JP6325386B2 - Door operation assist device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a door operation assisting device that assists an operation of closing an opening with a door or the like.

  The door operation assisting device is installed in, for example, a door installed in a refrigerator, and assists in the operation of closing the door with respect to the opening of the refrigerator to reliably perform the door closing operation (for example, see Patent Document 1). .

  Patent Document 1 describes a door operation assisting device that assists a door closing operation using the elastic force of a compression spring (elastic member). In this door operation assisting device, the compression spring is compressed and elastic energy is accumulated when the door is opened, and the accumulated elastic energy is opened when the door is operated in the direction of closing the opening. This is used as energy to assist the operation.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-190609

  However, in the door operation assisting device described in Patent Document 1, since the compression spring stores energy used for closing the door, the space for installing the compression spring and the energy for the compression spring are stored. In order to make it accumulate | store, the mechanism which converts the energy of the direction which a door rotates into the energy of the direction which a compression spring compresses is required. Specifically, a space for installing the compression spring in the plane direction orthogonal to the axis serving as the rotation center of the door is required. Furthermore, a mechanism for elastically deforming the installed compression spring in the compressing direction, for example, a roller that rolls by opening and closing the door is required, and the apparatus configuration becomes complicated. Therefore, it is difficult to reduce the size and simplification of the door operation assisting device shown in Patent Document 1, and there is a possibility that the work for assembling the compression spring and the mechanism increases and the assembling work becomes complicated.

  In view of the above problems, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to realize a reduction in size and simplification of a door operation assisting device that assists an operation of closing an opening with a door or the like.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is a door operation assisting device that assists a closing operation of a door that is connected to a device body via a hinge mechanism to open and close an opening formed in the device body. , A cam member provided in the device main body, a rotating cam follower support portion attached to the door, and the rotating cam follower support portion rotating relative to the door by rotating together with the door. A pivotable cam follower, a torsion coil spring that is pivotable integrally with the pivot cam follower and stores elastic energy that urges the door in a closing direction, and the torsion coil spring formed on the cam member. A cam surface formed with an energy storage area for storing elastic energy in a coil spring, and the rotating cam follower stores the energy when rotating in a direction to open the door. Rotates while contacting with the band, elastic energy that urges in a direction of closing the door to the torsion coil spring is characterized in that it is accumulated.

  According to the present invention, the door operation assisting device is installed as in the prior art because the torsion coil spring that urges the door or the like in the direction of closing the opening is disposed integrally with the rotating cam follower. A mechanism for elastically deforming the compression spring in the compressing direction is not provided, and the door operation assisting device that assists the operation of closing the opening with a door or the like can be reduced in size and simplified.

  According to the present invention, it is preferable that the energy storage region is a continuous inclined surface in which the distance from the rotation center of the door gradually decreases in the closing direction. As a result, the door operation assisting device of the present invention has a simple cam surface because the rotating cam follower slides (moves while contacting) the energy storage region of the cam surface, not the complicated surface of the cam surface. It is possible to reliably store elastic energy in the torsion coil spring.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is preferable that the cam surface of the cam member is formed with the energy accumulation region and a steady region where the distance from the rotation center of the door is constant. As a result, the door operation assisting device of the present invention can be easily formed because the energy storage region and the steady region constituting the cam surface are not complex surface shapes.

  Further, according to the present invention, the distance from the rotation center of the door toward the closing direction between the energy storage region and the steady region on the cam surface of the cam member in a smaller degree than the energy storage region. It is preferable to form a preliminary region composed of continuous inclined surfaces that gradually become smaller.

  Since the door operation assisting device of the present invention has a spare area on the cam surface, when operating to close the door, the elastic energy accumulated in the torsion coil spring is in a state where the rotating cam follower is in contact with the spare area. After being gradually released, the rotating cam follower is brought into contact with the energy storage region in the energy storage region, and the remaining energy is released. That is, since the stored energy is not released at once in the energy storage region, the operation of closing the door is performed more smoothly.

  Further, according to the present invention, the cam member is formed with an engagement recess closer to the device body than the cam surface, and the engagement recess engages with the rotating cam follower and the opening. Even when the door is closed by the door, it is preferable that the biasing force of the torsion coil spring acts on the door. Thereby, in the door operation assisting device of the present invention, even when the opening is closed by the door or the like, the biasing force of the torsion coil spring acts on the door or the like. That is, since the elastic energy of the torsion coil spring remains in a state where the door is closed, the door is pressed against the opening by the elastic energy of the torsion coil spring, and the airtightness of the opening is maintained. .

  In the door operation assisting device according to the present invention, the torsion coil spring that urges the door or the like in the direction of closing the opening is disposed integrally with the rotating cam follower. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size and simplification of the door operation assisting device that assists the operation of closing the opening with a door or the like.

