24 of the drawer 20. In this case, the guide
protrusion 253 is located at the right end of the guide groove 216
while being inserted into the guide groove 216 of the housing
210.
[0123] Referring to FIG. 9, in a state in which the drawer 20 is
inserted into the water container accommodating portion 11, the
support portion 140 may maintain a horizontal state.
[0124] Referring to FIG. 10, when the motor 220 is operated while
the drawer 20 is inserted into the water container accommodating
portion 11, the pinion gear 230 connected to the motor 220 shaft
portion may be rotated clockwise around the shaft portion 231. When
the pinion gear 230 is rotated clockwise around the shaft portion
231, the first link 240 may be rotated counterclockwise around the
rotation shaft 214 by the gear portion 242 engaged with the pinion
gear 230. When the first link 240 is rotated counterclockwise about
the rotation shaft 214, the second link 250, while having the guide
protrusion 253 moved to the left along the guide groove 216, may
rotate clockwise around the rotation protrusion 243. In this case,
the one end of the second link 250 in which the connecting hole 252
is formed may be moved toward the front. When the one end of the
second link 250 is moved toward the front, the drawer 20 connected
to the connecting hole 252 may be moved toward the front.
[0125] Referring to FIG. 11, when the drawer 20 is partially
withdrawn, the first gear 121 of the fall prevention device 100 may
come in contact with and engaged with the rack gear 12 provided on
the bottom surface of the water container accommodating portion 11.
Even in this case, the support portion 140 may maintain a
horizontal state.
[0126] Referring to FIG. 12, when the first link 240 is fully
rotated counterclockwise by the pinion gear 230, the second link
250, while having the guide protrusion 253 moved in the right
direction along the guide groove 216, may rotate clockwise around
the rotation protrusion 243. In this case, the one end of the
second link 250 in which the connecting hole 252 is formed may be
further moved toward the front. When the one end of the second link
250 is further moved toward the front, the drawer 20 connected to
the connecting hole 252 may be moved toward the front to be
withdrawn from the water container accommodating portion 11.
[0127] Referring to FIG. 13, in the process of the drawer 20 being
withdrawn, while the first gear 121 of the fall prevention device
100 is engaged with the rack gear 12 provided on the bottom surface
of the water container accommodating portion 11, when the drawer 20
is further moved forward, the first gear 121 may be rotated
counterclockwise around the first gear rotation shaft 113. When the
first gear 121 is rotated counterclockwise around the first gear
rotation shaft 113, the second gear 122 engaged with the first gear
121 may be rotated clockwise around on the second gear rotation
shaft 114. When the second gear 122 is rotated clockwise around the
second gear rotation shaft 114, the rotating portion 132 engaged
with the second gear 122 may cause the supporter 130 to be rotated
counterclockwise around the fixed shaft 131. When the supporter 130
is rotated counterclockwise around the fixed shaft 131, the support
portion 140 may be rotated counterclockwise together with the
supporter 130.
[0128] When the support portion 140 is rotated counterclockwise,
the wheel 143 of the support portion 140 may be supported on the
floor surface as shown in FIG. 14. When the wheel 143 is supported
on the floor surface, the front end of the drawer 20 is prevented
from falling due to the weight of the water container 30. When the
drawer 20 is fully withdrawn while the drawer 20 is prevented from
falling, the water container 30 may be taken out from the drawer
20.
[0129] In the drawings, only an operation in which the drawer 20 is
withdrawn is shown, but when the drawer 20 is inserted, the
operation may be performed in a reverse manner from that when the
drawer 20 is withdrawn. That is, in order for the drawer to be
inserted, the motor 220 may be operated so that the pinion gear 230
is rotated counterclockwise around the shaft portion 231. In
addition, when the first gear 121 comes in contact with and engages
with the rack gear 12 in the process of the drawer 20 being
inserted, the first gear 121 is rotated clockwise around the first
gear rotation shaft 113 to cause the support portion 140 to be
rotated clockwise such that the wheel 143 of the support portion
140 is separated from the floor surface.
[0130] FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state
in which a rail assembly, an automatic driving device, and a fall
prevention device are provided inside a water container
accommodating portion according to another embodiment of the
disclosure. FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an
automatic driving device according to another embodiment of the
disclosure.
