EP3824156A1

EP3824156A1 - A door opening mechanism

Info

Publication number: EP3824156A1
Application number: EP19728920.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mehmet MUTLUDOGAN; Eren MUTLU; Emre AYAROGLU
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2018-07-19
Filing date: 2019-05-29
Publication date: 2021-05-26
Anticipated expiration: 2039-05-29
Also published as: WO2020015908A1; PL3824156T3; EP3824156B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a door opening mechanism (1) enabling opening refrigerator doors in particular, which can be used in current refrigerators, and which is capable of terminating a door opening process by detecting problems likely to occur during opening of the door.

Description

A DOOR OPENING MECHANISM

The present invention relates to a door opening mechanism enabling opening in particular refrigerator doors.
“Hands-free” refrigerators having automatic door opening mechanisms enabling users to access into a refrigerator without using hands, are known and used in the art. In automatic refrigerator door opening mechanisms, in order to open the door automatically, the force applied on a door should exceed the vacuum effect which also acts on the door. However, while being opened by this force, a door may injure a user and/or damage the items in its proximity by colliding. Therefore, automatic door opening mechanisms are needed which open doors smoothly and do not present a hazard.
In addition, automatic door opening mechanisms are expected to perform the door opening function independent of door weights which vary due to the products placed thereon.
Another problem observed in refrigerators with automatic door opening mechanisms and solved by the present invention is, in case a door impacts a user, the reaction (force) applied by the user on the door is likely to damage the door opening mechanism.
State of the art European patent document no. EP2020579 mentions an actuator enabling opening refrigerators or freezer doors.
State of the art German patent document no. DE102013223431 mentions an electromagnetic door opening device for opening refrigerator doors.
None of the state of the art documents include a solution such as the one in the present invention.
The aim of the present invention is to realize a door opening mechanism enabling opening in particular refrigerator doors.
Another aim of the present invention is to realize a door opening mechanism which can be used with current refrigerators.
A further aim of the present invention is to realize a door opening mechanism capable of terminating a door opening process by detecting difficulties likely to occur during opening of a door.
The door opening mechanism realized to achieve the aims of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1:is a view of the invention in initial position.
Figure 2:is a view of an embodiment of the invention with rheostat.
Figure 3:is a view of an embodiment of the invention with speed sensor.
The elements in the figures are numbered individually and the correspondence of these numbers are given hereinafter.

Door opening mechanism
Body
Driving unit
Reducer
Cogwheel
51.Pin
Catch
61.Longer portion
62.Shorter portion
63.Slot
Bracket
Speed sensor
Rotor
Rheostat

The door opening mechanism (1) enabling opening in particular refrigerator doors, comprises in its most basic form,

at least one body (2),
at least one driving unit (3) providing actuation to open a door by rotating a shaft,
at least one reducer (4) enabling reducing the speed of the rotational motion generated by the driving unit (3) thereby increasing the torque thereof,
at least one cog wheel (5) rotated by the reducer (4), having at least one pin (51) preferably at the portion where its diameter is larger,
at least one preferably L-shaped catch (6) having at least one longer portion (61) and at least one shorter portion (62) together forming said L-shape, and at least one slot (63) provided in the longer portion (61), in which the pin (51) slidably moves during rotation of the cogwheel (5), and
at least one bracket (7) provided preferably at the region where the longer portion (61) and the shorter portion (62) of the catch (6) join, forming a rotational axis for the catch (6).