  In the door operation assisting device according to the present invention, the torsion coil spring that urges the door or the like in the direction of closing the opening is disposed integrally with the rotating cam follower. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size and simplification of the door operation assisting device that assists the operation of closing the opening with a door or the like.

It is the figure which showed the door operation assistance apparatus concerning one Embodiment of this invention attached to the refrigerator. It is a figure for demonstrating the attachment structure to the refrigerator of the door operation assistance apparatus concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is an appearance perspective view of a door operation auxiliary device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is an exploded view of the door operation assistance device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of a holder with which a door operation opening and closing device concerning one embodiment of the present invention is provided. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the door operation assistance apparatus concerning one Embodiment of this invention. Fig.7 (a) is a top view of the holder with which the door operation assistance apparatus concerning a 1st modification is provided, FIG.7 (b) is a top view of the holder with which the door operation assistance apparatus concerning a 2nd modification is provided. It is a top view of a holder with which a door operation auxiliary device concerning the 3rd modification is provided.

(overall structure)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The door operation assisting device according to the present embodiment will be described as applied to a refrigerator. FIG. 1 is a view showing a door operation assisting device according to an embodiment of the present invention attached to a refrigerator. FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a structure for attaching the door operation assisting device to the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 includes a refrigerator main body 2 as an apparatus main body, a storage inlet 21 as an opening formed in the refrigerator main body 2, and a pair of double-open doors 3 that open and close the storage inlet 21. ,have.

  Each of the pair of doors 3 is connected to the refrigerator body 2 via the hinge mechanism 4 so that the storage inlet 21 of the refrigerator 1 can be opened and closed. Further, the refrigerator 1 includes a door operation assisting device 5 for assisting the operation of closing the storage entrance 21 with the door 3. In addition, FIG. 1 has shown the state from which one side (except the bottom face 31) of the door 3 was removed in order to show the door operation assistance apparatus 5. As shown in FIG. Further, although not shown, the door operation assisting device 5 is provided on the other side of the door 3 at the same position (symmetrical position with respect to the center line of the device body 2).

The hinge mechanism 4 has a hinge mounting member 41, a hinge shaft 42, a hinge shaft holding member 43, and a hinge shaft support hole 44, and connects the rear end portion of the door 3 and the refrigerator body 2.
The hinge mounting member 41 is formed in a substantially L-shaped plate shape, and as shown in FIG. 2, a fixing plate that can be fixed to the refrigerator main body 2 with screws or the like (not shown), and a substantially vertical position from the fixing plate. And a horizontal piece provided so as to be bent. On the horizontal piece of the hinge mounting member 41, a hinge shaft 42 that pivotally supports the door 3 is erected.

  Further, a hinge shaft holding member 43 is attached to the bottom surface 31 of the door 3. The hinge shaft holding member 43 has a bottomed cylindrical shape (cup shape), and as shown in FIG. The hinge shaft holding member 43 has a hinge shaft support hole 44 that rotatably supports the distal end side of the hinge shaft 42. Thereby, the door 3 is rotatably supported with respect to the refrigerator main body 2 using the hinge shaft 42 as a fulcrum. In other words, a hinge mechanism 4 that connects the refrigerator body 2 and the door 3 is provided between the refrigerator body 2 and the door 3 so that each of the (pair of) doors 3 is pivotally opened and closed. It has been.

(Configuration of door operation assisting device 5)
FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the door operation assisting device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the door operation assisting device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a plan view of a cam member provided in the door operation assisting device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the door operation assisting device 5 is housed inside the door 3 together with the hinge mechanism 4. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the door operation assisting device 5 includes a cam member 51, a housing 52 including a first housing 52A and a second housing 52B, a rotating cam follower 53, a torsion coil spring 54, A fluid damper 55 (as a braking member). Further, the cam member 51 is provided on the refrigerator main body 2 side, and the other housing 52, the rotating cam follower 53, the torsion coil spring 54, and the fluid damper 55 are disposed on the door 3 side. With this door operation assisting device 5, the door 3 can reliably perform the closing operation, and the door 3 can reliably close the storage inlet 21 of the refrigerator 1.

  In a space formed between the hinge shaft holding member 43 and the bottom surface 31, a cam member 51 constituting a door operation assisting device 5 described later is fitted. The cam member 51 is provided on the refrigerator body 2 side. The cam member 51 has a cam surface 511, an engagement recess 512, a hinge shaft through hole 513, and a restriction portion 514.