[0131] Referring to FIGS. 15 to 16, the humidification apparatus
may include a fall prevention device 100 that supports the drawer
20 to prevent the drawer 20 from falling when the drawer 20 is
withdrawn and an automatic driving device 300 that allows the
drawer 20 to be automatically inserted into and withdrawn from the
water container accommodating portion 11.
[0132] The configuration of the fall prevention device 100 is the
same as that shown in FIG. 4, so descriptions thereof will be
omitted.
[0133] The automatic driving device 300 may include a pair of
automatic driving devices 300 fixedly coupled to the left and right
sides of the bottom surface of the water container accommodating
portion 11, respectively.
[0134] The automatic driving device 300 includes a housing 310
coupled to the bottom surface of the water container accommodating
portion 11, a motor 320 coupled to the housing 310 to generate a
driving force, a belt 330 provided inside the housing 310 and
driven by the motor 320, a pulley 340 transmitting the driving
force of the motor 320 to the belt 330, a connecting portion 350
connected to the belt 330 and the drawer 20 to allow the drawer 20
to be linearly moved in the front and rear direction by the belt
330, and a plurality of rollers 360 provided in the housing 310 to
facilitate the driving of the belt 330.
[0135] The housing 310 may include a first housing 311 coupled to
the bottom surface of the water container accommodating portion 11
and a second housing 314 coupled to the first housing 311.
[0136] The first housing 311 may include a motor coupling portion
312 to which the motor 320 is coupled, and an opening 313 that is
open to connect the motor 320 and the pulley 340 to each other.
[0137] The motor coupling portion 312 may be provided on the outer
surface of the first housing 311. The motor 320 coupled to the
motor coupling portion 312 may be connected to the pulley 340
through the opening 313.
[0138] The opening 131 may be provided to connect the motor 320
coupled to the outer surface of the first housing 311 to the pulley
340 provided inside the first housing 311. A part of the motor 320
may pass through the opening 313 so that the motor 320 is connected
to the pulley 340.
[0139] The first housing 311 and the second housing 314 may include
a belt accommodating portion 310a in which the belt 330 is
accommodated, a pulley accommodating portion 310b in which the
pulley 340 is accommodated, a plurality of roller coupling portions
310c to which the plurality of rollers 360 are coupled, and a guide
hole 310d guiding a second connecting portion 352 of the connecting
portion 350 to be linearly moved in the front and rear
direction.
[0140] The belt accommodating portion 310a is a space formed by
coupling the first housing 311 and the second housing 314 to each
other, may form a space in which the belt 330 is driven.
[0141] The pulley accommodating portion 310b is formed inside the
belt accommodating portion 310a, and is provided at a position
corresponding to the opening 313 so that the pulley 340
accommodated in the pulley accommodating portion 310b is connected
to the motor 320.
[0142] The roller coupling portion 310c may be provided in a
plurality of units thereof, to which the plurality of rollers 360
for smoothly driving the belt 330 may be coupled.
[0143] The guide hole 310d may guide the second connecting portion
352 of the connecting portion 350, which is provided to be linearly
moved in the front-rear direction together with the belt 330, to be
linearly moved in the front-rear direction together with the belt
330.
[0144] The motor 320 may be coupled to the motor coupling portion
312 formed on the outer surface of the first housing 311. The motor
320 coupled to the motor coupling unit 312 may be connected to the
pulley 340 through the opening 313 so that the pulley 340 is
rotated by the driving force of the motor 320.
[0145] The belt 330 may be accommodated in the belt accommodating
portion 310a of the housing 310. The belt 330 accommodated in the
belt accommodating portion 310a may be connected to the pulley 340
rotated by the motor 320. When the pulley 340 is rotated by the
motor 320, the belt 330 may be linearly moved in the front and rear
direction.
[0146] The pulley 340 may be accommodated in the pulley
accommodating portion 310b of the housing 310. The pulley 340 may
include a shaft portion 341 connected to the motor 320. The pulley
340 accommodated in the pulley accommodating portion 310b may be
rotated by the motor 320 so that the belt 330 may be linearly moved
in the front-rear direction.
[0147] The connecting portion 350 includes a first connecting
portion 351 fixed to the belt 330, a second connecting portion 352
coupled to the first connecting portion 351 and linearly moved in
the front and rear direction together with the first connecting
portion 351, and a third connecting portion 354 coupled to the
second connecting portion 352 and the drawer 20 to connect the
second connecting portion 352 to the drawer 20.
