JP2021124208A - refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a refrigerator that can improve convenience.SOLUTION: A refrigerator comprises one or more storage chambers kept cold in a selected refrigerating temperature zone, a cooler installed outside the storage chambers, a temperature regulation part for regulating an amount of cold air flowing into the storage chambers, and a container provided in the storage chambers, and comprising a sealing structure for allowing closure or semi-closure.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to refrigerators.

Refrigerators with a chilled room in the refrigerator are known. Such a refrigerator is expected to further improve user convenience.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-90686

An object to be solved by the present invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of improving convenience.

The refrigerator of the embodiment includes one or more storage chambers that are kept cold in a selected refrigerating temperature zone, a cooler installed outside the storage chamber, and a temperature control unit that adjusts the amount of cold air flowing into the storage chamber. And a container provided in the storage chamber and having a closed or semi-closed sealing structure.

The front view of the refrigerator which concerns on embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. Sectional drawing of the storage chamber of embodiment. Front view of the rear wall of the container of the embodiment. Front view of the rear wall of the container of the embodiment. Rear view of the rear wall of the container of the embodiment. Front view of the rear wall of the modified container. A perspective view of the inside of the container of the modified example. Rear view of the rear wall of the modified container. Cross-sectional view of the rear wall of the container of the modified example. Cross-sectional view of the storage chamber of the modified example. Cross-sectional view of the storage chamber of the modified example. Side view of the container of the modified example. Front view of the storage room of the modified example.

Hereinafter, the refrigerator of the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, configurations having the same or similar functions are designated by the same reference numerals. Duplicate explanations of the configuration may be omitted. In this specification, the left and right are defined with reference to the direction in which the user standing in front of the refrigerator sees the refrigerator. The side closer to the user standing in front of the refrigerator when viewed from the refrigerator is defined as "front", and the side far from the refrigerator is defined as "rear". In the present specification, the "width direction" means the left-right direction in the above definition. In the present specification, the "depth direction" means the front-back direction in the above definition. In the figure, the + X direction is the right direction, the −X direction is the left direction, the + Y direction is the rear direction, the −Y direction is the front direction, the + Z direction is the upward direction, and the −Z direction is the downward direction. The term "A or B" as used in the present application is not limited to the case of either A or B, but includes the case of both A and B.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the refrigerator 1 according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the refrigerator in line AA of FIG. The refrigerator 1 has, for example, a housing 20, revolving doors 11 and 12, doors 13 to 16, a compressor 250, a first cooling mechanism 60, and a second cooling mechanism 70.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 20 has an upper wall 21, a lower wall 22, left and right side walls 23, 24, and a rear wall 25. The upper wall 21 and the lower wall 22 are arranged substantially horizontally. The left and right side walls 23 and 24 stand in a substantially vertical direction between the left and right ends of the lower wall 22 and the left and right ends of the upper wall 21. The rear wall 25 stands upright in a substantially vertical direction between the rear end of the lower wall 22 and the rear end of the upper wall 21.

The housing 20 has, for example, an inner box, an outer box, and a heat insulating portion. The inner box forms the inner surface of the housing 20, and the outer box forms the outer surface of the housing 20. A heat insulating portion containing a foamed heat insulating material such as urethane foam is provided between the inner box and the outer box. The housing 20 has heat insulating performance.

A plurality of storage chambers are provided inside the housing 20. The plurality of storage chambers include, for example, a first refrigerating chamber 81, a second refrigerating chamber 82, an ice making chamber 83, a small freezing chamber 84, and a main freezing chamber 85. In the embodiment, the first refrigerating chamber 81 is arranged at the uppermost part, the second refrigerating chamber 82 is arranged below the first refrigerating chamber 81, and the ice making chamber 83 and the small freezing chamber 84 are arranged below the second refrigerating chamber 82. The small freezer 84 is arranged below the ice making room 83 and the small freezer 84. The arrangement of the storage chamber is not limited to the above example, and for example, the arrangement of the second refrigerating chamber 82 and the small freezing chamber 84 may be reversed. The housing 20 has an opening on the front side of each storage chamber that allows food to be taken in and out of each storage chamber.

The left and right revolving doors 11 and 12 have front surfaces 111 and 121 facing the user standing in front of the refrigerator 1 and back surfaces 112 and 122 facing the inside of the first refrigerating chamber 81 when the revolving doors 11 and 12 are closed. And have. A plurality of storage pockets 31 are provided on the back surfaces 112 and 122.

As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 20 has a first partition 28 and a second partition 29. The first partition 28 and the second partition 29 are heat insulating partitions provided between the left and right side walls 23 and 24 along a substantially horizontal direction, and have heat insulating performance. The first partition 28 is located between the first refrigerating chamber 81 and the second refrigerating chamber 82, and partitions the first refrigerating chamber 81 and the second refrigerating chamber 82. For example, the first partition 28 forms the bottom of the first refrigerating chamber 81 and the ceiling of the second refrigerating chamber 82. The second partition 29 is located between the second refrigerating chamber 82 and the ice making chamber 83 and the small freezing chamber 84, and partitions the second refrigerating chamber 82 from the ice making chamber 83 and the small freezing chamber 84. There is. For example, the second partition 29 forms the bottom of the second refrigerating chamber 82 and the ceiling of the ice making chamber 83 and the small freezer compartment 84.

