Water ejecting apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11325821-B2
Application number	US-202016898330-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 10, 2020
Priority date	Apr 23, 2019
Publication date	May 10, 2022
Grant date	May 10, 2022

Abstract

A water ejecting apparatus includes a case and a water ejection unit coupled to the case and at least partially protruding therefrom. The water ejection unit includes a fixed cover separably coupled to one side of the case and allowing a rack gear extending in a horizontal direction to be fixed thereto, a moving cover accommodated to be movable in the horizontal direction inside the fixed cover, a driving motor coupled to inside of the moving cover, a gear module configured to interwork with the driving motor, and a water ejection nozzle installed at a lower end of the moving cover and configured to eject water, in which the moving cover appears or disappears, while moving from the inside of the fixed cover in the horizontal direction or moving to the outside form the inside of the fixed cover in the horizontal direction, when the driving motor operates.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising:
a case; and
a liquid ejector at least partially protruding from the case and comprising:
a fixed cover connected to the case and including a rack gear that extends in a first direction, the fixed cover defining a first opening;
a moving cover received in the fixed cover and movable in the first direction or a second direction opposite to the first direction relative to the fixed cover;
a driving motor included in the moving cover and configured to engage with a gear assembly; and
a liquid ejection nozzle disposed at an end of the moving cover and configured to eject liquid,
wherein the moving cover is at least partially extended from the fixed cover based on the driving motor operating to move the moving cover in the first direction relative to the fixed cover,
wherein the moving cover is at least partially retracted from the fixed cover based on the driving motor operating to move the moving cover in the second direction relative to the fixed cover, and
wherein the fixed cover includes a second opening configured to receive the moving cover such that the moving cover moves out from the fixed cover through the second opening.

2. The liquid ejecting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the liquid ejection nozzle and the case is varied based on the operation of the driving motor.

3. The liquid ejecting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first opening of the fixed cover is defined at a first surface of the fixed cover and extends along the first direction or the second direction, and
wherein the moving cover is configured to be at least partially exposed through the first opening of the fixed cover.

4. The liquid ejecting apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the fixed cover includes first portions that extend toward each other in a direction perpendicular to the first direction or the second direction such that the first opening is defined at the first surface of the fixed cover.

5. The liquid ejecting apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the moving cover has step portions that have a concave shape and are configured to be seated at the first portions of the fixed cover.

6. The liquid ejecting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the fixed cover and the moving cover has a convex shape.

7. The liquid ejecting apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a ring-shaped rotator rotatably disposed in the case,
wherein the fixed cover is connected to the rotator.

8. The liquid ejecting apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sensor disposed in the case or the liquid ejector and configured to sense a container that is placed with respect to the case.

9. The liquid ejecting apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a top cover that forms a surface of the case or the liquid ejector;
an input device disposed at the top cover and configured to receive an instruction for controlling the driving motor or a liquid ejection pipe that is connected to the liquid ejection nozzle.

10. The liquid ejecting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gear assembly comprises:
a gear bracket coupled to the moving cover; and
a pinion gear rotatably disposed in the gear bracket and engaged with the rack gear,
wherein the pinion gear is configured to rotate along the rack gear such that the moving cover moves in the first direction or the second direction with respect to the fixed cover based on the operation of the driving motor,
wherein the fixed cover further comprises:
a guide bar disposed in parallel to the rack gear and opposite to the rack gear,
wherein the gear bracket contacts and is supported by the guide bar,

wherein the gear bracket has a guide bar passage hole configured to receive the guide bar, and
wherein the liquid ejecting apparatus further comprises an anti-friction member inserted in the guide bar passage hole and configured to reduce frictional force with the guide bar.

11. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising;
a case; and
a liquid ejector at least partially protruding from the case and comprising:
a fixed cover connected to the case and including a rack gear that extends in a first direction;
a moving cover received in the fixed cover and movable in the first direction or a second direction opposite to the first direction relative to the fixed cover;
a driving motor included in the moving cover and configured to engage with a gear assembly; and
a liquid ejection nozzle disposed at an end of the moving cover and configured to eject liquid,
wherein the moving cover is at least partially extended from the fixed cover based on the driving motor operating to move the moving cover in the first direction relative to the fixed cover, and
wherein the moving cover is at least partially retracted from the fixed cover based on the driving motor operating to move the moving cover in the second direction relative to the fixed cover,

wherein the gear assembly comprises:
a gear bracket coupled to the moving cover; and
a pinion gear rotatably disposed in the gear bracket and engaged with the rack gear,
wherein the pinion gear is configured to rotate along the rack gear such that the moving cover moves in the first direction or the second direction with respect to the fixed cover based on the operation of the driving motor.

12. The liquid ejecting apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the fixed cover further comprises:
a guide bar disposed in parallel to the rack gear and opposite to the rack gear,
wherein the gear bracket contacts and is supported by the guide bar.

13. The liquid ejecting apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the gear bracket has a guide bar passage hole configured to receive the guide bar.

14. The liquid ejecting apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:
an anti-friction member inserted in the guide bar passage hole and configured to reduce frictional force with the guide bar.

15. The liquid ejecting apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the fixed cover further comprises:
a guide rail spaced apart from the rack gear and extending in the first direction, the guide rail including a plurality of seating recesses that are spaced apart in the first direction, and
wherein the gear bracket comprises a guide rail projection configured to contact the guide rail and be inserted into the plurality of seating recesses as the gear bracket moves in the first direction or the second direction.

16. The liquid ejecting apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the guide bar is made of metal.

17. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising:
a case; and
a liquid ejector at least partially protruding from the case and comprising:
a fixed cover connected to the case and including a rack gear that extends in a first direction;
a moving cover received in the fixed cover and movable in the first direction or a second direction opposite to the first direction relative to the fixed cover;
a driving motor included in the moving cover and configured to engage with a gear assembly; and
a liquid ejection nozzle disposed at an end of the moving cover and configured to eject liquid,
wherein the moving cover is at least partially extended from the fixed cover based on the driving motor operating to move the moving cover in the first direction relative to the fixed cover, and
wherein the moving cover is at least partially retracted from the fixed cover based on the driving motor operating to move the moving cover in the second direction relative to the fixed cover,

wherein the driving motor comprises:
a motor shaft; and
a motor gear connected to the motor shaft, and
wherein the gear assembly comprises:

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Kim Minho
• Yoon Heesang
• Jang Hoon
• Han Dongkoo
• Kim Hyeonggeun
• Roh Keunho
• Park Jongho
• Song Younggwan

Classifications

• C02F9/20

  Portable or detachable small-scale multistage treatment devices, e.g. point of use or laboratory water purification systems · CPC title

• F16H19/04

  comprising a rack · CPC title

• B67D2210/0001

  for liquid · CPC title

• C02F2307/10

  as part of a potable water dispenser, e.g. for use in homes or offices · CPC title

• B67D2210/00049

  Pipes · CPC title