EP3507552A1

EP3507552A1 - A refrigerator

Info

Publication number: EP3507552A1
Application number: EP17751363.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mehmet MUTLUDOGAN; Emre AYAROGLU; Mucahit Bacaksiz; Resul KARTAL; Eren MUTLU
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2016-09-02
Filing date: 2017-08-04
Publication date: 2019-07-10
Anticipated expiration: 2037-08-04
Also published as: EP3507552B1; WO2018041533A1; PL3507552T3; TR201612437A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator (1) comprising a body (2), a cooling cabinet (3) arranged on the body (2), in which cooling is performed, a door (4) provided on the body (2), blocking connection of the cooling cabinet (3) with the outer environment, a gasket (5) attached to the door (4), arranged between the door (4) and the body (2), at least one sensor (6) arranged on the door (4), and a door opening mechanism (7) arranged on the body (2), enabling the door (4) to open.

Description

A REFRIGERATOR

The present invention relates to a refrigerator having an automatic door opening mechanism.
Refrigerators are used for the purpose of the foods to keep their freshness without being affected from weather conditions such as heat or humidity. The ambient conditions required to keep the foods stored in refrigerators fresh for longer periods can be provided thanks to certain coolants and a cooling cycle. Thermal insulation is provided for the ambient conditions in the refrigerator to not be affected from environmental circumstances, and the refrigerator to operate more efficiently. In addition to thermal insulation materials used on refrigerator body, gaskets arranged on doors are used to enable thermal insulation between the body and the door, are used. It is of utmost importance for the gaskets to extend from the door to the body by joining the door and the body so as to seal hermetically. However, when the user wants to open the door he/she encounters resistance of a magnetic force generated on the gasket, making it difficult to open the door. Door opening mechanisms developed for this reason are present in the state of the art. However, when the user is in front of the door, the door to be suddenly pushed by the door mechanism in direction of the user can lead to various accidents. In addition, the user not being able to activate the door opening mechanism when his/her hands are full, also leads to various problems and a difficulty of use.
The state of the art Japanese patent application no. JP2001174146 explains a refrigerator having a door opening mechanism.
The aim of the present invention is to realize a refrigerator having a door opening mechanism enabling opening of the refrigerator door by control of a user.
The refrigerator realized to achieve the aim of the present invention and disclosed in the claims comprise a body, a cooling cabinet in which cooling is performed, a door blocking connection of the cooling cabinet with the outer environment, and a door opening mechanism arranged on the body. A gasket is provided between the door and the body in order to enable thermal insulation. At least one sensor triggered by the user is arranged on the door. The door opens automatically thanks to the door opening mechanism.
The refrigerator of the invention comprises a door opening mechanism and a control unit enabling controlling of the door opening mechanism. The door opening mechanism takes a first position in which the door is closed, a second position in which the gasket force is neutralized, and a third position in which the door is open. The control unit enables the door mechanism to shift positions.
In an embodiment of the invention, the door opening mechanism comprises an engine, a gear mechanism driven by the engine, a push rod moving in connection with the gear mechanism, a first switch and a second switch. A triggering member is provided on the push rod. The triggering member triggers the first or the second switch.
In an embodiment of the invention, the refrigerator comprises a door opening mechanism taking a second position in which the triggering member triggers the first switch, and a third position in which the triggering member triggers the second switch.
In an embodiment of the invention, the refrigerator comprises a door opening mechanism taking separate positions upon triggering of the first sensor and the second sensor. The door opening mechanism shifts to the second position upon triggering of the first sensor. The door opening mechanism shifts to the third position upon triggering of the second sensor.
In an embodiment of the invention, the refrigerator comprises a control unit enabling the door mechanism to shift to the first position if the door mechanism does not shift from the second position to the third position.
In an embodiment of the invention, the refrigerator comprises a control unit enabling the door mechanism to shift to the first position upon triggering of the sensors by the user when the door opening mechanism is in third position.
In an embodiment of the invention, the refrigerator comprises a handle. The first sensor is arranged on the inner side of the handle, and the second sensor is arranged on the outer side of the handle
The refrigerator realized to achieve the aims of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator.
Figure 2 is the door opening mechanism in the first position.
Figure 3 is the door opening mechanism in the second position.
Figure 4 is the door opening mechanism in the third position.
The elements in the figures are numbered individually and the correspondence of these numbers are given hereinafter.