  As shown in FIG. 5, an energy storage region 5111 and a steady region 5112 are formed on the cam surface 511 in the direction in which the door 3 opens. The energy storage region 5111 is a peripheral surface from the bottom surface of the engagement recess 30 formed in the cam member 51 to the opening of the engagement recess 30. The energy accumulation area 5111 is an area for accumulating energy against an urging force of a torsion coil spring 54, which will be described later. It is an area formed on a continuous surface so that the distance of the distance changes. Specifically, the distance from the rotation center (hinge shaft 42) of the door 3 is gradually decreased toward the direction in which the door 3 is closed (the refrigerator main body 2 (storage entrance 21) side of the refrigerator 1). . In other words, the energy storage region 5111 is formed by a continuous inclined surface, and this inclined surface rotates the door 3 in a direction in which the door 3 is released (a direction away from the storage entrance 21 of the refrigerator main body 2). The distance from the center (hinge shaft 42) is a continuous surface that gradually increases. The shape of the energy storage region 5111, that is, the amount of increase (increase rate) of the region range and the distance (radius) from the rotation center of the hinge shaft 42 is set as appropriate. As described above, the energy accumulation region 5111 functions as a region for accumulating elastic energy in the torsion coil spring 54 when the door 3 is operated in the opening direction. On the other hand, when operating the door 92 in the closing direction, it functions as a region (energy releasing region) for releasing the energy accumulated in the torsion coil spring 20 by the operation in the door 3 opening direction.

  The steady region 5112 is a continuous surface formed continuously from the energy storage region 5111. As shown in FIG. 5, the steady region 5112 is a region where the distance from the rotation center (hinge shaft 42) of the door 3 is constant, and the energy accumulation region 5111 having a different distance from the rotation center of the door 3. Is different. That is, the steady region 5112 is different from the energy storage region 5111 in which the distance from the rotation center of the door 3 gradually decreases in the direction in which the door 3 is closed. The steady region 5112 is a region that holds (stores) stored energy, unlike the energy storage region 5111 that releases or stores energy.

  In the cam member 51, an engagement recess 512 is formed closer to the refrigerator body 2 than the cam surface 511. The engaging recess 512 is adapted to engage a rotating cam follower 53 described later. The state where the rotating cam follower 53 is engaged with the engaging recess 512 is a state where the door 3 is closed with respect to the storage inlet 21 of the refrigerator 1. As a result, even when the storage inlet 21 is closed by the door 3, a biasing force acting in the closing direction acts on the torsion coil spring 54. That is, the elastic energy of the torsion coil spring 54 remains even when the storage inlet 21 is closed by the door 3. That is, the door 3 is pressed against the peripheral edge of the storage inlet 21 by the elastic energy of the torsion coil spring 54, and the airtightness of the storage inlet 911 is maintained.

  In the present embodiment, the cam member 51 has a restricting portion 514 formed on the peripheral surface facing the energy storage region 5111 on the (inner) peripheral surface of the engagement recess 512. In the closing operation of the door 3, when the door 3 is vigorously operated by the user, the restricting portion 514 may rotate a rotating cam follower 53 described later away from the peripheral surface of the engaging recess 512. The rotating cam follower 53 comes into contact with the restricting portion 514. Thereby, the separated rotating cam follower 53 comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface side of the engaging recess 512 and slides.

  A housing 52 that constitutes the door operation assisting device 5 is disposed (attached) to the door 3. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the housing 52 includes two parts, a first housing 52 </ b> A and a second housing 52 </ b> B, which are arranged in the vertical direction.

  The first housing 52 </ b> A is fixed to the bottom surface 31 of the door 3. The first housing 52A has a bottom and has a cylindrical shape that opens upward, and includes a rotating cam follower support portion 521, a notch portion 522, and a first spring end locking portion 523. Yes.

  A rotating cam follower 53 is fitted to the rotating cam follower support portion 521 with a predetermined gap therebetween. Further, the rotating cam follower support portion 521 supports the rotating cam follower 53 (the main body portion 531) in a freely rotatable manner.

  The rotating cam follower support portion 521 is formed with a notch portion 522 in which a part of the side wall is notched, and the engaging convex portion 532 of the rotating cam follower 53 protrudes from the notch portion 522. The (opening) range of the notch 522 is larger than the range in which the engagement convex portion 532 of the rotating cam follower 53 rotates.

  In addition, the rotating cam follower support portion 521 is formed with a first spring end locking portion 523 that locks the one end portion 541 of the torsion coil spring 54. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a substantially triangular protrusion protruding upward from a substantially opposite side wall where the notch 522 is formed is formed.

  The rotating cam follower 53 is arranged in a loosely fitted state within the rotating cam follower support portion 521 of the first housing 52A. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rotation cam follower 53 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the first housing 52 </ b> A on the bottom surface 31 side and the second housing 52 </ b> B on the upper side in the drawing. The rotating cam follower 53 is rotatable in the housing 52 while being in contact with the rotating cam follower support portion 521 of the first housing 52A. The rotating cam follower 53 includes a main body portion 531, an engaging convex portion 532, and a second spring end locking portion 533.

  The main body 531 has a cylindrical shape, and a torsion coil spring 54 is fitted on the outer peripheral surface thereof. The main body portion 531 is formed with an engaging convex portion 532 that protrudes in the radial direction on the lower side of the position where the torsion coil spring 54 is inserted. The engaging convex part 532 slides on the cam surface 511 of the cam member 51 and engages with the engaging concave part 512. Further, the rotating cam follower 53 is formed with a second spring end locking portion 533 for locking the other side end portion 542 of the torsion coil spring 54. In the present embodiment, the second spring end locking portion 533 is a substantially triangular protrusion that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the engagement protrusion 522.

  The torsion coil spring 54 has a coil portion, one end portion 541, and the other end portion 542. In the torsion coil spring 54, a coil portion in which a spring wire is wound in a coil shape is fitted and inserted into the outer periphery of the main body portion 531 of the rotating cam follower 53. One end 541 of the torsion coil spring 54 is locked to the first spring end locking portion 523 of the rotating cam follower support 521, and the other end 542 is the second spring of the rotating cam follower 53. Locked to the end locking portion 533.

  Specifically, the one side end 541 is bent in a substantially V shape, and the one side end 541 is hooked on the first spring end locking portion 523. Similarly, the other side end portion 542 is similarly bent into a substantially V shape, and the other side end portion 542 is hooked on the second spring end locking portion 543. When the rotating cam follower 53 rotates relatively to one side (counterclockwise as viewed from above) relative to the first housing 52A fixed to the door 3, the torsion coil spring 54 is pulled in the circumferential direction to rotate. Elastic energy (biasing force) is accumulated in the torsion coil spring 54 in the direction.

  The rotating cam follower 53 is arranged in a loosely fitted state in a housing 52 attached to the door 3. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first housing 55A on the bottom surface 31 side and the second housing 55B on the upper side in the drawing are disposed. The rotating cam follower 53 has a main body portion 531, an engaging convex portion 532, and a first spring end locking portion 533.

  The main body portion 531 has a cylindrical shape, and a torsion coil spring 54 described later is fitted into the outer peripheral surface thereof. The main body portion 531 is formed with an engaging convex portion 532 that protrudes in the radial direction on the lower side of the position where the torsion coil spring 54 is inserted. The engaging convex portion 532 slides on the cam surface 511 of the cam member 51 and engages in the engaging concave portion 512.

  In the present embodiment, a fluid damper 55 as a braking member is disposed inside the main body portion 531 of the rotating cam follower 53. Two flat portions parallel to each other along the axial direction are formed on the outside of the fluid damper 55, and a so-called double D cut is formed and is fitted inside the main body portion 531. Here, the fluid damper 55 is coupled to the main body portion 531 of the rotating cam follower 53 so as to be slidable in the axial direction and integrally rotated in the rotational direction.

  When the fluid damper 55 attempts to rotate to the other side (clockwise as viewed from above) relative to the first housing 52 </ b> A fixed to the door 3, the fluid damper 55 is specifically door 3. Is a brake that acts in a direction to suppress the inertial force generated in the door 3 when the is closed. That is, it is possible to prevent the door 3 from becoming too vigorous when the door 3 is operated in the closing direction.

As the configuration of the fluid damper 55, for example, configurations disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2004-308672 and 2010-84866 can be applied. That is, a rotary damper that uses the fluid pressure of a fluid can be applied to the door 3 that is opened and closed by the hinge mechanism 5. Furthermore, the fluid damper 55 has a structure that regulates the rotational speed in one direction.
This type of fluid damper 55 has a rotating braking shaft inserted in a damper casing (hereinafter referred to as a damper case), and in a sealed space formed between the braking shaft and the damper case. Filled with oil (viscous fluid). Here, a partition wall protrudes radially inward from the cylindrical inner wall of the damper case, while a wing portion protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the brake shaft, and the sealed space is divided into a plurality of oil chambers by the partition wall and the wing portion. Has been. In addition, an orifice is formed in the wing portion, and a check valve is formed in the orifice. For this reason, when the brake shaft rotates relative to the damper case to one side around the axis, the orifice is in an open state, so it is in a low load state, but during relative rotation to the other side, a check valve Since the orifice is closed, the load is high. That is, the fluid damper (oil damper) 55 has a check valve that regulates the rotational speed in one direction. Therefore, in this embodiment, if the door 3 is mechanically connected to the brake shaft, the door 3 can be rotated in a direction to open with a small force, while the door 3 is rotated in a closing direction. At this time, even if the hand is released, the urging force of the torsion coil spring 54 is acted to rotate slowly in the closing direction.

