EP3953552A1

EP3953552A1 - Opening device for a cooling device

Info

Publication number: EP3953552A1
Application number: EP20712950.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Cord Rommelmann
Original assignee: Hettich ONI GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Hettich ONI GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2019-04-11
Filing date: 2020-03-19
Publication date: 2022-02-16
Anticipated expiration: 2040-03-19
Also published as: PL3953552T3; US12123641B2; EP3953552B1; CN113661301A; DE102019109650A1; BR112021018290A2; CA3133402A1; CN113661301B; WO2020207750A1; US20220163254A1; AU2020271922A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an opening device (10) for a cooling device (1) comprising a door assembly, having a mounting base (20), which can be mounted on provided securing units (11) for a door hinge (9) of the cooling device (1), and a functional unit (30) having an ejection element (32), which can be moved out in an electrically controlled manner. The opening device (10) is characterised in that the mounting base (20) has contacts (22) and the functional unit (30) has counter contacts (311), wherein the contacts (22) and the counter contacts (311) contact one another when the functional unit (30) is secured on the mounting base (20) in order to supply the functional unit with current.

Description

Opening device for a refrigerator

The invention relates to an opening device for a cooling device with a door arrangement, the opening device having a mounting base that can be mounted on provided fastening devices for a door hinge of the cooling device, and a functional unit with an ejector element that can be extended electrically controlled.

Common household refrigerators such as refrigerators or freezers usually have a pivoting door that is sealed with a circumferential seal with respect to the body of the refrigerator. In order to achieve adequate thermal insulation without leaks between the insulating body and the insulating door, the circumferential seal is typically designed as a magnetic seal that applies locking forces between the door and the body. In addition, the door hinges can be equipped with a self-closing function that provides additional locking forces. After all, when a refrigerator or freezer door is closed, the warmer air that has entered, which then cools down inside, creates a negative pressure in the hermetically sealed interior, which adds another component to the locking force.

For more convenient handling of such a cooling device, the opening devices mentioned at the beginning are known in which an ejector element can be extended electrically driven from a housing, with which the door of the cooling device is pushed open at least so far that the door can be easily reached behind and then fully opened manually can.

Such an opening device is known, for example, from the document EP 2 292 995 B1. The opening device described there is mounted on an upper side of the cooling device and presses with its ejection element against an upper protruding edge of the door of the cooling device. The opening device has a coil in which an armature is slidably mounted. The armature is held in a rest position via a spring element and disengages when the coil is energized. The disengaging anchor acts on the door via a lever mechanism to open it at least a crack. To order the opening device on top of the refrigerator is often not desired for design reasons. In addition, a freestanding the top of the cooling unit is only used to a limited extent as a floor space Next, a cooling device with such a positioned opening device is only conditionally suitable for installation in a furniture body, since the opening device protruding upward beyond the insulating body of the cooling device forms an only partially closed gap between the cooling device and an upper plate or a shelf of the furniture body would result.

The document WO 2018/007240 A1 shows an opening device of the type mentioned. This is characterized in that it can be mounted using a mounting bracket on a front end face of an insulating body of the refrigerator to fasteners provided for a door hinge of the refrigerator. Furthermore, the opening device is designed in such a way that its ejection element acts on an area of the door arrangement that is outside the seal. The opening device thus advantageously uses the installation space provided as standard in the cooling device for the door hinges and also makes use of the fastening devices for the door hinges already prepared in this context.

When the opening device is installed in this installation space, a connection cable is to be passed through this installation space between the cooling device and a furniture body in which the cooling device is installed. This connection diagram makes it difficult to replace the opening device in the event of service or repairs.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an opening device for a refrigerator that can be used kidney in the space provided for the door hinge and that can be exchanged for service or repair purposes.

This object is achieved by an opening device for a cooling device with the respective features of the independent claims. Advantageous designs and developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

An opening device according to the invention of the type mentioned is characterized in that the mounting base has contacts and the function unit has mating contacts, the contacts and the mating contacts contacting each other when the functional unit is attached to the mounting base for power supply of the function unit. Due to the two-part design of the opening device with assembly base and functional unit, the contacts / mating contacts of which contact each other when the functional unit is installed, the functional unit can be easily replaced without having to loosen or reconnect the cabling of a connection cable or re-route a connection cable gen would be. The functional unit can be exchanged, for example, for repair, service and / or cleaning purposes. The replacement can be carried out by the user or an unskilled service technician.