Refrigerator
Body
Cooling cabinet
Door
Gasket
Sensor

610- First sensor
611- Second sensor
7. Door opening mechanism
8. Control unit
9. Engine
10. Gear mechanism
11. Push rod
12. Triggering member
13. First key
14. Second key
15. Handle
The refrigerator (1) comprises a body (2), a cooling cabinet (3) arranged on the body (2), in which cooling is performed, a door (4) provided on the body (2), blocking connection of the cooling cabinet (3) with the outer environment, a gasket (5) attached to the door (4), arranged between the door (4) and the body (2), at least one sensor (6) arranged on the door, and a door opening mechanism (7) arranged on the body (2), enabling the door to open. The sensors (6) may have various technical specifications such as mechanical switch, capacitive sensor, or inductive sensor.
The refrigerator (1) of the invention comprises a door opening mechanism (7) taking a first position enabling the door to be in closed position, a second position enabling the gasket to detach from the body, and a third position enabling the door to be spaced from the body by moving away, and a control unit (8) enabling the door opening mechanism (7) to change position upon triggering of the sensors (6) by the user. The refrigerator door (4) is in closed position when the door opening mechanism (7) is in the first position. The gasket (5) is made to be detached completely from the body (2) when the door opening mechanism (7) takes the second position. By this, it is not necessary for the user to apply excessive force to detach the gasket (5) from the body (2). The door (4) completely opens by moving away from the body (2) when the door opening mechanism (7) takes the third position. By this, the door (4) is enabled to open spontaneously when the users hands are full.
In another embodiment of the invention, the door opening mechanism (7) comprises an engine (9), a gear mechanism (10) actuated by means of the engine (9), a push rod (11) moving in connection with the gear mechanism (10) and enabling opening and closing of the door by being pushed, by way of transforming the annular motion of the gear mechanism (10) to linear motion, a triggering member (12) arranged on the push rod (11), a first switch (13) and a second switch (14) triggered by means of the triggering member (12). The gear mechanism (10) is actuated by the engine (9). By this, the push rod (11) connected to the gear mechanism (10) can move linearly on horizontal axis. The triggering member (12) provided on the push rod (11) moves linearly with the motion of the push rod (11). The first switch (13) or the second switch (14) is triggered by the motion of the triggering member (12) in back and forth direction. The push rod (11) is completely in the door opening mechanism (7) when the door opening mechanism (7) is in the first position. The door (4) of the refrigerator (1) is in closed position in the first position. The push rod (11) moves out of the door opening mechanism (7) by pushing the door (4) at least to a certain extent, when the door opening mechanism (7) takes the second position. The push rod (11) completely pushes the door (4) of the refrigerator (1) and enables the door (4) to open when the door opening mechanism (7) takes the third position.
In an embodiment of the invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises a door opening mechanism (7) shiftable to a second position upon triggering of the first switch (13) by the triggering member (12), and to a third position upon triggering of the second switch (14) by the triggering member (12) moving away from the first switch (13). The door opening mechanism (7) takes the second position upon triggering of the first switch (13) by means of the triggering member (12), neutralizing the gasket (5) effect on the door (4). The door opening mechanism (7) takes the third position upon triggering of the second switch (14) by means of the triggering member (12). By this, the door (4) is enabled to open completely by means of the push rod (11).
In an embodiment of the invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises a control unit (8) enabling the door mechanism (7) to shift to the second position upon triggering of the first sensor (6a) by the user, and enabling the door mechanism (7) to shift to the third position upon triggering of the second sensor (6b) by the user. The second position and the third position is provided by triggering of separate sensors (6). By this, the door (4) is prevented from being pushed excessively, thereby avoiding user accidents.
In an embodiment of the invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises a control unit (8) enabling the door mechanism (7) to shift to the first position if the triggering member (12) does not trigger the second switch (14) in a duration predetermined by the producer upon the door mechanism (7) leaving the second position. The control unit (8) enables the door mechanism (7) to shift to the first position if the door mechanism (7) does not shift from the second position to the third position. By this, the door (4) is prevented from staying open.
In an embodiment of the invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises a control unit (8) enabling the door mechanism (7) to shift to the first position upon triggering of the first sensor (610) or the second sensor (611) by the user when the door opening mechanism (7) is in third position. The control unit (8) enables the door (4) to close upon triggering of the sensors (6) when the door opening mechanism (7) is in the third position. By this, the door (4) is prevented from being further pushed by the push rod (11) when the user is behind the door (4).
In an embodiment of the invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises a handle (15) arranged on the door, enabling the user to open and close the door, a first sensor (610) arranged on the inner side of the handle (15), and a second sensor (611) arranged on the outer side of the handle (15). By this, the door opening mechanism (7) shifts to the second position upon the user gripping the handle (15). By this, domestic accidents are avoided. The user can only trigger the sensor (6) on the outer side of the handle (15) when his/her hands are full. By this, the door opening mechanism (7) is enabled to shift to the third position and open the door (4) completely.
The aim of the present invention is to realize a refrigerator (1) having an automatic door opening mechanism (7). The door opening mechanism (7) has three positions. In the first position the door (4) of the refrigerator (1) is in closed position. In the second position the gasket (5) resistance generated on the door (4) of the refrigerator (1) is neutralized. By this, the door (4) is not pushed towards the user. However, it becomes easier to open. When the door opening mechanism (7) is in the third position the push rod (11) completely pushes the door (4) and enables the door (4) to open. By this, ease of use is provided and user safety is enhanced.

