JP2016031193A - refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator of high user's usability in opening a door by using a door opening device.SOLUTION: A refrigerator S has refrigerating compartment doors 21a and 21b disposed at an opening portion of a refrigerating compartment R1 and capable of being opened and closed, a door opening device 3 for opening the refrigerating compartment doors 21a and 21b by energizing a solenoid, door opening switches 4a and 4b operated by a user when the refrigerating compartment doors 21a and 21b are opened by using the door opening device 3, and a control device for controlling energization to the solenoid. The control device energizes the solenoid with a first electric current value to move the refrigerating compartment doors 21a and 21b from a state of closing the opening portion of the refrigerating compartment R1 during lapse of a first prescribed time from the operation of the door opening switches 4a and 4b, and energizes the solenoid with a second electric current value smaller than the first electric current value after the lapse of the first prescribed time from the operation of the door opening switches 4a and 4b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator including a door opening device.

In recent years, the demand for large-capacity refrigerators that can store many foods has increased. The refrigerator includes a hinged door that can be opened and closed, and food can be stored in a storage pocket installed in the door.
By the way, as the capacity of the refrigerator increases, the size and weight of the door also increase, and a large force is required when the user manually opens the door. As a means for reducing such a burden on the user, a door opening device that opens a refrigerator door in response to an operation by the user is known.

For example, in Patent Document 1, a door opening device that presses and opens a refrigerator door, a door opening switch that outputs a drive signal to the door opening device in response to a user operation, and a load applied when the door is opened are detected. And a load detection means.
In the technique described in Patent Document 1, when the load detection means detects that food is stored in the door, the PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) duty of the door opening device is set to a high value. When the load detection means detects that no food is stored in the door, the PWM duty of the door opening device is set to a low value.

JP 2005-214488 A

  Usually, in order to prevent so-called half doors, refrigerator doors have magnets built in door packings, and closers that are biased to maintain a closed state are installed on hinges. Therefore, in the initial stage of opening the refrigerator (that is, when the door starts to rotate), a relatively large force is required to peel off the door that is in close contact with the door packing, but the door rotates away from the door packing. When it starts, the force required to rotate the door decreases rapidly.

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, as described above, although the PWM duty of the door opening device is changed according to the load detected by the load detection means, the PWM duty is fixed (in the process of opening the refrigerator door). For example, 100%) is set. That is, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, the load characteristic that the load on the door is rapidly reduced after being separated from the door packing is not taken into consideration.

  For example, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, when the door opening device is continuously driven with a large PWM duty (for example, 100%), the door is vigorously opened to give the user a sudden feeling. On the other hand, when the door opening device is continuously driven with a small PWM duty (for example, 10%), there is a problem that the door is not fully opened or the door is not opened at all, and the usability is deteriorated.

  Then, this invention makes it a subject to provide a user-friendly refrigerator when opening a door using a door opening apparatus.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a refrigerator according to the present invention is a first for moving a door from a state in which an opening of a storage chamber is closed until a first predetermined time elapses after an opening switch is operated. Energizing the solenoid of the door opening device with a current value, and energizing the solenoid with a second current value smaller than the first current value after the first predetermined time has elapsed since the opening switch was operated. It is characterized by.
Details will be described in an embodiment for carrying out the invention.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when opening a door using a door opening apparatus, a user-friendly refrigerator can be provided.

It is a front view of the refrigerator which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the top view which looked at the refrigerator from the upper part. It is a typical arrow sectional view in the II-II line of FIG. It is a block diagram of the drive circuit with which the door opening apparatus of a refrigerator is provided. It is a current waveform diagram for explaining the operation of the drive circuit, (a) is a waveform diagram of the current supplied from the AC power supply, (b) is a current waveform supplied to the rectifier circuit via the phototriac coupler It is a waveform diagram, (c) is a waveform diagram of the current supplied from the rectifier circuit to the smoothing circuit, (d) is a waveform diagram of the current supplied from the smoothing circuit to the solenoid. It is a block diagram of the drive circuit with which the door opening apparatus of a refrigerator is provided, and has shown each structure of a phase control circuit, a rectifier circuit, and a smoothing circuit. It is explanatory drawing which shows the load characteristic in the process of opening a refrigerator compartment door. It is a flowchart of the process which the control apparatus of a refrigerator performs. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the change of the ratio for which the ignition time of a photo triac accounts with respect to the half cycle of an alternating current, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the change of angular velocity in the process in which the refrigerator compartment door rotates. (C) is explanatory drawing which shows the change of the door opening angle of a refrigerator compartment door. It is a flowchart of the process which the control apparatus of the refrigerator which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention performs. It is explanatory drawing which shows the change of the ratio for which the ignition time of a photo triac accounts with respect to the half period of an alternating current, (a) is a case where the load of a refrigerator compartment door is comparatively small, (b) is a refrigerator compartment door. Is a relatively large load. It is a flowchart of the process which the control apparatus of the refrigerator which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention performs. It is explanatory drawing which shows the change of the ratio for which the ignition time of a photo triac accounts with respect to the half period of an alternating current, (a) is a case where the load of a refrigerator compartment door is comparatively small, (b) is a refrigerator compartment door. Is a relatively large load.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In addition, as shown in FIG.

