JP2003148766A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a discharge port opening/closing device of an air conditioner which prevents any offset of an opening/closing door to open/close a discharge port, and smoothly performs the opening/closing operation. SOLUTION: This discharge port opening/closing device comprises the opening/closing door 21 to open/close the discharge port 13 formed on a front panel 12, guide rails 23 and 24 provided on each side of the discharge port 13 so as to guide the elevating/lowering operation of the opening/closing door, an elevating/lowering means 50 to elevate/lower the opening/closing door, and a connection member 40 to connect the elevating/lowering means to the opening/ closing door. The connection member 40 is turnably coupled with a lower end of the opening/closing door in a long-extended manner in the transverse direction so that the force transmitted through the elevating/lowering means is distributed to a lower part of the opening/closing door, and transmitted thereto, and both ends thereof are coupled with the guide rails.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an air conditioner,
More specifically, the present invention relates to an air conditioner equipped with a discharge port opening / closing device that prevents eccentricity of an opening / closing door that opens / closes a discharge port and facilitates opening / closing operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently developed air conditioner indoor units are
In order to prevent dust or foreign matter from flowing into the discharge port, a discharge port opening / closing device is provided which opens the discharge port when in use and closes the discharge port when not in use.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, such a discharge port opening / closing device is an opening / closing door provided in a size corresponding to the discharge port 2 so that the discharge port 2 formed in the front cover 1 of the main body can be opened / closed. 3, a pair of guide members 4 that support the open / close door 3 on both sides of the discharge port 2 and guide the up / down movement of the open / close door 3, and an elevating means for elevating the open / close door 3.

Two guide members 4 on both sides of the discharge port 2 are provided with an upper rail 5a and a lower rail 5b for guiding up and down movement of the opening / closing door 3, and upper rails are provided on both sides of the upper and lower sides of the opening / closing door 3. An upper support pin 6a and a lower support pin 6b are provided so as to be coupled to the lower rail 5b and the lower rail 5b and guide the up and down movement of the opening / closing door 3. In addition, an inclined portion 5c is provided at an upper portion of the lower rail 5b so as to extend toward the discharge port 3 so that the lower support pin 6b is guided forward of a predetermined section when the opening / closing door 3 is raised. It is intended that the front surface of the opening / closing door 3 and the front surface of the front panel 1 are flush with each other when the opening / closing door 3 is raised, and the appearance is beautiful.

The elevating means comprises an elevating member 7 having a rack gear portion 7a formed therein, a pinion gear 8a meshing with the rack gear portion 7a of the elevating member 7, and a drive motor 8 for rotating the pinion gear 8a. At this time, the raising / lowering member 7 is provided in the rear of the opening / closing door 3 so as to be able to move up and down, and its upper portion is connected to the back surface of the opening / closing door 3 via a connecting member 9 having a predetermined length. Then, the pinion gear 8 a meshes with the rack gear portion 7 a of the elevating member 7.

In such a discharge port opening / closing device, the elevating member 7 is moved up and down when the pinion gear 8a is rotated by the drive motor 8, and the opening / closing door 3 connected to the elevating member 7 is the two rails 5a of the guide member 4. The ejection port 2 is opened and closed while moving up and down along 5b.

However, in the discharge opening / closing device having such a structure, the lifting member 7 for lifting the opening / closing door 3 has the opening / closing door 3
The connecting member 9 which is arranged in the center of the opening / closing door 3 and mediates the connection between the opening / closing door 3 and the elevating member 7 is also rotatably connected to the center of the rear surface of the opening / closing door 3, so that the device can be opened / closed due to shaking of the device. When the door 3 is eccentric, the opening and closing of the opening and closing door 3 is not smooth. Further, when such a problem is prolonged, there is a problem that the rails 5a and 5b and the support pieces 6a and 6b are worn and the opening and closing of the discharge port 2 becomes incomplete.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to prevent eccentricity of the opening / closing door when it is moved up and down. (EN) An air conditioner provided with a discharge port opening / closing device in which lifting / lowering and opening / closing operations of a discharge port are smoothly performed.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An air conditioner according to the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned object is provided with an opening / closing door for opening / closing a discharge port formed in a front panel, and a guide for lifting / lowering the opening / closing door. In the air conditioner, guide rails respectively provided on both sides of the discharge port, elevating means for elevating and lowering the opening / closing door, and a connecting member mediating connection between the elevating means and the opening / closing door are provided. Is extended in the lateral direction so that the force transmitted through the elevating means is distributed and transmitted to the lower portion of the opening / closing door, and is rotatably coupled to the lower end of the opening / closing door.