  The second housing 52B constitutes the housing 52 of the door operation assisting device 5 together with the first housing 52A. A rotating cam follower 53, a torsion coil spring 54, and an oil damper 55 are accommodated in a space formed by the first housing 52A and the second housing 52B. The second housing 52 </ b> B has a cylindrical brake member storage portion 524, and the oil damper 55 is inserted into the brake member storage portion 524. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a linearly cut portion, that is, a double D cut shape is formed on the upper side.

(Operation of door operation assist device)
The operation (operation) of the door operation assisting device 5 having such a configuration will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. FIG. 6A shows a state where the door closes the storage entrance of the refrigerator. FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the rotating cam follower (the engaging portion 12 thereof) is in contact with the energy storage region. FIG. 6C is a diagram illustrating a state in which the rotating cam follower (the engaging portion 12 thereof) is in contact with the steady region. FIG.6 (d) is the state which the door opened the storage inlet of the refrigerator.

  The operation will be described in the direction in which the door 3 is opened. As shown in FIG. 6A, in the door operation assisting device 5, the engaging convex portion 532 of the rotating cam follower 53 is engaged in the engaging concave portion 512 of the cam member 51. The engaging convex portion 532 is in contact with the energy storage region 5111 of the cam surface 511 of the cam member 51. In the present embodiment, even when the storage inlet 21 of the refrigerator 1 is closed, the urging force of the torsion coil spring 54 is applied to the rotating cam follower 53 via the engaging projection 532 and the cam surface 511 (energy storage 5111). It is acting on. For this reason, the door 3 of the refrigerator 1 is held in a state of being urged toward the closing direction. That is, the door 3 is in close contact with the refrigerator main body 2 by the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 54, and the storage inlet 21 of the refrigerator 1 is sealed by the door 3.

  When the user rotates the door 3 in the closed state in the opening direction, the door operation assisting device 5 (such as the housing 52) fixed to the door 3 moves together with the door 3. Specifically, the door operation assisting device 5 (the housing 52 or the like) rotates so as to draw an arcuate locus centering on the hinge shaft 42. When the housing 52 rotates, the rotating cam follower 53 that is slidably supported in the first housing 52A rotates. The energy storage area 5111 of the rotating cam follower 53 is formed such that the distance from the rotation center of the door 3 gradually increases in the opening direction. ). Specifically, the engagement convex portion 532 of the rotation cam follower 53 rotates so that the rotation center draws an arcuate locus centering on the hinge 42.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the engaging convex portion 532 of the rotating cam follower 53 is pushed by the energy storage region 5111, and the rotating cam follower 53 is relative to the first housing 52 </ b> A fixed to the door 3. Rotate. That is, the rotation cam follower 53 rotates relative to the first housing 52 </ b> A while moving the rotation center by an operation in the opening direction of the door 3. Since the rotating cam follower 53 rotates to one side (counterclockwise as viewed from above), the torsion coil spring 54 is pulled in the circumferential direction by the relative rotation of the rotating cam follower 53. That is, elastic energy is gradually accumulated in the torsion coil spring 54 as the rotating cam follower 53 rotates to one side by rotating in the opening direction of the door 3. This accumulated elastic energy is energy in a direction to rotate the rotating cam follower 53 to the other side. That is, it is energy that urges the door 3 in the closing direction.

  When the door 3 is further rotated in the opening direction from the state shown in FIG. 6B, the engaging convex portion 532 of the rotating cam follower 53 comes into contact with the energy storage region 5111 and is shown in FIG. The state shifts to a state where the steady region 5112 is touched. Since the steady region 5112 has a constant distance from the center of rotation of the door 3, after the transition to this state, the rotation cam follower 53 does not rotate further with respect to the first housing 52A. That is, the torsion coil spring 54 is not pulled further in the circumferential direction, and elastic energy is not accumulated in the torsion coil spring 54. Further, since the engaging convex portion 532 is in contact with the steady region 5112, the elastic energy accumulated in the torsion coil spring 54 is not released. In other words, the steady region 5112 is a region that holds (stores) the elastic energy accumulated in the coil spring 54.

  In the steady region 5112, the urging force of the torsion coil spring 54 acts on the center of the hinge shaft 42 at the contact point where the engaging convex portion 532 contacts the steady region 5112. Therefore, even if the user releases the hand, the door 3 Holds its position without rotating. By further rotating the door 3 in the direction in which the door 3 is opened while the engagement convex portion 532 is in contact with the steady region 5112, the storage inlet 21 of the refrigerator main body 2 shown in FIG. .