The openings of the plurality of storage chambers are closed by a plurality of doors so as to be openable and closable. The plurality of doors include, for example, the left and right rotary doors 11 and 12 that close the opening of the first refrigerating chamber 81, the second refrigerating chamber door 13 that closes the opening of the second refrigerating chamber 82, and the ice making chamber door that closes the opening of the ice making chamber 83. 14. Includes a small freezer door 15 that closes the opening of the small freezer 84, and a main freezer door 16 that closes the opening of the main freezer 85.

The first refrigerating chamber 81 is provided with a chilled chamber 86, a water supply tank chamber for ice making (not shown), and a plurality of shelves 30.

As shown in FIG. 2, a chilled chamber 86 is provided below the first refrigerating chamber 81. The chilled chamber 86 is configured to be able to keep cold in a temperature zone different from that of the refrigerating chamber. The chilled temperature zone, which is the cold insulation temperature of the chilled chamber, is, for example, 0 ° C. to 1 ° C. The periphery of the chilled chamber 86 is separated by a heat insulating member (a heat insulating plate and an internal heat insulating lid). The chilled chamber 86 is provided in the first refrigerating chamber 81. Therefore, in order to keep the temperature of the chilled chamber 86 in the freezing temperature zone lower than that of the first refrigerating chamber 81, the chilled chamber 86 is insulated by a heat insulating member. The temperature range of the chilled chamber 86 is lower than that of the refrigerating chamber and higher than that of the freezing chamber.

In this example, an ice making water tank chamber is provided on the side of the chilled chamber 86. An ice making water tank is provided in the ice making water tank chamber 73. The chilled chamber 86 and the ice water supply tank chamber 75 are separated by chilled side walls 92a and 92b. Water for ice making is stored in the water supply tank chamber 75 for ice making. An automatic ice making device (not shown) is installed behind the small freezer chamber 84. A water supply mechanism for supplying the water of the water tank for ice making to the water receiving container of the automatic ice making device is provided between the water supply tank for ice making and the automatic ice making device. The water supply mechanism pumps water in the water tank for ice making by, for example, operating a pump, and supplies the pumped water to a water receiving container through a water supply pipe. The water supplied to the water receiving container is supplied to the ice tray of the automatic ice making device via another water supply pipe. The ice produced by the automatic ice making device is automatically supplied to and stored in the small freezer chamber 84.

The ice making chamber 83 functions as an ice storage chamber for storing ice supplied from an automatic ice making device (not shown).

The ice-making water tank chamber and the ice-making water tank are not essential configurations. When the ice making water tank chamber is not provided, the chilled chamber 86 may be provided in substantially the entire width direction of the first refrigerating chamber 81.

The second refrigerating room 82 is used as a vegetable room. The second refrigerating chamber 82 is kept cold in a refrigerating temperature range suitable for storing vegetables, for example, 1 to 5 ° C. The second refrigerating room 82 is not limited to a storage room having a storage environment suitable for vegetables, and may be a storage room set in a refrigerating temperature zone equivalent to that of the first refrigerating room 81 and having a refrigerating function.

The small freezing chamber 84 and the main freezing chamber 85 are kept cold in a freezing temperature range, for example, −10 ° C. or lower. The second refrigerating chamber 82, the small freezing chamber 84, and the main freezing chamber 85 function as switching chambers. The switching chamber is configured so that the cold insulation temperature can be arbitrarily switched from the freezing temperature zone to the refrigerating temperature zone. The second refrigerating chamber 82, the small freezing chamber 84, and the main freezing chamber 85 function not only as a freezing chamber but also as a refrigerating chamber. Therefore, the second refrigerating chamber can be used as a freezing chamber, and the small freezing chamber 84 and the main freezing chamber 85 can be used as a refrigerating chamber. Details will be described later.

A temperature sensor is installed in the storage room. The temperature sensor is exposed in the storage chamber and detects the temperature in each storage chamber. As the temperature sensor, a known temperature sensor can be used, and examples thereof include a thermistor.

As shown in FIG. 2, the compressor 250 is provided, for example, in the machine room at the bottom of the refrigerator 1. The compressor 250 compresses the refrigerant gas used for cooling the storage chamber inside the housing 20. The refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor 250 is sent to the coolers 62 and 72 via a heat radiating pipe (not shown) or the like.

The first cooling mechanism 60 is a cooling mechanism in the refrigerating temperature zone. The first cooling mechanism 60 includes, for example, a blower duct 68, a cold air supply duct 69, a refrigerating cooler chamber 61, a refrigerating cooler 62, a refrigerating blower fan 64, and a chilled cold air outlet 65. A refrigerating air blower fan 64 is arranged behind the second refrigerating chamber 82, and a refrigerating chamber suction port 63 and an air duct 68 are provided. The refrigerating blower fan 64 blows air to the refrigerating cooler 62. The cooler 62 is installed outside the storage chamber. In the present specification, "sending air to the cooler" is not limited to the case where the fan is arranged on the upstream side of the cooler in the direction of air flow and blows air toward the cooler, but in the direction of air flow. This includes the case where the fan is arranged on the downstream side of the cooler and the surrounding air is sent further downstream to move the air located on the upstream side of the cooler toward the cooler. The air duct 68 communicates with the refrigerating cooler chamber 61. The refrigerating chamber suction port 63 is open to, for example, the second refrigerating chamber 82.

When the refrigerating air blower fan 64 is driven, the air in the second refrigerating chamber 82 is sucked into the refrigerating air blower fan 64 side from the refrigerating chamber suction port 63, and the sucked air is blown out to the air duct 68 side. .. The air blown out to the air duct 68 side comes into contact with the refrigerating cooler 62 to exchange heat and cool. The cooled air (cold air) passes through the cold air supply duct 69 and is blown out from the plurality of refrigerating cold air supply ports 69a to the first refrigerating chamber 81. The cooled air (cold air) is also blown out from the chilled cold air outlet 65 to the chilled chamber 86. The cold air that has flowed into the first refrigerating chamber 81 and the chilled chamber 86 flows into the second refrigerating chamber 82 through the rear vent 66, and is finally sucked into the refrigerating blower fan 64 and circulated.

In this circulation process, the air passing through the refrigerating cooler chamber 61 is cooled by the refrigerating cooler 62 to become cold air. By supplying cold air to the first refrigerating chamber 81, the first refrigerating chamber 81 is cooled to a temperature in the refrigerating temperature zone. By supplying cold air to the chilled chamber 86, the chilled chamber 86 is cooled to a temperature in the chilled temperature zone. Since the chilled chamber 86 is located closer to the refrigerating cooler 62 than the first refrigerating chamber 81 and the second refrigerating chamber 82, the chilled chamber 86 is lower than the refrigerating temperature zone (for example, 1 to 5 ° C.). It is maintained in the chilled temperature range (for example, 0 to 1 ° C.).

The second cooling mechanism 70 is a cooling mechanism in the freezing temperature zone. The second cooling mechanism 70 includes, for example, a freezing cooler chamber 71, a freezing cooler 72, and a freezing blower fan 76. A freezing cooler chamber 71 is provided in the ice making chamber 83, the small freezing chamber 84, and the back wall portion 6 of the main freezing chamber 85 in the freezing temperature zone of the refrigerator 1. The freezing cooler chamber 71 is provided with a freezing cooler 72, a defrosting heater (not shown), and the like. The cooler 72 is installed outside the storage chamber. A freezing blower fan 76 is arranged below the freezing cooler 72. A cold air outlet 77 is provided at the upper end of the front surface of the freezing cooler chamber 71, and a freezing chamber suction port 78 is provided at the lower end.

In this configuration, when the freezing blower fan 76 is driven, the cold air generated by the freezing cooler 72 is supplied from the cold air outlet 77 into the ice making chamber 83, the small freezing chamber 84, and the main freezing chamber 85. After that, it is returned from the freezing chamber suction port 78 into the freezing cooler chamber 71 and circulated. As a result, the ice making chamber 83, the small freezing chamber 84, and the main freezing chamber 85 are cooled.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first refrigerating chamber 81 is formed with a rear vent 66 that communicates with the second refrigerating chamber 82. The chilled chamber 86 communicates with other refrigerating chambers 81 and 82 having a higher temperature than the chilled chamber 86. The rear vent 66 is configured to be openable and closable. If the rear vent 66 is closed, the chilled chamber 86 can be used at the same cold insulation temperature as the first refrigerating chamber 81.

As shown in FIG. 2, a damper 5 is provided at the chilled cold air outlet 65 and the cold air outlet 77. The damper 5 is pivotally supported by a connecting shaft 55 (see FIG. 3) on a rear heat insulating wall 67 that separates the storage chamber from the cooler. The damper 5 is provided so that the opening areas of the chilled cold air outlet 65 and the cold air outlet 77 can be adjusted. For example, the damper 5 can rotate around the connecting shaft 55 to change the chilled cold air outlet 65 and the cold air outlet 77 from the fully closed state to the fully open state. The damper 5 can adjust the amount of cold air, which is the amount of cold air flowing into the storage chamber via the chilled cold air outlet 65 or the cold air outlet 77. As a result, the temperature in the storage chamber can be adjusted. The damper 5 is an example of a temperature control unit. The chilled cold air outlet 65 and the cold air outlet 77 are examples of communication ports.

As shown in FIG. 2, a container 3 is provided inside each of the chilled chamber 86, the second refrigerating chamber 82, the ice making chamber 83, the small freezing chamber 84, and the main freezing chamber 85, and has a drawer-type storage unit. .. Each container 3 is attached to a second refrigerator compartment door 13, an ice making chamber door 14, a small freezer compartment door 15, and a main freezer compartment door 16. The drawer container of the ice making chamber 83 is not shown. When the second refrigerating room door 13, the ice making room door 14, the small freezing room door 15, and the main freezing room door 16 are moved in the front-rear direction of the housing 20, each drawer container 3 moves following and stores in the container. You can put things in and out. Each drawer container 3 can be removed from each storage chamber, for example, during cleaning.

In the container 3, a rectangular container body and a front door are integrally formed. The front door is formed with a handle that projects forward. The container 3 is provided so as to be movable in the depth direction from a storage position in which the entire container 3 is stored in each storage chamber to a drawer position in which an article can be taken in and out by being pulled forward. The container 3 is made of, for example, a member such as a light-transmitting synthetic resin or glass, and a heat insulating sheet (not shown) is adhered to the container 3.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the second refrigerating chamber 82 in FIG. The plurality of containers 3 include a container having a sealing structure that can be closed or semi-closed. A container having a sealing structure is a container having a function of maintaining the freshness of foodstuffs such as vegetables. In the following description, a container having a sealing structure may be referred to as a “vegetable container”.

The vegetable container has a switching structure, and the inside of the container can be switched between a closed state and a non-closed state. The closed state means a state in which the container is closed to the extent that moisture can be prevented from being released from the inside of the container and the inside of the container can be prevented from drying. The closed state includes a semi-closed state having air permeability inside and outside the container as well as a closed state. The non-closed state means a state in which a part of the container communicates with the inside and outside and is opened.