[0148] The first connecting portion 351 may be fixed to the belt
330 and may be linearly moved in the front-rear direction together
with the belt 330 which is linearly moved in the front-rear
direction by the motor 320.
[0149] The second connecting portion 352 may be coupled to the
first connecting portion 351 and may be linearly moved in the
front-rear direction together with the first connecting portion
351, which is linearly moved in the front-rear direction together
with the belt 330. The second connecting portion 352 may be
linearly moved in the front-rear direction along the guide hole
310d of the housing 310. The second connecting portion 352 may have
one part thereof disposed outside the housing 310 through the guide
hole 310d, and the other part thereof disposed inside the housing
310. The second connecting portion 352 may include a third
connecting portion coupling hole 353 to which the third connecting
portion 354 is coupled.
[0150] The third connecting portion 354 may be coupled to the
second connecting portion 352 to thereby be linearly moved in the
front-rear direction together with the second connecting portion
352. The third connecting portion 354 may be coupled to the drawer
20 to cause the drawer 20 to be linearly moved in the front and
rear direction. The third connecting portion 354 may include a
drawer coupling hole 355 coupled to the drawer 20 and a second
connecting portion coupling hole 356 coupled to the third
connection coupling hole 353 of the second connecting portion 352
by a coupling member (not shown) and the like.
[0151] Next, an operation in which the drawer 20 is automatically
withdrawn by the automatic driving device 300 will be described in
detail with reference to FIGS. 17 to 19.
[0152] FIG. 17 is a view illustrating an automatic driving device
in a state in which a drawer is inserted according to another
embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 18 is a view illustrating an
operation of an automatic driving device when a drawer is being
withdrawn according to another embodiment of the disclosure. FIG.
19 is a view illustrating an automatic driving device when a drawer
is fully withdrawn according to another embodiment of the
disclosure.
[0153] Referring to FIG. 17, in a state in which the drawer 20 is
inserted into the water container accommodating portion 11, the
connecting portion 350 connecting the belt 330 to the drawer 20 may
be located at the rear end of the belt 330.
[0154] Referring to FIG. 18, when the motor 320 is operated in a
state in which the drawer 20 is inserted into the water container
accommodating portion 11, the pulley 340 may be rotated
counterclockwise around the shaft portion 341. When the pulley 340
is rotated counterclockwise around the shaft portion 341, the belt
330 connected to the pulley 340 may operate such that an upper
portion of the belt 330, which is illustrated as being connected to
the connecting portion 350 in the drawing, may be moved toward the
front. When the belt 330 is moved toward the front, the connecting
portion 350 may be moved toward the front together with the belt
330. When the connecting portion 350 is moved toward the front, the
drawer 20 connected to the connecting portion 350 may be moved
toward the front.
[0155] Referring to FIG. 19, when the connecting portion 350 moving
forward together with the belt 330 is moved to the front end of the
belt 330, the drawer 20 may be fully withdrawn from the inside of
the water container accommodating portion 11. When the drawer 20 is
fully withdrawn, the drawer 20 may be supported on the floor
surface to be prevented from falling by the fall prevention device
100. In addition, when the drawer 20 is fully withdrawn, the water
container 30 may be separated from the drawer 20 through the
opening 22 of the drawer 20 and taken out.
[0156] In the drawing, only an operation in which the drawer 20 is
withdrawn is shown, but when the drawer 20 is inserted, the
operation may be performed in a reverse manner from that when the
drawer 20 is withdrawn. That is, the pulley 340 is rotated
clockwise around the shaft portion 341 by the motor 320, and the
belt 330 may be operated such that an upper portion of the belt
330, which is illustrated as being connected to the connecting
portion 350 in the drawing, is moved toward the rear. When the belt
330 is moved toward the rear, the connecting portion 350 may be
moved toward the rear together with the belt 330. When the
connecting portion 350 is moved toward the rear, the drawer 20
connected to the connecting portion 350 may be moved toward the
rear to thereby be inserted into the water container accommodating
portion 11.
[0157] Since the operation of the fall prevention device 100 is the
same as the operation of the fall prevention device 100 shown in
FIGS. 9 to 14, descriptions thereof will be omitted.
[0158] FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state
in which a rail assembly, an automatic driving device, and a fall
prevention device are provided inside a water container
accommodating portion according to still another embodiment of the
disclosure.