The operation will be described in the direction of closing the door 3.
As shown in FIG. 6D, when the user rotates the door 3 in the opened state in the closing direction, the first housing 52 </ b> A fixed to the door 3 rotates together with the door 3. When the first housing 52A rotates, the rotating cam follower 53 supported by the rotating cam follower support portion 521 of the first housing 52A also rotates. When the engaging convex portion 532 of the rotating cam follower 53 is in contact with the steady region 5112 of the cam member 51 after starting to rotate the door 3 in the closing direction (from the state shown in FIG. 6D to FIG. 6). The elastic energy accumulated in the torsion coil spring 54 is not released until the state shown in (c). Since the urging force of the torsion coil spring 54 acts on the center of the hinge shaft 42 via the contact point where the engaging convex portion 532 contacts the steady region 5112, elastic energy is not released.

  When the door 3 is further rotated from the state shown in FIG. 6C in the closing direction, the engaging convex portion 532 of the rotating cam follower 53 is separated from the steady region 5112. Then, the elastic energy accumulated in the torsion coil spring 54 is released, and the rotating cam follower 53 rotates relative to the first housing 52A (door 2) by the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 54. . When the rotating cam follower 53 rotates in this direction, the engagement convex portion 532 shown in FIG. 6B comes into contact with the energy storage region 5111.

  In this state, the urging force of the torsion coil spring 54 is transmitted to the door 3 via the first housing 52A. As described above, when the engaging convex portion 532 of the rotating cam follower 53 comes into contact with the energy storage region 5111, the closing operation of the door 3 is assisted by the elastic energy of the torsion coil spring 54. That is, the energy storage region 5111 stores elastic energy in the torsion coil spring 20 when operating in the direction to open the door 3.

  When the door 3 is rotated in the closing direction, the engagement convex portion 532 of the rotating cam follower 53 is maintained in contact with the energy storage region 5111 of the cam surface 511 (of the cam member 51). In this state, the rotating cam follower 53 rotates. The energy storage region 5111 is formed such that the distance from the rotation center of the hinge shaft 42 of the door 3 gradually decreases in the closing direction. For this reason, the elastic energy accumulated in the torsion coil spring 54 is gradually released as energy for assisting the operation in the direction of closing the door 3, and finally the door 3 as shown in FIG. As a result, the storage inlet 21 is closed.

  As described above, even when the storage inlet 21 is closed by the door 3, the elastic energy of the torsion coil spring 54 remains. That is, the door 3 is pressed against the peripheral edge of the storage inlet 21 by the elastic energy of the torsion coil spring 54, and the airtightness of the storage inlet 911 is maintained. In other words, in the present embodiment, even when the storage inlet 21 of the refrigerator 1 is closed, the urging force of the torsion coil spring 54 rotates through the engagement convex portion 532 and the cam surface 511 (energy storage 5111). It acts on the cam follower 53. For this reason, the door 3 of the refrigerator 1 is held in a state of being urged toward the closing direction. That is, the door 3 is in close contact with the refrigerator body 2 by the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 54, and the storage inlet 21 of the refrigerator 1 is sealed.

  In the operation toward the closing direction of the door 3, when the door 3 is vigorously operated, the restriction portion 514 formed on the cam member 51 functions. As described above, the restricting portion 514 is a peripheral surface facing the energy storage region 5111. Specifically, the side surface on one side of the engagement recess 512 of the cam member 51 is the energy storage region 5111, and the side surface on the other side is the restriction portion 514. When the door 3 is operated in a direction in which the door 3 is vigorously closed, the engagement convex portion 532 of the rotating cam follower 53 moves away from the steady region 5112 and then contacts the energy storage region 5111 by a large inertia force generated in the door 3. There is a risk that it will not be in a closed state.

  In this embodiment, in this embodiment, when the door 3 is vigorously operated, the engaging convex portion 532 comes into contact with the regulating portion 514 facing the energy storage region 5111. The engaging convex portion 532 that contacts the restricting portion 514 rotates with the rotation of the rotating cam follower 53 while remaining in contact. That is, even when the door 3 is operated vigorously, the engaging convex portion 532 is separated from the energy storage region 5111 but contacts the restricting portion 514. The engaging convex portion 532 rotates in a direction to close the door 3 while being in contact with the restricting portion 514. Further, in the present embodiment, when the engaging convex portion 532 that contacts the restricting portion 514 continues to rotate as the rotating cam follower 53 rotates, the fluid damper (oil damper) 55 as a braking member is activated. To do. The braking force of the fluid damper (oil damper) 55 acts on the rotating cam follower 53, and the door 3 is prevented from closing with force.

(Main effects of this embodiment)
According to the door operation assisting device 5 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, when the door 3 is operated in the opening direction, the door 3 is closed by the torsion coil spring 54 in which elastic energy is accumulated. Since the door 3 is assisted to operate in the direction in which the device is operated, the installation space of the device in the plane direction orthogonal to the axis of the hinge shaft 42 serving as the rotation center can be suppressed.