The user can select the desired refrigerating temperature zone. For example, when the storage room is used as a vegetable room, the vegetable container is switched to the closed state and held. As a result, the humidity inside the container can be prevented from decreasing, and the inside of the vegetable container can be maintained at a humidity suitable for storing vegetables. When the storage chamber is kept cold in the freezing temperature zone or the chilled temperature zone, the vegetable container can be kept in a non-closed state to facilitate the introduction of cold air and maintain the low temperature zone. Therefore, the storage chamber can be set to an arbitrary cold storage temperature zone such as a vegetable storage temperature zone, a freezing temperature zone, and a chilled temperature zone according to the needs of the user. At this time, since the environment inside the vegetable container can be switched according to the set cold insulation temperature zone, the inside of the container can be maintained in a suitable environment. In addition, the vegetable container can be used as a container suitable for storing vegetables, or as a container suitable for a freezing temperature zone or a refrigerating temperature zone.

The second refrigerating chamber 82 is provided with upper and lower two-tiered vegetable containers 32 and 33. A large-capacity lower vegetable container 33 is provided in the lower part of the second refrigerating chamber 82, and an upper vegetable container 32 is provided above the lower vegetable container 33. The lower vegetable container 33 is provided with a substantially rectangular storage portion, and a partition wall 331 that partitions the storage portion back and forth is provided in the front portion. In the lower vegetable container 33, the storage portion on the rear side of the partition wall 331 can be sealed, and the upper opening of the storage portion on the front side of the partition wall 331 is always open. The partition wall 331 is provided at a position substantially equal to the front end portion of the upper vegetable container 32 in a state where the vegetable containers 32 and 33 are housed in the second refrigerating chamber 82.

The upper vegetable container 32 is provided between the upper end of the lower vegetable container 33 and the first partition portion 28. The upper vegetable container 32 can advance and retreat following the advance and retreat of the lower vegetable container 33 when the second refrigerating chamber door 13 is opened. The upper vegetable container 32 is provided so as to be able to manually advance and retreat from the lower vegetable container 33. Therefore, when the second refrigerating room door 13 is pulled out forward, if the upper vegetable container 32 is moved to the back side, the upper portion of the lower vegetable container 33 is opened, and stored items such as vegetables are taken in and out of the storage section. can.

A lid 4 is provided on the upper portion of the upper vegetable container 32. The lid 4 closes the opening at the top of the upper vegetable container 32. The lid 42 of the upper vegetable container 32 is attached to the top surface of the second refrigerating chamber 82. The lid 42 may be configured to close the upper opening of the upper vegetable container 32. For example, an example in which a packing is attached to the top surface of the second refrigerating chamber 82 at a position corresponding to the upper edge of the upper vegetable container 32 at the time of storage, or an area larger than the opening area of the upper portion of the upper vegetable container 32 is provided. It may be a plate-shaped member. The lid 4 is detachably provided with respect to the upper vegetable container 32.

As shown in FIG. 3, openings 52 and 53 are formed in the upper vegetable container 32 and the lower vegetable container 33. The openings 52 and 53 are openings that communicate with each other inside and outside the container. The opening 52 is formed in the rear wall 321 of the upper vegetable container 32. The opening 53 is formed in the rear wall 332 of the lower vegetable container 33. The openings 52 and 53 are arranged in the vicinity of the cold air outlet 77. Specifically, the opening 52 of the upper vegetable container 32 opens in the same front-rear direction as the cold air outlet 77 and faces the same. The opening 52 of the lower vegetable container 33 opens in the same front-rear direction as the cold air outlet 77 at a position close to the cold air outlet 77. The lower ends 522 and 533 of the openings 52 and 53 are located below the upper end 771 of the cold air outlet 77.

An upper plate 43 is provided at the rear end of the lower vegetable container 33 along the width direction. An opening 50 is formed in the upper plate 43. The opening 50 is provided at a position facing the cold air outlet 77. The opening surface of the opening 50 is opened along a direction orthogonal to the opening surface of the cold air outlet 77. The opening 50 is located below the upper end 771 of the cold air outlet 77.

The opening area between the front end of the upper plate 43 of the lower vegetable container 33 and the partition wall 331 is equal to or less than the area of the bottom of the upper vegetable container 32. When the second refrigerating chamber door 13 is closed and the vegetable containers 32, 33 are arranged in the storage positions in the second refrigerating chamber 82, the opening at the top of the lower vegetable container 33 is the bottom of the upper vegetable container 32. Is blocked by. The upper plate 43 constitutes a part of the lid of the lower vegetable container 33.

The openings 50, 52, 53 may be one opening or a plurality of openings as long as the containers 32, 33 have an opening area through which cold air can flow. As an example, an example having a plurality of openings shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 is shown. FIG. 3 shows one opening 50, 52, 53. 4 and 5 are views of the rear walls 321 and 332 of the containers 32 and 33 as viewed from the front. FIG. 6 is a rear view of the rear walls 321 and 332 of the containers 32 and 33. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a plurality of openings 52, 53 are formed in the rear walls 321, 332 of the containers 32, 33. The shapes of the openings 52 and 53 can be changed as appropriate. It may be an example in which all the openings have the same shape, or an example in which openings having a plurality of shapes are formed. It is preferable to use a plurality of openings 52, 53 having a small opening area because dust in the container does not easily fall out of the container.

