CN102341662B

CN102341662B - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: CN102341662B
Application number: CN201080010444.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 栗田润一; 山口�太郎
Original assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
Priority date: 2009-03-05
Filing date: 2010-03-03
Publication date: 2014-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 2030-03-03
Also published as: CN102341662A; JP2010203741A; EP2405213B1; WO2010100908A1; EP2405213A1; EP2405213A4

Abstract

A refrigerator equipped with an ice supply device which can, even if ice is caught between a supply opening and a lid body, suppress the consumption of excess electric power and can totally close the lid body. A refrigerator (100) provided with an ice supply device (200) for supplying ice, wherein the ice supply device (200) is provided with: a supply opening (210a) serving as an ice outlet from which ice is supplied; a lid unit (220) having a shaft body (221) and a lid body (222) which closes the supply opening (210a) when the shaft body (221) is rotated; and a drive section (260) for rotating the shaft body (221). When the shaft body (221) stops rotating, the drive section (260) locks the shaft body (221) so that the shaft body (221) does not rotate. Also, the lid unit (220) is provided with a pressing member (223) for connecting the shaft body (221) and the lid body (222) together and applying a pressing force to the lid body (222) in the closing direction in which the lid body (222) closes the supply opening (210a).

Description

Refrigerator

Technical field

The present invention relates to refrigerator, relate in particular to the refrigerator with ice feedway of supplying with ice.

Background technology

In recent years, the refrigerator that has an ice feedway of supplying with ice comes into the market.This ice feedway has the supply pipe of the feed path that becomes ice, and sealing is as the lid of the supply port of the outlet of supply pipe.And the ice that the ice feedway uses ice machine to generate, by the feed path of supply pipe, is supplied to the user from supply port.But, when the ice feedway is supplied to the user by ice, exists between the lid of supply port and sealing supply port and accompany ice cube, the situation that lid can not be closed fully.

So the prior art motion has a kind of ice feedway, the moment delay that it is closed by making lid, prevent from accompanying ice between supply port and lid, thereby lid can be closed to (for example,, with reference to patent documentation 1) fully.This existing ice feedway postpones by the close moment that makes lid, and the ice remained in supply pipe is discharged from supply port by feed path.And, by making ice, do not remain in supply pipe, prevent from accompanying ice between supply port and lid, thereby lid can be closed fully.

The look-ahead technique document

Patent documentation

Patent documentation 1:(Japan) Unexamined Patent 11-287550 communique

Summary of the invention

The problem that invention will solve

But, in the ice feedway of above-mentioned existing refrigerator, although can prevent from accompanying ice between supply port and lid, in the situation that accompanied ice between supply port and lid, the problem that existence can not be closed lid fully.

That is,, in existing ice feedway, even postpone the close moment of lid, also there is the situation that accompanies ice between supply port and lid.For example, in existing ice feedway, if not at the flux matched moment closing cap with remaining in the ice in supply pipe, just can not make the ice remained in supply pipe all discharge from supply port.But, because there is deviation in the amount that remains in the ice in supply pipe, so, according to the close moment difference of covering, existence can not make to remain in the situation that the ice in supply pipe is all discharged from supply port.In addition, also exist due in supply pipe or supply port by the ice obstruction etc., can not make to remain in the situation that the ice in supply pipe is all discharged from supply port.

And, exist owing to remaining in ice tongs in supply pipe between supply port and lid, and the situation that lid is not exclusively closed.For example, in the situation that the driving mechanism of the switching of being covered is used gear motor, when the state lower gear motor that accompanies ice between supply port and lid stops, lid is fixed in the position of lid with the state of not closing fully.Therefore, after ice-out, lid can not closed fully yet, continues to keep the state of opening.

In addition, until ice dissolves and lid is closed fully, although can will cover and close fully by continuation driven wheel motor, this need to be for continuing the extra electric power of driven wheel motor.