[0159] Referring to FIG. 20, the humidification apparatus may
include a fall prevention device 100 that supports the drawer 20 to
prevent the drawer 20 from falling when the drawer 20 is withdrawn
and an automatic driving device 400 that allows the drawer 20 to be
automatically inserted into and withdrawn from the water container
accommodating portion 11.
[0160] The configuration of the fall prevention device 100 is the
same as the configuration of the fall prevention device 100 shown
in FIG. 4, so descriptions thereof will be omitted.
[0161] The automatic driving device 400 may include a pair of
automatic driving devices 400, which may be fixed coupled to the
left and right sides of the bottom surface of the water container
accommodating portion 11, respectively.
[0162] The automatic driving device 400 may include a motor 410
coupled to the bottom of the water container accommodating portion
11 to generate a driving force, a pinion gear 420 rotated by the
motor 410, a rack gear portion 430 engaged with the pinion gear 420
to enable linear motion in the front and rear direction, and a
connecting portion 440 connected to the rack gear portion 430 and
the drawer 20 so that the drawer 20 is linearly moved in the front
and rear direction by the rack gear portion 430.
[0163] The pinion gear 420 may be connected to the motor 410. The
pinion gear 420 may be rotated by the driving force of the motor
410. A part of the pinion gear 420 may be disposed to pass through
the rail assembly 40 so as to be engaged with a rack gear 431 of
the rack gear portion 430 which will be described below.
[0164] The rack gear portion 430 may be fixed to an upper portion
of the rail assembly 40 to enable linear motion in the front and
rear directions. The rack gear portion 430 may include the rack
gear 431 engaged with the pinion gear 420, a fixed rib 432 fixed to
the rail assembly 40 to enable linear motion in the front and rear
direction, and a connecting portion coupling hole 433 to which the
connecting portion 440 is coupled.
[0165] The rack gear 431 may be provided at a lower end of the rack
gear portion 430 to be engaged with the pinion gear 420. When the
motor 410 is driven and the pinion gear 420 is rotated, the rack
gear portion 430 may be linearly moved in the front and rear
direction by the rack gear 431 engaged with the pinion gear 420.
That is, according to the rotation direction of the pinion gear
420, the rack gear portion 430 may be linearly moved forward or
backward.
[0166] The fixed rib 432 may be fixed to an upper end of the rail
assembly 40. The fixed rib 432 may be fixed to the rail assembly 40
to be movable in the front-rear direction. The rack gear portion
430 may be linearly moved in the front and rear direction by the
fixed rib 432.
[0167] The connecting portion coupling hole 433 may be provided to
allow the connecting portion 440 to be coupled thereto. The
connecting portion 440 may be coupled to the rack gear portion 430
through the connecting portion coupling hole 433. Accordingly, when
the rack gear portion 430 is linearly moved in the front and rear
direction, the connecting portion 440 to which the rack gear
portion 430 is coupled may also be linearly moved in the front and
rear direction together with the rack gear portion 430.
[0168] The connecting portion 440 may include a rack gear portion
coupling hole 441 coupled to the connecting portion coupling hole
433 of the rack gear portion 430 and a drawer coupling hole 442
coupled to the drawer 20. The connecting portion 440 is coupled to
the rack gear portion 430 and the drawer 20 so that the rack gear
portion 430 and the drawer 20 may be connected to each other.
Therefore, when the rack gear portion 430 is linearly moved in the
front and rear direction, the drawer 20 connected to the rack gear
portion 430 by the connecting portion 440 is also linearly moved in
the front and rear direction together with the rack gear portion
430.
[0169] Next, an operation in which the drawer 20 is automatically
withdrawn by the automatic driving device 400 will be described in
detail with reference to FIGS. 21 to 23.
[0170] FIG. 21 is a view illustrating an automatic driving device
in a state in which a drawer is inserted according to still another
embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 22 is a view illustrating an
operation of an automatic driving device when a drawer is being
withdrawn according to still another embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 23 is a view illustrating an automatic driving device when a
drawer is fully withdrawn according to still another embodiment of
the disclosure.
[0171] Referring to FIG. 21, in a state in which the drawer 20 is
inserted into the water container accommodating portion 11, the
front end portion of the rack gear 431 may be engaged with the
pinion gear 420.