The plurality of openings 52, 53 can be opened and closed by the shutter 9. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the openings 52 and 53 are open, and FIG. 5 shows a state in which the openings 52 and 53 are closed. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rear walls 321 and 332 are provided with an operation unit 90. The operation direction of the operation unit 90 and the movement direction of the shutter 9 are parallel. The shutter 9 is a plate material inserted into a guide groove 93 provided on the back surface of the rear walls 321 and 332. The shutter 9 is provided so as to be movable along the guide groove 93 in the width direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG. The shutter 9 is formed with a plurality of openings 94 corresponding to the shapes of the openings 52 and 53. An operation unit 90 is provided on the shutter 9 so as to project. The operation unit 90 is inserted into the operation groove 91 that opens in the rear walls 321 and 332, and protrudes into the containers 32 and 33. When the user grips the operation unit 90 and moves it in the width direction, the shutter 9 moves relative to the rear walls 321 and 332, and the openings 52 and 53 are opened and closed. A display window 92 is formed on the rear walls 321 and 332. The shutter 9 is provided with "OPEN" and "CLOSE" indications indicating the open / closed states of the openings 52 and 53. When the shutter 9 is arranged at a position that closes the openings 52 and 53, "CLOSE" is displayed on the display window 92. When the opening 94 of the shutter 9 is arranged at the same position as the openings 52 and 53 and the shutter 9 is arranged at the position where the openings 52 and 53 are opened, "OPEN" is displayed on the display window 92. ing. The shutter 9, the guide groove 93, and the operation unit 90 are examples of switching units in which the vegetable containers 32 and 33 can be switched between the closed state and the non-closed state. The opening 50 of the upper plate 43 is also provided with a switching portion having the same configuration as described above.

The display of "OPEN" and "CLOSE" indicating the opened / closed state and the display window 92 are not indispensable configurations. For example, if a shutter 9 having a color symmetrical to the colors of the rear walls 321 and 332 is used, the opened / closed state of the openings 52 and 53 can be easily visually recognized. In this case, it is not necessary to provide the display and the display window 92.

As shown in FIG. 3, the bottom 301 of the container 3 is provided with a discharge port 302 and a lid 304 for closing the discharge port 302. The discharge port 302 can easily remove dust and dirt in the container 3. Since the discharge port 302 is closed by the lid 304, it does not affect the environment inside the container during use.

The configuration of the switching unit is not limited to the configuration shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. For example, the configuration of the modification shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 may be used. In the modified example shown in FIG. 7, the shutter 9A and the guide groove 93A are provided inside the rear walls 321 and 332, and the shutter 9A moves in the width direction to open and close the openings 52 and 53. In the example shown in FIG. 7, an operation bar 90A projecting forward is provided at the end of the shutter 9 in the width direction. The rear walls 321 and 332 are provided with a stopper 900 at a position near the openings 52 and 53 and at a position where the shutter 9 is moved and terminated. When the user grasps the operation bar 90A and moves the shutter 9A, the openings 52 and 53 are opened and closed.

The modified example shown in FIG. 8 has a configuration in which the openings 53 and 54 are opened and closed by a rotating plate 9B that can rotate with respect to the rear walls 321 and 332 instead of the shutter 9. The rotating plate 9B is rotatably attached to the rear walls 321 and 332 by a shaft support portion 93B. The rotating plate 9B is formed with a locking hole 901 at the rotating end. Two stoppers 900B are provided on the rear walls 321 and 322 so as to project. The stopper 900B has a size into which the locking hole 901 can be inserted, and the locking hole 901 is formed at a position where the locking hole 901 can be externally fitted in a state where the rotating plate 9B is in surface contact with the rear walls 321 and 332. .. The user rotates the rotating plate 9B to switch the openings 52 and 53 to the fully open position or the fully closed position. The rotating plate 9B is an example of a shutter.

In the above-described embodiment and modification, the switching portion is provided on the rear walls 321 and 332 of the containers 32 and 33, but the position where the switching portion is provided is not limited to the rear walls 321 and 332. A switching portion may be provided at the rear portion of the above-mentioned upper plate 43 or the side wall in the width direction of the containers 32 and 33.

The modified examples shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 are examples in which the moving direction of the operation unit 90C and the moving direction of the shutter 9C are different. As in this modification, the moving direction of the shutter 9C and the switching operation direction of the operation unit 90 may be different directions. FIG. 9 is a rear view of the rear walls 321, 332 of the vegetable containers 32 and 33 of this modified example as viewed from the rear. FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the switching portion shown in FIG. 9 along the front-rear direction. In this modification, the operation bar 903 having the operation unit 90 is arranged behind the rear walls 321 and 332. A rack 904 is formed on the operation bar 903. As shown in FIG. 9, the operation groove 91 extends in the vertical direction. The operation unit 90 of the operation bar 903 projects inward from the operation groove 91 of the rear walls 321 and 332. The operation bar 903 is locked so as to be movable in the vertical direction along the operation groove 91. A pair of guide grooves 93C are provided in the horizontal direction on the back surface of the rear walls 321 and 332. The shutter 9C is supported by the guide groove 93C so as to be movable along the guide groove 93C. A rack 906 is provided on the lower end side of the shutter 9C. A pinion 905 is rotatably attached to the rear walls 321 and 332. The pinion 905 meshes with the rack 904 of the operation bar 903 and the rack 906 of the shutter 9C. When the operation unit 90 is moved in the vertical direction, the pinion 905 rotates, the shutter 9C moves in the horizontal direction, and the openings 52 and 53 are opened and closed in the same manner as the shutter 9 shown in FIGS. 4 to 6.