The contacts of the mounting base are preferably connected to a connection cable that has power supply lines and possibly signal lines.

For mechanical fastening of the functional unit to the assembly base, the assembly base and the functional unit in an advantageous embodiment have fastening means that engage in one another. The fastening means are preferably designed such that the functional unit can be fastened to the mounting base without tools. The fastening means comprise e.g. Latching means, guide bars, flakes, eyes and / or flint cuts.

To attach the mounting base, this has mounting holes for connec tion with the cooling device and preferably also for connection to a furniture body into which the cooling device is received (pushed). The Mon day base can for example be L-shaped. The preferred installation location of the opening device is the installation space for the door hinges provided as standard in the cooling device. It is then particularly advantageous to make use of the fastening devices already prepared in this connection for the door hinges for fastening the mounting base. This results in a simple retrofitting of an opening device according to the invention for a variety of cooling devices that are already available on the market. In addition, no otherwise usable installation space, for example on an upper side of the cooling device, is occupied. Finally, an intervention in the insulating body, which goes beyond the existing fastening devices of the door hinges, is not necessary.

A minimum distance between the furniture body and the cooling device for the implementation of the connection cable can then advantageously also be defined via the mounting base. In order to be able to be arranged in the space available, the housing of the opening device advantageously has a depth of less than 60 millimeters (mm), preferably less than 47 mm or preferably between 38 and 47 mm.

In a preferred embodiment of the opening device, the pushing element has a maximum stroke of 40 mm to 80 mm. With such a stroke, the door arrangement can be opened so far that the locking force of the (magnetic) seal and the negative pressure in the interior of the refrigerator can be overcome. The door arrangement can then be easily reached from behind in order to open it completely. At the same time, the door arrangement is preferably only opened so far by the opening device that it is still in the self-closing area of the door hinges when they are equipped with a self-closing mechanism. If the door arrangement is not opened manually, it then closes automatically when the ejector element is retracted.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the opening device, the ejection element is pivotably mounted on a base body and surrounds the base body in a hood-shaped manner on at least four sides in a position that is not pivoted out. The opening device preferably has a pivoting element which is pivotably mounted on the base body and has at least one internal gear segment, which is coupled to an electric motor via a drive gear and can be pivoted by the motor relative to the base body. The pivot element moves the ejector element with it, preferably via at least one eccentrically arranged roller on the pivot element, which moves along a guide curve of the element in the ejector.

The guide curve allows a larger pivot angle of the pushing element from than would result from the rotary movement of the Schwenkele element alone. The angular dependency of the movement of the ejection element can also be influenced as a function of the angle of rotation of the pivot element by shaping the guide curve. In this way, the most effective ejection movement possible can be achieved, which has a large ejection force at the beginning of the movement sequence, which is advantageous in order to overcome magnetic locking forces of the door arrangement of the refrigerator. This is followed by pushing open at greater speed in order to be able to push open the door arrangement far enough. In a further advantageous embodiment, the opening device has an apron which is pivotably mounted on the base body or the ejection element and extends as an anti-trap protection between the base body and the ejection element. The apron is preferably moved along with it in at least one direction of movement by the pivot element and / or the ejection element. A forced movement of the apron ensures that it is always in a suitable position in which it prevents a finger, for example, from being pinched when the ejector element is retracted.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the opening device, the electric motor is coupled to the drive gear via a worm gear. In this way, a suitable transmission ratio can be achieved in a space-saving manner with just one gear stage. The electric motor is preferably fastened in or on the base body so as to dampen vibrations. It is achieved as silent as possible operation of the opening device.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to figures. The figures show:

FIGS. 1 a, 1 b each show an isometric view of a cooling device with the door open from different viewing directions;

FIGS. 2a, 2b show detailed representations from FIGS. 1 a, 1 b, which show the arrangement of an opening device or a door hinge in the cooling device of FIGS. 1 a, 1 b;

FIG. 2c shows a detailed representation from FIGS. 1 a, 1 b, which shows a construction space for a door hinge or an opening device in greater detail;

FIGS. 3a, 3b each show a side view of a first exemplary embodiment of an opening device in different assembly states;

Figure 4 is an isometric view of a mounting base of the opening device of the first embodiment; FIG. 5 shows a different isometric view of the mounting plate and a functional element of the opening device of the first exemplary embodiment;

Figure 6 is a side view of a second embodiment of a

Opening device during assembly;

Figure 7 is an isometric exploded view of the opening device of the first embodiment;

FIGS. 8a-8c each have a side and a sectional view of the opening device of the first exemplary embodiment in different operating positions; and

Figure 9 is a schematic representation of a sensor arrangement for

Triggering an opening device.

A cooling device 1 is shown in an isometric representation in each case in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b. The refrigerator 1 can for example be a refrigerator or a freezer for use in household or for commercial use.

The cooling device 1 has a heat-insulated body, hereinafter referred to as the insulating body 2, the interior of which and its front end face 3 are visible in the figures shown. The insulating body 2 is a thermally insulated door, hereinafter referred to as insulating door 4, assigned, which has a circumferential log device 5, usually a magnetic seal. When the insulating door 4 is closed, the seal 5 rests circumferentially on the front face 3 of the insulating body 2 and thus closes the interior of the insulating body 2 hermetically.

In the case of the illustrated cooling device 1, the insulating body 2 is installed in a furniture body 6, which is assigned a body door 8 which, in the closed state, rests on a front face 7 of the furniture body 6.

In the illustrated embodiment, the body door 8 and the insulating door 4 form a firmly connected unit. Alternatively, the body door 8 can also be connected to the insulating door as a so-called tow door. The cor- pustür 8 protrudes outward beyond the insulating door 4 on all sides. The Iso liertür 4 is pivotally connected to the insulating body 2 of the refrigerator 1 via door hinges 9. The actual joint mechanism of the respective door hinge 9 is arranged above or below the insulating door 4, so that it is outside the isolated interior of the insulating body 2 when the cooling device 1 is closed. The body door 8 is connected to the insulating door 4 to form a unit via a door connector (not visible in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b) and carried by the insulating door 4. The door connector usually also serves to align the body door 8 relative to the insulating door 4 in all three spatial directions, if necessary. In this way, a gap-free fit of both doors against the respective end face of the corresponding body can be achieved.

In the upper left corner area of the insulating body 2 an opening device 10 is arranged, which enables the electrically driven pushing open of the door arrangement, i. the unit of carcase door 8 and insulating door 4 is used.

The arrangement of the opening device 10 or the door hinge 9 in the upper region of the cooling device 1 is shown again in greater detail in the enlarged cutouts in FIGS. 2a and 2b. The door hinge 9 used is e.g. a so-called seven-joint hinge that has seven different points of articulation. Such joints have established themselves as a standard in refrigerators, since they can be used to achieve a suitably guided opening movement of the door arrangement.

For the door hinge 9, an installation space of a certain width, depth and fleas is available in the corner area of the insulating body 2. The width extends in the horizontal direction along the front face 3, the fleas extends in the vertical direction along the face 3 and the depth extends in a direction perpendicular to the face 3 of the insulating body 2.

In particular, the depth is set as standard in the door hinges 9 that are usually used and is approximately 42 mm. The depth indicates the distance between the end face 3 of the insulating body 2 and the surface of the body door 8 facing the insulating body 2. On the two surfaces mentioned, the front face 3 and the inner surface of the body door 8, the door hinge 9 rests with contact surfaces and is fastened to these elements with fasteners, usually screws. As a rule, the position of the fastening means is also specified by default. In particular, in the insulating body 2 of the cooling device 1, prefabricated fastening devices, e.g. screw possibilities arranged so that the door hinge 9 can be screwed on the Stirnflä surface 3 in the corner area. The fastening devices can be given for example by inserted or pressed-in threaded sockets.

The cooling device 1 enables, as is usual with cooling devices, a door hinge on the left or right. For this purpose, the aforementioned fastening devices for the door hinge or hinges 9 are provided not only on the right side of the insulating body 2, but in a mirror image on the left side. The door hinges 9 can thus be screwed on the left-hand side of the refrigerator in the left upper or left lower corner without any other structural changes. If the door hinges 9 are not symmetrically constructed, they are swapped crosswise when the door is hinged, i.e. the right upper door hinge 9 is used at the bottom left and the right lower door hinge 9 at the top left.

In the arrangement shown, the installation space that would be available for the top of the door hinges 9 with the door hinged on the left is taken up by the opening device 10. The opening device 10 is advantageously not only positioned in this installation space, but also uses the prepared fastening devices for the door hinge 9. If the door is hit on the left, the door hinge 9 would use these fastening devices on the left side, whereas the opening device 10 is the one shown in State of the upper door hinge 9 used fastening options in the upper right corner of the insulating body 9 would apply ver.

It is noted in this context that an opening device 10 can be arranged not only in the upper but also in the lower area of the cooling device 1 or both in the upper and in the lower area. The opening device 10 could therefore also use the fastening devices for the lower of the two door hinges 9 on the side on which the door hinge is not installed. The fastening devices mentioned in the lower left corner area of the cooling device 1 are shown in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b. FIG. 2c shows the lower left corner area of the cooling device 1 in an enlarged detail. The fastening devices are in this case threaded inserts 11 in the end face 3 of the insulating body 2, into which a fastening screw is screwed in this illustration to cover the threaded inserts 11 when they are not used. In Figures 3a and 3b, a first embodiment of an opening device 10 is shown, which is angeord net in an upper or lower corner area of an insulating body 2 of a cooling device 1 otherwise not shown here. The figures show a top view of the corner area mentioned, where part of the insulating body 2 and a side wall of the furniture body 6 can be seen.

The opening device 10 is constructed in two parts with a mounting base 20 and a functional unit 30 that can be detached from the mounting base 20.

To assemble the opening device 10, the mounting base 20 is first taken in the aforementioned corner area on the refrigerator 1 and the furniture body 6 fastened. For this purpose, (threaded) screws 12 are screwed into the threaded inserts 11 of the cooling device 1. As previously stated, the threaded inserts 11 are the fastening points already provided in the insulating body 2 of the cooling device 1 for the door hinges that are unused and are available on the side opposite the door hinges 9 used.

The mounting base 20 is designed in the present example in the form of an L-shaped angle, which is on the insulating body 2 with a longer leg. A shorter leg of the mounting base 20 is supported on the furniture body 6. Provision can be made for a fastening hole 23 to be made in the mounting base 20, through which a self-tapping screw 12 can be screwed into the furniture body 6.

According to the application, contacts 22, which are connected to a connection cable 21 of the opening device 10, are arranged on the mounting base 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the contacts 20 are arranged in a connector that is positioned in a corner region of the angularly formed mounting base 20. As a rule, a gap remains between the insulating body 2 of the cooling device 1 and the side wall of the furniture body 6, through which the connection cable 21 can be passed in order to connect it to a mains supply in the rear, not visible here, of the cooling device 1. via an intermediate power supply unit. In addition to power supply lines, the connection cable 21 can also comprise signal lines in order to connect the opening device to a sensor arrangement. An example of a sensor arrangement via which a manually initiated opening of the door arrangement of the Cooling device 1 is detected in order to trigger the function of the opening device 10 is shown in FIG.

In the next step, the functional unit 30 is fastened to the screwed-on mounting base 20. This fastening is advantageously carried out using a tool-free (locking) mechanism. By placing the functional unit 30 on, an electrical connection to the contacts 22 and there with the connecting cable 21 is established via counter-contacts of the functional unit 30, which are not visible in FIGS. 3a and 3b.

Due to the two-part design of the opening device 10 with mounting base 20 and functional unit 30, the functional unit 30 can be easily exchanged without the wiring of the connecting cable 21 having to be loosened or reconnected or the connecting cable 21 having to be re-laid. The functional unit 30 can be exchanged, for example, for repair, service and / or cleaning purposes. The replacement can be carried out by the user or an unskilled service technician.

