JP2002228349A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator equipped with a vessel of which the capacity can be varied according to a volume to be stored. SOLUTION: In the refrigerator of which the inside is divided into a plurality of sections, the vessel constituted by combining a measure-like member with a tubular member having a shelf constituted on the upper side is provided at least in one section, and the shelf and the tubular member are so constituted as to be movable vertically in interlock. In the case when the vessel is used as a vegetable chamber, according to this constitution, it is extended to increase the capacity of the vegetable chamber when the amount of vegetables to be stored is large, while it is contracted to decrease the capacity when the amount of vegetables is small. As a result, the inside of a storage chamber can be used effectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a refrigerator provided with a container for storing vegetables and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Refrigerators equipped with containers for storing vegetables, etc.
For example, there is one described in JP-A-11-101538.

[0003] In such a refrigerator, vegetables are stored in a container for storing vegetables arranged in a vegetable room, and the surroundings of the container are cooled with cool air so that the vegetables are not overcooled.

[0004]

In the refrigerator described above, even if the refrigerator compartment has a small storage capacity, if the vegetable compartment is full of vegetables and cannot be accommodated, the vegetables are overcooled. The only option was to store the vegetables in a refrigerator or to give up the storage of extra vegetables. That is, even if there is room in the entire storage space of the refrigerator, if the room controlled to the required temperature is full, the storage space cannot be used effectively.

[0005] The present invention provides a refrigerator provided with a container whose volume can be varied according to the amount to be stored.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, in a refrigerator having a plurality of compartments in a refrigerator, at least one compartment is provided with a container formed by combining a square member and a tubular member having a shelf on the upper side. The shelf and the tubular member are configured to be movable up and down in conjunction with each other.

The tubular member has a bellows structure that expands and contracts in accordance with the vertical movement of the shelf, and the inner volume of the container is changed according to the expansion and contraction of the bellows structure. .

[0008] Further, there is provided a drive device for vertically driving the shelf configured to be vertically movable.

[0009] Further, a plurality of grooves are formed inside the compartment having the container, and the shelves are attached to the grooves so that the height of the shelves can be moved up and down.

[0010] Further, a link structure for moving the shelf up and down and a cantilever structure for moving the shelf up and down are provided.

Further, a predetermined interval is provided between the upper surface of the cylindrical member of the container and the shelf.

Further, a flip-up door is provided on the front surface of the cylindrical member of the container.

[0013] Further, a fin-shaped packing is attached to a joint portion of the box-shaped member and the cylindrical member of the container capable of moving the internal volume.

Further, the container is used as an ice greenhouse.

Further, the container is a container having a heat insulating structure.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator in which the inside of a refrigerator is divided into a plurality of compartments. Reference numeral 1 denotes a door provided on the front of the uppermost storage room;
Is a refrigerator door, 3 is a bottle room door for storing plastic bottles and drinking water, 4 is an ice room door for storing ice, 5 is a freezer door, and 6 is a freezer door. is there.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a display unit, and reference numeral 8 denotes a cover that covers a lower portion of the refrigerator, also called a kick plate.

Doors 1 and 2 are pivotal doors which are pivotally supported on the right side and open on the left side with the right side as a fulcrum. Doors 3, 4, 5, and 6 are doors provided on the front side of the drawer. It is possible to put in and out of the storage through the opening in the state where it is pulled out.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the doors 1 and 2 are opened. Reference numeral 9 denotes an uppermost storage room, and 10 denotes a storage container arranged in this storage room. It is formed of a transparent or translucent material so that it can be inferred or distinguished from it. The storage container and the door are formed separately, and the door is attached to the refrigerator body. 11 is a refrigeration room whose inside is controlled at 3 ° C., for example.
2 is a vegetable room formed in the lower part of the storage room, 13 is a bottle room for storing bottles such as plastic bottles, 14
Is an ice room where the inside is controlled to about -20 ° C,
Reference numerals 15 and 16 also denote freezer compartments whose insides are controlled at about -20 ° C.

