JP3819743B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a refrigerator including a refrigeration circuit in which a compressor, an evaporator for cooling a storage room, and the like are connected in a ring shape with a refrigerant pipe.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A refrigerator having a normal operation mode and a demonstration operation mode is known. This normal operation mode is a normal operation mode in which the refrigerator compartment, the freezer compartment, etc. are controlled to a predetermined temperature. The demo operation mode is a compressor and one of the controls in the normal operation mode. This is an operation mode in which only the operation of the blower fan is stopped.
[0003]
This demonstration operation mode is generally set at a store. This storefront demonstration operation mode allows customers to check the operating status of the refrigerator, for example, the lighting status of the interior lamp, the display status on the display, how to use various setting switches, It will be helpful when purchasing.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the refrigerator is sold after being set to the demo operation mode at the store, and there is a risk that the refrigerator may be forgotten to be canceled and carried to the customer's home.
[0005]
In this case, the customer may not be aware of the demo operation mode and may request a service as a refrigerator failure.
[0006]
Although it is extremely rare, if the user pushes various switches while using the refrigerator, the demonstration operation mode is set by chance and the demonstration operation (operation in the demonstration operation mode) is performed. Sometimes.
[0007]
Such symptoms are not a malfunction of the refrigerator, so if you know that it is in the demo operation mode, when the sales company or service company receives a phone call, the purchaser or user can cancel the demo operation mode. Can be communicated. However, if the customer or the user does not know that the operation mode is the demonstration operation mode, various factors are considered, and a wasteful effort is spent until the solution.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The refrigerator of this invention is characterized by notifying that the operation is in the demonstration operation mode.
[0009]
[0010]
Furthermore, the present invention provides a refrigeration circuit in which a compressor, an evaporator for cooling a storage room, and the like are connected in a ring shape with a refrigerant pipe, a display for displaying the state and various settings in the storage room, and the various settings. Switch and the compressor to control the stored items stored in the storage room to a predetermined temperature, or turn on the interior lamp of the storage room when the door of the predetermined storage room is opened A normal operation mode for controlling the compressor in a stopped state, and a demo operation mode for controlling the lighting of the interior lamp and the like in the same manner as the normal operation mode according to the operation of the switch. A refrigerator equipped with a control device that performs switching and control is provided with a sound notification device that informs by sound of an alarm or operation completion, and the control device previously indicates that the demonstration operation mode is in progress during the demonstration operation mode. Notify with a voice alarm It is those with a control means.
[0011]
[0012]
Furthermore, it is configured such that the notification by the voice alarm is performed when the power is turned on in the state where the demonstration operation mode is set.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of the refrigerator of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing each control device of the refrigerator.
[0014]
Reference numeral 1 denotes a refrigerator, which partitions the inside of the heat insulating box to form a plurality of storage rooms. These storage rooms are switched from the top to the refrigerated room controlled to about 3 ° C, the vegetable room controlled to about 5 ° C, the ice making room where an automatic ice maker is arranged, the refrigerated room, the freezer room, etc. A usable switching room, a freezing room controlled at about −20 ° C.
[0015]
2 is a door for a refrigerator room, 3 is a door for a vegetable room, 4 is a door for an ice making room, 5 is a door for a switching room, and 6 is a door for a freezer room.
[0016]
7 is an operation panel, and a plurality of operation switches 8 and a liquid crystal display for displaying an operation state (for example, energy-saving operation or demonstration operation) set by the switch, and a set temperature of the refrigerator compartment or freezer compartment. A container 9 is provided.
[0017]
Further, the operation panel 7 has a sound alarm 10 composed of a small speaker (or a semiconductor element) for notifying an alarm, guidance, operation completion or the like with an alarm sound or a sound such as an artificially synthesized voice. It has. Here, the alarm is, for example, that the door is not completely closed or that there is an abnormality in the refrigerator by voice synthesis voice, and the operation completion notification is when the switch is pressed. For example, a “beep” sound that informs the user that the button has been pressed.