Further, both ends of the connecting member are coupled to the guide rail so as to move up and down along the guide rail.

Further, behind the front panel, there is provided a support panel in which a portion corresponding to the discharge port is opened and support portions formed by bending at both ends are formed, and the guide rails are provided above and below the support portion. An upper rail and a lower rail respectively formed on the upper and lower rails, the upper and lower protrusions formed on both upper sides of the open and close door so that the open and close door moves up and down along the upper rail, and the connecting member extends along the lower rail. Lower protrusions are formed at both ends of the connecting member so as to move up and down.

The lower rail may be provided with an inclined portion which is inclined forward to guide the lower protrusion toward the discharge port when the opening / closing door is raised.

The lower protrusion may include a first protrusion and a second protrusion provided on the upper portion and the lower portion so as to be spaced apart from each other.

The elevating means is movably connected to the support panel, the upper part is rotatably connected to the connecting member, and the elevating member has a rack gear portion formed in the longitudinal direction, and the elevating member is moved up and down. A drive motor having a pinion that meshes with the rack gear portion is provided.

Further, a coupling shaft extending laterally to a predetermined length is provided at a lower center of the connecting member so that eccentricity of a portion where the elevating member and the connecting member are connected is prevented.
A coupling groove may be formed at an upper portion of the elevating member to be coupled to the coupling shaft, and a length of the coupling shaft and the coupling groove may correspond to a width of the elevating member.

The connecting member is provided at its upper portion with an extension portion that is bent toward the discharge port and extends to a predetermined length. Both ends of the extension portion are rotatably coupled to both lower sides of the opening / closing door. It is characterized by being done.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 3, the air conditioner to which the present invention is applied includes a main body 10 including a box-shaped casing 11 and a front cover 12 that covers the opened front side of the casing 11. An ordinary heat exchanger 15 for heat exchange and a blower fan 16 for blowing air are provided inside.

A suction port 14 for sucking indoor air into the main body 10 is formed on the lower side of the front cover 12, and a discharge port 1 for discharging conditioned air into the indoor space again.
3 was formed on the upper side. In addition, a large number of horizontal and vertical wind direction blades 17 and 18 for adjusting the direction of the discharged air are provided inside the discharge port 13.

In order to prevent dust and foreign matter from flowing into the main body 10 through the discharge port 13, the discharge port 13 is closed when the air conditioner is not used and is opened when the air conditioner is used. A discharge port opening / closing device 20 is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the discharge port opening / closing device 20 includes an opening / closing door 21 formed in a size corresponding to the discharge port 13 so that the discharge port 13 formed on the front panel 12 can be opened / closed. Guide rails 23 and 24 are provided for guiding the up-and-down movement of the opening and closing door 21. In addition, the discharge port opening / closing device 20 is a lifting unit 5 for forcibly lifting the opening / closing door 21.
0, a connecting member 40 that guides the up / down movement of the open / close door 21 while intervening the connection between the open / close door 21 and the elevating means, and a support panel 30 mounted behind the front panel 12 so that such a device can be provided. Equipped with.