Claims

A refrigerator (1) comprising, a body (2), a cooling cabinet (3) arranged on the body (2), in which cooling is performed, a door (4) provided on the body (2), blocking connection of the cooling cabinet (3) with the outer environment, a gasket (5) attached to the door (4), arranged between the door (4) and the body (2), at least one sensor (6) arranged on the door (4), and a door opening mechanism (7) arranged on the body (2), enabling the door to open, characterized by, a door opening mechanism (7) taking a first position enabling the door to be in closed position, a second position enabling the gasket to detach from the body, and a third position enabling the door to be spaced from the body by moving away, and by a control unit (8) enabling the door opening mechanism (7) to change position upon triggering of the sensors (6) by the user.
The refrigerator (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the door opening mechanism (7) comprising an engine (9), a gear mechanism (10) actuated by means of the engine (9), a push rod (11) moving in connection with the gear mechanism (10) and enabling opening and closing of the door by being pushed, by way of transforming the annular motion of the gear mechanism (10) to linear motion, a triggering member (12) arranged on the push rod (11), a first switch (13) and a second switch (14) triggered by means of the triggering member (12).
The refrigerator (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the door opening mechanism (7) shiftable to a second position upon triggering of the first switch (13) by the triggering member (12), and to a third position upon triggering of the second switch (14) by the triggering member (12) moving away from the first switch (13).
The refrigerator (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the control unit (8) enabling the door mechanism (7) to shift to the second position upon triggering of the first sensor (610) by the user, and to the third position upon triggering of the second sensor (611) by the user.
The refrigerator (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the control unit (8) enabling the door mechanism (7) to shift to the first position if the triggering member (12) does not trigger the second switch (14) in a duration predetermined by the producer upon the door mechanism (7) leaving the second position.
The refrigerator (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the control unit (8) enabling the door mechanism (7) to shift to the first position upon triggering of the first sensor (610) or the second sensor (611) by the user when the door opening mechanism (7) is in third position.
The refrigerator (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a handle (15) arranged on the door, enabling the user to open and close the door, and a first sensor (610) arranged on the inner side of the handle (15), a second sensor (611) arranged on the outer side of the handle (15).