[0018]
Reference numeral 11 denotes a display drive circuit for displaying specific characters and symbols, numbers indicating temperature, etc. on the display 9, 12 denotes a sound alarm drive circuit for outputting sound, and 13 denotes a door 2 for the refrigerator compartment. A door switch that is switched on when opened, 14 is an interior lamp that lights when the door switch is switched on and illuminates the refrigerator compartment, and 15 is a circulation fan for circulating cold air to each storage chamber.
[0019]
16 is a refrigerant compressor for forming a refrigeration circuit connected in a ring with a condenser, a pressure reducing device, an evaporator for further cooling the cool air in the storage chamber, and the like, 17 for controlling each device A control device 18 including a microcomputer and various control devices 18 is a power plug that is inserted into an outlet 19 to supply power to the control device 17.
[0020]
The control device 17 is provided with a control means for displaying the demonstration operation mode on the display unit 9 and notifying the voice notification device 10 during the demonstration operation mode. The function is realized as a software procedure.
[0021]
In the refrigerator 1 configured as described above, a normal operation mode and a demonstration operation mode that are generally used are set to be switchable by a switch 8. This operation mode switching operation is performed by pressing a switch and a switch for a few seconds, pressing a next switch and a switch for a few seconds, then pressing the switch 8 and so on to use each setting. The operation method is completely different from the operation of time. For this reason, the setting cannot be switched from the normally used normal operation mode to the demo operation mode only by operating the switch appropriately.
[0022]
The normal operation mode is an operation that is normally performed. For example, each storage chamber is controlled so as to have a set temperature. The compressor 16 is operation-controlled, and the door 2 of the refrigerator compartment. When is opened, the interior light 14 is turned on so that the state of the refrigerator compartment can be confirmed.
[0023]
On the other hand, in the demonstration operation mode, the compressor 16 is controlled to be stopped, and the character “Demo” is always displayed on the display 9 (see FIG. 2).
In addition, when the power plug 18 is inserted into the outlet 19 and at every predetermined time (for example, every hour), “the demo operation is being carried out now” is notified with a synthesized voice.
During the demonstration operation mode, devices other than the compressor 16 such as the interior lamp 13 and the circulation fan 15 are controlled in exactly the same way as in the normal operation mode.
In this embodiment, the circulation fan 15 is operated even during the demonstration operation. However, when it is not necessary to check the flow of the cold air in the storage, the circulation fan 15 can be stopped in the same manner as the control of the compressor 16. I do not care.
[0024]
When selling the refrigerator 1 configured as described above at a store, the operation in the demonstration operation mode, that is, the demonstration operation may be performed. In this demonstration operation, the display part 9 is displayed and how it is operated, the state of the refrigerator when the refrigerator compartment door 2 is opened (at this time, the refrigerator compartment light 14 is illuminated, It is easier for customers to check the inside). However, in this demonstration operation, it is not necessary to cool the stored items in each room, so that the operation of the compressor 16 remains stopped as described above.
[0025]
By performing the operation in the demo carrier mode at the store, it is possible to confirm the operation state of the refrigerator 1 that is close to the actual operation (operation in the normal operation mode).
[0026]
When selling the refrigerator 1 that has been demo-operated at the store in this way to the customer, the demo-operation mode is canceled (set to the normal operation mode), delivered to the purchaser's home, and connected to the outlet 19. Generally, setting is made so that the demonstration operation is not performed when the power plug 18 is inserted. However, it is also conceivable that the demo operation mode is forgotten to be canceled or the setting is not canceled due to insufficient operation.
[0027]
In this case, when the refrigerator 1 is delivered to the purchaser's home and the power plug 18 is inserted into the outlet 19, the operation in the demo operation mode may be performed by the sound from the sound alarm 10 and the display by the display 9. Since the notification is made, the deliverer of the refrigerator 1 notices that the operation is in the demonstration operation mode. When the delivery person recognizes that the operation is in the demonstration operation mode, the delivery person knows the operation method, and operates the switch 8 to cancel the demonstration operation mode and set to the normal operation mode.
[0028]
In addition, it may be extremely rare that the demo operation mode is accidentally set while the purchaser is pressing the switch 8 after the refrigerator 1 is installed in the purchaser's home.
[0029]
In this case, since it is informed that it is in the demo operation mode and is displayed on the display unit 9, it is easy to notice that the operation is in the demo operation mode. The demonstration operation mode can be canceled by inquiring about how to do this by telephone and listening for the cancellation method.
[0030]
In this embodiment, it is configured to notify that “Demo operation is currently being implemented” every hour, but this notification time interval is set to be as short as every 30 minutes. Alternatively, it may be configured to be able to select every hour and every 30 minutes.
[0031]
In addition, after this notification, it may be configured to notify the voice of “The compressor is not operating because it is a demo operator. Therefore, the refrigerator compartment and freezer compartment will not be cooled.” . By giving such a voice notification, it is possible to notify the customer that the driving is different from the actual driving (normal driving).
[0032]
For this reason, it is possible to minimize the misunderstanding of the user, “Each room is not cooled even though it is plugged in and operated, and this refrigerator is broken!” .
[0033]
Therefore, it is possible to reduce so-called nonsense calls that are misunderstood that they have failed but request a repair.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, in the refrigerator that switches between the normal operation mode and the demonstration operation mode, it can be confirmed that the operation mode is in the demonstration operation mode, and it can be determined that there is no failure even if the storage room is not cooled. For this reason, although the refrigerator has not failed, the possibility of misunderstanding that it is a failure can be suppressed as much as possible.
[0035]
Furthermore, according to the present invention, in the refrigerator provided with the control device that switches between the normal operation mode and the demonstration operation mode to control, the refrigerator is provided with a sound notification device that informs the alarm or the operation end by sound, since a control means for notifying before Symbol voice annunciator that this demonstration is an operation mode during the same demonstration mode, also confirmed that it is in the demonstration mode from the ear by the notification from the audio annunciator, Even if the storage room is not cooled, it can be determined that there is no failure. For this reason, although the refrigerator has not failed, the possibility of misunderstanding that it is a failure can be suppressed as much as possible.
[0036]
[0037]
Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the notification by the sound alarm is performed when the power is turned on in the state where the demonstration operation mode is set, it is delivered to the home of the purchaser of the refrigerator. Then, when power is supplied by plugging the power plug into an outlet or the like, if the demo operation mode is set, the voice alarm notifies that it is in this state. Since the delivery person of the refrigerator knows how to cancel the demo operation mode in advance, when notified by the voice alarm, the demo operation mode is canceled, and the normal operation mode is set and delivered to the customer. The risk of handing over the refrigerator while in the demo operation mode can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing each control device of the refrigerator.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 refrigerator,
2 doors,
8 switches,
9 Display,
10 Voice alarm,
14 Inside light,
17 Control device.

Claims (1)

A refrigeration circuit in which a compressor, an evaporator for cooling a storage room, and the like are annularly connected by a refrigerant pipe;
A display for displaying the state of the storage chamber and various settings;
A switch for performing the various settings;
Usually, the stored matter stored in the storage room is controlled to a predetermined temperature by controlling the compressor, or the interior lamp of the storage room is turned on when the door of the predetermined storage room is opened. Control is performed by switching between the operation mode and the demonstration operation mode in which the control of the compressor is stopped and the same control as the normal operation mode is performed in accordance with the operation of the switch. In a refrigerator equipped with a control device,
Equipped with a sound alarm to notify the alarm or operation completion with sound,
The control device includes control means for notifying the voice operation of the demonstration operation mode during the demonstration operation mode, and the state where the notification by the voice notification is set to the demonstration operation mode. Refrigerator in you, characterized in that to perform when it is powered on.

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