JP2007278698A

JP2007278698A - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: JP2007278698A
Application number: JP2007201012A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Koichi Yamada; 公一山田
Original assignee: Toshiba Corp; Toshiba Consumer Marketing Corp; Toshiba Home Appliances Corp
Current assignee: Toshiba Corp; Toshiba Consumer Marketing Corp; Toshiba Lifestyle Products and Services Corp
Priority date: 2007-08-01
Filing date: 2007-08-01
Publication date: 2007-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 2025-11-02
Also published as: JP4054365B2

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator with superior visibility of housed objects in a storage chamber. <P>SOLUTION: This refrigerator 10 is provided with the storage chamber 12 having an opening front face, mounting shelves 24 partitioning the inside of the storage chamber 12 into a plurality of housing spaces 26, and a lighting system 44 illuminating the inside of the storage chamber 12 by using a semiconductor light emitting device 44a arranged in the front part of an inside wall of the storage chamber 12 as a light source. The refrigerator is characterized in that the optical axis L of the semiconductor light emitting device 44a is directed to the front surfaces of the mounting shelves 24 by setting the gradient θ of the semiconductor light emitting device 44a with respect to a surface 40 with the lighting system 44 arranged thereon greater than the angle ϕ of the surface with the lighting system 44 arranged thereon with respect to the inside wall of the storage chamber 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

本発明は、貯蔵室内を照明するための庫内灯を備えた冷蔵庫に関する。 The present invention relates to a refrigerator provided with an interior lamp for illuminating a storage room.

最近の冷蔵庫は、上から冷蔵室、野菜室、冷凍室が配されたタイプのものが一般的であり、各貯蔵室内状況の視認性を高め使い勝手をよくするため、冷蔵室などの内部に照明装置を取り付けられている。この種の冷蔵庫に用いられる照明装置では、白熱電球等を光源としているため、発光時に大量の発熱を伴い冷却効率の悪化の原因となる。そこで、庫内照明装置の光源として白熱電球等に代えて発熱量の殆どない発光ダイオードなどの半導体発光素子を用いたものが提案されている（例えば、特許文献１参照）。 Modern refrigerators are generally of the type that has a refrigerator room, vegetable room, and freezer room from the top. To improve the visibility of each storage room and improve usability, the interior of the refrigerator room is illuminated. The device is installed. Since the lighting device used in this type of refrigerator uses an incandescent bulb or the like as a light source, a large amount of heat is generated at the time of light emission, resulting in deterioration of cooling efficiency. In view of this, a light source using a semiconductor light emitting element such as a light emitting diode that generates almost no heat instead of an incandescent bulb has been proposed as a light source for the interior lighting device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

しかしながら、庫内照明装置の光源として半導体発光素子を用いた場合、上記の発熱により冷却効率の悪化の問題を解消することができるが、照明される領域を十分に確保するため高価な部材である半導体発光素子を多数個設ける必要があり、製造コストアップとなる問題がある。
特開平１１−１５９９５３号公報 However, when a semiconductor light-emitting element is used as the light source of the interior lighting device, the problem of deterioration in cooling efficiency due to the heat generation can be solved, but it is an expensive member in order to sufficiently secure the illuminated area. It is necessary to provide a large number of semiconductor light emitting elements, and there is a problem that the manufacturing cost increases.
JP 11-159953 A

本発明は、上記事情を考慮してなされたものであり、半導体発光素子の使用数量を抑えながら、貯蔵室内の収納物の視認性に優れた庫内照明が可能な冷蔵庫を提供することを目的とする。 The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of interior lighting with excellent visibility of stored items in a storage room while suppressing the number of semiconductor light emitting elements used. And

本発明の冷蔵庫は、前面が開口する貯蔵室と、前記貯蔵室内を複数の収納空間に区画する載置棚と、前記貯蔵室の内側壁の前部に設けられた半導体発光素子を光源として前記貯蔵室内を照らす照明装置とを備え、前記貯蔵室の内側壁に対する前記照明装置が配設された面の角度より、前記照明装置が配設された面に対する前記半導体発光素子の傾きを大きく設定して、前記半導体発光素子の光軸が前記載置棚の前面に向けられていることを特徴とする冷蔵庫。 The refrigerator according to the present invention includes a storage chamber whose front surface is open, a mounting shelf that divides the storage chamber into a plurality of storage spaces, and a semiconductor light emitting device provided at a front portion of an inner wall of the storage chamber as a light source. An illumination device for illuminating the storage chamber, and the inclination of the semiconductor light emitting element with respect to the surface on which the illumination device is disposed is set larger than the angle of the surface on which the illumination device is disposed with respect to the inner wall of the storage chamber. The refrigerator is characterized in that the optical axis of the semiconductor light emitting element is directed to the front surface of the shelf.