  Further, in this embodiment, the main body portion 531 of the rotating cam follower 53 is inserted inside the torsion coil spring 54 (the rotating cam follower 53 and the torsion in the axial direction (height direction) of the hinge shaft 42). Therefore, the size of the device in the (rotational) axis direction of the hinge shaft 42 can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to store all the device configurations in the door.

  Further, the door operation assisting device 5 has a configuration in which energy is accumulated in the torsion coil spring 54 by contact with the cam surface 511 and the engagement convex portion 532, and the device configuration is simple.

  The door operation assisting device 5 is configured such that when the user operates the door 3 in the opening direction, the operation is assisted in the closing direction of the door 3 by the elastic energy accumulated in the torsion coil spring 54. Therefore, a power source is not required unlike an apparatus using a power source such as a motor. Therefore, since the device 5 functions even during a power failure or the like, the user can turn the door 3 so as to close the storage inlet 21, and the storage entrance 21 of the refrigerator 1 is sealed by the door 3. Can do.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

(Other embodiments)
(First modification)
Hereinafter, modified examples of the door operation assisting device 5 according to the above embodiment will be described. In the first modification example, as shown in FIG. 7A, a spare region 5113 is formed on the cam surface 511 of the cam member 51a. As shown in the figure, the reserve region 5113 is formed between the energy storage region 5111 and the steady region 5112 on the cam surface 511.

  The spare area 5113 is formed such that the distance from the rotation center of the door 3 gradually decreases from the opened state to the closing direction. In other words, the spare area 5113 gradually decreases as the distance from the rotation center of the door 3 (the axis center of the hinge shaft 42) moves in the closing direction of the door 3 as in the energy storage area 5111. It is formed to be a continuous inclined surface.

  The degree of “being gradually reduced” in the spare area 5113 is smaller than the degree of “being gradually reduced” in the energy storage area 5111. Specifically, the ratio of the “change in distance from the center” to the “change in angle” centered on the rotation center of the door 3 is smaller in the spare area 5113 than in the energy storage area 5111. In the first modification, when the door 3 in the state in which the storage inlet 21 is opened is operated in the closing direction, the engaging convex portion 532 of the rotating cam follower 53 has the steady region 5112, the spare region 5113, the energy The storage areas 5111 are contacted in this order.

  The effect | action by having formed the reserve area | region 5113 in the cam surface 511 currently formed in the cam member 51 is as follows. When the user operates the door 3 from the opened state toward the closing direction, the engagement convex portion 532 of the rotating cam follower 53 shifts from the state in contact with the steady region 5112 to the state in contact with the spare region 5113. Since the spare area 5113 is formed so that the distance from the rotation center of the door 3 gradually decreases from the opened state to the closing direction, the elastic energy accumulated in the torsion coil spring 54 is reduced. Released, the door 3 is biased in the closing direction.

  When the door 3 further moves in the closing direction from the spare area 5113, the engagement convex portion 532 of the rotating cam follower 53 comes into contact with the energy accumulation area 311 and the elastic energy accumulated in the torsion coil spring 54 is reduced. Released. The energy storage area 5111 is formed on an inclined surface so that the distance from the rotation center of the hinge shaft 42 gradually decreases toward the closing direction (door 3) to a greater degree than the spare area 5113. The energy release speed in this area (the discharge amount per unit angle centered on the rotation center of the door 3) is larger than the release speed in the spare area 5113.

  As described above, when the operation is performed in the direction in which the door 3 is closed, the energy of the engagement convex portion 532 of the rotating cam follower 53 from the state in contact with the steady region 5112 through the state in contact with the spare region 5113 is increased. In order to shift to a state in which the storage region 5111 is in contact, elastic energy is gradually released at a relatively low speed by the reserve region 5113, and then elastic energy is released at a relatively high rate by the energy storage region 5111. Become. That is, since the elastic energy of the torsion coil spring 54 is released little by little in the spare area 5113 existing in front of the energy storage area 5111, the remaining energy is released. Can be suppressed.

  A second modification will be described. In the second modification, as shown in FIG. 7B, a braking region 5114 is formed on the cam surface 511 of the cam member 51b. As shown in the figure, the braking region 5114 is formed between the energy storage region 5111 and the steady region 5112 on the cam surface 511. The braking region 5114 is formed so that the distance from the rotation center of the door 3 gradually increases in the closing direction. In other words, the braking area 5114 is a continuous inclined surface in which the distance from the rotation center of the door 3 (the axis center of the hinge shaft 42) gradually increases as the door 3 is moved in the closing direction. Is formed. As described above, the braking area 5114 has an inclined surface that is different from the auxiliary area 5113 in the inclination direction.