In its most basic form, the door opening mechanism (1) enabling opening in particular refrigerator doors, comprises at least one body (2) and a driving unit (3) connected to said body (2). The driving unit (3) may be any structure generating actuation by rotating a shaft, such as an electric engine. The rotational motion generated by the driving unit (3) is then transmitted to the reducer (4). The reducer (4) reduces the speed of the rotational motion, thereby increasing the torque thereof. In turn, the reducer (4) transmits said motion to the cogwheel (5). Preferably, the cogwheel (5) is almost annular. A pin (51) is provided on the portion of the cogwheel (5) proximate to its outer portion. Said pin (51) preferably extends perpendicularly to the flat surface of the cogwheel (5). The pin (51) engages the slot (63) provided on the longer portion (61) of the catch (6). Thus, when the cogwheel (5) rotates, the pin (51) applies force to the slot (63) and therefore to the longer portion (61) and rotates the catch (6) about a rotational axis formed by the bracket (7). While the catch (6) rotates about the rotational axis formed by the bracket (7), the shorter portion (62) is exposed out of body (2) boundaries. In default position of the catch (6), the shorter portion (62) is preferably positioned so as to remain within body (2) boundaries. As the catch (6) rotates due to rotation of the cogwheel (5), the shorter portion (62) is exposed out of body (2) boundaries so as to apply a force to the door desired to be opened. As the cogwheel (5) completes its rotational motion, the catch (6) returns back to its initial position.
The door opening mechanism (1) of the invention is placed such that the catch (6) can apply a force on the door in door opening direction. For example, the door opening mechanism (1) of the invention can be placed to the internal volume of a refrigerator. The force that the catch (6) should apply on a refrigerator door when it is desired to be opened, depends on a number of factors. For example, the air with room temperature introduced when the refrigerator door is opened and closed, encounters a cold environment in the refrigerator, and the temperature and therefore the volume of air drops. The decreased volume creates a negative pressure (vacuum) in the refrigerator. Furthermore, the loading state of the refrigerator door also affects the opening force. Since the catch (6) should generate a force sufficient to overcome all of these forces, the torque of the motion received from the driving unit (3) is increased by the reducer (4). Since forces such as those applied by gasket magnet or vacuum are eliminated once the refrigerator door is slightly opened, lower moments are sufficient in sustaining the actuation. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, as the cogwheel (5) initially begins moving, the pin (51) is disposed on the portion of the slot (63) further from the bracket (7). Thus, the pin (51) applies a higher moment on the catch (6). As the cogwheel (5) continues moving, the pin (51) advances to the portions of the slot (63) closer to the bracket (7), thereby reducing the moment applied by the pin (51). The catch (6) returns back to its initial position when the cogwheel (5) completes its rotation.
In an embodiment of the invention, the door opening mechanism (1) of the invention can be triggered by a button, a visual or audible command, a proximity sensor and the like. In this embodiment, at least one control unit (not shown in the figures) is provided, receiving said triggers and enabling driving the driving unit (3) accordingly. A sensor capable of detecting a trigger enabling the door to be opened, is preferably placed at a region where a user can interact therewith. In case the door opening mechanism is used in a refrigerator, the signal triggering opening of the door can be generated by a button, camera, proximity sensor, RFID reader, or an NFC sensor, placed on the exterior of the refrigerator door. The above-mentioned triggers are only exemplary and the triggers and the sensors which may be used are not limited to these. A plurality of triggers may also be used.
In an embodiment of the invention, a structure is provided inhibiting the driving unit (3) from being strained in case a resistance is applied against the door while being attempted to be opened, or in case the door is jammed and cannot be opened for any reason whatsoever. Said structure preferably comprises at least one speed sensor (8) measuring the rotational speed of the driving unit (3), the reducer (4) or the cogwheel (5). The control unit receives data from said speed sensor (8). The control unit may halt power to be supplied to the driving unit (3) or may actuate the driving unit (3) in opposite direction, returning the door opening mechanism (1) to its initial position upon detecting that the component to which the speed sensor (8) is connected is not rotating even though power is supplied to the driving unit (3).
In another embodiment of the invention, the structure inhibiting the driving unit (3) from being strained in case a resistance is applied against the door while being attempted to be opened, or in case the door is jammed and cannot be opened for any reason whatsoever, comprises a rheostat (10). In this embodiment, the adjustment knob of the rheostat (10) moves together with the driving unit (3), the reducer (4) or the cogwheel (5) and at least one rotor (9) is provided, contacting the adjustment knob of the rheostat (10). Said rotor (9) preferably has a changeable shape like the shape of an egg. The rheostat (10) thus has varying resistance values in different stages of the rotational motion. The control unit detects the resistance value of the rheostat (10). The resistance value of the rheostat (10) is usually calculated by comparing the output voltage and the input voltage of a voltage divider circuit formed by using said rheostat (10). When the control unit detects that the component to which the rheostat (10) is connected is not rotating even though power is supplied to the driving unit (3), it may halt power to be supplied to the driving unit (3) or may actuate the driving unit (3) in opposite direction, returning the door opening mechanism (1) to its initial position.
The control unit calculates the differences between the sequential data received from the speed sensor (8) or from the rheostat (10) by comparing these data. In the embodiment utilizing the speed sensor (8), the sequential data are expected to be a constant value other than zero, and in the embodiment utilizing the rheostat (10), the rheostat (10) resistance is expected to vary in sequential measurements.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the shape of the rotor (9) is opted so as to vary the rheostat (10) resistance in absolute constant values in the case the driving unit (3) rotates in a constant speed.
In another embodiment of the invention, the shape of the rotor (9) is opted so as enable the rheostat (10) to have different resistance values for at least some different positions of the cogwheel (5). The control unit can thus perceive the phase of the rotational motion.
In an embodiment of the invention, the door opening mechanism (1) of the invention comprises at least one memory having data about angular positions of the cogwheel (5) corresponding to the resistance values of the rheostat (10). In this embodiment, the control unit reads the angular position of the cogwheel (5) from the memory according to the resistance value of the rheostat (10), and calculates the variation rate of said position data between the sequential measurements.
The door opening mechanism (1) of the invention can be conveniently used with current refrigerators by being placed to the internal chamber of a refrigerator so as to correspond to the door intended to be opened automatically.