本発明の冷蔵庫によれば、貯蔵室側壁の前端部に配設された半導体発光素子が収納空間の前面を照明するため、ユーザの使用頻度が高い領域を効率よく照明することができるとともに、貯蔵室内の収納物を前方から照らすことで、収納物の視認性に優れた照明が可能となる。 According to the refrigerator of the present invention, since the semiconductor light emitting device disposed at the front end of the storage chamber side wall illuminates the front surface of the storage space, it is possible to efficiently illuminate an area frequently used by the user and to store it. Illuminating the stored items in the room from the front enables illumination with excellent visibility of the stored items.

以下、本発明の１実施形態について図面を参照して説明する。 Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

図１は本発明の１実施形態に係る冷蔵庫１０の概略縦断面図であり、図２は冷蔵室１２の正面図、図３は図２のＡ−Ａ線断面図である。 FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of a refrigerator compartment 12, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

冷蔵庫１０は、図１に示すように、薄鋼板製の外箱３２とプラスチック製の内箱３４とを組み合わせ、これらの間に形成された空隙に断熱材３６を発泡充填することで前面が開口した断熱箱体３０を構成しており、断熱箱体３０内部には断熱仕切板３８を配設することで内部空間の上方を冷蔵空間に、下方を冷凍空間にそれぞれ区画形成している。冷蔵空間は、仕切板２２を介して冷蔵室１２と野菜室１４に区画されており、冷凍空間は、製氷室１６と切替室（不図示）を左右に区分して併設し、最下部に冷凍室１８を配置している。 As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 10 combines an outer box 32 made of a thin steel plate and an inner box 34 made of plastic, and the front surface is opened by foaming and filling a space 36 formed between them. The heat insulating box body 30 is configured, and a heat insulating partition plate 38 is disposed inside the heat insulating box body 30 so that the upper part of the internal space is formed into a refrigerated space and the lower part is formed into a refrigerated space. The refrigerated space is partitioned into a refrigerated room 12 and a vegetable room 14 via a partition plate 22, and the freezing space is divided into an ice making room 16 and a switching room (not shown) and is provided with a freezer at the bottom. A chamber 18 is arranged.

冷蔵室１２の前面開口部は、一側前端に設けたヒンジによって回動する冷蔵室扉２０が設けられ該前面開口を閉塞している。また、冷蔵室１２の左右の内側壁の前端部は、図２及び図３に示すように、冷蔵室扉２０と冷蔵室１２の内側壁が接触するのを防止するため、開口した前端ほど外側に広がるテーパ面４０が形成されている。 The front opening of the refrigerating room 12 is provided with a refrigerating room door 20 that is rotated by a hinge provided at the front end of one side, and closes the front opening. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the front end portions of the left and right inner walls of the refrigerating chamber 12 are more outward as the front ends that are open to prevent the refrigerating chamber door 20 and the inner walls of the refrigerating chamber 12 from contacting each other. A taper surface 40 extending in the direction is formed.

冷蔵室１２の内部は、上下方向に複数段（本実施形態では４段）の載置棚２４が配設され、仕切板２２、載置棚２４及び天井ダクト２５ａを形成する天板２５との間に形成された複数（本実施形態では５つ）の収納空間２６−１〜２６−５に区画している。また、野菜室１４、製氷室１６、切替室、冷凍室１８のそれぞれの前面開口部には引き出し式の扉が設けられており、各貯蔵室内に配された収納容器を一体的に引き出すようになっている。 Inside the refrigerator compartment 12, a plurality of stages (four stages in the present embodiment) mounting shelves 24 are arranged in the vertical direction, and the top plate 25 that forms the partition plate 22, the mounting shelves 24, and the ceiling duct 25a. It is divided into a plurality (five in this embodiment) of storage spaces 26-1 to 26-5 formed therebetween. In addition, a drawer-type door is provided at the front opening of each of the vegetable compartment 14, the ice making compartment 16, the switching compartment, and the freezing compartment 18 so that the storage containers arranged in the respective storage compartments can be pulled out integrally. It has become.

冷蔵空間および冷凍空間のそれぞれの背面には、冷蔵用冷却器５０及び冷凍用冷却器５２とファン５４、５６を配設し、各冷却器５０、５２によって発生した冷気をダクト２７を介して循環させて、各貯蔵室を所定の設定温度に冷却制御するようになっており、各冷却器５０、５２へ冷媒を供給する圧縮機５８と冷蔵庫１０を制御するための制御基板６０が、冷蔵庫１０本体の背面下部の機械室６２に配置されている。 A refrigeration cooler 50, a refrigeration cooler 52, and fans 54, 56 are arranged on the back surfaces of the refrigeration space and the refrigeration space, respectively, and the cold air generated by the coolers 50, 52 is circulated through the duct 27. Thus, the cooling of each storage chamber is controlled to a predetermined set temperature, and the compressor 58 for supplying the refrigerant to each of the coolers 50 and 52 and the control board 60 for controlling the refrigerator 10 are provided in the refrigerator 10. It is arranged in the machine room 62 at the lower back of the main body.

上記構成の冷蔵庫１０において、図２及び図３に示すように、冷蔵室１２の左右の内側壁の前端部に形成されたテーパ面４０には、照明装置４４を収納するための開口凹部４２が設けられている。開口凹部４２の周縁部には、透明な合成樹脂からなる照明カバー４６が嵌め込まれることで、照明装置４４を冷蔵室１２側から覆っている。 In the refrigerator 10 having the above-described configuration, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the tapered surface 40 formed at the front end portions of the left and right inner walls of the refrigerator compartment 12 has an opening recess 42 for housing the lighting device 44. Is provided. A lighting cover 46 made of a transparent synthetic resin is fitted into the peripheral edge of the opening recess 42 to cover the lighting device 44 from the refrigerator compartment 12 side.

照明装置４４は、光源としての半導体発光素子（以下、ＬＥＤという）４４ａと、このＬＥＤ４４ａを実装したプリント基板４４ｂから構成され、冷蔵室１２に取り付けられた不図示のドアスイッチにより冷蔵室扉２０の開閉状態を検知して、開扉時にＬＥＤ４４ａが点灯するようになっている。 The illuminating device 44 is composed of a semiconductor light emitting element (hereinafter referred to as LED) 44a as a light source and a printed board 44b on which the LED 44a is mounted. The lighting device 44 includes a door switch (not shown) attached to the refrigeration chamber 12 and The open / close state is detected, and the LED 44a is turned on when the door is opened.

プリント基板４４ｂは制御基板６０に配線接続された状態で開口凹部４２に配設され、この状態において、ＬＥＤ４４ａは、各収納空間２６−１〜２６−５の高さ方向中央部Ｈｍ−１〜Ｈｍ−５と等しい高さにそれぞれ配置されており、その光軸Ｌは、水平面上であって、載置棚２４の前面の幅方向中央部Ｍに向けられている。具体的には、冷蔵室１２内部の横幅をL、載置棚２４前面からＬＥＤ４４ａまでの奥行き方向の距離をａ、テーパ面４０の開始位置４０ａから載置棚２４までの奥行き方向距離をｂ、冷蔵室１２の側壁に対するテーパ面４０の角度をφとすると、テーパ面４０に対するＬＥＤ４４ａの傾きを下記式（１）により算出される角度θに設定する。 The printed circuit board 44b is disposed in the opening recess 42 while being connected to the control board 60, and in this state, the LEDs 44a are arranged in the height direction central portions Hm-1 to Hm of the storage spaces 26-1 to 26-5. The optical axis L is on a horizontal plane and is directed to the center M in the width direction on the front surface of the mounting shelf 24. Specifically, the lateral width inside the refrigerator compartment 12 is L, the distance in the depth direction from the front surface of the mounting shelf 24 to the LED 44a is a, the depth direction distance from the start position 40a of the tapered surface 40 to the mounting shelf 24 is b, When the angle of the tapered surface 40 with respect to the side wall of the refrigerator compartment 12 is φ, the inclination of the LED 44a with respect to the tapered surface 40 is set to an angle θ calculated by the following equation (1).

θ≧φ＋tan^−１［ａ／｛Ｌ／２＋（ａ−ｂ）tanφ｝］（１）
ここで、図３を参照して各寸法の一例を挙げれば、横幅Ｌ＝６００ｍｍ、載置棚２４前面からＬＥＤ４４ａまでの奥行き方向の距離ａ＝１４０ｍｍ、テーパ面４０の開始位置から載置棚２４までの奥行き方向距離ｂ＝６０ｍｍ、冷蔵室１２の側壁に対するテーパ面４０の角度φ＝３°である場合、上記式（１）より、テーパ面４０に対するＬＥＤ４４ａの傾き角度θを２８°に設定することで、載置棚２４の前面中央部ＭへＬＥＤ４４ａの光軸Ｌを向けることができる。 θ ≧ φ + tan ⁻¹ [a / {L / 2 + (a−b) tan φ}] (1)
Here, if an example of each dimension is given with reference to FIG. 3, the lateral width L = 600 mm, the distance a in the depth direction from the front surface of the mounting shelf 24 to the LED 44a = 140 mm, and the mounting shelf 24 from the start position of the tapered surface 40. If the distance b in the depth direction is 60 mm and the angle φ of the tapered surface 40 with respect to the side wall of the refrigerator compartment 12 is 3 °, the inclination angle θ of the LED 44a with respect to the tapered surface 40 is set to 28 ° from the above equation (1). Thus, the optical axis L of the LED 44 a can be directed to the front center portion M of the mounting shelf 24.

なお、本実施形態では、全ての収納空間２６−１〜２６−５を照明するように、各収納空間２６−１〜２６−５の高さ方向中央部Ｈｍ−１〜Ｈｍ−５と等しい高さそれぞれにＬＥＤ４４ａを設けたが、例えば、使用頻度の高い下から２段目及び３段目の収納空間２６−２、２６−３を照明するように、かかる収納空間２６−２、２６−３の高さ方向中央部Ｈｍ−２、Ｈｍ−３にＬＥＤ４４ａを設けるなど、一部の収納空間を照明するようにＬＥＤ４４ａを設けてもよい。 In addition, in this embodiment, the height equal to the height direction center part Hm-1 to Hm-5 of each storage space 26-1 to 26-5 so that all the storage spaces 26-1 to 26-5 are illuminated. For example, the storage spaces 26-2 and 26-3 are provided so as to illuminate the second and third storage spaces 26-2 and 26-3 from the bottom that are frequently used. The LED 44a may be provided so as to illuminate a part of the storage space, for example, by providing the LED 44a at the center portions Hm-2 and Hm-3 in the height direction.

以上のように、本実施形態の冷蔵庫１０では、ＬＥＤ４４ａの光軸が載置棚２４の前面に向けられているため、ユーザが頻繁に出し入れする載置棚２４の前面に載置された収納物をユーザの視点から順光で照らすことができ、収納物やそれに記載された文字などを認識し易い。 As described above, in the refrigerator 10 of the present embodiment, since the optical axis of the LED 44a is directed to the front surface of the mounting shelf 24, the stored items placed on the front surface of the mounting shelf 24 that the user frequently takes in and out. Can be illuminated with direct light from the user's point of view, and it is easy to recognize stored items and characters written on the stored items.

さらにまた、ＬＥＤ４４ａは、光軸が水平面上にある状態で、収納空間２６−１〜２６−５の高さ方向の中央部Ｈｍ−１〜Ｈｍ−５と等しい高さに配設されため、載置棚２６によって照明光が遮られることがなく、冷蔵室１２の奥まで無駄なく載置棚２４に載置された収納物を照らすことができる。 Furthermore, the LED 44a is disposed at a height equal to the central portions Hm-1 to Hm-5 in the height direction of the storage spaces 26-1 to 26-5 in a state where the optical axis is on a horizontal plane. Illumination light is not blocked by the shelf 26, and the stored items placed on the placement shelf 24 can be illuminated to the back of the refrigerator compartment 12 without waste.

本発明は、冷蔵庫の庫内照明として利用することができる。 The present invention can be used as interior lighting of a refrigerator.

本発明の１実施形態に係る冷蔵庫の概略縦断面図である。It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the refrigerator which concerns on 1 embodiment of this invention. 冷蔵室の平面図である。It is a top view of a refrigerator compartment. 図２におけるＡ−Ａ線断面図である。It is the sectional view on the AA line in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

１０…冷蔵庫
１２…冷蔵室
２０…冷蔵室扉
２４…載置棚
２６…収納空間
４０…テーパ面
４４…照明装置 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Refrigerator 12 ... Refrigeration room 20 ... Refrigeration room door 24 ... Mounting shelf 26 ... Storage space 40 ... Tapered surface 44 ... Illumination device

Claims

A storage chamber whose front surface is open, a mounting shelf that divides the storage chamber into a plurality of storage spaces, and a lighting device that illuminates the storage chamber using a semiconductor light emitting element provided in front of an inner wall of the storage chamber as a light source The semiconductor light emitting element is set to have a larger inclination of the semiconductor light emitting element with respect to the surface on which the illumination device is disposed than the angle of the surface on which the illumination device is disposed with respect to the inner wall of the storage chamber The refrigerator is characterized in that the optical axis of is directed to the front surface of the storage shelf.

The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the optical axis is a front surface of the mounting shelf and is directed to a center portion in the width direction.

The semiconductor light emitting element is disposed at a height equal to a central portion in a height direction of at least one of the plurality of storage spaces, and an optical axis of the semiconductor light emitting element is on a horizontal plane. The refrigerator according to claim 1.