KR100794603B1 - Refrigerator and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A refrigerator and a control method thereof are provided to open or close doors separately or in sequence by driving a driving motor forward or backward, thereby minimizing operation control of the driving motor for extending the lifespan of the driving motor. A refrigerator includes a door opening device and a control part. The door opening device includes switch parts(16,17) for inputting door opening signals for first and second doors(11,12), an operation element in the Y-shape with first to third extension parts(31-33) for selectively opening the doors by rotation, a rotation cam(40) having a plurality of protrusions(41) contacting the operation elements for rotating the operation elements and a plurality of separation parts(42) apart from the operation elements, the protrusions and the separation parts being disposed alternately in the rotation direction, a driving motor rotating the rotation cam forward or backward, and a restoring element such as a restoring spring(25) for returning the operation elements to an initial position after the opening of the doors. The control part determines door opening frequency according to the door opening signals input to the switch parts and controls the operation of the door opening device.

Description

Refrigerator and Control Method

1 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator to which a door opening device according to the present invention is applied.

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the door opening apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a refrigerator to which the door opening apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, showing a state in which the door is closed.

4 is a plan view of a refrigerator to which a door opening device is applied according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state in which the first door is opened by the door opening device.

5 is a plan view of a refrigerator to which a door opening device is applied according to an embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates an operation of returning an operation member of the door opening device to an initial position.

6 is a plan view of a refrigerator to which a door opening device is applied according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state in which the second door is opened by the door opening device.

7 is a block diagram showing the operation control of the door opening apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a door opening apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

* Description of symbols on the main parts of the drawings *

16, 17: switch unit 20: door opening device

30: operating member 40: rotary cam

41: protrusion 42: spacing

50: drive motor 100: control unit

110: position detection device 120: door open sensor

The present invention relates to a refrigerator and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a refrigerator having a door opening device for easily opening a door and a control method thereof.

In general, a large refrigerator requires a large force to open the door because the door to open and close the storage compartment is large. This is because the weight of the door is not only heavy but also the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the storage chamber is caused by the temperature drop of the storage compartment when it is operated. Therefore, recently, such a refrigerator has been installed in the door opening device to open the door by pushing in the direction of opening when you want to open the door.

Korean Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2006-40436 discloses a refrigerator having a door opening device. This refrigerator is a double door type refrigerator having storage compartments mutually partitioned on both sides, and having a left door and a right door for opening and closing of each storage compartment. The door opening device of the refrigerator includes a drive motor for forward rotation and reverse rotation, and a main cam rotated by the drive motor. In addition, a first sub cam operated by the main cam and opening the left door, and a second sub cam operated by the main cam and opening the right door are also provided.

The door opening device opens the left door by operating the first sub cam by forward rotation of the main cam clockwise by the rotation operation of the drive motor. The main cam rotates counterclockwise by the reverse rotation operation of the drive motor to operate the second sub cam to open the right door.

However, such a door opening device has a step of operating the main cam by rotating the drive motor clockwise forward and by rotating it counterclockwise after opening the door to return the main cam to its initial position. The drive motor had to run twice to open the door. In other words, the driving motor had to rotate forward and then reverse. Therefore, the door opening device has a frequent operation of the drive motor, the life of the drive motor and the relay for controlling it could be shortened.

If the other door is opened after the other door is opened, the driving motor rotates in the first direction to open the one door, then rotates in the second direction opposite to return to the original position. Further rotating in the second direction to open the other door, and rotating in the first direction to return to its original position. Therefore, in this case, the driving frequency of the driving motor is frequent and there is a problem that the opening of the door is delayed.

The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to open the door opening device to extend the life of the drive motor and related parts by reducing the number of operation of the drive motor for opening the door In the provided refrigerator, it is to provide a refrigerator having an algorithm for preventing damage caused by excessive operation of the door opening device and a control method thereof.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a refrigerator having first and second doors to open and close the first and second storage compartments partitioned inside the main body, respectively, the door for opening the first and second doors A switch unit for inputting an open signal, an actuating member for selectively opening the two doors by rotation, a plurality of protrusions for contacting the actuating member to rotate the actuating member, and a plurality of spacing parts spaced apart from the actuating member; A door opening device including a rotary cam in which the protrusion and the spaced part are alternately disposed in a rotational direction, a driving motor for rotating the rotary cam in a forward direction and a reverse direction, and a restoring device for repositioning the operating member after opening of any one of the two doors. And a frequency of opening the door by the door opening signal input to the switch unit, and determining the frequency of the door opening. It characterized in that the refrigerator comprises a control unit for controlling the operation of the air opening device.

The controller may be configured to perform a door opening device locking mode in which the door opening device is not operated even when the door opening signal is input when the door is opened more than the set number of times during the second setting time.

The control unit may release the door opening device locking mode when the door opening signal is not input for the first set time during the door opening device locking mode, and operate the door opening device according to the input door opening signal. Characterized in that the door opening device operating mode.

The apparatus may further include an input unit configured to input one of the operation modes of the lock mode and the operation mode of the door opening device. Regardless of how often the door is opened, the input operation mode is preferentially performed.

The apparatus may further include a display unit for displaying a lock mode and an operation mode of the door opening device, wherein the control unit controls the display unit to display the lock mode or the operation mode when the door opening device is performed. .

In addition, the present invention is a refrigerator having a first and a second door for opening and closing the first and second storage compartments respectively divided inside the main body, the operation member for selectively opening the two doors by rotation, the operation member A rotating cam having a plurality of protrusions for rotating the operating member and spaced apart from the operating member, the rotating cam being alternately disposed in the rotating direction, and a driving motor for rotating the rotating cam in a forward and reverse direction. And a door opening device including a restoring device for repositioning the operation member after the opening of any one of the two doors, and determining a frequency of opening the door by a door opening signal for opening one of the two doors. And a control method of the refrigerator for controlling the operation of the door opening device according to the determination result.

In addition, when the door opening frequency is opened more than the set number of times during the second set time, the door opening device lock mode that does not operate the door opening device even if the door opening signal is input.

In addition, when the door open signal is not input for the first set time during the door open device lock mode, the door open device lock mode is released, and the door open device operates the door open device according to the input door open signal. Characterized in that it performs a device operating mode.

In addition, when the lock mode or the operation mode of the door opening device is input by the user's control signal, the input operation mode is preferentially performed regardless of the frequency of opening the door by the door opening signal.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

1 illustrates a refrigerator to which a door opening device is applied according to an embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerator includes a main body 10 in which a first storage compartment (not shown) and a second storage compartment (not shown) are mutually partitioned. The first door 11 and the second door 12 are installed on both sides of the main body 10 to open and close the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber. In such a refrigerator, a first storage compartment generally constitutes a freezing compartment, and a second storage compartment constitutes a refrigerating compartment. The first door 11 and the second door 12 are rotatably coupled to the main body 10 by the upper and lower hinge devices 13. In addition, handles 14 and 15 are provided on the front surfaces of the doors 11 and 12.

The door opening device 20 is installed above the main body 10. The door opening device 20 opens the doors 11 and 12 by pushing the upper portions of the first door 11 and the second door 12 to the front so that the user can easily open the door.

2 to 6 are views showing the door opening device 20 according to the present embodiment, and Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the operation control of the door opening device 20.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the door opening device 20 is configured to open the two doors 11 and 12 and the operation member 30 to selectively open the two doors 11 and 12 by rotation. The rotary cam 40 for rotating the operation member 30, the drive motor 50 for rotating the rotary cam 40 in the forward and reverse directions is provided. It also includes a cam cover 52 for receiving the rotary cam 40, and an upper cover 21 for covering the upper portion.

The rotary cam 40 includes three protrusions 41 for rotating the operating member 30 in contact with the operating member 30 and three spaced portions 42 spaced apart from the operating member 30. . Each protrusion 41 and each spacer 42 are alternately arranged in the rotational direction, and the protrusions 41 are arranged at intervals of 120 degrees. Each protrusion 41 is made of a curved surface in the form of a mountain, each spacing portion 42 is made of a curved surface of the bone shape.

In the present embodiment, the case in which the protrusions 41 and the spacers 42 are provided by three is described as an example, but the number of the protrusions 41 and the spacers 42 may be adjusted as necessary within the range of performing the same function. Of course, it can be applied differently.

The cam cover 52 accommodating the rotary cam 40 is fixed to the upper surface of the refrigerator body 10 by fastening the fixing screw 53, and the driving motor 50 is fixed to the upper surface of the cam cover 52. The shaft 51 of the driving motor 50 passes through the cam cover 52 and extends into the cam cover 52 to be coupled to the rotary cam 40. Therefore, the rotary cam 40 rotates inside the cam cover 52 when the driving motor 50 operates.