The support panel 30 is provided with an opening 31 for air flow at an upper portion corresponding to the discharge port 13, around which the rigidity of the support panel 30 is reinforced, and the support panel 30 is provided on the rear surface of the front panel 12. A support 32 is provided so that it can be fixed to the. At this time, the supporting portion 32 extends from both side ends of the supporting panel 30 and the upper and lower ends of the opening 31 toward the rear surface of the front panel 12 by bending by a predetermined length. In such a configuration, a space is formed between the back surface of the front panel 12 and the support panel 30, so that the opening / closing door 21 and the elevating means 50 can be installed in the space. Is.

In addition, such a structure is provided with guide rails 23, 2 for raising and lowering the opening / closing door 21 on the inner surfaces of the both side support portions 32.
4 is formed around the upper opening 31 and a plurality of coupling holes 33, 34 for installing the above-described horizontal and vertical type wind direction blades 17, 18 and a blade drive motor 17a, 18a for driving the wind direction blades 17, 18 are provided. It is designed to be attached.

A guide rail 23 formed on the support 32,
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the reference numeral 24 designates an upper rail 2 which is vertically formed on the upper and lower portions of the support portion 32.
3 and the lower rail 24. The upper rail 23 is generally inclined so that the upper end thereof is close to the discharge port 13 so that the upper rail 23 can move forward when the opening / closing door 21 rises. The lower rail 24 is formed so as to be substantially vertical, and an upper portion thereof is formed with an inclined portion 24a that is inclined forward by a predetermined angle so that the lower portion of the rising opening / closing door 21 is guided to the discharge port 13 side. Is provided. Such a configuration of the guide rails 23 and 24 is used when the opening / closing door 21 is closed by the operation of the lifting / lowering means 50.
1 is guided to the discharge port 13 side so that the opening / closing door 2
This is for closing the front surface of the front panel 1 in a state where it coincides with the front surface of the front panel 12 and making the appearance beautiful.

The opening / closing door 21 has an upper rail 23 at its upper portion.
Upper protrusions 22 are protruded from both sides of the upper portion and are coupled to the upper rails 23 so as to move up and down. The lower portion of the opening / closing door 21 is rotatably coupled to a connecting member 40 that guides the lowering of the lower portion of the opening / closing door 21 while being connected to the elevating means 50.

As shown in FIG. 6, the connecting member 40 extends in the lateral direction so as to substantially correspond to the width of the opening / closing door 21, and the lower protrusions 41 formed at both ends thereof enter the lower rail 24. It is configured to move up and down along the lower rail 24. At this time, the lower protrusions 41 at both ends allow the connecting member 40 to move up and down while the rotation of the connecting member 40 is restricted, and at the same time, prevent the eccentricity of the connecting member 40 in the process of moving up and down. First protrusion 41a
And the lower second protrusion 41b. Further, an extension portion 42, which is bent toward the discharge port 13 and extends for a predetermined length, is provided at an upper portion of the connecting member 40, and both ends of the extension portion 42 are hinge shafts 43 for coupling with a lower end of the opening / closing door 21. Is formed. Further, coupling holes 21a for coupling with the hinge shaft 43 are formed on both lower sides of the opening / closing door 21.

The structure of the connecting member 40 is such that the force transmitted through the elevating means 50 is evenly distributed and transmitted to the lower portion of the opening / closing door 21 so that the opening / closing door 21 can be smoothly moved up and down without being eccentric. It is a thing. In addition, in such a configuration, the connecting member 40 rises along the lower rail 24 during the process of closing the opening / closing door 21, and the upper sloping portion 24
When reaching a, the connecting member 40 rotates forward by a predetermined angle, but at this time, the upper bent portion 42 rotates to a larger radius, so that the lower part of the opening / closing door 21 moves to the discharge port 13 side. It is designed to be closed more reliably.

The elevating means 50 is connected to the lower central part of the connecting member 40 and is slidably provided vertically in the central part of the support panel 30 so that the connecting member 40 can be moved up and down. The rack gear part 51a is provided on one side. It includes an elevating member 51 formed and a drive motor 53 having a pinion 52 that meshes with the rack gear portion 51a so as to elevate the elevating member 51.
At this time, an elevating member guide rail 36 is formed in the vertical direction at the center of the support panel 30, and a drive motor 53 for operating the elevating member 51 is mounted on the support panel 30 adjacent to the guide rail 36.