According to this modification, the moving direction of the shutter 9C and the operating direction of the operation unit 90 of the shutter 9C are orthogonal to each other. That is, the shutter 9C moves in the width direction, and the operation unit 90 moves in the vertical direction. Therefore, the operability when opening and closing the shutter 9C is high.

Next, the self-closing structure of the lid of the vegetable container will be described. The vegetable container 3 is closed by closing the opening of the container with a lid to prevent a decrease in humidity in the storage portion. The lid automatically closes the opening of the container by opening and closing the door of the storage room. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an example in which the vegetable container 3 is provided in the small freezing chamber 84. FIG. 11 shows the same vertical cross section as in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 11, a pair of guide portions 921 are provided on the inner surfaces of the pair of side walls 841 on both sides in the width direction of the second refrigerating chamber 82. FIG. 11 shows only one of the inner surfaces of the pair of side walls 841. The guide portion 921 is formed on the side wall 841 so as to extend in the depth direction. The guide portion 921 is inserted into the guide rail of the container described later.

The guide portion 231 has a first portion 231a, a second portion 231b, and a third portion 231c in this order from the front side. The first part 231a and the third part 231c extend substantially horizontally. The height of the third part 231c is higher than that of the first part 231a. The second part 231b between the first part 231a and the third part 231c is inclined upward toward the rear and is connected to the first part 231a and the third part 231c. The guide portion 231 is formed at a position corresponding to the moving range of each vegetable container 3. Each vegetable container 3 is provided with guide rails 310 on the outer surfaces of both ends in the width direction. Each vegetable container 3 is provided with a guide rail 310 supported by a guide portion 231 and movable along the guide portion 231.

Since the guide portion 231 has a high third portion 231c, when the vegetable container 3 is arranged at the storage position, the guide portion 231 is guided to a position higher than the state in which the vegetable container 3 is pulled out. At the storage position, the upper end of the vegetable container 3 comes into contact with the lid and is closed. When the vegetable container 3 is pulled out, the vegetable container 3 is opened at a lowered position along the guide portion and is in a non-closed state.

In addition to the above aspects, a self-closing structure may be provided between each storage chamber and each container 3. FIG. 12 is an example of a small freezing chamber 84D having a self-closing structure. The upper surface of the floor is formed so that the depth side in the depth direction is lowered. The lower surface 300 of the vegetable container 3 is made to correspond to the shape of the upper surface of the bottom, and the lower surface 300 of the vegetable container 3 is lowered in the depth direction. Due to the self-closing structure, when the user slightly pushes the vegetable container 3 pulled out forward toward the back side, the vegetable container 3 is automatically moved to the storage position.

The autistic structure is not limited to this example. For example, the side surface of the vegetable container 3 may be supported on the side wall of the storage chamber via a guide rail and a guide portion. In this case, the back side of the guide portion having the self-closing structure is lowered. When the vegetable container 3 is arranged in the small freezing chamber 84, the guide rail 310 of the vegetable container 3 comes into contact with the guide portion. The back side of the guide part is lowered. When the vegetable container 3 is pushed backward, the rear end portion of the guided portion advances to the back side, and when it reaches the descending portion of the guide portion, the vegetable container 3 is guided by the weight of the vegetable container 3 and the stored items. Move to the back side along the inclined surface of the part.

When the self-closing structure is provided, the vegetable container 3 is lower in the storage position than when it is pulled out forward. The lid is fixed to the top surface of the first partition 28 so as to be lower than the upper edge of the vegetable container 3 when pulled forward. The lid is provided so as to project downward from the top surface. When the vegetable container 3 is housed by the self-closing structure, the vegetable container 3 is lowered downward, and the opening at the upper end is in close contact with the lid and is closed. When the vegetable container 3 is pulled forward, the opening at the upper end is opened apart from the lid.

Next, the lid elevating structure 400 will be described. FIG. 13 is a side view showing an example of the vegetable container 3 provided with the lid elevating structure 400. The lid elevating structure 400 includes a structure in which the lid 4 of the vegetable container 32 closes by itself when the door of the storage chamber is closed, and the lid 4 automatically opens when the vegetable container 3 is pulled out from the storage chamber. As shown in FIG. 13, an inclined surface 303 is formed on the upper portion of the front end portion of the vegetable container 3. The inclined surface 303 is inclined so that the height increases from the front end of the vegetable container 3 toward the rear. The lid 4 has a hanging portion 41 formed at the lower end of the front portion. The hanging portion 41 of the lid 4 is inclined so that the front end portion hangs down from the rear portion. As a result, when the vegetable container 3 is pulled out from the storage chamber, the hanging portion 41 of the lid 4 moves relative to the inclined surface 303 of the vegetable container 3, and the lid 4 rises. When the vegetable container 3 is pushed to the storage position, the hanging portion 41 of the lid 4 moves along the inclined surface 303 of the vegetable container 3, and the lid 4 is lowered. As described above, the lid elevating structure 400 may have a structure in which the lid 4 elevates and retracts in conjunction with the movement of the vegetable container 3, and the lid 4 may be self-closing.