The operating member 30 is rotatably coupled to the upper surface of the main body 10 in front of the rotary cam 40. As shown in FIG. 2, a support shaft 23 is provided on the upper surface of the main body 10 for such coupling. The support shaft 23 is coupled to the fastening screw 24 for preventing the separation of the operating member 30 after the operation member 30 is coupled.

As shown in FIG. 3, the operation member 30 includes a first extension 31 extending from the rotation center toward the rotation cam 40 and a second extension extending from the rotation center toward the inner surface of the first door 11. A part 32 and a third extension part 33 extending from the center of rotation toward the inner surface of the second door 12 are provided. The actuating member 30 is of the "Y" shape. The first extension portion 31 of the operating member 30 is such that its end is in contact with the protrusion 41 of the rotary cam 40 but spaced apart from the spaced portion 42 of the rotary cam 40. The operating member 30 has a distance L1 from the end of the first extension part 31 to the center of rotation than the distance L2 from the ends of the second and third extension parts 32, 33 to the center of rotation. long. The principle of the lever is applied, as shown in Figures 4 and 6, even if the rotary cam 40 rotates the first extension portion 31 of the operation member 30 with a small force, the second or third extension The parts 32 and 33 pressurize the inner surface of the first or second doors 11 and 12 with a large force so that the first and second doors 11 and 12 can be easily opened.

Rollers 34 are installed at ends of the first to third extension parts 31, 32, 33 of the operation member 30, respectively. This prevents friction between the first extension part 31 and the rotary cam 40 when the door opening device 20 operates, and the second and third extension parts 32 and 33 and the first and second doors. This is to prevent the friction between (11, 12). In addition, a return spring 25 for returning the operation member 30 to the initial position is provided in the first extension portion 31 of the operation member 30.

The return spring 25 has one end connected to the first extension part 31 and the other end connected to the upper surface of the refrigerator body 10 to impart an elastic restoring force to the first extension part 31. Although the coil type return spring 25 is illustrated as a device for restoring the operating member 30 in the drawing, the restoring device may be made of an elastic member such as a torsion spring, a spiral spring, and rubber.

In this way, the elasticity of the return spring 25 acts on the operation member 30, and is restored to its initial state as shown in FIG. In the initial state, the end of the first extension part 31 is positioned at the separation part 42 of the rotary cam 40, and the driving motor 50 is the separation part 42 and the first extension part of the rotary cam 40. The operation stops when the position of (31) coincides.

To this end, the door opening device 20 is provided with a position detection device 110 for detecting the rotational position of the rotary cam 40 to control the operation of the drive motor (50). The position detecting device 110 is fixed to the magnets 43 provided at the tip of each protrusion 41 of the rotary cam 40 and the cam cover 52 outside the rotary cam 40 so as to detect the magnet 43. And a position sensor 44.

The position detecting sensor 44 is composed of a normal reed switch. In the present embodiment, the position detecting sensor 44 is in an on state when the position detecting sensor 44 faces the magnet of the protrusion 41. If it is in a state facing the spacer 42 is described as being off, but may be configured to the contrary.

The position detecting device 110 is not limited thereto, and an optical sensor for detecting the position of the protrusion 41 or a limit switch for detecting the position through contact with the protrusion may be provided.

1 and 2, the upper cover 21 covers the upper portion of the operating member 30 and the drive motor 50 in a spaced apart state, the body 10 by fastening a plurality of fixing screws 22. ) It is fixed on the upper surface.

In addition, the door opening device 20 has switch portions 16 and 17 provided on the handles 14 and 15 of the first and second doors 11 and 12 so as to control the operation of the driving motor 50. It includes. The switch unit 16 or 17 may be a detection sensor that detects when the user grabs the handles 14 and 15 or a power switch that directly opens or closes the power applied to the driving motor 50.

Next, the operation of the door opening device 20 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the driving motor 50 does not operate unless the handles 14 and 15 are grasped while the first door 11 and the second door 12 are closed. Therefore, the initial state is maintained. That is, the first extension part 31 of the operation member 30 is located at the center of the separation part 42 of the rotary cam 40.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the user grabs or pulls the handle 14 of the first door 11 to open the first door 11, the driving unit 50 is operated while the switch unit 16 is operated. It works. At this time, since the rotary cam 40 rotates clockwise by the operation of the driving motor 50, the protrusion 41 pushes the first extension part 31 of the operating member 30. Rotate in the direction. Therefore, the second extension part 32 pushes the inner surface of the first door 11 so that the first door 11 is easily opened. As shown in FIG. 5, when the position detection sensor 44 detects the magnet 43 provided in the protrusion 41 by rotating the rotary cam 40 in the clockwise direction, the driving motor 50 operates. Stops. In this state, the rotary cam 40 is rotated 120 degrees, which is the same as the initial state. On the other hand, the operation member 30 is restored to its original state by the elasticity of the return spring 25 at the moment when the pressing of the first extension portion 31 by the protrusion 41 of the rotary cam 40 is released. Thus, the door opening device 20 of the present invention can perform the opening of the door only by the operation in which the driving motor 50 rotates a predetermined section in one direction, and minimizes the number of times the operation of the driving motor 50 because the initial state again. can do. Therefore, it is possible to extend the life of the drive motor 50 and related parts.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the user grabs or pulls the handle 15 of the second door 12 to open the second door 12, the driving motor 50 is operated while the switch unit 17 is operated. It works in the reverse direction. At this time, the rotary cam 40 is rotated counterclockwise by the operation of the drive motor 50, the protrusion 41 pushes the first extension 31 of the operating member 30, the operating member 30 is Rotate clockwise. Therefore, in this case, the third extension part 33 pushes the inner surface of the second door 12 to open the second door 12. After opening of the second door 12, the rotary cam 40 stops by rotating 120 degrees, and the operation member 30 is also restored to the initial state by the elasticity of the return spring 25. As described above, the present invention may minimize the operation of the driving motor 50 because the driving motor 50 is sufficient to operate once in either direction when the doors 11 and 12 are opened.

Even when the first door 11 and the second door 12 are continuously opened, both the doors 11 and 12 are rotated only by the driving motor 50 rotating clockwise and then counterclockwise again. Can open Therefore, as compared with the conventional case, not only can the operation frequency of the driving motor 50 be significantly reduced, but as a result, the opening of the two doors 11 and 12 can be performed quickly.

Looking at the configuration for controlling the operation of the above-described door opening device 20, when the door opening signal is input through the switch unit 16, 17 as shown in the block diagram of FIG. By using the information transmitted from the 110 and the timer 140, a signal for controlling the operation of the driving motor 50 is transmitted to the motor driver 150 according to a program stored in advance in the memory 130.

In addition, the control unit 100 may operate the driving motor 50 when a door opening signal is input using information received from the door opening sensor unit 120 that detects whether the two doors 11 and 12 are open. Determine whether or not.

On the other hand, the control unit 100 determines whether to set the lock function for the protection of the door opening device 20 by determining the frequency of opening the door by the operation of the door opening device 20 using the timer 140. Then, according to the determination result, the door opening device 20 transmits a control signal to the display unit 160 to indicate whether the lock function is set to the lock mode or the operation mode in which the lock function is released.

In addition, the control unit 100 preferentially receives the input operation mode when the user inputs a control signal for selecting one of the lock mode and the operation mode of the door opening device 20 to the door opening device operation mode input unit 170. Perform.

8 is a flow chart showing a control method of the door opening device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The control unit 100 determines whether the door opening device 20 is in the lock mode (S200), and operates the timer 140 in the lock mode to determine whether the door opening signal is not input for the first set time. (S210, S220).

As a result of the determination in step S220, if the door open signal is input during the first set time T _set1 , the control unit 100 returns to step S210, and if it is not input, releases the lock mode of the door opening device 20. After switching to the operation mode and displays it on the display unit 160 (S230).

At this time, the first set time (T _set1 ) is experimentally determined and stored in advance in the memory 130, it is preferably set to a time necessary to protect the door opening device 20 from excessive operation.

When the step S230 is completed, the control unit 100 determines whether the refrigerator power off signal has been input (S240), and if so, terminates the control and returns to the step S200 if not.

On the other hand, when the door opening device 20 is not in the lock mode at step S200, the control unit 100 opens the doors 11 and 12 to open the doors 11 and 12 corresponding to the door opening signals input to the switch units 16 and 17. The operating frequency of the doors 11 and 12 is determined while operating the apparatus 20 (S250 to S300).

As a result of the determination, when the doors 11 and 12 are opened for less than the set number N _set during the second setting time T _set2 , the control unit 100 returns to step S250 to open the doors 11 and 12. To determine again, if the opening is exceeded the _set number (N _set ) in order to protect the door opening device 20 to switch the door opening device 20 to the lock mode and then display it on the display unit 160 ( S310).

In this case, the second set time T _set2 and the set number N _set are experimentally determined and stored in advance in the memory 130, and are values that can be determined that the door opening device 20 is excessively operated. It is preferable to be set.

When the step S310 is completed, the control unit 100 determines whether the refrigerator power off signal has been input (S240), and if so, terminates the control and returns to the step S200 if not.

The control method described above relates to a protection program of the door opening device 20 which is applied according to the frequency of operation of the door opening device 20. As described above, the user opens the door opening device to the door opening device operation mode input unit 170. If a control signal for selecting one of the lock mode and the operation mode of 20 is inputted, the input operation mode is preferentially performed.

As described in detail above, the door opening device of the refrigerator according to the present invention can perform the opening of the door only by the operation of the drive motor rotates a predetermined section in one direction, and the drive motor does not operate in the reverse direction after opening the door. Even if the first door and the second door are opened continuously, both doors can be opened only by the forward and reverse rotation of the drive motor, so the operation control of the drive motor is minimized by minimizing the control of the drive motor. It has the effect of extending the life.

In addition, the refrigerator and the control method according to the present invention determines the frequency of opening the door by the door opening signal, and according to the determination result by operating the door opening device in the lock mode or the operation mode by excessive operation of the door opening device Damage can be prevented.

Claims (9)

In the refrigerator having first and second doors to open and close the first and second storage compartments partitioned inside the main body, respectively, A switch unit for inputting a door open signal for opening the first and second doors, an operating member for selectively opening the two doors by rotation, a plurality of protrusions for rotating the operating member in contact with the operating member, and the A rotation cam having a plurality of separation parts spaced apart from the operation member and the projection and the separation part alternately arranged in a rotation direction, a drive motor for rotating the rotation cam in a forward direction and a reverse direction, and the operation member after opening of any one of the two doors. Door opening device including a restoring device to the original position; And And a control unit for determining a frequency of opening the door by the door opening signal input to the switch unit, and controlling the operation of the door opening device according to the determination result. The method of claim 1, The control unit performs a door opening device lock mode that does not operate the door opening device even if the door opening signal is input when the door is opened more than the set number of times during the second set time. The method of claim 2, If the door open signal is not input for the first set time while the door open device lock mode is performed, the controller releases the door open device lock mode and operates the door open device according to the input door open signal. Refrigerator to perform device operation mode. The method of claim 3, Further comprising an input unit for inputting any one operation mode of the lock mode or the operation mode of the door opening device, The control unit, when the operation mode is input to the input unit by a user's control signal, the refrigerator preferentially performs the input operation mode regardless of the frequency of opening the door by the door open signal. The method of claim 4, wherein It further includes a display unit for displaying the lock mode and the operation mode of the door opening device, And the control unit controls the display unit to display the lock mode or the operation mode of the door opening device. In the control method of the refrigerator having first and second doors to open and close the first and second storage compartments partitioned inside the main body, respectively, Determining a frequency of opening the door by a door open signal for opening one of the two doors, While controlling the operation of the door opening device according to the determination result, By driving the drive motor, a plurality of separation parts spaced apart from the operation member and a plurality of projections in contact with the operation member rotates the rotation cam alternately arranged in the rotation direction in the forward direction and the reverse direction, Selectively opening the two doors by rotating the operation member by the rotation of the rotary cam, And controlling the operation of the door opening device by repositioning the operation member through a restoration device after opening any one door selected from the two doors. The method of claim 6, And a door opening device locking mode in which the door opening device is not operated even if a door opening signal is input when the door opening frequency is opened more than a set number of times during a second setting time. The method of claim 7, wherein When the door open signal is not input for the first set time during the door open device lock mode, the door open device lock mode is released, and the door open device is operated to operate the door open device according to the input door open signal. Control method of the refrigerator to perform the mode. The method of claim 8, When the lock mode or the operation mode of the door opening device is input by the user's control signal, the control method of the refrigerator to perform the input operation mode preferentially regardless of the frequency of opening the door by the door opening signal.

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