  If such a braking area 5114 is provided, when the door 3 is operated in the closing direction, the brake is operated to close the door 3 before the engagement convex portion 532 is brought into contact with the energy storage area 5111. Take it. That is, after the inertial force (momentum) generated in the door 3 by the closing operation is lowered, the region moves to a region where the elastic energy of the torsion coil spring 54 is released, so that the door 3 is closed too much. Can be prevented.

  In this second modified example, when the door 3 in the state where the storage inlet 21 is opened is operated in the closing direction, the engaging convex portion 532 of the rotating cam follower 53 has the steady region 5112, the braking region 5114, the energy The storage areas 5111 are contacted in this order.

  The effect | action by having formed the braking area | region 5114 in the cam surface 511 of the cam member 51 is as follows. When the door 3 is operated in the closing direction, the engagement convex portion 532 of the rotating cam follower 53 shifts from the state in contact with the steady region 5112 to the state in contact with the braking region 5114. Since the braking area 5114 is formed so that the distance from the rotation center of the door 3 gradually increases in the closing direction from the opened state of the door 3, the door 3 is operated in the closing direction. The inertia force of the door 3 caused by this is reduced by the braking region 5114. When the door 3 further moves in the closing direction from the braking region 5114, the engagement convex portion 532 of the rotating cam follower 53 comes into contact with the energy storage region 5111, and the elastic energy stored in the torsion coil spring 54 is released. .

  As described above, when the operation is performed in the direction in which the door 3 is closed, the energy of the engagement convex portion 532 of the rotating cam follower 53 from the state in contact with the steady region 5112 through the state in contact with the braking region 5114 is increased. Even if the door 3 is operated vigorously in order to shift to a state in contact with the accumulation region 5111, the inertial force is once reduced in the braking region 5114. Excessive momentum can be prevented from being applied to the door 3 due to the large inertial force generated in the door 3.

  Whether or not the preliminary area 5113 and the braking area 5114 described in the first and second modifications are formed on the cam surface 511 may be determined as appropriate depending on the size and weight of the door 3. For example, when the door 3 is heavy, there is a high possibility that the refrigerator 1 is damaged if the door 3 closes vigorously. Therefore, the spare area 5113 and the braking area 5114 may be set.

  Next, a third modification will be described. In the third modification, as shown in FIG. 8, a roller 5115 is provided on the cam member 51c. The roller 5115 constitutes a part of the cam surface 511 of the cam member 51c. Specifically, it is provided so as to straddle the energy storage region 5111 and the steady region 5112, and constitutes a part of the energy storage region 5111 and a part of the steady region 5112.

  In this way, if a part of the cam surface 511 is constituted by the roller 5115, the frictional resistance due to the contact between the engaging convex portion 532 of the rotating cam follower 53 and the cam surface 511 is reduced. The operation to perform can be made smoother.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator 2 Refrigerator main body 21 Storage entrance 3 Door 31 Bottom surface 4 Hinge mechanism 41 Hinge attachment member 42 Hinge shaft 43 Hinge shaft holding member 44 Hinge shaft support part 5 Door operation assistance device 51 Cam member 511 Cam surface 512 Engaging recess 52 Housing 53 Rotating cam follower 532 engaging convex portion 54 torsion coil spring 55 braking member

Claims (5)

A door operation assisting device that assists a closing operation of a door that is connected to a device body via a hinge mechanism and opens and closes an opening formed in the device body,
A cam member provided in the device body;
A rotating cam follower support attached to the door;
A rotating cam follower that is rotatable relative to the door by rotating the rotating cam follower support portion together with the door;
A torsion coil spring capable of rotating integrally with the rotating cam follower and storing elastic energy that urges the door in a closing direction;
A cam surface formed on the cam member and formed with an energy storage region for storing elastic energy in the torsion coil spring;
When the door is rotated in the opening direction, the rotating cam follower is rotated while being in contact with the energy storage region, and the torsion coil spring accumulates elastic energy that urges the door in the closing direction. A door operation assisting device characterized by that.   2. The door operation assisting device according to claim 1, wherein the energy storage region is a continuous inclined surface in which the distance from the rotation center of the door gradually decreases toward the closing direction.   The cam surface of the cam member is formed with the energy accumulation region and a steady region having a constant distance from the rotation center of the door (the hinge shaft of the hinge mechanism). 2. The door operation assisting device according to 2.   A continuous slope between the energy accumulation region and the steady region on the cam surface of the cam member, in which the distance from the rotation center of the door gradually decreases toward the closing direction to a smaller degree than the energy accumulation region. 4. The door operation assisting device according to claim 3, wherein a spare area comprising a surface is formed.   The cam member is formed with an engagement recess closer to the device main body than the cam surface. The engagement recess is engaged with the rotating cam follower and the opening is closed by the door. However, the urging | biasing force of the said torsion coil spring is acting on the said door, The door operation assistance apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-4 characterized by the above-mentioned.

Images