FIG. 14 is a front view schematically showing the second refrigerating chamber 82 provided with the lid elevating structure 400A. In FIG. 14, the second refrigerator compartment door 13 is omitted. The lid elevating structure 400A is provided between the lid 4 and the first partition portion 28. The lid elevating structure 400A has an operating portion 401 and a rotating portion 402. The rotating portion 402 is rotatably attached to the top surface of the second refrigerating chamber 82. The upper end of the rotating portion 402 is pivotally supported by the top surface of the second refrigerating chamber 82, and the lower end is pivotally supported by the lid 4. A plurality of rotating portions 402 are provided. The operation unit 401 is provided so as to be movable in the width direction of the second refrigerating chamber 82. The operation unit 401 and the rotating unit 402 are connected by a gear structure (not shown). When the operating portion 401 is moved in the first direction in the width direction, the lower end portion of the rotating portion 402 rotates toward the top surface, and the lid 4 rises while moving in the same direction as the first direction. When the operation unit 401 is moved in the second direction in the width direction opposite to the first direction, the lower end portion of the rotating unit 402 rotates toward the vegetable container 3 side, and the lid 4 lowers. The operation unit 401 includes a lock mechanism that is locked at the movement end in the first direction and the movement end in the second direction.

For example, when the second refrigerating chamber 82 is used as a freezing chamber, the lid 4 is raised when the damper 5 is opened and the user moves the operation unit 401 in the first direction. When the operation unit 401 is locked, the lid 4 is held in a state of being separated from the vegetable container 3. When the second refrigerating chamber 82 is used as a vegetable compartment, the lid 4 is lowered when the damper 5 is closed and the user moves the operation unit 401 in the second direction. When the operation unit 401 is locked, the state in which the lid 4 covers the upper part of the vegetable container 3 is maintained when the vegetable container 3 is stored.

When the lid elevating structure 400A is provided, if the lid elevating structure is provided between the vegetable container 3 and the storage chamber, the lid 4 can be used by switching between when it is used and when it is not used. That is, when the storage room is used as a vegetable room, the environment inside the container is maintained in an environment suitable for storing vegetables by the vegetable container 3. On the other hand, when the storage chamber provided with the vegetable container 3 having a sealing structure is used in the freezing temperature zone, the vegetable container 3 is a container suitable for frozen storage without using the lid 4 of the vegetable container 3. Can be used as.

The storage chamber provided with the lid elevating structure 400 is not limited to the second refrigerating chamber 82. The lid elevating structure 400 may be provided in the small freezing chamber 84 or the main freezing chamber 85. The second refrigerating chamber 82, the small freezing chamber 84, and the main freezing chamber 85 may be provided with a lid elevating structure 400 and a vegetable container 3, respectively.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the vegetable container 3 is provided in each of the plurality of storage chambers is shown, but the present disclosure is not limited to this embodiment. A container that can be installed in any of the plurality of storage chambers may be provided, and each storage chamber may be provided with a structure that supports the container so that it can be pulled out. In addition, the vegetable container 3 may be configured to be installed in each storage chamber in the same manner. For example, the user arbitrarily selects a storage room to be used as the vegetable room from a plurality of storage rooms for the vegetable container 3 that can be switched between the closed state and the non-closed state. Even in a mode in which the amount of cold air is suppressed by the temperature control unit and the vegetable container 3 is attached to the selected storage chamber, it is possible to provide a storage chamber having a high vegetable freshness-maintaining ability as described above. In this case, for example, a wheel or a sliding structure may be provided in the lower part of the vegetable container 3 so that the vegetable container 3 can be smoothly put in and taken out from the floor surface of the storage chamber.

According to the above embodiment, the inside of the container can be switched between a closed state and a non-closed state according to the cold storage temperature of the storage chamber. Therefore, for example, when the storage room is used as a vegetable room, the container is kept in a closed state to prevent the humidity inside the container from decreasing, and when the storage room is kept cold in the freezing temperature zone or the chilled temperature zone, the container is not used. It can be closed to maintain a low temperature range. Therefore, the storage chamber can be set to an arbitrary cold storage temperature zone such as a vegetable storage temperature zone, a freezing temperature zone, and a chilled temperature zone according to the usage mode of the user. At this time, since the environment inside the container can be switched according to the set cold insulation temperature zone, the inside of the container can be maintained in a suitable environment.

According to the above embodiment, the switching unit includes a shutter, and the shutter can be moved to open and close the opening. Therefore, the environment inside the container can be switched with a simple configuration.

According to the above embodiment, the moving direction of the shutter and the operating direction of the operation unit of the shutter are parallel. As a result, the user can intuitively recognize the opening / closing operation of the shutter, and the user can easily operate the shutter.

According to the above embodiment, since the container is provided with a sealing structure, the storage chamber can be maintained in a suitable environment as a vegetable compartment. As a result, when the storage room is used as a vegetable room, the vegetables can be stored in a fresh state.

According to the above embodiment, since the container can be switched between the closed state and the non-closed state, when the storage chamber is used as a vegetable compartment, the container is kept in the closed state and the inside of the container is suitable for storing vegetables. Can be maintained in a friendly environment. On the other hand, when the storage chamber is used as a freezing chamber or a chilled chamber, the container can be kept in a non-closed state and the temperature inside the container can be kept in the freezing temperature zone or the chilled temperature zone. As a result, the user can set the storage chamber to an arbitrary cold insulation temperature zone according to the usage situation, and can maintain the environment inside the container in a suitable state according to the set cold insulation temperature.

According to the above embodiment, since the openings 52 and 53 of the container 3 are arranged in the vicinity of the cold air outlet 77, the cold air flowing in from the outside of the storage chamber via the cold air outlet 77 can be efficiently flowed into the container 3. Can be introduced within. As a result, the refrigeration efficiency can be improved.

According to the above embodiment, since the openings 52 and 53 of the container 3 are located below the upper end 771 of the cold air outlet 77, cold air can be efficiently introduced into the container 3 in the non-closed state. As a result, the refrigeration efficiency can be improved.

According to the above embodiment, the opening surfaces of the openings 52 and 53 of the container 3 are installed in a direction orthogonal to the opening surface of the cold air outlet 77, and the openings 52 and 53 of the container 3 are the cold air outlet 77. Since it is located below the upper end 771 of the container 3, cold air can be efficiently introduced into the container 3 in the non-closed state. As a result, the refrigeration efficiency can be improved.

According to the above embodiment, since the opening of the container is formed on the back surface side or the top surface side, cold air can be efficiently introduced into the container in the non-closed state. As a result, the refrigeration efficiency can be improved.

According to the above embodiment, the upper plate 43 is provided with an opening 50 located in a direction perpendicular to the opening surface of the cold air outlet 77 provided with the damper 5, and the opening surface of the opening 50 is a cold air blower. It is located below the upper end 771 of the opening of the outlet 77. As a result, cold air easily flows into the container 3 when the container is not sealed, and the refrigerating efficiency can be improved.

According to the above embodiment, the lid is raised and lowered according to the opening / closing operation of the door, and the container is switched between the closed state and the non-closed state. As a result, the user does not need to open the lid, and when the door is opened, the inside of the container is opened, and stored items such as vegetables can be stored or taken out. When the user closes the door, the lid covers the container and keeps the inside of the container closed. Therefore, it is possible to provide a refrigerator having excellent user convenience.

According to the above embodiment, the cold insulation temperature of the plurality of storage chambers can be set to an arbitrary temperature zone, and the inside of the container can be switched between a closed state and a non-closed state. As a result, the user can use the desired storage room among the plurality of storage rooms as a vegetable room having a high freshness-retaining ability.

According to the above embodiment, since the storage chamber can be switched between the refrigerating temperature zone mode and the rapid refrigerating mode, the storage performance of food can be improved. Specifically, when the damper 5 is fully closed, the cold air in the freezing temperature zone from the cooler does not flow into the storage chamber and is maintained in the refrigerating temperature zone. By opening the damper 5 with a constant opening amount that is not fully open and holding it for a certain period of time while being held in the refrigerating temperature zone, cold air in the freezing temperature zone flows into the storage chamber and the temperature in the storage chamber is rapidly increased. Can be lowered. Therefore, for example, uncooled food can be placed in a storage chamber and rapidly refrigerated, and the storage performance of the food can be improved.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the upper vegetable container 32 and the lower vegetable container 33 are provided in the second refrigerating chamber 82 is shown, but the configuration is such that the upper and lower two-stage vegetable containers 32 and 33 are provided in the second refrigerating chamber 82. Is not a required configuration. For example, one of the upper vegetable container 32 and the lower vegetable container 33 may be provided.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the switching structure provided in each container of the plurality of storage chambers is different is shown, but the switching structure of the containers provided in the plurality of storage chambers is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, a container with a lid and a lid elevating structure may be provided in all storage chambers. In this case, the user can open and close the lid of the storage room only by opening and closing the door of the storage room, and the user can easily operate it. As another example, a container having a switching structure having a slider may be installed in all storage chambers.

Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, as well as in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

1 ... refrigerator, 3 ... container, 4 ... lid, 9,9A, 9B, 9C ... shutter, 400 ... lid elevating structure, 4,42 ... lid, 50,52, 53 ... Opening, 62,72 ... Cooler, 82,84,85 ... Refrigerator room (storage room)

Claims (10)

One or more storage chambers that are kept cool in the selected refrigeration temperature range,
A cooler installed outside the storage room and
A temperature control unit that adjusts the amount of cold air flowing into the storage chamber,
A container provided in the storage chamber and having a closed or semi-closed sealing structure,
Refrigerator equipped with. With multiple storage rooms
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the cold insulation temperature zones of the plurality of storage chambers can be switched by the temperature control unit. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a switching unit capable of switching between a closed state in which the container is closed or semi-closed and a non-closed state. The switching unit includes a movable shutter and has a movable shutter.
The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the container is switched between a closed state in which the container is closed or semi-closed and a non-closed state by the shutter. The refrigerator according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the switching unit is provided on the back surface or the top surface of the container and is arranged in the vicinity of the temperature control unit. An opening communicating with the inside and outside of the container is formed in the container.
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the switching portion is configured so that cold air can flow into the container from the opening when the switching portion is not closed. The temperature control unit is provided with a communication port that communicates with the inside and outside of the storage chamber.
The opening is provided at a position facing the communication port.
The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the lower end of the opening is located below the upper end of the communication port. The temperature control unit is provided with a communication port that communicates with the inside and outside of the storage chamber.
It is provided at a position where the opening and the communication port face each other.
The opening surface of the opening is along a direction orthogonal to the opening surface of the communication port.
The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the opening is located below the upper end of the communication port. The lid provided on the top surface side of the storage chamber and
A lid elevating structure for raising and lowering the lid to switch the container between a closed or semi-closed state and a non-closed state is provided.
The semi-closed state in which the lid is lowered to cover the upper part of the container by the lid elevating structure and the non-closed state in which the lid is located on the top surface side are maintained. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which is configured to be switchable to. A door provided at the front of the storage chamber
The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein when the storage chamber is in the closed or semi-closed state, the lid elevating structure interlocks with the opening / closing operation of the door to elevate the lid.

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