Claims

A door opening mechanism (1) enabling opening in particular refrigerator doors, comprising

- at least one body (2),

- at least one driving unit (3) providing actuation to open a door by rotating a shaft,

- at least one reducer (4) enabling reducing the speed of the rotational motion generated by the driving unit (3) thereby increasing the torque thereof, and

- at least one cogwheel (5) rotated by the reducer (4), characterized by

- the cog wheel (5) having at least one pin (51) preferably at the portion where its diameter is larger,

- at least one preferably L-shaped catch (6) having at least one longer portion (61) and at least one shorter portion (62) together forming said L-shape, and at least one slot (63) provided in the longer portion (61), in which the pin (51) slidably moves during rotation of the cogwheel (5), and by

- at least one bracket (7) provided preferably at the region where the longer portion (61) and the shorter portion (62) of the catch (6) join, forming a rotational axis for the catch (6).
A door opening mechanism (1) according to claim 1, comprising at least one control unit adapted to receive triggers generated by a button, a visual or audible command or a proximity sensor, and to enable driving the driving unit (3) accordingly.
A door opening mechanism (1) according to claim 2, comprising at least one speed sensor (8) measuring the rotational speed of the driving unit (3), reducer (4) or the cogwheel (5), and a control unit adapted to receive data from the speed sensor (8), and to halt power supply to the driving unit (3) or to actuate the driving unit (3) in opposite direction to return the door opening mechanism (1) to its initial position upon detecting that the component to which the speed sensor (8) is connected is not rotating even though power is supplied to the driving unit (3), and to thereby inhibit the driving unit (3) from being strained in case a resistance is applied against the door while being attempted to be opened, or in case the door is jammed and cannot be opened for any reason whatsoever.
A door opening mechanism (1) according to claim 2, comprising at least one rheostat (10) whose adjustment knob moves together with the driving unit (3), the reducer (4) or the cogwheel (5), and at least one rotor (9) contacting the adjustment knob of said rheostat (10) and thereby enabling the resistance value of the rheostat (10) to vary when rotating.
A door opening mechanism (1) according to claim 4, comprising a rotor (9) having a changeable shape like the shape of an egg.
A door opening mechanism (1) according to claim 4, comprising a control unit adapted to detect the resistance value of the rheostat (10), and to halt power supply to the driving unit (3) or to actuate the driving unit (3) in opposite direction to return the door opening mechanism (1) to its initial position upon detecting that the component to which the rheostat (10) is connected is not rotating even though power is supplied to the driving unit (3), and to thereby inhibit the driving unit (3) from being strained in case a resistance is applied against the door while being attempted to be opened, or in case the door is jammed and cannot be opened for any reason whatsoever.
A door opening mechanism (1) according to claim 4, comprising at least one memory having data about angular positions of the cogwheel (5) corresponding to the resistance values of the rheostat (10).