Further, the upper part of the elevating member 51 and the connecting member 40.
Are rotatably coupled to each other. For such coupling, a coupling shaft 44 having a predetermined length in the lateral direction is formed in the lower central portion of the coupling member 40, and the lifting member 51 is provided. A coupling groove 51b corresponding to the coupling shaft 44 is formed at an upper portion of the. At this time, the lengths of the coupling shaft 44 and the coupling groove 51b are provided so as to correspond to the width of the elevating member 51.
It is desirable to prevent eccentricity of the connecting member 40 when the unit 1 moves up and down. In addition, the connecting shaft 44 of the connecting member 40
It is desirable that a predetermined extra space be formed in the upper part of the so as to facilitate the rotation of the connecting member 40.

Next, the operation of the discharge opening / closing device of the air conditioner according to the present invention having such a configuration will be described.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the discharge port 13 is open, the opening / closing door 21, the connecting member 40, and the elevating member 51 for operating them are all kept in the lowered state. At this time, the upper protrusions 22 of the opening / closing door 21 are placed under the upper rails 23, and the lower protrusions 4 on both ends of the connecting member 40 are provided.
1 is placed under the lower rail 24. In addition, the connecting member 40 includes a first protrusion 41a and a second protrusion 41b which are vertically separated from each other.
Since it is supported through the two lower protrusions 41, the rotation is restricted.

In this state, the pinion 52 meshed with the rack gear portion 51a of the elevating member 51 by the operation of the drive motor 53.
When is rotated, as shown in FIG. 8, the opening / closing door 21 is lifted while the lifting member 51 is lifted. That is, the elevating member 51 pushes up the connecting member 40, and the connecting member 40 pushes up the lower end of the opening / closing door 21 again, so that the opening / closing door 21 is raised.

At this time, the lower protrusions 4 on both sides of the connecting member 40
When the elevating member 51 further rises in the predetermined section in the state where 1 reaches the inclined portion 24a of the lower rail 24, the connecting member 40 is rotated while the upper first protrusion 41a first enters the inclined portion 24a. . The upper bent extension 42 of the connecting member 40 then rotates to a larger radius. Therefore, the lower portion of the opening / closing door 21 rotatably connected to the extension portion 42 moves to the discharge port 13 side, and thus the front surface of the opening / closing door 21 is closed in a state of being aligned with the front surface of the front panel 12.

Further, the upper protrusion 22 on the upper part of the opening / closing door 21.
Moves upwards along the inclined upper rail 23 and gradually moves toward the discharge port 13. Therefore, when the opening / closing door 21 is completely closed, it closes in a state in which it coincides with the front surface of the front panel 12 like its lower part. .

When the opening / closing door 21 is reopened in the closed state, the elevating member 51 is lowered while the pinion 52 is rotated in the opposite direction as described above due to the reverse rotation of the drive motor 53.
The opening / closing door 21 is opened while the connecting member 40 is lowered together with the elevating member 51.

At this time, in the connecting member 40, the lower projection 41 composed of the first projection 41a and the second projection 41b is attached to the lower rail 24.
Since it rotates in the direction opposite to the direction in which it closes while exiting the inclined portion 24a, the opening / closing door 21 opens while entering the inside of the discharge port 13, and the first protrusion 41a and the second protrusion 41b open.
After completely disengaging the inclined portion 24a of No. 4, it opens while descending as it is.

On the other hand, according to the present invention, when the opening / closing operation is performed, the force transmitted through the elevating member 51 is evenly distributed and transmitted to the lower portion of the opening / closing door 21 through the connecting member 40 formed long in the lateral direction. Therefore, eccentricity of the opening / closing door 21 is prevented, and a smooth lifting operation is performed. In addition, the connecting member 40 moves up and down in a state where eccentricity and shaking are prevented through the two lower protrusions 41a and 41b coupled to the lower rails 24 on both sides, so that the opening / closing door 21 can be moved up and down more smoothly.