FIG. 4 shows in an isometric view the mounting base 20 of the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 3a and 3b in more detail. In the example shown, the mounting base 20 itself is constructed in two parts, with a soft inter mediate layer 25 is provided on which an upper part of the mounting base 20 is placed. The upper part can be made of a flare plastic and the intermediate layer 25 e.g. made of a soft plastic, a rubber or an elastomer. A high level of stability of the mounting base 20 is achieved and, at the same time, good sound decoupling and / or sound absorption is achieved so that vibrations generated by the opening device 10 are not transmitted to the cooling device 1 or the furniture body 6 as structure-borne noise.

In addition to the aforementioned contacts 22, the mounting base 20 has mounting holes 23, which can be designed as elongated holes in order to be able to move the mounting base 20 on the insulating body 2 and thus compensate for different gap dimensions between the cooling device 1 and the furniture body 6. Another way to compensate for different gap dimensions is to insert spacer plates. Fastening means 24, which are used to fasten the functional unit 30 to the assembly unit 20, are also arranged on the assembly base 20. This can be Rastele elements and / or guides, possibly with undercuts. In its right-hand part, FIG. 5 shows the opening device 10 with a separate mounting base 20 and functional unit 30 again in an isometric illustration. In the left part of the figure, the functional unit 30 is shown from a different perspective.

The fastening of the functional unit 30 on the mounting base 20, already mentioned in connection with FIG. 4, is shown in more detail in FIG. As fastening means 24 latching elements and guide webs with undercut areas are provided on the mounting base 20 in order to be able to push the functional unit 30 onto the mounting base. The functional unit 30 has fastening means 312 interacting with them.

The movement sequence intended for fastening is shown by two movement arrows 13, 14. In the embodiment shown here, it is provided that the functional unit 30 is first placed on the mounting base 20 and then pushed parallel to the longer leg of the mounting base 20 in the direction of the shorter leg, as the movement arrow 14 shows. Sections of the functional unit 30 engage behind corresponding sections of the guide webs of the mounting base 20 and, at the same time, mating contacts 311 of the functional unit 30 make contact with the contacts 22 of the mounting base 20. At the end of the sliding movement, which is symbolized by the movement arrow 14, the functional unit 30 engages with its fastening means 312 with the locking means of the mounting base 20, whereby the functional unit 30 is fixed in the pushed-on position. Additional Fi xierelements such as screws or a split pin can be provided.

FIG. 5 also shows details of the structure of the functional unit 30. This has a base body 31, the underside of which is pushed onto the mounting base 20 and on which the mentioned mating contacts 311 are also arranged.

The functional unit 30 also has an ejector element 32 which, when the opening device 10 is operating, swings open in order to push open the door arrangement (cf. insulating door 4 and body door 8 in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b) of the refrigerator 1. The ejector element 32 is hood-shaped and slipped over the base body 31. It is provided with a pivot bearing bore 321 with which it is mounted on the base body 31. In addition, a guide curve 322 is formed on the ejection element 32, the function of which is related to Figures 7 and 8a-c will be explained in more detail. In addition, a further pivot bearing bore 323 is formed on the ejection element 32, the function of which is also explained below. A soft component can be arranged along the edge with which the ejector element 32 rests on the door arrangement, in particular it can be injection-molded or molded on in a coextrusion process.

FIG. 6 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an opening device 10 which differs from the exemplary embodiment shown above in the type of fastening of the functional unit 30 on the mounting base 20. With regard to the other function of the opening device 10, reference is made to the following statements on the first embodiment.

In contrast to the embodiment described above, the functional unit 30 is fastened on the mounting base 20 not by putting on and moving, but by hooking in and pivoting. The hooking is symbolized by a movement arrow 15 and the pivoting is symbolized by a movement arrow 16. For hooking in, the functional unit 30 in this example has a rearwardly protruding projection as the fastening means 312 and the mounting base 20 as the fastening means 24 has a receptacle into which the projection is inserted. After insertion, the functional unit 30 is pivoted onto the mounting base 20 at its end opposite the projection and latches there with latching means which are not visible in FIG.