The lower end of the uppermost storage compartment 9 has a height of about 161 cm in this embodiment, but the storage container 10 is configured to descend by about 20 cm as described later. Therefore, the position of the storage container 10 when the storage object in the storage container 10 is taken in and out is lowered to a height of about 141 cm. The user who frequently uses the refrigerator is a woman, and if the average height of this woman is about 157 cm,
The storage container 10 becomes slightly lower than the position of the eyes, and the height of the storage container is relatively easy to put in and out.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator, in which 20 is a heat insulating box, 21 is a refrigerant compressor, 22 is a fan for a freezer compartment,
23 is a refrigerator air blower. In the refrigerant compressor 20, a condenser, a decompression device, and an evaporator for cooling cold air in the refrigerator are sequentially connected in a ring shape by a refrigerant pipe to form a refrigerant circuit, but are not shown in this drawing. However, the cold air cooled by the evaporator is blown by the freezer room blower 22 and the refrigerator room blower 23. In this refrigerant circuit, for example, R134a
Is filled as a refrigerant.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of the container of the refrigerator. The container 25 constitutes an expandable and contractable container by combining a square member 26 and a cylindrical member 27.

When such a container 25 is used, the container 25 can be made inexpensive because of its simple structure, and can be easily expanded and contracted and its capacity can be easily changed. Further, since such a container is usually used by extending the cylindrical member 27 to the shelf so as to cover the shelf,
The storages are taken in and out of the container by pulling the container 25 forward and opening it from the upper opening.

In the refrigerator configured as described above, the container 2
5 is provided in a refrigerator compartment and is not provided with a structure for guiding cool air to this container, so that it is used as, for example, a vegetable compartment. For this reason, when the amount of vegetables is small, the shelf can be lowered to reduce the volume occupied by the vegetable compartment in the refrigerator compartment and increase the volume used as the refrigerator compartment. Also, if you have no vegetables,
The cylindrical member 27 can be lowered to allow the cool air to circulate in the container and used as a refrigerator.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another example of the container. The container 30 is a container which can be expanded and contracted by a bellows structure 31. By using the container 30 having such a bellows structure 31, the capacity can be easily moved by a single component.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a mechanism for raising and lowering a shelf. In this figure, 36 is a shelf which can move up and down, 37 is a belt having the other end fixed, 38 is a hoist for winding up this belt, and 39 is a support which is supported by the belt 37 and supports the shelf horizontally. . The hoist is connected to an electric motor (drive device), not shown, and moves the shelf up and down by driving the motor.

Numeral 40 denotes a container. When a storage object is placed between the shelf 37 and the container 40, a lid 41 is used and this lid is used. It should be noted that the structure for expanding and contracting the container 40 and the structure for providing an interval from the shelf are not shown.

In the apparatus provided with the support 39 as shown in FIG. 6, a drive device for driving the shelf 37 which is configured to be able to move up and down in height is provided. Therefore, the height of the shelf is adjusted by the drive device. And can easily adjust the height of the shelf.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing the relationship between the shelves and the storage room. Reference numeral 44 denotes a plurality of shelves for insertion into shelves formed on both side surfaces of the storage room. It is configured to be movable.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a structure for keeping the container 25 in a closed state. Reference numeral 46 denotes a 27-fin fin packing for the cylindrical member, and this packing is used to join the square member 26 and the cylindrical member 27 together. Since the eyes are sealed, it is possible to suppress the cool air flowing into the refrigerator compartment from flowing directly into the container 25.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of a structure for keeping the temperature difference between the inside of the container and the refrigerator compartment. The structure is such that the square member 26 and the cylindrical member 27 are insulated. More specifically, a heat insulating material 47 is arranged inside the member, or air is sealed to insulate the air.

In the refrigerator configured as described above, it is difficult for the container to be directly cooled by the cold air flowing into the refrigerator compartment, and the rate of temperature decrease in the container is slowed down. Can be changed according to the capacity of the storage material.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing another example of a mechanism for moving the shelf up and down. Reference numeral 50 denotes a link mechanism, reference numeral 51 denotes a lever of the link mechanism, and reference numeral 52 denotes a projection fitted to the lever 51 to support the lever. A recess formed in the side of the refrigerator compartment, 54 is a long hole formed in the shelf 55, 56 is an upper tubular member, 57 is a lower raised member, and these raised members, 57 and 56 cylindrical member These components constitute a container 58 that can be extended and contracted (variable inner volume). Reference numeral 59 denotes an axis for connecting the left and right link mechanisms, and the function of this axis makes it difficult for the shelf 55 to tilt left and right.

Reference numeral 60 shown in FIG. 11 denotes a hook portion formed on the shelf 55, which hooks a flange 61 formed on the uppermost portion of the tubular member 56. For this reason, the container 58 expands and contracts in conjunction with the upper and lower sides of the shelf 55. Further, since the flange 61 is hooked on the hook portion 60, when the container 58 is pulled forward, the container 58 is pulled out without shrinking. When the container 58 is pulled out, the upper portion of the container 58 is opened. Stored goods can be taken in and out from the upper part of the container 58.

In the refrigerator configured as described above, the shelf can be moved up and down by rotating the lever 51 up and down, and the shelf 55 can be easily moved up and down by fitting the protrusion 53 of the lever into the recess. It is.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing the sides of the shelf and the container. 65 is a shelf whose height can be changed, 66 is a rail formed on the side of the shelf, 67 is a runner sliding in the rail,
68 is a cylindrical member having an upper part attached to the runner, 6
Reference numeral 9 denotes a box-shaped member used in combination with the tubular member. A container 70 is formed by the box-shaped member and the tube-shaped member. Reference numeral 71 denotes a handle for pulling the container 70 forward.

In the refrigerator configured as described above, the shelf 65
When the shelf is moved up and down, the container 70 also expands and contracts with the movement of the shelf 65, so that the user does not need to expand and contract the container 70, and a refrigerator with improved usability can be obtained.
Also, when the user pulls the container 70 forward by hooking the handle 71, the upper portion of the container 70 is opened without shrinking because the cylindrical member 68 of the container 70 is attached to the runner 67,
The storage can be taken in and out from this opening.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing a state where the container is pulled out forward. 75 is a shelf that can move in height, 76 is a rail formed on the side of the shelf, 77 is a runner that slides in the rail, 78 is a cylindrical member having an upper part attached to the runner, 79 is a cylindrical member The container 80 is composed of these square members and a cylindrical member. Reference numeral 81 denotes a handle for pulling the container 80 forward, and reference numeral 82 denotes a flip-up door attached to the upper front side of the container 80. As shown in FIG. Not only the opening but also the front side of the container can be opened, so that the stored articles can be easily taken in and out of the container 80.

According to the refrigerator configured as described above, the storage room is provided with the shelf configured to be movable in height and the container 80 whose height can be expanded and contracted in accordance with the height of the shelf.
If the amount of items to be stored in this container is small, use container 8
When the storage space is large, the container 80 is stretched and used at a high height, so that the storage room is effectively used in accordance with the capacity of the storage material. be able to.

In particular, when the inside of the container 80 is used as a vegetable room, it is not necessary to introduce cold air into the container, so that vegetables can be optimally stored with a simple structure.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a side view of a main part of a refrigerator provided with a cantilever structure for driving a shelf up and down. 85 is a cantilever structure, 86 is a lever which is pulled forward when adjusting the height, 87 is a shelf whose height is movable up and down, 88 is a rail formed on the side of the shelf, 89 is this rail A runner sliding in the inside, 90 is a cylindrical member having an upper portion attached to the runner, 91 is a square member used in combination with the cylindrical member, and these square members 91 and the cylindrical member 90 are used as containers. 92 are configured. Reference numeral 93 denotes a handle for pulling the container forward.

In the refrigerator configured as described above, the shelf 87
When the lever 86 is pulled up and down to release the engagement, and the shelf 87 is moved up and down to a desired height, and then the lever 86 is engaged, the shelf can be adjusted to a desired height and at the same time, the container 92 can be adjusted.
Expansion and contraction can be performed simultaneously.

In each of these embodiments, the description has been made of the case where the container expands and contracts up and down. However, a container which can expand and contract horizontally may be used.

In addition, as an example of using this container as a vegetable room, a structure for directly introducing cool air to the container has been added, and the container can be used as a chilled room whose temperature is controlled to 1 ° C., or −1 ° C. The temperature may be controlled as an ice greenhouse.

[0046]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, at least one section is provided with a container formed by combining a square member and a cylindrical member having a shelf on the upper side, Since the shelf and the tubular member are configured to be able to move up and down in conjunction with each other, when the amount of storage items to be stored in the container is small, the container is shrunk to reduce the height and used, When the amount is large, the storage room can be effectively used in accordance with the capacity of the storage items by extending the container and using it at a high height.