[0172] Referring to FIG. 22, when the motor 410 is operated in a
state in which the drawer 20 is inserted into the water container
accommodating portion 11, the pinion gear 420 may be rotated. When
the pinion gear 420 is rotated counterclockwise by the motor 410,
the rack gear portion 430 may be moved forward by the rack gear 431
engaged with the pinion gear 420. When the rack gear portion 430 is
moved toward the front, the drawer 20 connected to the rack gear
portion 430 by the connecting portion 440 may also be moved toward
the front.
[0173] Referring to FIG. 23, when the rack gear portion 430 is
moved toward the front until the rear end portion of the rack gear
431 is engaged with the pinion gear 420, the drawer 20 may be fully
withdrawn from the water container accommodating portion 11. When
the drawer 20 is fully withdrawn, the drawer 20 may be supported on
the floor surface to be prevented from falling by the fall
prevention device 100. In addition, when the drawer 20 is fully
withdrawn, the water container 30 may be separated from the drawer
20 through the opening 22 of the drawer 20 and taken out.
[0174] In the drawing, only an operation in which the drawer 20 is
withdrawn is shown, but when the drawer 20 is inserted, the
operation may be performed in a reverse manner from that when the
drawer 20 is withdrawn. That is, when the pinion gear 420 is
rotated clockwise by the motor 410, the rack gear portion 430 may
be moved toward the rear by the rack gear 431 engaged with the
pinion gear 420. When the rack gear portion 430 is moved toward the
rear, the drawer 20 connected to the rack gear portion 430 by the
connecting portion 440may be also moved toward the rear to thereby
be inserted into the water container accommodating portion 11.
[0175] FIG. 24 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state
in which a rail assembly and an automatic driving device are
provided in a water container accommodating portion according to
still another embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 25 is an exploded
perspective view illustrating an automatic driving device according
to still another embodiment of the disclosure.
[0176] Referring to FIGS. 24 to 25, the humidification apparatus
may include an automatic driving device 500 that allows the drawer
20 to be automatically inserted into and withdrawn from the water
container accommodating portion 11 while supporting the drawer 20
to prevent the drawer 20 from falling when the drawer 20 is
withdrawn.
[0177] The automatic driving device 500 may be provided in a pair
of automatic driving devices 500 fixedly coupled to lower end
portions of left and right sidewalls of the water container
accommodating portion 11, respectively. Link coupling holes 13 may
be provided in the lower end portions of the left and right
sidewalls of the water container accommodating portion 11 for
coupling of the automatic driving device 500.
[0178] The automatic driving device 500 may include a motor 510
that generates a driving force, a plurality of links 520, 530, and
540 that are rotated by the motor 510 to cause the drawer 20 to be
linearly moved in the front-rear direction, and a support link 550
provided to rotate when the drawer 20 is withdrawn so as to be
supported on the floor surface to prevent the drawer 20 from
falling.
[0179] The plurality of links 520, 530, and 540 may include a first
link 520 fixed to the sidewall of the water container accommodating
portion 11 to enable rotation and provided to be rotated by the
motor 510, a second link 530 having one end thereof rotatably
connected to the first link 520 and the other end thereof allowing
the support link 550 to be rotatably connected thereto, and a third
link 540 having one end thereof rotatably connected to the first
link 520 and the other end thereof rotatably connected to the
sidewall of the drawer 20.
[0180] The first link 520 may include a first fixed portion 521
provided at one end of the first link 520 and fixed to the sidewall
of the water container accommodating portion 11 to enable rotation,
a gear portion 522 allowing the first link 520 to be rotated around
the first fixed portion by the motor 510, a first connecting
portion 523 provided at the other end of the first link 520 and
rotatably connected to the third link 540, and a second connecting
portion 524 provided between the first fixed portion 521 and the
first connecting portion 523 and allowing one end of the second
link 530 to be rotatably connected thereto.
[0181] The first fixed portion 521 may be provided at one end of
the first link 520 and may be fixed to the link coupling hole 13
formed in the sidewall of the water container accommodating portion
11. The first link 520 rotated by the motor 510 may be rotated
around the first fixed portion 521.
[0182] The gear portion 522 may be provided along the circumference
of the first fixed portion 521 and connected to the motor 510. The
gear portion 522 may enable the first link 520 to be rotated around
the first fixed portion 521 by the driving force of the motor 510.
