EP2898272B1 - Refrigerator with a container - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a refrigeration device, having at least one arranged in the interior of the refrigerator container for receiving refrigerated goods, wherein the container has a base body and a displaceable on the base body between an open position and a closed position door, through which the container by a displacement the door can be opened or closed. Furthermore, the invention relates to a container for arrangement in an interior of such a refrigerator.

Refrigeration appliances, in particular designed as household appliances refrigerators are known and are used to housekeeping in households or in the catering sector to store perishable food and / or drinks at certain temperatures.

In the interior of refrigeration containers for receiving special refrigerated goods, such as butter pieces are provided with commercially available dimensions. From the DE 10 2010 002 415 A1 is such a container for storing pieces of butter known having a sliding door to place or remove a piece of butter inside the container. However, this door has to be opened and closed manually.

CN 101709911 A discloses a refrigerator with a refrigerator door comprising a miniature door. A sliding door is coupled via a support arm with the miniature door. The sliding door is also connected to a return spring. When opening the miniature door, a sliding door is used as a partition between a small cooling area and the rest of the fridge's cooling area. When opening the miniature door, the return spring is also tensioned. The closing of the miniature door is done by the restoring force of the return spring. When the miniature door is closed, the small cooling area is connected to the rest of the cooling area.

EP 2 299 215 A2 discloses an automatic door-closing device for automatically opening or closing a drawer without applying manual forces to the drawer, wherein a drive device is coupled to the drawer and the drawer Drive device is operated on the basis of signals from an input part and signals from a detection part with a controller.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a refrigeration device with a container and a container for such a refrigeration device, whose handling is increased.

These objects are achieved by the objects having the features according to the independent claims. Advantageous developments are subject of the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

The present invention is based on the recognition that the handling is already increased when a device for semi-automatic opening or closing of the door is provided.

According to a first aspect, the object according to the invention is achieved by a refrigeration device in which a drive device is in operative connection with the door for displacing the door. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that a cumbersome manual opening and / or closing the door is no longer necessary, but it is sufficient to open and / or close the door to activate the drive device.

A refrigeration device is understood in particular to be a household appliance, that is to say a refrigeration device which is used for housekeeping in households or in the gastronomy sector, and in particular serves to store food and / or drinks at specific temperatures, such as, for example, a refrigerator, a freezer, a refrigerator Fridge freezer, a freezer or a wine fridge.

In an advantageous embodiment, the drive device is designed as an opening device. Thus, the drive device only supports an opening movement of the door, but no closing movement of the door. Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that no safety precautions for closing the container by moving the door must be provided, since the drive means the door only shifted to open and therefore no extremities of a user could be clamped by the drive means.

The drive device has a spring element which is operatively connected to the door to effect the displacement of the door. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that by the use of a spring element, the drive device has a particularly simple, yet reliable construction. In this case, the spring element and the door are connected to each other to transmit spring force.

The drive device has a triggering element, with which the displacement of the door can be triggered. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the operation of the drive device is particularly convenient by the triggering element.

In an advantageous embodiment, the drive device is designed to transmit mechanical energy of the door upon displacement of the door to the spring element. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that mechanical energy for moving the door from the closed position to the open position, for example, by moving the door from the open position to the closed position transmitted to the spring element and stored there.

In an advantageous embodiment, the spring element is a spiral spring. Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that a particularly compact, little space consuming drive device is provided.

In an advantageous embodiment, the spring element is in operative connection with a gear which meshes with a toothed rack, which is connected to transmit power to the door. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that a particularly simple but reliable drive device is provided. In this case, the spring element and the gear are force-transmitting connected to each other.

In an advantageous embodiment, the drive device has a damper element, which is in operative connection with the door. Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that the door is not abruptly slowed down when reaching the open position by striking portions of the container.

In an advantageous embodiment, the damper element is in operative connection with the gear. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that a particularly simple but reliable drive device is provided, which is also particularly quiet.

In an advantageous embodiment, the drive device is in operative connection with a further door for displacing the further door. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that another door without cumbersome manual opening and / or closing the door can be opened and / or closed by activating the drive device.