Further, the invention according to claim 2 has a bellows structure which expands and contracts in accordance with the vertical movement of the shelf in the cylindrical member, and the inner volume of the container is changed according to the expansion and contraction of the bellows structure. As a result, the capacity is simple and inexpensive, and the capacity can be easily moved and easily moved.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 is provided with a drive device for vertically driving a shelf configured to be vertically movable, so that the height of the shelf can be adjusted by the drive device, and the height of the shelf can be adjusted. Adjustment of the height can be facilitated.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of grooves formed inside the compartment having the container, and the shelves are mounted in the grooves, and the height of the shelves is moved up and down. Since the configuration is possible, the height of the shelf can be adjusted by the driving device, and the adjustment of the height of the shelf can be facilitated.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the link structure for moving the shelf up and down is provided, the shelf can be easily moved up and down by this link structure, and the container is stretchable. Can be used at an optimum height.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the storage room is provided with a cantilever structure for driving the shelf up and down, the shelf can be easily moved up and down and can be extended and contracted. The container can be used at an optimum height.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, a predetermined interval is provided between the upper surface of the cylindrical member of the container and the shelf, so that the upper surface of the cylindrical member of the container and the shelf are also provided. Stores can be stored.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, since the flip-up door is provided on the front surface of the cylindrical member of the container, the flip-up door is opened by pulling the container to the front surface to widen the opening. It is possible to secure and easily put the stored goods in and out of the container.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the fin-shaped packing is attached to the joint of the box-shaped member and the cylindrical member of the container capable of moving the internal volume, the cool air flowing into the compartment is provided. Can be difficult to flow into the container, the temperature in the compartment and the temperature in the container can be differentiated, and the storage material stored at different temperatures in the compartment and the container can be stored according to the capacity. .

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention,
Since the container is used as an ice greenhouse, if the amount of storage to be stored in the container used as the ice greenhouse is large, the container is extended and used, and if the amount of storage is small, the container is used. By shrinking and using the container, the container can be used by expanding and contracting the container according to the amount of the storage object.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention,
Since the container has a heat insulating structure, it is possible to make a difference between the inside of the compartment and the inside of the container, and store the storage material stored at different temperatures in the compartment and inside the container according to the capacity. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal configuration of the refrigerator.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a container of the refrigerator of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another example of the container.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a mechanism for moving a shelf up and down.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a shelf and a storage room.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a structure for keeping a container in a sealed state.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing another example of the container.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a mechanism for moving a shelf up and down.

11 is an explanatory diagram showing a front side of the shelf and the container shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing side surfaces of a shelf and a container.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the container is drawn forward.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a different example of a shelf and a container.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a side surface of a main part of a refrigerator provided with a cantilever structure for driving a shelf up and down.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Refrigerator room (storage room) 25 container 26 square member 27 cylindrical member 30 container 31 bellows structure 38 drive device 40 shelf 44 insertion groove (groove) 45 shelf 46 fin-shaped packing 50 link structure 55 shelf 56 cylindrical member 57 Elevated member 58 Container 65 Shelf 68 Cylindrical member 69 Elevated member 70 Container 75 Shelf 78 Cylindrical member 79 Elevated member 80 Container 82 Flip-up door 85 Cantilever structure 87 Shelf 90 Cylindrical member 91 Elevated member 92 Container

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Hiroyuki Sai 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Miyuki Kawamura 2-5-2 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka No. 5 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Mayumi Shimada 2-5-5 Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka 2-5 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Jin Hoshino 2 Keihan-hondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka 5-5-5 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshihiro Mochizuki 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A refrigerator having a compartment divided into a plurality of compartments,
A container comprising a combination of a square member and a tubular member having a shelf on the upper side is provided in at least one section, and the shelf and the tubular member are configured to be vertically movable in conjunction with each other. Refrigerator. 2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the tubular member has a bellows structure that expands and contracts in accordance with the vertical movement of the shelf, and the inner volume of the container is changed according to expansion and contraction of the bellows structure. The refrigerator according to claim 1. 3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a driving device that drives the shelf configured to be movable up and down up and down. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of grooves formed inside the compartment having the container, wherein the shelves are attached to the grooves so that the height of the shelves can be moved up and down. Item 4. The refrigerator according to any one of Items 1 to 3. 5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a link structure for moving the shelf up and down. 6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a cantilever structure for moving the shelf up and down. 7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined distance is provided between an upper surface of the cylindrical member of the container and the shelf. 8. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a flip-up door is provided on a front surface of the cylindrical member of the container. 9. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a fin-shaped packing is attached to a portion of the container, the inner volume of which can be moved, where the box-shaped member and the cylindrical member are joined. 10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the container is used as an ice greenhouse. 11. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the container is a container having a heat insulating structure.