[0038]

As described above, in the air conditioner according to the present invention, the force of the vertically moving lifting member is not only uniformly distributed and transmitted to the opening / closing door through the connecting member formed long in the lateral direction, but also Since the lower protrusions at both ends of the connecting member move up and down along the lower rail, the opening and closing door is prevented from eccentricity to the left and right, and a smooth opening and closing operation is achieved.

Further, according to the present invention, when the opening / closing door is closed, the lower part of the opening / closing door is pressed toward the discharge port while the connecting member is rotated at a predetermined angle, so that the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing door can be performed accurately.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a discharge opening / closing device of a conventional air conditioner.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a discharge opening / closing device of a conventional air conditioner.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of an air conditioner to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a discharge port opening / closing device of an air conditioner according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detailed view of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a connecting member of an outlet opening / closing device of an air conditioner according to the present invention and a connecting structure thereof.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the outlet opening / closing device of the air conditioner according to the present invention, showing the state in which the opening / closing door is open.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the outlet opening / closing device of the air conditioner according to the present invention, showing the state in which the opening / closing door is closed.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 body 12 front panel 13 Discharge port 20 outlet opening and closing device 21 open / close door 22 Upper protrusion 23 Upper rail 24 Lower rail 24a inclined part 30 support panel 32 Support 36 Guide rail for lifting members 40 Connection member 41 Lower protrusion 42 Extension 43 Hinge axis 44 bond axis 50 lifting means 51 Lifting member 52 pinion 53 Drive motor

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An opening / closing door for opening / closing a discharge port formed on a front panel, guide rails provided on both sides of the discharge port for guiding the lifting / lowering of the opening / closing door, and a lift for lifting / lowering the opening / closing door. An air conditioner having a connecting member that mediates the connection between the elevating device and the opening / closing door, wherein the connecting member laterally moves the force transmitted through the elevating device to be distributed and transmitted to a lower portion of the opening / closing door. An air conditioner extending in a direction and rotatably coupled to a lower end of the opening / closing door. 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein both ends of the connecting member are coupled to the guide rail so as to move up and down along the guide rail. 3. A support panel is provided at the rear of the front panel, in which a portion corresponding to the discharge port is opened, and support portions formed by bending both ends are formed, and the guide rails are provided at upper and lower portions of the support portion. An upper rail and a lower rail are respectively formed, and upper protrusions are formed on both sides of the upper and lower doors so as to move up and down along the upper rail, and both ends of the connecting member move up and down along the lower rail. The air conditioner according to claim 2, further comprising a formed lower protrusion. 4. The lower rail comprises an inclined portion which is formed to be inclined forward toward an upper portion so as to guide the lower protrusion toward the discharge port when the opening / closing door rises. Air conditioner described in. 5. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the lower protrusion comprises a first protrusion and a second protrusion provided on an upper portion and a lower portion so as to be spaced apart from each other. 6. The elevating means is movably coupled to the support panel so as to be vertically movable, an upper portion thereof is rotatably coupled to the connecting member, and an elevating member having a rack gear portion formed in a longitudinal direction, and the elevating member. The air conditioner according to claim 3, further comprising: a drive motor having a pinion that meshes with the rack gear portion to move up and down. 7. A coupling shaft extending laterally in a predetermined length is provided at a lower center of the connecting member to prevent eccentricity of a portion where the elevating member and the connecting member are connected to each other. 7. A coupling groove is formed on an upper portion of the coupling shaft so as to be coupled to the coupling shaft, and lengths of the coupling shaft and the coupling groove correspond to a width of the elevating member. Air conditioner described in. 8. The connecting member includes an extension portion at an upper portion thereof which is bent toward the discharge port and extends to a predetermined length, and both ends of the extension portion are rotatable to both lower sides of the opening / closing door. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the air conditioner is coupled.