In an advantageous embodiment, another spring element of the drive device is in operative connection with the further door in order to effect a displacement of the door. This also achieves the technical advantage that the drive device has a particularly simple but at the same time reliable construction through the use of a further spring element. In this case, the spring element is connected to the other door spring force transmitting.

In an advantageous embodiment, the drive device has a further triggering element, with which a displacement of the other door can be triggered. This will achieved the technical advantage that the operation of the drive device is even more convenient by the trigger element.

In an advantageous embodiment, the drive device is designed for transmitting mechanical energy of the further door upon displacement of the further door to form a further spring element. Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that mechanical energy for displacing the further door from the closed position for shifting to the open position, e.g. can be transferred to the further spring element by a displacement of the other door from the open position to the closed position and stored there.

In an advantageous embodiment, a further spiral spring in operative connection with another gear, which meshes with a further rack, which is in operative connection with the other door. Also, the technical advantage is achieved that a particularly compact, little space consuming drive device is provided. In this case, the further gear with the further rack and the further rack are each connected to each other forces transmitting.

According to a second aspect, the object according to the invention is achieved by a container for arrangement in an interior of a refrigerator, wherein the container has a main body and a door slidably mounted on the body between an open position and a closed position, through which the container is displaced the door can be opened or closed, wherein a drive means is in operative connection with the door for displacing the door. Also, the technical advantage is achieved that a cumbersome manual opening and / or closing the door is no longer necessary, but it is sufficient to open and / or close the door to activate the drive device.

• Fig. 1 eine Vorderansicht eines Kältegerätes,
• Fig. 2 eine Darstellung der Innenseite einer Kältegerätetür mit einem daran befestigen Behälter,
• Fig. 3, eine perspektivische Darstellung des Behälters der Fig. 2,
• Fig. 4 eine perspektivische Darstellung der Antriebseinrichtung, und
• Fig. 5 eine weitere perspektivische Darstellung der Antriebseinrichtung.

Further embodiments will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

• Fig. 1 a front view of a refrigerator,
• Fig. 2 a representation of the inside of a refrigerator door with a container attached thereto,
• Fig. 3 , A perspective view of the container of Fig. 2 .
• Fig. 4 a perspective view of the drive device, and
• Fig. 5 another perspective view of the drive device.

Fig. 1 shows a refrigerator as an embodiment of a refrigeration device 100 with an upper refrigerator door 114 and a lower refrigerator door 112 on its refrigerator front. The refrigerator is used, for example, for cooling food and includes a refrigerant circuit with an evaporator (not shown), a compressor (not shown), a condenser (not shown) and a throttle body (not shown).

The evaporator is designed as a heat exchanger in which, after expansion, the liquid refrigerant is absorbed by heat from the medium to be cooled, i. Air inside the refrigerator, is evaporated.

The compressor is a mechanically driven component that draws refrigerant vapor from the evaporator and expels it at a higher pressure to the condenser.

The condenser is designed as a heat exchanger in which, after compression, the evaporated refrigerant is released by heat to an external cooling medium, i. the ambient air is liquefied.

The throttle body is a device for the continuous reduction of the pressure by reduction in cross section.

The refrigerant is a fluid used for heat transfer in the cryogenic system which absorbs heat at low temperatures and low pressure of the fluid and releases heat at higher temperature and higher pressure of the fluid, usually including changes in state of the fluid.

On the inner side 116 of the lower refrigerator door 112, a container 104 is arranged, which is located in the interior 102 of the refrigeration device 100 when the lower refrigerator door 112 is closed. The container 104 is in the present embodiment for receiving special chilled goods, namely eight pieces of butter commercial dimensions with a weight of 250g formed.

Further shows Fig. 1 in that the container interior 118 of the container 104 is subdivided by a dividing wall 110 into two equal receiving spaces. Each of the two receiving spaces is associated with a sliding door 106, 108. Thus, by displacing each of the sliding doors 106, 108 one of the two receiving spaces can be opened in each case, or both receiving spaces can be closed.