So the present invention is in view of such problem, though purpose be to provide a kind of have between supply port and lid accompany ice, also can suppress the consumption of additional power, and the refrigerator of the ice feedway that can lid close fully.

For solving the method for problem

To achieve these goals, refrigerator of the present invention has the ice feedway of supplying with ice, and above-mentioned ice feedway comprises: as the supply port of the outlet of the ice for supplying with ice; There is axis body and close the cap unit of the lid of above-mentioned supply port by the rotation of above-mentioned axis body; With the drive division that above-mentioned axis body is rotated, wherein above-mentioned drive division is in the situation that stopped the rotation of above-mentioned axis body, above-mentioned axis body is fixed so that above-mentioned axis body does not rotate, above-mentioned cap unit also has force application part, this force application part connects above-mentioned axis body and above-mentioned lid, and gives the application of force of closing direction that above-mentioned lid is closed above-mentioned supply port.

Accordingly, under the state stop at drive division, axis body is fixed, by force application part, give the application of force on direction of closing that lid is closed supply port.Therefore, even accompany ice between supply port and lid, if this ice dissolves, the effect of the application of force by force application part, lid will be closed supply port.In addition, now, do not need to close the required electric power of supply port for lid.Therefore, even in the situation that accompany ice between supply port and lid, also can suppress the consumption of extra electric power, and lid is closed fully.

In addition, preferably also have control part, it controls above-mentioned drive division rotates above-mentioned axis body, makes above-mentioned lid close above-mentioned supply port with the official hour interval.

Accordingly, control part is controlled drive division rotates axis body, makes lid close supply port with the official hour interval.At this, in the situation that water ice is clipped between supply port and lid, even by force application part, produce make lid to the movement of closing direction, the possibility that also exists lid supply port can not be closed fully.In this case, after this water ice dissolves, control part is controlled drive division rotates axis body, thus lid is closed fully.In addition, control part is not to control constantly drive division axis body is rotated, but with official hour Separation control drive division, axis body is rotated, so extra power consumption is suppressed.Therefore, even in the situation that accompany ice between supply port and lid, also can suppress extra power consumption, and lid is closed fully.

In addition, the present invention not only can realize as the refrigerator with this ice feedway, also can realize as the ice feedway.

The invention effect

According to the present invention, though can provide a kind of have between supply port and lid accompany ice, also can suppress the consumption of additional power, and the refrigerator of the ice feedway that lid can be closed fully, so practical value of the present invention is high.

The accompanying drawing explanation

Fig. 1 means the stereogram of the outward appearance of refrigerator.

Fig. 2 means the stereogram of the outward appearance of the 3rd and the 4th refrigerator of opening.

Fig. 3 means the stereogram of the outward appearance of first and second refrigerator of opening.

Fig. 4 means the sectional view of the structure of ice feedway.

Fig. 5 means the stereogram of the structure of ice feedway.

Fig. 6 sees the stereogram of ice feedway from rear.

Fig. 7 means the functional block diagram of the functional structure for controlling drive division.

Fig. 8 means the stereogram of the outward appearance of cap unit.

Fig. 9 A means the top view of the structure of cap unit.

Fig. 9 B means the top view of the structure of cap unit.

Figure 10 A is the figure of the on-off action for cap unit is described.

Figure 10 B is the figure of the on-off action for cap unit is described.

Figure 11 A accompanies the figure of closing motion of cap unit of the situation of ice for explanation.

Figure 11 B accompanies the figure of closing motion of cap unit of the situation of ice for explanation.

Figure 12 is the figure of the modified embodiment of the present embodiment for meaning force application part.

The specific embodiment

Below, the embodiment with reference to accompanying drawing to the refrigerator of the present application describes.

Fig. 1 means the stereogram of the outward appearance of refrigerator.

As shown in these figures, refrigerator 100 have heat insulating box 150, first 111, second 121, the 3rd 112, through hole 113, the 4th 122 and receive space 123.

Heat insulating box 150 is casings of front openings, has the heat-proof quality that the discrepancy of the inside and outside heat of refrigerator 100 is cut off.

First 111 is to seal freely the door of the opening portion on right side to the direction switch of heat insulating box 150.In the situation that present embodiment, be installed on heat insulating box 150 by hinge (hinge) (not shown) for first 111, so that this first 111 the place ahead at the right side wall of heat insulating box 150 to rotate centered by the upwardly extending turning cylinder of upper and lower.In addition, first 111 is rectangle when the place ahead is seen, above-mentioned turning cylinder is by the right-hand member edge of first 111.

Second 121 is to seal freely the door of the opening portion in left side to heat insulating box 150 switches.In the situation that present embodiment, second 121 is installed on heat insulating box 150 by hinge (not shown), so that this second 121 the place ahead at the left side wall of heat insulating box 150 to rotate centered by the upwardly extending turning cylinder of upper and lower.In addition, second 121 is rectangle when the place ahead is seen, above-mentioned turning cylinder is by the left end edge of second 121.

Through hole 113 is to connect the hole of first 111 at thickness direction.Through hole 113 is not for opening first 111, but is stored at the reserve at first 111 rear for taking-up, or the hole that will put into for the reserve that is stored at the rear of first 111.

The 3rd 112 is doors that switch seals through hole 113 freely.In the situation that present embodiment, the 3rd 112 is installed on first 111 by hinge (not shown), so that the 3rd the 112 lower ora terminalis at through hole 113 to rotate centered by the upwardly extending turning cylinder of right and left.In addition, the 3rd 112 is roughly square (angle is fillet) when the place ahead is seen, above-mentioned turning cylinder is by the lower end edge portion of the 3rd 112.

Receiving space 123 and be provided to the inside of second 121, is to receive the space of ice that the ice feedway (not shown) from being disposed at the inside of second 121 supplies with etc. for the user.At the front face that receives space 123, the front face of second 121 runs through thickness direction, is formed with peristome.

That is, the 4th 122 is to open and close the door that sealing freely receives the front face in space 123.In the situation that present embodiment, the 4th 122 is installed on second 121 by hinge (not shown), so that the 4th the 122 lower ora terminalis at the front face that receives space 123 to rotate centered by the upwardly extending turning cylinder of right and left.In addition, the 4th 122 is roughly square (angle is fillet) when the place ahead is seen, above-mentioned turning cylinder is by the lower end edge portion of the 4th 122.

As shown in Figure 3, refrigerator 100 has partition wall 153.

The wall that partition wall 153 is is left and right by the interior separation of heat insulating box 150.In the situation that present embodiment, in the inside of heat insulating box 150, the right side of partition wall 153 is the first storeroom 151, becomes refrigerating chamber.On the other hand, in the inside of heat insulating box 150, the left side of partition wall 153 is the second storeroom 152, becomes refrigerating chamber.The wall that partition wall 153 is refrigerated chamber and refrigerating chamber, have heat-proof quality.

And, opening and closing the inside of second 121 (the A section shown in Fig. 3) seal freely as the opening portion of the second storeroom 152 of refrigerating chamber, dispose the ice feedway that the ice of generation is supplied to the user.

Below, the details of this ice feedway is described.

Fig. 4 means the sectional view of the structure of ice feedway 200.Particularly, Fig. 4 is the sectional view in cross section that schematically shows the A section of second 121 shown in Fig. 3.In addition, for convenience of explanation, in Fig. 4, omit the 4th 122 and illustrated.

As shown in Figure 4, ice feedway 200 is devices of supplying with the ice generated, has supply pipe 210, cap unit 220, bar (lever) 240 and discharge portion 250.

Supply pipe 210 is the pipes that are formed for the ice of ice machine (not shown) generation by being disposed at top is supplied to user's feed path.Supply pipe 210 has supply port 210a.

Supply port 210a is the opening of supply pipe 210.Particularly, supply port 210a is the outlet of the ice for supplying with ice.In addition, supply port 210a is so long as the shape that the ice of supplying with can pass through can be arbitrary shape.

Cap unit 220 is by the lid of the supply port 210a of supply pipe 210 sealing.Cap unit 220 has axis body 221 and lid 222.

Axis body 221 is disposed at the top of lid 222, is the bar-shaped axle for lid 222 is rotated.Particularly, axis body 221 by the rotation of axis body 221, rotates lid 222 centered by axis body 221 around axis body 221.In addition, preferably axis body 221 is disposed at the top of lid 222, but is not limited to top, also can be disposed at central portion.

Lid 222 is to rotate by axis body 221, around axis body 221, rotates, and carries out the position on the flat board of switching of supply port 210a.That is, lid 222 is opened supply port 210a by the rotation (turning right in Fig. 4) of axis body 221.In addition, lid 222 is closed supply port 210a by the rotation (turning left in Fig. 4) of axis body 221.In addition, lid 222 is so long as the shape that supply port 210a can be closed can be arbitrary shape.

Bar 240 is for axis body 221 is rotated, so that lid 222 opens and closes the switch that supply port 210a uses.Particularly, when the user will be inserted into cup P to receive space 123 when supply with ice in cup P, with cup P to directions X pressing lever 240.In this case, because the bottom of bar 240 is pressed to directions X, so bar 240 rotates to directions X centered by upper end.And, if bar 240 turns to the angle of regulation, make lid 222 that supply port 210a is opened.

In addition, at ice, be fed in glass P, the user takes out the situation of cup P from receiving space 123, and bar 240 is got back to original position.And, when bar 240 is got back to original position, by the position relieving rod 240 of the angle from afore mentioned rules, lid 222 is closed supply port 210a.

Discharge portion 250 is the positions that will go out from the ice raft of supply port 210a supply.The ice that should discharge from discharge portion 250 is fed into user's cup P.

Fig. 5 means the stereogram of the structure of ice feedway 200.In addition, for convenience of explanation, in Fig. 5, supply pipe 210, the cover (clover) 300 that covers cap unit 220 etc. are drawn as transparent, dot.

Fig. 6 sees the stereogram of ice feedway 200 from rear.Particularly, Fig. 6 is the stereogram of seeing the ice feedway 200 shown in Fig. 5 from upper right side.In addition, for convenience of explanation, in Fig. 6, omit supply pipe 210 and illustrated.

As shown in these figures, ice feedway 200 also has drive division 260.

Drive division 260 is the driving mechanisms for axis body 221 is rotated.That is, drive division 260, by axis body 221 is rotated, makes lid 222 rotate around axis body 221, and supply port 210a is opened and closed to lid 222.

Particularly, drive division 260 is driven, and makes as long as bar 240 turns to the angle of regulation, and lid 222 is just opened supply port 210a.In addition, drive division 260 is driven, and makes as long as bar 240 is removed by the position of the angle from afore mentioned rules, and lid 222 is just closed supply port 210a.

In addition, drive division 260 is fixing by axis body 221, makes in the situation that stop the rotation of axis body 221, and axis body 221 does not rotate.Particularly, drive division 260 has the gear motor by formations such as worm gears (worm gear).Therefore, if drive division 260 stops the rotation of axis body 221, position when the rotation of axis body 221 is fixed on drive division 260 and stops, the position of lid 222 also is fixed.

Fig. 7 means the functional block diagram of the functional structure for controlling drive division 260.

As shown in Figure 7, refrigerator 100 also has the control part 270 for controlling drive division 260.

Control part 270 is for controlling the handling part of drive division 260.That is, control part 270 drives drive division 260, makes by the rotation of bar 240, and lid 222 opens and closes supply port 210a.

Particularly, control part 270 is controlled drive division 260 rotates axis body 221, so that lid 222 is opened supply port 210a.In addition, control part 270 rotates axis body 221, so that lid 222 is closed supply port 210a.