According to the changed sequence of movements, the contacts 22 (not visible here) and the mating contacts 311 are also arranged differently and in particular have a different plug-in direction than in the first exemplary embodiment, which is adapted to the pivoting in according to the movement arrow 16.

Figure 7 shows the structure of the opening device 10 of the first embodiment example in more detail. The inner structure of the functional unit 30 visible in FIG. 7 and the functionality achieved therewith are implemented in an analogous manner in the second exemplary embodiment according to FIG.

FIG. 7 shows the opening device 10 in the form of an isometric exploded drawing. The base body 31 of the functional unit 30 is inserted into the mounting base 20. The ejection element 32 is in the manner of a pavilion placed on the base body 31, bearing journals 313 being formed on the base body 31, which engage on both sides in the corresponding pivot bearing bore 321 of the ejection element 32 so that it is attached to the base body 31 in a pivotable manner.

On the opposite side of the base body 31 from the journal 313, a semicircular pivot element 34 is rotatably supported on the base body 31. The pivot element 34 is composed of two circular segments 341 a, 341 b, each of which is placed onto the base body 31 from one side, with an axis of rotation 342 being rotatably mounted in a bearing bore 314. The composite circle segments 341 a, b are connected to one another in the axis of rotation 342 and in a connection axis 343 arranged eccentrically to this.

The connecting axis 343 protrudes outwardly beyond the outer surfaces of the circular segments 341 a, b, with rotatably mounted rollers 344 being placed on the connecting axes 343 in the protruding area. These rollers 344 engage in the already mentioned guide curves 322 of the ejection element 32. When the pivoting element 34 is pivoted, the rollers 344 move along the guide curve 322 and pivot the ejection element 32 out. This will be described in detail in connection with FIGS. 8a-8c.

To move the pivot element 34 and thus to move the pushing element 32, a motor 315 is arranged in the base body 31, which acts on two drive gears 316 via a transmission (not visible here), which in turn interact with a gear segment 345 of each circular segment 341 a, b . The transmission can e.g. be a worm gear. The motor 315 can preferably be mounted elastically in order to ensure a drive that is as silent and vibration-free as possible. In addition, a weight piece can be attached to the motor 315 as a mass oscillator in order to further reduce vibration amplitudes.

The gearwheel segment 345 represents a section of an internal gearwheel (also called a ring gearwheel). When the drive gearwheels 316 rotate, the pivoting element 34 pivots about the axis of rotation 342.

In addition, there is also a skirt 33 which is arranged between the base body 31 and the ejector element and which can be swiveled with bearing journals 331 into the ejection element 32 is mounted in pivot bearing bores 323. The pivot bearing 323 is adjacent to the pivot bearing 321 with which the ejection element 32 is mounted on the base body 31. The apron 33 has the function of anti-trap protection, as is also explained in connection with FIGS. 8a-8c described below.

In FIGS. 8a-8c, the functional unit 30 is shown in three different functional positions, namely in FIG. 8a in a retracted position, in FIG. 8b in a partially extended position and in FIG. 8c in a fully extended position of the ejection element 32 the functional unit 30 in the upper part of the figure without the ejection element 32 in a side view and in the lower part of the figure with the ejection element 32 in one

Sectional view. The section is shown in a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis of the ejection element 32 between the ejection element 32 and the apron 33, so that the base body 31 and the apron 33 are visible in a side view, and only the ejection element 32 is cut.

The extension of the ejection element 32 is based on a rotation of the

Pivoting element 34, the rotational movement of which is converted into a pivoting movement of the ejector element 32 via the rollers 344. The guide curve 322 allows a larger pivot angle of the Auslaßele element 32 than would result from the rotary movement of the pivot element 34 alone. The shape of the guide curve 322 also influences the angular dependency of the movement of the ejector element 32 depending on the angle of rotation of the pivot element 34. In this way, an ejection movement that is as effective as possible can be achieved, which has a large ejection force at the beginning of the movement sequence, which is advantageous to magnetic locking forces of the door assembly of the cooling device 1 to overcome. This is followed by pushing on at greater speed in order to be able to push open the door assembly far enough. In this way, progressive kinematics of movement are generated.

During the pivoting movement of the ejection element 32, the skirt 33 also performs a pivoting movement, but by a smaller deflection angle just so that a gap between the base body 31 and the ejection element 32 is closed at all times to prevent a finger from being trapped when the ejection element is retracted, for example 32 to prevent.

In order to move the apron 33 in a suitable manner, at least one cam-like front is provided on the outside of the pivot element 34 on the circular segments 341 a, b jump 346 is formed, which presses on an upper or lower edge of the apron 33 and moves it accordingly. The shape of the projection 346 in conjunction with the shape of the edges of the skirt 33 determines the sequence of movements which the skirt 33 passes through during the movement of the pivot element 34. As an alternative or in addition, a cam-like projection can also be formed on the ejection element 32 (in this case pointing inwards), which also moves the apron 33.

A projection 346 can be provided for each direction of movement, so that the skirt 33 is positively moved along in both directions.

It is also conceivable to pretension the apron 33 in one direction by a spring and only make a movement against the spring tension by a projection 346 on the side of the upper or lower edge of the apron 33. In this case, however, the skirt 33 is not positively guided in both directions.

In an alternative embodiment, a different coupling between the skirt 33 and the pivot element 34 can also be provided. For example, the skirt 33 can have an inwardly pointing pin which moves along a guide groove which is made in the outer surface of the respective circular segment 341 a, b.

The ejection element 32 can be extended or retracted by energizing the motor 315 in the appropriate polarity. At least one limit switch can be provided which is arranged within the base body 31 and e.g. is actuated by an inwardly pointing cam on one of the circle segments 341 a, b and stops the motor 315 in an end position. In principle, both end positions can be determined using switches.

It is also conceivable to determine only one end position via such a switch and to control the movement up to the other end position by detecting a rotation angle of the motor 315. To detect the angle of rotation of the motor 315, it can be equipped with a rotary encoder, for example a fall sensor. Alternatively, electronic recording of current pulses can also take place, which occur when the motor 315 commutates. The motor rotation can be derived from the current pulses if the motor 315 is a mechanically commutated motor. When using an electric electronically commutated motor as motor 315, the information on commutation is inherent in the control of the motor and can be used to determine the angle of rotation.

It is also possible that a circuit controlling the motor 315 monitors the current consumption of the motor 315 and detects a mechanical end stop due to the increased current consumption and then stops the motor 315.

An electronic circuit for controlling the motor 315 and / or evaluating limit switches is preferably in the functional unit 30, e.g. arranged in the base body 31.

To trigger the opening device, a sensor can be arranged on the cooling device 1 or on the furniture body 6, which sensor detects a manually initiated opening process of the door assembly, whereupon the ejection process of the opening device 10 is started.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a sensor arrangement 40 suitable for this, which is positioned on the furniture body 6 on the door side that is not hinged.

The sensor arrangement 40 includes a pressure-dependent resistor 42 which is embedded in an elastic casing 41. On the back of the cladding, there is preferably an adhesive film that allows easy assembly. Alternatively or in addition, screw fastening can be used. The casing 41 has an actuator 43 at a suitable point, which protrudes slightly. Instead of the elastic casing 41, a fixed housing can be provided in which the pressure-dependent resistor 42 is arranged and from which a movable actuator 43 protrudes.

The pressure-dependent resistor 42 (FSR-force sensitive resistor) changes its resistance value when a force is applied. The sensor arrangement 40 is positioned such that the closed carcase door 8 presses on the pressure-dependent resistor 42 via the actuator 43. If this pressure does not apply when the corpus door 8 is moved, the resistance value of the pressure-dependent resistor 42 changes, which is detected by a corresponding monitoring circuit. Instead of the pressure-dependent resistor 42, the movement of the carcase door 8 can also be detected via a mechanical button, a reflex light barrier, a strain gauge, a piezo element or a magnetic sensor in conjunction with a permanent magnet arranged in the carcase door 8.

To trigger the opening device, further alternative sensors known in the prior art can also be used, which are positioned on the furniture body 6 or on the insulating body or on one of the doors 4, 8. As an alternative or in addition to a sensor, the opening device can also be triggered by a control device of the cooling device 1, for example a touchscreen, or via a network-compatible or smart home-capable device, for example a smartphone or a voice input device.

Reference number

1 cooling device

2 insulating body

3 front face (of the insulating body)

4 insulating door

5 (magnetic) seal

6 furniture body

7 front face (of the furniture body)

8 carcase door

9 door hinge

10 opening device

11 threaded insert

12 screw

13 movement arrow (touch down)

14 movement arrow (slide)

15 movement arrow (hooking)

16 movement arrow (pan)

20 mounting base

21 connection cable

22 Contact

23 mounting hole

24 fasteners

25 liner

26 Recording

30 functional unit

31 base body

311 mating contact

312 fasteners

313 journal

314 bearing bore

315 engine

316 drive gear

32 ejector element

321 pivot bearing bore

322 guide curve

323 pivot bearing bore 33 apron

331 bearing journals

34 swivel element

341 a, b segment of a circle

342 axis of rotation

343 connecting axis

344 role

345 gear segment

346 head start

40 Sensor arrangement

41 sheathing

42 pressure-dependent resistance

43 actuator

Claims

Expectations

1. Opening device (10) for a cooling device (1) with a door arrangement, comprising a mounting base (20), which can be mounted on provided fastening devices (11) for a door hinge (9) of the cooling device (1), and a functional unit (30) ) with an ejector element (32) which can be extended in an electrically controlled manner, characterized in that the mounting base (20) has contacts (22) and the functional unit (30) has counter-contacts (311), the contacts (22) and the counter-contacts ( 311) when the functional unit (30) is fastened to the mounting base (20) to supply power to the functional unit.

2. Opening device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the contacts (22) of the mounting base (20) are connected to a connecting cable (21) which has power supply lines and possibly signal lines.

3. Opening device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mounting base (20) and the functional unit (30) interlocking fastening means (24, 312) to the functional unit (30) on the Mon day base (20) to fix.

4. Opening device (10) according to claim 3, in which the fastening means (24, 312) serve to fasten the functional unit (30) to the mounting base (20) without tools.

5. Opening device (10) according to claim 4, wherein the fastening means (24, 312) comprise locking means, guide webs, flakes, eyelets and / or flint cuts.

6. Opening device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the ejection element (32) has a maximum flow of 40 mm to 80 mm.

7. Opening device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6, which has a depth of less than 60 mm, preferably less than 47 mm and particularly preferably between 38 and 47 mm.

8. Opening device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7, in which the ejection element (32) is pivotably mounted on a base body (31) and in a non-swiveled-out position, the base body (31) surrounds hau ben-like on at least four sides.

9. Opening device (10) according to claim 8, comprising one on the

Base body (31) pivotably mounted swivel element (34) with at least one internal gear segment (345) which is coupled to an electric motor (315) via a drive gear (316) and from the motor (315) opposite the base body (31 ) is pivotable.

10. Opening device (10) according to claim 9, wherein the pivot element (34) moves the ejection element (32).

11. Opening device (10) according to claim 9, wherein the pivoting element (34), the ejection element (32) via at least one eccentric on

Pivoting element (34) arranged roller (344) moves along a guide curve (322) in the ejector element (34).

12. Opening device (10) according to one of claims 8 to 11, comprising a on the base body (31) or the ejection element (32) pivotably mounted apron (33), which acts as an anti-trap between the

Base body (31) and the ejection element (32) extends.

13. Opening device (10) according to claim 12, wherein the skirt (33)

is positively moved along in at least one direction of movement by the pivot element (34) and / or the ejection element (32).

14. Opening device (10) according to one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the electric motor (315) is coupled via a worm gear with the drive gear (316).

15. Opening device (10) according to one of claims 8 to 14, in which the electric motor (315) is fastened in or on the base body (31) in a vibration-damping manner.

16. Opening device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the mounting base (20) mounting holes for connection to the cooling device (1) and a furniture body (6) in which the cooling device (1) is received.

17. Opening device (10) according to claim 16, wherein the mounting base (20) defines a minimum distance between the furniture body (6) and the cooling device (1) for the implementation of the connecting cable (21).