<< First Embodiment >>
<Fridge configuration>
FIG. 1 is a front view of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The refrigerator S stores foods and the like at a low temperature. Inside the refrigerator S, a refrigerating room R1, an ice making room R2, an upper freezing room R3, a lower freezing room R4, and a vegetable room R5 are provided in order from the top. The inside / outside of the refrigerator S is separated by the heat insulating box 11 having a shape for partitioning each chamber (storage chamber) and each door installed in the heat insulating box 11. In addition, the opening part corresponding to the refrigerator compartment door 21a, 21b in the heat insulation box 11 is exhibiting square frame shape by front view.

  The refrigerator S includes French-type (so-called double door type) refrigerator compartment doors 21a and 21b that seal the refrigerator compartment R1 from the outside in the closed state. The left refrigerator compartment door 21a rotates (moves) forward with the hinge Ma shown in FIG. 2 as an axis, and the right refrigerator compartment door 21b rotates (moves) forward with the hinge Mb shown in FIG. 2 as an axis. It is installed to do.

  The refrigerator S also includes a drawer-type ice making room door 22 that seals the ice making room R2 from the outside when the door is closed. In addition, the refrigerator S includes a drawer-type upper freezer compartment door 23, a lower freezer compartment door 24, and a vegetable compartment door 25.

Door packing N (see FIG. 3) is installed inside the refrigerator compartment doors 21a, 21b, and closes the refrigerator compartment R1 in close contact (or contact or proximity) with the opening of the heat insulating box 11 in the closed state. ing. Incidentally, magnets (not shown) are embedded in the opening of the heat insulating box 11 and the door packing N, respectively.
A door packing N is also installed inside the drawer-type ice making chamber door 22 so as to close the ice making chamber R2. The same applies to the upper freezer room R3, the lower freezer room R4, and the vegetable room R5.

  Although not shown, the refrigerator S includes a refrigeration apparatus in which a compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, and an evaporator are sequentially connected in a ring shape via a pipe. And a refrigerant | coolant is circulated with a known heat pump cycle, and it heat-radiates with an evaporator and sends the cooled air to each chamber.

  The refrigerator S has a door opening device 3 that opens (moves) the refrigerator compartment doors 21a and 21b from a state in which the opening of the heat insulating box 11 is closed, and door opening switches 4a and 4b that are operated by the user when the door is opened. And open / close detectors 5a and 5b for detecting the open / closed states of the refrigerator compartment doors 21a and 21b, and a control device 6 (see FIG. 2) for controlling the door opening device 3 and the like.

(Opening device)
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the refrigerator as viewed from above.
The door opening device 3 is a device that pushes the refrigerator compartment door 21a (21b) when the user operates the door opening switch 4a (4b), and is fixed in a state of being placed on the heat insulating box 11. Yes. Incidentally, the upper ends of the refrigerator compartment doors 21a and 21b are higher than the upper surface of the heat insulation box 11 (see FIG. 3). Therefore, from the user standing in front of the refrigerator S, the door opening device 3 is hardly visible.

3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. The door opening device 3 includes a solenoid 31, a drive circuit 32 (see FIG. 4), a plunger 33, a pressing member 34, a spring 35, and a container 36.
The solenoid 31 is a coil wound in a cylindrical shape, and is arranged such that its axial direction coincides with the front-rear direction. The plunger 33 is a cylindrical magnetic body disposed so as to be movable back and forth in the front-rear direction, and penetrates the solenoid 31. A drive circuit 32 (see FIG. 4) for energizing the solenoid 31 will be described later.

The pressing member 34 is a member that moves forward and backward together with the plunger 33, and includes a rod-shaped portion 341 that is coaxially fixed to the plunger 33 and an abutting portion 342 that abuts on the rear wall of the refrigerator compartment door 21 b.
The rod-shaped portion 341 extends along the central axis of the plunger 33, and the tip protrudes from the plunger 33. The contact portion 342 is made of, for example, resin, and is fixed to the tip of the rod-shaped portion 341. As described above, the upper end of the refrigerator compartment door 21b is higher than the upper surface of the heat insulating box 11, and the contact portion 342 is in contact with the rear wall of the closed refrigerator compartment door 21b.

The spring 35 is a spring that generates an urging force in a direction in which the plunger 33 moves backward when the plunger 33 moves forward with energization of the solenoid 31. The spring 35 has one end fixed to the plunger 33 and the other end fixed to the base G.
The solenoid 31, the pressing member 34, and the spring 35 described above are installed at positions corresponding to the right refrigerator compartment door 21b in the left-right direction (see FIG. 2). Similarly, the solenoid 31, the pressing member 34, and the spring 35 are installed also in the position corresponding to the left refrigerator compartment door 21a (refer FIG. 2: The code | symbol is not distinguished by right and left).
The accommodating body 36 accommodates the solenoid 31, the plunger 33, the pressing member 34, the spring 35, and the like, and is fixed to the upper surface of the heat insulating box 11.

Hereinafter, when the opening of the refrigerator compartment doors 21a and 21b is described, the left refrigerator compartment door 21a is mainly described.
When a current flows through the solenoid 31 in response to a command from the control device 6 (see FIG. 2), the plunger 33 and the pressing member 34 move forward against the urging force of the spring 35, and as shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerator compartment door 21a. Is pushed open. That is, the refrigerator compartment door 21a rotates around the hinge Ma. Thereafter, when the energization of the solenoid 31 is stopped, the plunger 33 and the pressing member 34 are retracted to the original positions by the urging force of the spring 35. In this way, the left refrigerator door 21a is opened.

  The left refrigerator door 21a and the right refrigerator door 21b can be opened independently. However, the left and right refrigerator doors 21a and 21b can be simultaneously opened (or timed) by a predetermined operation by the user. The doors may be opened sequentially.

(Opening switch)
The left door opening switch 4 a shown in FIG. 1 is a touch panel switch that is operated by the user when the left refrigerator door 21 a is opened using the door opening device 3. The door opening switch 4a is installed on the refrigerator compartment door 21a and exposed to the outside with the refrigerator compartment door 21a closed (the same applies to the right door opening switch 4b). When the user's operation (finger contact) is detected, the door opening switches 4 a and 4 b output a door opening signal to the control device 6.
Note that mechanical switches may be used as the door opening switches 4a and 4b.

(Open / close detector)
The open / close detector 5a shown in FIG. 1 is a magnetic sensor (Hall IC) that detects the open / closed state of the left refrigerator compartment door 21a, and is opposed to the vicinity of the right end of the refrigerator compartment door 21a in the opening of the heat insulation box 11. It is attached to the position to be. Similarly, an open / close detector 5b that detects the open / closed state of the right refrigerator compartment door 21b is attached to a position facing the vicinity of the left end of the refrigerator compartment door 21b in the opening.

When the refrigerator door 21a is closed, an off signal indicating the state is output from the open / close detector 5a to the control device 6 (see FIG. 2). Moreover, when the refrigerator compartment door 21a is opened, the ON signal which shows that the door was opened is output to the control apparatus 6 (refer FIG. 2) from the opening / closing detector 5a. That is, when the distance between the refrigerator compartment door 21a and the open / close detector 5a is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (for example, a distance corresponding to the door opening angle θ = 10 °), an on signal is sent from the open / close detector 5a to the control device 6. Is output.
The open / close detectors 5a and 5b are not limited to magnetic sensors, and may be optical sensors or mechanical sensors.

(Control device)
The control device 6 shown in FIG. 2 controls the door opening device 3 according to the operation of the door opening switches 4a and 4b (see FIG. 1), and is installed in the upper part of the refrigerator S, for example. The control device 6 includes an electronic circuit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and various interfaces, and executes various processes according to a set program.

  The control device 6 has a function of energizing the solenoid 31 (see FIG. 3) of the door opening device 3 with a predetermined current value when the door opening switches 4a and 4b are operated by the user. As a result, the plunger 33 and the pressing member 34 (see FIG. 3) move forward, and the refrigerator compartment door 21a is pushed open. The processing executed by the control device 6 will be described later.

(Drive circuit provided in the door opening device)
Next, the drive circuit 32 shown in FIG. 4 will be described with reference to the waveform diagram of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a drive circuit included in the refrigerator opening device.
The drive circuit 32 is a circuit for energizing the solenoid 31 with a current value corresponding to a command from the control device 6. The drive circuit 32 is housed in the housing body 36 in a state of being electrically connected to the solenoid 31 (not shown in FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 4, the drive circuit 32 includes a phase control circuit 321, a rectifier circuit 322, and a smoothing circuit 323.

The phase control circuit 321 controls the phase when firing the phototriac H (see FIG. 6) with respect to the sinusoidal alternating current (see FIG. 5 (a)) supplied from the alternating current power supply U, so that the solenoid 31 is a circuit that adjusts the current flowing through 31.
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a drive circuit included in the refrigerator opening device, and shows each configuration of the phase control circuit, the rectifier circuit, and the smoothing circuit. The phase control circuit 321 shown in FIG. 6 includes a commercial frequency detection circuit 321a, a microcomputer 321b, and a phototriac coupler 321c.

The commercial frequency detection circuit 321a detects the frequency of the AC power supply U (that is, detects the timing at which the positive / negative of the alternating current shown in FIG. 5A switches), and sequentially outputs the detection result to the microcomputer 321b.
The microcomputer 321b outputs a trigger signal to the phototriac coupler 321c at a timing (ignition angle) according to the current command value input from the control device 6.

The phototriac coupler 321c is an element that controls the ignition of the phototriac H by an optical signal, and includes a photocoupler P and a phototriac H.
The photocoupler P transmits the trigger signal input from the microcomputer 321b to the phototriac H as an optical signal. The phototriac H connects / disconnects the AC power supply U and the rectifier circuit 322 according to the trigger signal input from the photocoupler P.

Note that the AC current ignition time T _ON (see FIG. 5B) is specified by the timing (ignition angle) at which the trigger signal is input to the phototriac H, and a predetermined rectifier circuit 322 is supplied from the AC power source U. Current is supplied. When the alternating current is switched between positive and negative, the phototriac H is extinguished and returns to the initial state. Such a process is repeated for each half wave of the alternating current.
That is, the microcomputer 321b adjusts the ratio (hereinafter referred to as the ratio) of the ignition time T _{ON of the} phototriac H to the half cycle T / 2 of the alternating current (see the broken line in FIG. 5B). It has a function. Note that “ON” shown in FIG. 5B indicates the timing at which the trigger signal is input to the phototriac H.

  The rectifier circuit 322 shown in FIG. 6 is a circuit that performs full-wave rectification using four diodes D1 to D4 connected in a bridge. The input side is connected to the AC power supply U via the phototriac H, and the output side is smooth. The circuit 323 is connected. 5B is supplied to the rectifier circuit 322 via the phototriac H, and the rectifier circuit 322 further converts the current shown in FIG. 5C to the waveform shown in FIG. Wave rectified.

A smoothing circuit 323 shown in FIG. 6 is, for example, a capacitor C connected in parallel to the solenoid 31 and has a function of smoothing the current rectified by the rectifier circuit 322. The smoothing circuit 323 smoothes the current as shown in FIG. 5D, and the smoothed current (power) is supplied to the solenoid 31.
In the following description, when energizing the solenoid 31 with a predetermined “current value”, this “current value” means the average value of the current smoothed by the smoothing circuit 323 (see FIG. 5D). Means.

The shorter the arc extinguishing time T _OFF shown in FIG. 5B (that is, the earlier the ignition timing), the larger the current supplied to the solenoid 31 (see FIG. 5D), and the plunger 33 The force for moving forward (see FIG. 3) also increases. In this way, the drive circuit 32 adjusts the force for advancing the plunger 33 by adjusting the arc extinguishing time T _OFF from when the positive / negative of the alternating current is switched to when the phototriac H is fired. .

(About load in the door opening process)
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing load characteristics in the process of opening the refrigerator compartment door. In addition, the horizontal axis of the characteristic diagram shown in FIG. 7 is the opening angle of the refrigerator compartment door 21a, and the vertical axis is the load applied when the refrigerator compartment door 21a is opened (that is, the force required to open the door).
The opening angle θ _Max shown in FIG. 7 is the opening angle when the refrigerator compartment door 21a is opened to the maximum and its rotation is restricted by a stopper (not shown) (for example, θ _Max = 135 °). It is. The door opening angles θ1 and θ2 will be described later.

  As described above, a magnet is embedded in the door packing N (see FIG. 3) of the refrigerator compartment door 21a, and a closer (not shown) is installed in the hinge Ma (see FIG. 2) of the refrigerator compartment door 21a. ing. When the refrigerator compartment door 21a is closed, the door packing N of the refrigerator compartment door 21a is in close contact with the heat insulating box 11 by the magnetic force of the magnet and the elastic force of the closer.

  Therefore, at the beginning of opening of the refrigerator compartment door 21a, a relatively large load F1 is applied to the pressing member 34 to peel off the door packing N from the heat insulating box 11 (see FIG. 7). However, if the refrigerator door 21a is opened even slightly, it is released from the elastic force of the above-described closer and the attractive force of the magnet, and the load required for opening the door is drastically reduced (see FIG. 7). Note that a load F2 illustrated in FIG. 7 is a load generated by the frictional resistance of the hinge Ma (see FIG. 2).

  Considering that the load is suddenly reduced in the process of opening the refrigerator compartment door 21a in this way, in this embodiment, when the refrigerator compartment door 21a starts to open, a relatively large current is supplied to the solenoid 31 and then to the solenoid 31. The current was reduced.

<Processing of control device>
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of processing executed by the refrigerator control device.
In step S101 of FIG. 8, the control device 6 determines whether or not the refrigerator compartment door 21a is closed. That is, the control device 6 determines whether or not an off signal is input from the open / close detector 5a (see FIG. 1). When the refrigerator compartment door 21a is closed (S101 → Yes), the process of the control device 6 proceeds to Step S102. On the other hand, when the refrigerator door 21a has already been opened (S101 → No), the processing of the control device 6 returns to “START” (RETURN).

  In step S102, the control device 6 determines whether or not the user has operated the door opening switch 4a (see FIG. 1). That is, the control device 6 determines whether or not an opening signal for opening the refrigerator compartment door 21a is input from the opening switch 4a. When the door opening switch 4a is operated by the user (S102 → Yes), the process of the control device 6 proceeds to Step S103. On the other hand, when the door opening switch 4a is not operated by the user (S102 → No), the process of the control device 6 returns to “START” (RETURN).

In step S103, the control device 6 energizes the solenoid 31 with the current value I1 (first current value). That is, the control device 6 sets the ratio (= 2T _ON / T: see FIG. 5B) of the ignition time of the phototriac H (see FIG. 6) to a predetermined ratio K1, and sets the solenoid 31 with the current value I1. Energize to.
This ratio K1 is set to a relatively high value so that a large current can be passed through the solenoid 31 to advance the plunger 33 and the door packing N can be peeled off from the heat insulating box 11. That is, the ratio K1 is set so that the plunger 33 can be moved forward by the electromagnetic force corresponding to the load F1 in FIG. 7 and the refrigerator compartment door 21a can be rotated.

In step S104, the control device 6 determines whether or not a predetermined time Δt _A (for example, 30 msec: first predetermined time) has elapsed since the door opening switch 4a was operated. The predetermined time Δt _A is a time during which energization at the current value I1 is continued, and is set in advance.
When the predetermined time Δt _A has elapsed since the door opening switch 4a was operated (S104 → Yes), the processing of the control device 6 proceeds to step S105. On the other hand, when the predetermined time Δt _A has not elapsed since the door opening switch 4a was operated (S104 → No), the process of the control device 6 returns to Step S103.

In this way, by energizing the solenoid 31 for the predetermined time Δt _A at the current value I1, the refrigerator door 21a is pushed open. In other words, the length of the predetermined time Δt _A is set so that the refrigerator compartment door 21a can be opened reliably.

FIG. 9A is an explanatory diagram showing a change in the ratio of the ignition time of the phototriac to the half cycle of the alternating current. In addition, the time t0 shown to Fig.9 (a) is the time which started the electricity supply to the solenoid 31 (Namely, the time which started the opening of the refrigerator compartment door 21a).
At time t0 to t1, which is the initial stage of opening of the refrigerator compartment door 21a, the plunger 31 (see FIG. 3) and the pressing member 34 (see FIG. 3) are energized by energizing the solenoid 31 at a ratio K1 (corresponding to the current value I1). 3) can be moved forward to push open the refrigerator compartment door 21a.

FIG. 9B is an explanatory diagram showing a change in angular velocity in the process of rotating the refrigerator compartment door, and FIG. 9C is an explanatory diagram showing a change in the opening angle of the refrigerator compartment door. In addition, each time of Fig.9 (a), (b), (c) respond | corresponds.
As described above, when the solenoid 31 is energized at the ratio K1 at time t0 to t1 (see FIG. 9A), the speed of the opening angle (angular speed) of the refrigerator compartment door 21a slightly increases from zero (FIG. 9). 9 (b)).
The door opening angle θ1 (see FIG. 9C) at time t1 is, for example, 5 °. In this state, the load required to rotate the refrigerator compartment door 21a is rapidly reduced (see the door opening angle θ1 in FIG. 7).

  Next, in step S105 of FIG. 8, the control device 6 energizes the solenoid 31 with the current value I2 (second current value). That is, the control device 6 sets the phototriac H to a predetermined ratio K2 (see FIG. 9A) and energizes the solenoid 31. The ratio K2 is set to a value that allows a small current to flow through the solenoid 31 to further advance the plunger 33 and accelerate the rotation of the refrigerator compartment door 21a (see times t1 to t2 in FIG. 9B). .

Incidentally, at the start of step S105, the refrigerator compartment door 21a is slightly opened. When the solenoid 31 is energized with a relatively small current value I2 from this state, the plunger 33 further moves forward against the friction load of the hinge Ma (load F2 shown in FIG. 7).
As shown in FIG. 7, the load F <b> 2 that is a friction load of the hinge Ma is much smaller than the load F <b> 1 when the refrigerator compartment door 21 a that is in close contact with the heat insulating box 11 is peeled off. Accordingly, the ratio K2 corresponding to the current value I2 is set to a value lower than the ratio K1 corresponding to the current value I1 (> I2) so that the refrigerator compartment door 21a does not rotate unnecessarily quickly (FIG. 9 ( a)).

In step S106, the control device 6 determines whether or not a predetermined time Δt _B (eg, 700 msec: second predetermined time) has elapsed since the solenoid 31 was energized with the current value I2. The predetermined time Δt _B is a time during which energization of the solenoid 31 is continued at the current value I2, and is set in advance.

When the predetermined time Δt _B has elapsed since the start of energization of the current value I2 (S106 → Yes), the control device 6 stops energization of the solenoid 31 in step S107 and ends the process (END). On the other hand, when the predetermined time Δt _B has not elapsed since the start of energization of the current value I2 (S106 → No), the process of the control device 6 returns to step S105.

Thus, by energizing the solenoid 31 for the predetermined time Δt _B at the current value I2, even after the refrigerator compartment door 21a is separated from the pressing member 34, the refrigerator compartment door 21a is moved by a predetermined angle (for example, 90 °) by inertia. Can be rotated. In other words, the length of the predetermined time Δt _B is set so that the refrigerator door 21a is rotated to a sufficient angle by inertia.

  As shown in FIG. 9A, when the solenoid 31 is energized at a ratio K2 at times t1 to t2, the refrigerator compartment door 21a rotates while accelerating (see FIG. 9B). At time t2 when energization of the solenoid 31 is stopped (see FIG. 9A), the opening angle θ2 (FIG. 9C) of the refrigerator compartment door 21a is, for example, 20 °. After energization is stopped, the refrigerator compartment door 21a continues to rotate due to inertia, its angular velocity gradually decreases (see FIG. 9B), and its opening angle increases gradually (see FIG. 9C). ).

Thereafter, the rotation of the refrigerator compartment door 21a stops at, for example, an opening angle θ = 90 °. That is, when the solenoid 31 is energized for a predetermined time Δt _B at the current value I2 (see FIG. 9A), the refrigerator door 21a is sufficiently opened. Therefore, it is not necessary to open the refrigerator compartment door 21a with the user's own hand, which is convenient for the user.

<Effect>
In the present embodiment, in consideration of the load characteristics shown in FIG. 7, by energizing with a relatively large current value I1 in the initial stage of opening of the refrigerator compartment door 21a (S103: refer to FIG. 8), the heat insulating box 11 is in close contact with it. Thus, the refrigerator compartment door 21a can be reliably peeled off.
Further, after energizing the current value I1 for a predetermined time Δt _A , the solenoid 31 is energized with a current value I2 smaller than the current value I1. In this way, by reducing the current value in the middle of the door opening process, the refrigerator compartment door 21a can be smoothly opened with a force against the friction load of the hinge Ma.

If the solenoid 31 is continuously energized with a large current value I1 (that is, energized with the current value I1 at time t0 to t2 in FIG. 9A), the following situation occurs. That is, even after the door packing of the refrigerator compartment door 21 a is separated from the heat insulating box 11, the refrigerator compartment door 21 a is pressed with a large force by the door opening device 3. As a result, the refrigerating room door 21a is vigorously opened, giving the user a sudden feeling.
On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the current supplied to the solenoid 31 is reduced while the plunger 33 is moved forward. Thereby, the refrigerator compartment door 21a can be smoothly opened without giving a sudden feeling to a user.

Further, the predetermined time Δt _B during which the solenoid 31 is energized with the current value I2 is sufficient for the refrigeration chamber door 21a when the refrigeration chamber door 21a is rotated by inertia even after it is separated from the pressing member 34 and the rotation stops. Is set to open. Therefore, it is not necessary for the user to manually open the refrigerator compartment door 21a, which is convenient for the user.

<< Second Embodiment >>
The refrigerator S according to the second embodiment is provided with load detection means (not shown) for detecting the load on the refrigerator compartment door 21a, and the point of setting the current value I2 according to this load. Although different from the form, the other (the structure of the refrigerator S and the like) is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, a different part from 1st Embodiment is demonstrated and description is abbreviate | omitted about the part which overlaps with 1st Embodiment.

The load detection means (not shown) provided in the refrigerator S has a function of detecting the total weight of the refrigerator compartment door 21a and the food stored in the storage pocket (not shown) of the refrigerator compartment door 21a. ing.
The load detection means is, for example, a piezoelectric element (piezo element) disposed below the hinge Ma (lower hinge) of the refrigerator door 21a, and the electrical resistivity changes according to the total weight described above. ing. As the total weight increases, the friction load of the hinge Ma of the refrigerator compartment door 21a increases, and the load at the time of opening the door also increases. The load detection means outputs the detection value to the control device 6 every few minutes, for example.
Note that load detection means is also installed in the right refrigeration room door 21b.

  The control device 6 sets the ratio K2 (that is, the current value I2) to a larger value as the load (the total weight of the refrigerator compartment door 21a) detected by the load detecting means is larger. Note that the relationship between the load and the ratio K2 may be stored as a database in a storage unit (not shown) of the control device 6, or may be stored in the storage unit as a monotonically increasing function.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of processing executed by the refrigerator control device. Similarly to the first embodiment, after the opening switch 4a is operated (S102 → Yes), the control device 6 energizes the solenoid 31 with a relatively large current value I1 (S103).
Then, after energizing the current value I1 for a predetermined time Δt _A (S104 → Yes), the process of the control device 6 proceeds to step S201. Note that the refrigerator compartment door 21a is slightly rotated when the predetermined time Δt _A has elapsed.

In step S201, the control device 6 reads the detection value of the load detection means.
Next, in step S202, the control device 6 sets a current value I2 for energizing the solenoid 31 according to the detection value of the load detection means.
FIGS. 11A and 11B are explanatory diagrams showing changes in the ratio of the ignition time of the phototriac to the half cycle of the alternating current. The predetermined times Δt _A and Δt _B and the ratio K1 shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B are the same as those described in the first embodiment (see FIG. 9A).

For example, the food is not stored in the refrigerator compartment door 21a, when the detected value of the load detecting means is relatively small, as shown in FIG. 11 (a), the ratio K2 _alpha (i.e., the current value I2) is also small value Set to In this case, the friction load of the hinge Ma is small and the load required to open the refrigerator compartment door 21a is also small.
On the other hand, a number of food stored in the refrigerating compartment door 21a, when the detected value of the load detecting means is relatively large, as shown in FIG. 11 (b), the ratio K2 _beta (i.e., the current value I2) to a large value Is set. In this case, the friction load of the hinge Ma is large, and a large force is required to rotate the refrigerator compartment door 21a.

Thus, by setting the current value I2 according to the magnitude of the load, the refrigerator compartment door 21a can be rotated to a sufficient opening angle regardless of the amount of food stored. The magnitude of the current value I2 is such that the angular velocity of the refrigerator compartment door 21a when it is separated from the pressing member 34 becomes a predetermined value (so that it can be rotated to a sufficient opening angle by inertia). Is set in association with the size.
Then, the controller 6 energizes the solenoid 31 for a predetermined time Δt _B at the current value I2 (S105, S106: refer to FIG. 10), and then stops the energization (S107).

<Effect>
In the present embodiment, as described above, the current value I2 is set according to the load detected by the load detection means (S202: see FIG. 10). That is, the control device 6 sets the current value I2 to a larger value as the weight of the food stored in the refrigerator compartment door 21a is larger. Thereby, irrespective of the weight of the food stored in the refrigerator compartment door 21a, the refrigerator compartment door 21a can be rotated to a sufficient opening angle (for example, 90 °).

«Third embodiment»
The refrigerator S according to the third embodiment uses the open / close detectors 5a and 5b shown in FIG. 1 to detect the load on the refrigerator compartment doors 21a and 21b, how to change the current flowing through the solenoid 31, Is different from the second embodiment, but is otherwise the same as the second embodiment. Therefore, a different part from 2nd Embodiment is demonstrated and description is abbreviate | omitted about the part which overlaps with 2nd Embodiment.

  The open / close detector 5a (load detection means: see FIG. 1) provided in the refrigerator S is, for example, a magnetic sensor and has a function of detecting the distance between itself and the refrigerator compartment door 21a. When this distance exceeds a predetermined value, the open / close detector 5a detects that “the refrigerator compartment door 21a has been opened” and outputs the detection result to the control device 6.

The open / close detector 5a detects the distance between itself and the refrigerator compartment door 21a when a predetermined time Δt _A has passed since the solenoid 31 is energized with the current value I1, and the detected value is sent to the control device 6. It also has a function to output.
The right open / close detector 5b also has the same function as the left open / close detector 5a.

Incidentally, as the weight of the food stored in the refrigerator compartment door 21a increases, the friction load on the hinge Ma (see FIG. 2) also increases, and the door opening angle when the predetermined time Δt _A elapses decreases. That is, the distance between the open / close detector 5a and the refrigerator compartment door 21a is reduced.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the current value I2 is increased as the detection value of the open / close detector 5a decreases.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of processing executed by the refrigerator control device.
Similarly to the second embodiment, after the opening switch 4a is operated (S102 → Yes), the control device 6 energizes the solenoid 31 with a relatively large current value I1 (S103).
Then, after energizing the current value I1 for a predetermined time Δt _A (S104 → Yes), the processing of the control device 6 proceeds to step S105. Note that the refrigerator compartment door 21a is slightly rotated when the predetermined time Δt _A has elapsed.

  In step S105, the control device 6 energizes the solenoid 31 with a current value I2 smaller than the current value I1 in step S103. As described in the second embodiment, the current value I2 is set to a relatively small value so as not to rotate the refrigerator compartment door 21a unnecessarily fast.

Next, in step S301, the control device 6 determines whether or not a predetermined time Δt _C (for example, 200 msec: second predetermined time) has elapsed since the start of energization of the current value I2. The predetermined time Δt _C is a time during which the solenoid 31 is energized with the current value I2, and is set in advance.

When the predetermined time Δt _C has elapsed since the start of energization of the current value I2 (S301 → Yes), the processing of the control device 6 proceeds to step S302. On the other hand, when the predetermined time Δt _C has not elapsed since the start of energization of the current value I2 (S301 → No), the process of the control device 6 returns to step S105.

In step S302, the control device 6 reads the detection value of the open / close detector 5a (corresponding to the load of the refrigerator compartment door 21a). As described above, this detected value is the distance between the open / close detector 5a and the refrigerator compartment door 21a when the predetermined time Δt _c has elapsed. That is, the timing for detecting the distance (the rotation angle of the refrigerator compartment door 21a) is specified by the length of the predetermined time Δt _c .
In step S303, the control device 6 sets a current value I3 for energizing the solenoid 31 according to the detection value of the open / close detector 5a.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are explanatory diagrams showing changes in the ratio of the ignition time of the phototriac to the half cycle of the alternating current.
For example, the food has not been mostly accommodated in the refrigerating compartment door 21a, when the detected value of the opening detection unit 5a is relatively large, as shown in FIG. 13 (a), the ratio K3 _alpha (i.e., the current value I3) is Set to a small value. In this case, the friction load of the hinge Ma (see FIG. 2) is small, and the load required to open the refrigerator compartment door 21a is also small.

Further, a large amount of food is accommodated in the refrigerating compartment door 21a, when the detected value of the opening detection unit 5a is relatively small, as shown in FIG. 13 (b), the ratio K3 _beta (i.e., the current value I3) is greater value Set to In this case, the friction load of the hinge Ma is large, and a large force is required to rotate the refrigerator compartment door 21a.

Thus, by setting the ratio K3 according to the magnitude of the load, the refrigerator compartment door 21a can be rotated to a sufficient opening angle regardless of the amount of food stored.
In step S304 in FIG. 12, the control device 6 energizes the solenoid 31 with the current value I3.
Next, in step S305, the control device 6 determines whether or not a predetermined time Δt _D (for example, 500 msec) has elapsed since the start of energization of the current value I3. The predetermined time Δt _D is a time during which energization of the current value I3 is continued, and is set in advance. That is, the predetermined time Δt _D is set such that after the refrigerator compartment door 21a is separated from the pressing member 34, the refrigerator compartment door 21a is rotated to a sufficient opening angle by inertia.

When the predetermined time Δt _D has elapsed since the start of energization of the current value I3 (S305 → Yes), the control device 6 stops energizing the solenoid 31 in step S107 and ends the process (END). On the other hand, when the predetermined time Δt _D has not elapsed since the start of energization of the current value I3 (S305 → No), the process of the control device 6 returns to step S304.

<Effect>
According to the present embodiment, by using the open / close detector 5a as the “load detection means” for detecting the load of the refrigerator compartment door 21a, the load detection means is provided separately as in the second embodiment. Thus, the manufacturing cost of the refrigerator S can be reduced.
Further, the control device 6 sets the current value I3 when energizing the solenoid 31 according to the detection value of the open / close detector 5a (S302: see FIG. 12). That is, the control device 6 sets the current value I3 to a larger value as the weight of the food stored in the refrigerator compartment door 21a increases, and increases the area of the shaded portion Q shown in FIGS. 13 (a) and 13 (b). .
Accordingly, regardless of the weight of the food stored in the refrigerator compartment door 21a, the refrigerator compartment door 21a can be rotated to a sufficient opening angle (for example, 90 °), which is convenient for the user. .

≪Modification≫
As mentioned above, although each embodiment demonstrated the refrigerator S which concerns on this invention, this invention is not limited to these description, A various change can be made.
For example, in the first embodiment, after the microcomputer 321b (see FIG. 6) of the door opening device 3 ignites the photo triac H at the ratio K1 corresponding to the current value I1, the photo is performed at the ratio K2 corresponding to the current value I2. Although the case where the triac H is ignited has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the microcomputer 321b energizes the solenoid 31 with an on-duty corresponding to the current value I2 (<I1) after energizing the solenoid 31 with an on-duty corresponding to the current value I1 based on PWM control. Also good. Even in this case, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. Similarly, in the second and third embodiments, the solenoid 31 may be energized based on the PWM control.

Moreover, although each embodiment demonstrated the case where the French-type refrigerator compartment door 21a, 21b was opened with the door opening apparatus 3, it is not restricted to this. For example, a door opening device may be installed on the ceiling surface of the ice making room R2 shown in FIG. 1, and the drawer-type ice making room door 22 may be opened (moved) using the door opening device. The processing executed by the control device 6 is the same as that in each embodiment.
Similarly, the drawer-type upper freezer compartment R3, lower freezer compartment R4, vegetable compartment R5, etc. may be opened with a door opening device.

  In the second embodiment, a piezoelectric element (not shown) arranged below the hinge Ma of the refrigerator compartment door 21a is used as a “load detection means” for detecting a load when the refrigerator compartment door 21a is opened. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a weight sensor may be installed in a storage pocket (not shown) of the refrigerator compartment door 21a so as to directly detect the weight (that is, load) of the food stored in the storage pocket.

Moreover, although 3rd Embodiment demonstrated the case where the load at the time of opening the refrigerator compartment door 21a was detected with the opening / closing detector 5a, it is not restricted to this. For example, a potentiometer (load detection means) for detecting the opening angle of the refrigerator compartment door 21a is installed in the hinge Ma, and based on the detection value when the predetermined time Δt _C (see FIG. 13) has passed, The load required to open the door may be calculated.

In the third embodiment, the case where the time Δt _D for energization at the current value I3 is a fixed value and the current value I3 is variable has been described (see FIG. 13), but this is not limitative. That is, the current value I3 (where I2 <I3 <I1) may be a fixed value, and the time Δt _D (see FIG. 13) for energization at the current value I3 may be variable. Thereby, the impulse according to the load can be given to the refrigerator compartment door 21a, and the refrigerator compartment door 21a can be opened to a sufficient opening angle (for example, 90 °).
In the case described above, the sum (Δt _C + Δt _D ) of the time Δt _C for energizing at the current value I2 and the time Δt _D for energizing at the current value I3 is constant, and the time required increases as the load required for opening the door increases. It is preferable to lengthen Δt _D (that is, shorten time Δt _C ). This is because the time until the pressing member 34 leaves the refrigerating chamber door 21a becomes constant, and when the pressing member 34 moves away from the pressing member 34, the refrigerating chamber door 21 rotates at a predetermined angular velocity.

Incidentally, the solenoid 31 at a fixed value for both current value I3 and the time Delta] t _D, after the time energizing of the solenoid 31 with a current value I2 Delta] t _C has elapsed, the current value I3 (although, I2 <I3 <I1) May be energized.

  Moreover, each above-mentioned embodiment can be combined suitably. For example, the load detection unit (piezoelectric element disposed below the hinge Ma) described in the second embodiment is applied to the third embodiment, and the current value I3 is adjusted according to the detection value of the load detection unit. It may be.

Moreover, the said embodiment was described in detail in order to demonstrate this invention clearly, and is not necessarily limited to what is provided with all the demonstrated structures. Further, it is possible to add, delete, and replace other configurations for a part of the configuration of the embodiment.
Each of the above-described configurations, functions, processing units, processing means, and the like may be realized by hardware by designing a part or all of them, for example, by an integrated circuit. Further, the mechanisms and configurations are those that are considered necessary for the explanation, and not all the mechanisms and configurations on the product are necessarily shown.

S refrigerator 11 heat insulation box 21a, 21b refrigerator compartment door (door)
22 Ice making room door (door)
23 Upper freezer compartment door
24 Lower freezer compartment door
25 Vegetable room door (door)
3 Opening device 31 Solenoid 32 Drive circuit 33 Plunger 34 Press member 4a, 4b Opening switch 5a, 5b Open / close detector (load detection means)
6 Controller R1 Refrigeration room (storage room)
R2 ice making room (storage room)
R3 Upper freezer room (storage room)
R4 Lower freezer compartment (storage room)
R5 Vegetable room (storage room)

Claims (4)

An openable / closable door installed at the opening of the storage room;
A solenoid, a plunger that moves to open the door by energizing the solenoid, a pressing member that is fixed to the plunger and presses the door as the plunger moves, and a drive that energizes the solenoid A door opening device having a circuit;
When opening the door using the door opening device, a door opening switch operated by a user,
A control device for controlling energization to the solenoid,
The controller is
The solenoid is energized with a first current value for moving the door from a state in which the opening is closed until a first predetermined time has elapsed since the door opening switch was operated,
The refrigerator is characterized in that the solenoid is energized with a second current value smaller than the first current value after the first predetermined time has elapsed since the door opening switch was operated. Load detecting means for detecting a load when moving the door,
The controller is
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the second current value is set to a larger value as the load detected by the load detecting means is larger. The controller is
Energizing the solenoid with a third current value that is smaller than the first current value and greater than the second current value after a second predetermined time has elapsed since the start of energization with the second current value. The refrigerator according to claim 1. Load detecting means for detecting a load when moving the door,
The controller is
The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the third current value is set to a larger value as the load detected by the load detecting means is larger.

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