In addition, control part 270 is controlled drive division 260 rotates axis body 221, makes lid 222 close supply port 210a with the official hour interval.At this, official hour can be that a few minutes can be also several hours, do not do and be particularly limited, but the time that the ice preferably accompanied between lid 222 and supply port 210a dissolves.

Then, the structure of cap unit 220 at length described.

Fig. 8 means the stereogram of the outward appearance of cap unit 220.

Fig. 9 A and Fig. 9 B mean the top view of the structure of cap unit 220.

As shown in these figures, cap unit 220, except axis body 221 and lid 222, also has force application part 223 and retainer (stopper) 224.

The application of force (paying Potential) parts 223 are to connect axis body 221 and lid 222, give the position that lid 222 is closed the application of force of closing direction of supply port 210a.That is, an end of force application part 223 is fixed in axis body 221, and the other end of force application part 223 is fixed in lid 222 via retainer 224.Particularly, force application part 223 is torque springs.

Retainer 224 is fixed in the other end and the axis body 221 of force application part 223, is the position that the lid 222 of force application part 223 application of forces is limited around the rotation of axis body 221.Particularly, retainer 224 is configured to make lid 222 only to rotate in the scope of a shown in Fig. 9 A.Here a is for example 5mm.

At this, Fig. 9 A illustrates the cap unit 220 under the state of supply port 210a being opened at lid 222, and Fig. 9 B illustrates the cap unit 220 under the state of supply port 210a being closed at lid 222.That is,, in the cap unit 220 shown in Fig. 9 B, force application part 223 gives the application of force of closing direction (below being) in Fig. 9 B that lid 222 is closed supply port 210a.

Then, the on-off action of cap unit 220 described particularly.

Figure 10 A and Figure 10 B are the figure of the on-off action for cap unit 220 is described.Particularly, Figure 10 A means the state of opening of cap unit 220, and Figure 10 B means the state that closes of cap unit 220.

At first, as shown in Figure 10 A, the driving of the drive division 260 of controlling by control part 270, axis body 221 rotates (in Figure 10 A, turning right), and lid 222 is opened supply port 210a.Drive force application part 223 and the retainer 224 under state at this, become the configuration of the state shown in Fig. 9 A with respect to lid 222.That is, be the state that force application part 223 does not give lid 222 application of forces.

Then, as shown in Figure 10 B, the driving of the drive division 260 of controlling by control part 270, axis body 221 rotates (turning left in Figure 10 B), and lid 222 is closed supply port 210a.This force application part 223 and retainer 224 closed under state becomes the configuration of the state shown in Fig. 9 B with respect to lid 222.That is, force application part 223 is to give the state that lid 222 is closed the application of force of closing direction of supply port 210a.

Particularly, at first, by axis body 221, from the state shown in Figure 10 A, start to rotate, under the state shown in Fig. 9 A, lid 222 is closed supply port 210a.Then, further by axis body 221, rotate, retainer 224 rotates around axis body 221, and force application part 223 and retainer 224 become the configuration of the state shown in Fig. 9 B.

Figure 11 A and Figure 11 B accompany the figure that closes action of cap unit 220 of the situation of ice for explanation.Particularly, Figure 11 A means to accompany the state that closes of cap unit 220 of the situation of ice, and Figure 11 B means the state that closes of the cap unit 220 after ice dissolves.

At first, as shown in Figure 11 A, axis body 221 starts to rotate (turning left among Figure 11 A) from the state shown in Figure 10 A.And, under the state shown in Fig. 9 A that accompanies ice Q between lid 222 and supply port 210a, lid 222 is closed supply port 210a.

Then, further by axis body 221, rotate, retainer 224 rotates around axis body 221, and force application part 223 and retainer 224 become the configuration of the state shown in Fig. 9 B.That is, force application part 223 is to give the application of force of closing direction that lid 222 is closed supply port 210a.

At this, although accompany ice Q between lid 222 and supply port 210a always, under this state, the driving of the drive division 260 that control part 270 is controlled is stopped.Therefore, the rotation of axis body 221 also is fixed on the position of the state that accompanies ice Q.

Then, as shown in Figure 11 B, when the ice Q accompanied dissolves, by force application part 223, lid 222 is closed supply port 210a.Particularly, due to the application of force of closing direction to lid 222 that force application part 223 produces, along with the ice Q accompanied dissolves, lid 222 rotates around axis body 221.And lid 222, with respect to force application part 223 and retainer 224, becomes the configuration of the state shown in Fig. 9 A, thereby supply port 210a is closed fully.

As mentioned above, under the state that drive division 260 stops, axis body 221 is fixed, by force application part 223, give the application of force of closing direction that lid 222 is closed supply port 210a.Therefore, though ice tongs between supply port 210a and lid 222, if this ice dissolves, due to the effect of the application of force of force application part 223, lid 222 also can be closed supply port 210a.In addition, now, do not need to close for lid 222 electric power of supply port 210a.

At this, because the rotating scope of lid 222 is the scope of a shown in Fig. 9 A, so because of the varying in size of folded ice, the situation that exists lid 222 supply port 210a can not be closed fully.

Therefore, control part 270 is controlled drive division 260 rotates axis body 221, makes with the official hour interval, and lid 222 is closed supply port 210a.Thus, lid 222 can be closed supply port 210a fully.

In addition, because control part 270 is not to control drive division 260 axis body 221 is rotated constantly, but with official hour Separation control drive division 260, axis body 221 is rotated, so can suppress extra power consumption.

Therefore, even in the situation that accompany ice between supply port 210a and lid 222, also can suppress extra power consumption, and lid 222 can be closed fully.

Above, use above-mentioned embodiment to be illustrated refrigerator of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

That is, should think that this disclosed embodiment is example in all respects, and nonrestrictive content.Scope of the present invention is not above-mentioned explanation, and is meaned by the scope of claim, is intended to comprise and the meaning of the scope equalization of claim and all changes in scope.

For example in the present embodiment, force application part 223 is torque spring.But force application part 223 is not limited to torque spring.

Figure 12 means the figure of the modified embodiment of the present embodiment of force application part.

As shown in figure 12, the force application part 223 shown in cap unit 220 replacement Fig. 8 has force application part 223a.And force application part 223a is tabular flat spring.And the end of force application part 223a is fixed in axis body 221, the other end of force application part 223a is fixed in lid 222.Thus, force application part 223a can give the application of force of closing direction that lid 222 is closed supply port 210a.In addition, in this case, due to as shown in Figure 9 A, the rotation of lid 222 is not subject to retainer 224 restrictions, so, even accompany larger ice, lid 222 also can be closed supply port 210a fully.

Utilize possibility on industry

The present invention can be used in refrigerator.

The reference numeral explanation

100 refrigerators

111 first

112 the 3rd

113 through holes

121 second

122 the 4th

123 receive space

150 hot boxes are stopped

151 first storerooms

152 second storerooms

153 partition walls

200 ice feedwaies

210 supply pipes

The 210a supply port

220 cap units

221 axis bodies

222 lids

223 force application parts

224 retainers

240 bars

250 discharge portions

260 drive divisions

270 control parts

300 covers

Claims

1. the refrigerator with ice feedway of supplying with ice, described ice feedway comprises:

Supply port as the outlet of the ice for supplying with ice;

There is axis body and close the cap unit of the lid of described supply port by the rotation of described axis body; With

The drive division that described axis body is rotated,

Described refrigerator is characterised in that:

Described drive division in the situation that stopped the rotation of described axis body, is fixed described axis body so that described axis body does not rotate,

Described cap unit also has force application part, and this force application part connects described axis body and described lid, and gives the application of force on closing direction that described lid closes described supply port.

2. refrigerator as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that:

Also have control part, it controls described drive division rotates described axis body, makes described lid close described supply port with the official hour interval.

3. an ice feedway of supplying with ice comprises:

Supply port as the outlet of the ice for supplying with ice;

The drive division that described axis body is rotated,

Described ice feedway is characterised in that: