JP2792552B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator provided with a door open / close detecting device for detecting a door open / close state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a storage such as a refrigerator, as a method for detecting the open / closed state of a door, a mechanical contact or a reed switch system is mainly used. The reed switch for the freezer compartment and the reed switch for the refrigerator compartment, which respond to a magnet (magnetic field), are attached to the partition between them. A reed switch is turned on by the proximity of the door, and the opening and closing of the door has been detected by this method.

An example of a refrigerator disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-292772 will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0004] Reference numeral 1 denotes a refrigerator main body, which is composed of an outer box 2, an inner box 3, and foam insulation 4 filled between the two boxes 2, 3. 5 is a drawer type door, 6 is a frame vertically attached to both sides of the inner surface of the door, 7 is a bearing roller rotatably fixed to the frame 6 by caulking or the like, and a rail portion ( (Not shown) is slid back and forth to open and close the door.

[0005] 7 is a lower partition plate of the first storage room, 8 is a second partition
The upper partition plate of the storage room is integrally formed of plastic or the like. Reference numeral 9 denotes a heat insulating material such as a polystyrene foam incorporated between the partition plates 7 and 8.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a metal decorative plate located on the entire surface of both partition plates 7 and 8, and is fixed to the partition plates 7 and 8 with claws or the like. A packing 11 is press-fitted to the inner periphery of the drawer-type door 5 and is formed by an extruded product such as vinyl chloride.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a magnet incorporated in the packing, which is adsorbed on the metal decorative plate 10 to prevent air leakage in the refrigerator. Reference numeral 10a denotes an opening provided in the metal decorative plate, and 13 denotes a decorative cap for covering the opening 10a, which is integrally formed of plastic or the like. Reference numeral 14 denotes a printed circuit board, which is fixed to the decorative cap 13 with a nail (not shown) or the like.

A reed switch 15 opens and closes an electric circuit in response to a magnet (magnetic field), and is mounted and fixed to the printed circuit board 14 by soldering or the like. 16 is a first electric wire,
It passes through the polystyrene foam 9. Reference numeral 17 denotes a connector for electrically connecting the electric wire and the reed switch, and is mounted on the printed circuit board 14. Reference numeral 18 denotes a heat insulating material such as a polystyrene foam, which insulates the entire periphery of the decorative cap portion.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a cap-shaped handle integrally attached to the upper and lower ends of the drawer-type door 5, 20 denotes a magnet, which faces the reed switch 15 and the decorative cap 13 therebetween, and a part of the cap-shaped handle 19 is provided with a nail or the like. Installed and fixed.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a control board for controlling the entire refrigerator, and reference numeral 22 denotes an electrical component case for housing the control board, which is integrally attached to the outer box 2. Reference numeral 23 denotes a second electric wire which electrically connects the control board and the reed switch 15 and passes through the inside of the foamed heat insulating material 4. 24 is a first electric wire 23 and a second electric wire 2
4 is fixed to the inner box 3 by a relay connector for electrically connecting the same.

[0011] In the refrigerator configured as described above,
When the drawer-type door 5 is opened and closed, a magnet 20 incorporated in the cap-shaped handle 19 causes the opposing reed switch 15 to react by magnetic force, and detects whether the drawer-type door 5 is opened or closed.

[0012]

However, in the above-described configuration, the space between the reed switch 15 and the magnet 20 built in the cap-like handle 19 is made of metal to prevent the metal decorative plate 10 from affecting the magnet. It was necessary to provide the opening 10a in the decorative board 10. Therefore, the opening 10a
Requires a decorative cap 13 made of plastic or the like for the purpose of preventing intrusion of foreign substances such as dust and water. The decorative cap 13 corresponds to the outer shell of the refrigerator body, and has a large thickness to ensure strength. Was.

However, when the thickness of the decorative cap 13 is increased, the magnetic force of the magnet is hindered, and the detection capability of the reed switch 15 is reduced. Furthermore, a slight gap is generated between the decorative metal plate 10 and the decorative cap 13 due to physical property deterioration of the decorative cap 13, and the terminal portion of the built-in reed switch 15 is corroded due to intrusion of water or the like, causing malfunction. There was a problem to do.

The present invention provides a refrigerator that reliably detects the opening and closing of an openable and closable drawer door in view of the above-mentioned conventional disadvantages.

[0015]

A refrigerator according to the present invention has a magnet fixed to one end surface of a drawer-type door support frame and a magnetic sensor in a foam insulating material of the refrigerator facing the magnet. is there.

Further, a magnet is fixed to a side surface of the drawer-type door support frame, and a magnetic sensor is provided in the foamed heat insulating material facing the magnet.

[0017]

Therefore, the magnetic sensor (magnetic field) of the magnet on one end face of the drawer-type door support frame reacts with the magnetic sensor in the foam insulation of the refrigerator facing the magnet, and a signal for opening and closing the drawer-type door is detected.

Further, the magnetic sensor (magnetic field) of the magnet on the side surface of the drawer-type door support frame reacts with the magnetic sensor in the foam insulating material of the refrigerator facing the magnet, and a signal for opening and closing the drawer-type door is detected.

[0019]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention. Note that the same components as those of the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a connecting rod, which connects and reinforces the frames 6 attached to both sides of the inner surface of the drawer type door by caulking or the like.
Reference numeral 26 denotes a first bearing roller, which is attached to the front inside of the inner box 3 and slidably mounts the flange portion of the frame 6. A second bearing roller 27 is fixed to an end of the frame 6 by caulking or the like, and rides on rail portions 28 on both inner side surfaces of the inner box 3.

Reference numeral 29 denotes a magnet, and reference numeral 30 denotes a holder for mounting and fixing the magnet 29, which is fixed to the frame 6 by caulking or the like.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a printed board, and 32 denotes a magnetic sensor, which is fixed to the printed board 31 by soldering or the like. 33
Denotes a relay for electric wiring, which is mounted on the printed circuit board 31. 34 is an electric wire that electrically connects the magnetic sensor 32 and the control board 21 (not shown).

Next, the operation will be described. By pulling the drawer door 5 forward, the magnet 29 installed on the side of the frame 6 fixed to the drawer door moves away from the magnetic sensor facing this magnet 29. At this time, the contact in the magnetic sensor closes (or opens) due to the decrease in the magnetic force of the magnet 29, providing information as a signal to the control board, a light inside the refrigerator (not shown), a fan motor for cooling air (see FIG. (Not shown), or control such as an alarm.

FIG. 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a refrigerator corresponding to FIG. 1 showing a second embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same components as those of the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a connecting rod, which connects and reinforces the frames 6 attached to both sides of the inner surface of the drawer type door by caulking or the like.
Reference numeral 26 denotes a first bearing roller, which is attached to the front inside of the inner box 3 and slidably mounts the flange portion of the frame 6. Reference numeral 27 denotes a second bearing roller which is fixed by a side holder 30 of the frame 6 and rides on rail portions 28 on both inner side surfaces of the inner box 3.

Reference numeral 29 denotes a magnet, and reference numeral 30 denotes a holder for mounting and fixing the magnet 29, which is fixed to the frame 6 with claws or the like.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a printed board, and 32 denotes a magnetic sensor, which is fixed to the printed board 31 by soldering or the like. 33
Denotes a relay for electric wiring, which is mounted on the printed circuit board 31. 34 is an electric wire that electrically connects the magnetic sensor 32 and the control board 21 (not shown).

Next, the operation will be described. By pulling the drawer door 5 forward, the magnet 29 installed on the side of the frame 6 fixed to the drawer door moves away from the magnetic sensor facing this magnet 29. At this time, the contact in the magnetic sensor closes (or opens) due to the decrease in the magnetic force of the magnet 29, providing information as a signal to the control board, a light inside the refrigerator (not shown), a fan motor for cooling air (see FIG. (Not shown), or control such as an alarm.

[0030]

As described above, the present invention relates to a refrigerator comprising a main body, a door which can be opened and closed from the main body, and a door which is opened and closed detected by magnetic force. Since the magnetic sensor for detecting magnetic force is provided on the inner box side of the foam insulating material filled between the inner box and the outer box facing the magnet, a cover or the like between the magnetic sensor and the magnet becomes unnecessary, and Magnetic force deterioration due to the thickness can be prevented.

Further, since the magnetic sensor is in the foamed heat insulating material, malfunctions due to corrosion of the magnetic sensor due to entry of foreign matters such as water and dust can be prevented, and the electric wiring itself to be wired in the refrigerator compartment becomes unnecessary. It is possible to obtain an inexpensive and highly reliable door opening / closing detecting means.

Further, since a magnet is provided on the side surface of the drawer-type door frame and a magnetic sensor is provided at a position facing the magnet, the distance between the magnet and the magnetic sensor can be further reduced. This has the effect of improving the mountability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a refrigerator showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a refrigerator showing another embodiment corresponding to FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part of a conventional refrigerator.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional refrigerator.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body 5 Pull-out door 6 Frame 29 Magnet 32 Magnetic sensor

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A main body, a drawer-type door which can be opened and closed from the main body, a door support frame fixed to both inner surfaces of the drawer-type door, a magnet fixed to one end of the door support frame, and the magnet And a door opening / closing detection device that incorporates a magnetic sensor facing the main body into the heat insulating material of the main body. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a magnet is fixed to a side surface of the door supporting frame.