Fig. 2 shows that in the present embodiment, the container 104 comprises a base body 200 and the two sliding doors 106, 108. The base body 200 of the container 104 and the two sliding doors 106, 108 are made in the present embodiment of an optically transparent plastic material, so that an inspection of the container interior 118 is possible even with closed doors 106, 108.

In the present embodiment, the base body 200 is integrally formed by e.g. made of optically transparent plastic material by injection molding. The main body 200 has a substantially cuboidal basic shape.

Fig. 3 shows that in the present embodiment, the base body 200, the aforementioned partition wall 110, two side walls 300 and a rear wall 302 and a bottom portion 308 has.

The doors 106, 108, however, in the present embodiment, each have a front portion 304 and a roof portion 306, which together result in an L-shaped profile in cross section. Thus, by displacing the doors 106, 108, the container 104 can be opened on both sides, i. the container 104 is opened both on its front side and on its upper side, so that a large access opening is available for the convenient removal or storage of refrigerated goods.

Furthermore, in the present exemplary embodiments, a respective front-side profile 310 and a rear-side profile 312 are assigned to each of the two doors 106, 108, which serve to guide the two doors 106, 108. In addition, in the present embodiment, the Container 104 has a shelf 314 for attachment to the inside 116 of the lower refrigerator door 112.

The container 104 is assigned a drive device 316 in the present embodiment. The drive device 316 is formed in the present embodiment as an opening device or automatic, which causes only a displacement of the door 106 from the closed position to the open position.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the drive device 316 can be actuated by a trigger element 318, whereupon the drive device 316 moves the door 106 in such a way that the receiving space assigned to the door 106 is opened and thus accessible to an operator. In the present embodiment, the trigger element 318 is designed as a button, with a latching connection 324 of the door 104 with the container 104, in the present embodiment with the side wall 300, can be solved, which fixes the door 106 in the closed position.

Furthermore, in the present exemplary embodiment, the drive device 316 has a further triggering element 320 with which a further latching connection 326 of the further door 108 with the container 104, in the present exemplary embodiment with the opposite side wall 300, can be achieved. Upon actuation of the further triggering element 320, the further door 108 is displaced by the drive device 316, so that the receiving space associated with the further door 108 is opened and thus accessible. Again, designed as opening device or automatic drive means 316 only causes a displacement of the door 106 from the closed position to the open position.

Fig. 3 shows, finally, that in the present embodiment, the drive means 316 has a cover member 322 that protects the drive means 316 against the ingress of dirt or corrosion-promoting moisture.

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of the drive means 316. The drive means is arranged in the present embodiment on the roof portion 306 of the door 106. In alternative embodiments, however, the drive device 316 may also be arranged on the front section 304 of the door 106.

The drive device 316 has in the present embodiment, a gear 400, a rack 402 and a damper element 404. The gear 400 meshes with the rack 402, which is fixedly connected to the door 106. Thus, a rotational movement of the gear 400 results in a displacement of the door 106 so that it opens or closes, and conversely a displacement of the door 106 leads to a rotational movement of the gear 400. Thereby, the rotational movement of the gear 400 and thus the displacement of the door 106th damped by the damper element 404, which is connected to the gear 400 in the present embodiment to transmit power.

Fig. 5 shows that in the present embodiment, the gear 400 is in operative connection with a spring element 500 such that by a rotational movement of the gear 400, the spring element 500 tensioned and a relaxation of the spring element 500 causes a rotational movement of the gear 400 and thus a displacement of the door 106. By clamping mechanical energy, such as the door 106, stored in the spring element 500 and discharged by relaxing again. In this case, in the present embodiment, the spring element 500 is formed as a spiral spring 502, which is arranged in an inner space 504 of the hollow gear 322.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the drive device 316 is also designed to displace the further door 108 and therefore has a further toothed wheel 400, a further toothed rack 402 and a further damper element 404 as well as a further spring element 500 with the same construction as described above.

In operation, for example, the door 106 is to be moved to the open position. For this purpose, the trigger element 318 is actuated and thus the door 106 is released by releasing the latching connection 324. Thereafter, the biased spring element 500 may relax. The relaxation of the spring member 500 causes a rotational movement of the gear 400, which causes by the meshing with the rack 402 on the door 106, that the door 106 is displaced from the closed position to the open position. Thus, the mechanical energy stored in the spring member 500 is transmitted to the door 106. In this case, the damping element 404 causes the door 106 is not braked abruptly when reaching the open position by striking portions of the container 104. Upon reaching the open position, the spring element 500 is relaxed.

When the door 106 is then closed again, this causes the spring element 500 to be re-tensioned by the meshing of the rack 402 with the gear 400, so that when the door 106 is in the closed position, the spring element 500 is again tensioned so as to provide the necessary provide mechanical energy for displacing the door 106 from the closed position to the open position when the trigger member 318 is re-actuated.

Further, then the other door 108 can be moved to the open position. For this purpose, the trigger element 320 is actuated and thus the further door 108 released by releasing the latching connection 326. Thereafter, in analogy, the biased spring element 500 may relax. Upon reaching the open position, the spring element 500 is relaxed.

Subsequently, when the further door 108 is closed again, this causes in an analogous manner that the spring element 500 is tensioned again, so that upon reaching the closed position of the other door 108, the spring element 500 is again so taut to the necessary mechanical energy to move the to provide another door 108 from the closed position to the open position when the trigger member 320 is operated again. <B> LIST OF REFERENCES </ b> 100 The refrigerator 500 spring element 102 inner space 502 spiral spring 104 container 504 inner space 106 door 108 door 110 partition wall 112 lower refrigerator door 114 upper refrigeration door 116 inside 118 Container interior 200 body 300 Side wall 302 rear wall 304 front section 306 roof section 308 bottom section 310 front profile 312 back profile 314 deadbolt 316 driving means 318 triggering element 320 triggering element 322 cover element 324 locking connection 326 locking connection 400 gear 402 rack 404 damper element

Claims (13)

1. Container (104) for arrangement in an interior (102) of a refrigeration appliance (100), wherein the container (104) has a base body (200) and a door (106, 108) supported movably on the base body (200), by means of which door the container (104) can be opened or closed by shifting the door (106, 108), wherein a drive device (316) is actively connected to the door (106, 108) in order to shift the door (106, 108), characterised in that the drive device (316) has a spring element (500) which is actively connected to the door (106, 108) in order to effect the shifting of the door (106, 108) and that the drive device (316) has a trigger element (318, 320) with which the shifting of the door (106, 108) can be triggered.
2. Container (104) according to claim 1, characterised in that the drive device (316) is embodied as an opening device.
3. Container (104) according to claim 1, characterised in that when the door (106, 108) is shifted in order to close the door (106, 108), the drive device (316) is embodied to transmit mechanical energy of the door (106, 108) to the spring element (500).
4. Container (104) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the spring element (500) is a helical spring (502).
5. Container (104) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the spring element (500) is actively connected to a toothed wheel (400) which meshes with a toothed rack (402) which is actively connected to the door (106, 108).
6. Container (104) according to one of the preceding claims 1 or 5, characterised in that the drive device (316) has a damper element (404) which is actively connected to the door (106, 108).
7. Container (104) according to claim 6, characterised in that the damper element (404) is actively connected to the toothed wheel (402).
8. Container (104) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the drive device (316) is actively connected to a further door (108) for shifting the further door (108).
9. Container (104) according to claim 8, characterised in that a further spring element (500) of the drive device (316) is connected to the further door (108) in a manner so as to transmit mechanical energy, in order to effect a shifting of the door (108).
10. Container (104) according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the drive device (316) has a further trigger element (320), with which the shifting of the further door (108) can be triggered.
11. Container (104) according to claim 8, 9 or 10, characterised in that when shifting the further door (108) the drive device (316) is embodied to transmit mechanical energy of the further door (108) to the spring element (500).
12. Container (104) according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterised in that a further helical spring (502) is actively connected to a further toothed wheel (400) which meshes with a further toothed rack which is actively connected to the further door (106).
13. Refrigeration appliance (100), having at least one container (104) arranged in the interior (102) of the refrigeration appliance (100) for receiving items to be cooled according to at least one of claims 1 to 12.

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