According to the rotation direction of the motor 510, the first
link 520 may be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise around the
first fixed portion 521.
[0183] The first connecting portion 523 may be provided at the
other end of the first link 520 and rotatably connected to a fourth
connecting portion 541 of the third link 540. When the first link
520 is rotated around the first fixed portion 521 by the motor 510,
the third link 540 connected to the first link 520 may be rotated
around the first connecting portion 523 to cause the drawer 20 to
be linearly moved in the front-to-rear direction.
[0184] The second connecting portion 524 may be rotatably connected
to the third connecting portion 531 of the second link 530. When
the first link 520 is rotated around the first fixed portion 521 by
the motor 510, the second link 530 connected to the first link 520
may be rotated around the second connecting portion 524to cause the
support link 550 to be rotated.
[0185] The second link 530 may include the third connecting portion
531 provided at one end of the second link 530 and rotatably
connected to the second connecting portion 524 of the first link
520 and a second fixed portion 532 provided at the other end of the
second link 530 and allowing the support link 550 to be fixed
thereto to enable rotation.
[0186] The third connecting portion 531 may be rotatably connected
to the second connecting portion 524 of the first link 520. When
the first link 520 is rotated around the first fixed portion 521 by
the motor 510, the second link 530 may be rotated around the second
connecting portion 524 connected to the third connecting portion
531 to cause the support link 550 to be rotated.
[0187] The second fixed portion 532 may be fixed to a link
connecting portion 552 of the support link 550 to enable rotation.
When the first link 520 is rotated around the first fixed portion
521 by the motor 510, the support link 550 may be rotated by the
second link 530.
[0188] The third link 540 may include the fourth connecting portion
541 provided at one end of the third link 540 and rotatably
connected to the first connecting portion 523 of the first link 520
and a third fixed portion 542 provided at the other end of the
third link 540 and fixed to the sidewall of the drawer 20 to enable
rotation.
[0189] The fourth connecting portion 541 may be rotatably connected
to the first connecting portion 523 of the first link 520. When the
first link 520 is rotated around the first fixed portion 521 by the
motor 510, the third link 540 may be rotated around the first
connecting portion 523, to which the fourth connecting portion 541
is rotatably connected, to cause the drawer 20 to be moved in the
front-rear direction.
[0190] The third fixed portion 542 may be rotatably fixed to the
link fixed portion 25 provided on the sidewall of the drawer 20.
When the first link 520 is rotated about the first fixed portion
521 by the motor 510, the third link 540 may be rotated about the
first connecting portion 523 to cause the drawer 20 to be moved in
the front-to-rear direction through the third fixed portion
542.
[0191] The support link 550 may include a drawer fixed portion 551
fixed to the sidewall of the drawer 20 to enable rotation, a link
connecting portion 552 rotatably connected to the second fixed
portion 532 of the second link 530, and a support portion 553
supported on the floor surface when the drawer 20 is withdrawn.
[0192] The drawer fixed portion 551 may be fixed to a support link
fixed portion 26 provided on the sidewall of the drawer 20. When
the first link 520 is rotated about the first fixed portion 521 by
the motor 510, the support link 550 may be rotated around the
drawer fixed portion 551 by the second link 530.
[0193] The link connecting portion 552 may be rotatably connected
to the second fixed portion 532 of the second link 530. When the
first link 520 is rotated around the first fixed portion 521 by the
motor 510, the support link 550 may be rotated around the drawer
fixed portion 551 by the second link 530 connected to the link
connecting portion 552.
[0194] When the motor 510 is rotated so that the drawer 20 is
withdrawn, the support portion 553 may be rotated around the drawer
fixed portion 551 to thereby be supported on the floor surface. In
a state in which the support portion 553 is supported on the floor
surface, the drawer 20 may be prevented from falling at a time of
the drawer 20 being withdrawn.
[0195] Next, the operation in which the drawer 20 is automatically
withdrawn by the automatic driving device 500 and the drawer 20 is
prevented from falling by the automatic driving device 500 when the
drawer is withdrawn will be described in detail with reference to
FIGS. 26 to 28,
[0196] FIG. 26 is a view illustrating an automatic driving device
in a state in which a drawer is inserted according to still another
embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 27 is a view illustrating an
operation of an automatic driving device when a drawer is being
withdrawn according to still another embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 28 is a view illustrating an automatic driving device when a
drawer is fully withdrawn according to still another embodiment of
the disclosure.
[0197] Referring to FIG. 26, in a state in which the drawer 20 is
inserted into the water container accommodating portion 11, the
support link 550 may have the support portion 553 located at a
position higher than that of the drawer fixed portion 551Referring
to FIG. 27, when the motor 510 is operated in a state in which the
drawer 20 is inserted into the water container accommodating
portion 11, the first link 520 connected to the motor 510 may be
rotated around the fixed portion 521. That is, when the motor 510
is rotated clockwise, the gear portion 522 engaged with the motor
510 may cause the first link 520 to be rotated counterclockwise
around the first fixed portion 521. When the first link 520 is
rotated counterclockwise around the first fixed portion 521, the
third link 540 connected to the first link 520 may be rotated
clockwise around the first connecting portion 523 to thereby push
the drawer 20 toward the front.
[0198] In addition, when the first link 520 is rotated
counterclockwise around the first fixed portion 521, the second
link 530 connected to the first link 520 may pull the link
connecting portion 552 of the support link 550 toward the rear to
cause the support link 550 to be rotated clockwise around the
drawer fixed portion 551.
[0199] Referring to FIG. 28, when the first link 520 is further
rotated counterclockwise around the first fixed portion 521 by the
motor 510, the third link 540 connected to the first link 520 may
be rotated clockwise around the first connecting portion 523 to
further push the drawer 20 toward the front. Thus, the drawer 20
may be fully withdrawn from the water container accommodating
portion 11.
[0200] In addition, when the first link 520 is rotated
counterclockwise around the first fixed portion 521, the second
link 530 connected to the first link 520 may further pull the link
connecting portion 552 of the support link 550 toward the rear to
cause the support link 550 to be further rotated clockwise around
the drawer fixed portion 551. When the support link 550 is further
rotated clockwise around the drawer fixed portion 551, the support
portion 553 may come in contact with and support on the floor
surface. Accordingly, when the drawer 20 is fully withdrawn from
the water container accommodating portion 11, the drawer 20 may be
prevented from falling by the support portion 553 of the support
link 550 supported on the floor surface.
[0201] That is, when the first link 520 is rotated counterclockwise
around the first fixed portion 521 by the motor 510, the second
link 530 connected to the first link 520 may cause the support link
550 to rotate the support link 440 to thereby prevent the drawer 20
from falling, and the third link 540 connected to the first link
520 may cause the drawer 20 to move forward to thereby allow the
drawer 20 to be withdrawn from the water container accommodating
portion 11.
[0202] In the drawing, only an operation in which the drawer 20 is
withdrawn is shown, but when the drawer 20 is inserted, the
operation may be performed in a reverse manner from that when the
drawer 20 is withdrawn. That is, when the first link 520 is rotated
clockwise about the first fixed portion 521 by the motor 510, the
third link 540 may be rotated counterclockwise about the first
connecting portion 523 to pull the drawer 20 toward the rear. The
drawer 20 moved to the rear may be inserted into the water
container accommodating portion 11.
[0203] In addition, when the first link 520 is rotated clockwise
around the first fixed portion 521, the second link 530 connected
to the first link 520 may push the link connecting portion 552 of
the support link 550 toward the front so that the support link 550
is rotated counterclockwise around the drawer fixed portion 551.
When the support link 550 is rotated counterclockwise around the
drawer fixed portion 551, the support portion 553 may be separated
from the floor surface.
[0204] As is apparent from the above, the humidification apparatus
may allow the drawer in which the water container is accommodated
to be automatically withdraw and inserted, so that water filled in
the water container can be prevented from flowing to leak out of
the water container.
[0205] In addition, in a state in which the drawer is withdrawn,
the drawer can be prevented from falling due to the weight of the
water container, thereby preventing the water filled in the water
container from leaking out due to an impact applied to the water
container.
[0206] In addition, the water container is provided to be removed
from the drawer when the drawer is fully withdrawn, thereby
improving the user safety.
[0207] Although the humidification apparatus has been described by
way of embodiments in relation to a specific shape and direction,
the above embodiments are illustrative purpose only, and it would
be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and
modifications may be made in these embodiments without departing
from the principles and scope of the disclosure, the scope of which
is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *