JP6378950B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator including a door that is pivotally supported by a front opening of a refrigerator main body so as to be opened and closed and covers the front opening.

Conventionally, this type of refrigerator manually opens and closes the door to put food in and out of the storage room. However, in a large refrigerator, the weight of food stored in a door or a storage rack inside the door increases, so that there is a problem that requires a large amount of labor for relatively weak children and elderly people.
Then, what was equipped with the opening / closing apparatus which opens and closes a door automatically with respect to the refrigerator main body by operating operation means, such as a switch, is known (for example, refer patent document 1).

  In the refrigerator described above, the door can be automatically opened and closed by rotating the motor of the opening / closing device forward and backward by the operating means and transmitting the rotation output of the motor to the pivot support mechanism of the door via the deceleration transmission mechanism. Further, by providing a clutch mechanism that cuts off the motor output, the door can be manually opened and closed even during a power failure.

  Furthermore, the technical matter which measures the angle which opens a door when the door of a refrigerator is opened is described in the following patent document 2. Referring to FIG. 9 of this document and its explanation, the optical sensor 9 measures the opening degree of the door 2R.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 8-23249 JP 2005-326044 A

  However, although the invention described in Patent Document 1 described above has a mechanism that automatically opens and closes the door, it does not have means for adjusting the opening and closing speed, so that the door can be smoothly opened and closed. There was a fear that it was not always realized.

  Furthermore, in the invention described in Patent Document 2, when the opening degree of the door is monitored with an optical sensor, if the opening angle of the door increases, sensing by light becomes difficult and the opening degree of the door cannot be measured. was there.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator with a smooth automatic door opening / closing operation by varying the opening / closing speed of the door according to the opening degree of the door. It is intended to provide.

The refrigerator of the present invention includes a refrigerator body having an interior as a storage chamber, a door pivotably supported by the front opening of the refrigerator body to cover the front opening, and opening and closing the door with respect to the refrigerator body And an opening / closing device that detects an angle at which the opening / closing device opens / closes the door, and the opening / closing device opens / closes the door based on the angle detected by the angle detection device. The opening and closing device opens and closes the door at a first speed when the angle of the door is smaller than the first angle, and the angle of the door is equal to or greater than the first angle; The door is opened and closed at a second speed higher than the first speed, and the angle of the door is equal to or greater than the second angle. If the third speed is slower than the second speed In to open and close the door, the opening and closing device, when the resuming the closing operation of the door is stopped in the middle, and said Rukoto was started at a slower rate than the door said first speed.

  According to the present invention, since the door opening / closing speed is changed based on the door angle detected by the angle detection device, the door opening / closing operation by the opening / closing device can be performed more smoothly.

It is a figure which shows the refrigerator of this invention, (A) is a perspective view which shows the whole refrigerator, (B) is a perspective view which expands and shows the upper end part of a refrigerator. It is a figure which shows the refrigerator of this invention, (A) is a top view which shows an opening / closing device, (B) is a perspective view which shows an opening / closing device. It is a figure which shows the refrigerator of this invention, (A) and (B) are perspective views which show the gearwheel which comprises an opening / closing apparatus, (C) to (E) is a perspective view which shows the state with which the gearwheels were combined. It is. It is a figure which shows the refrigerator of this invention, (A) to (F) is a top view which shows the condition which opens and closes a door with an opening-and-closing mechanism. It is a figure which shows the refrigerator of this invention, and is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control apparatus which controls an opening / closing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the refrigerator of this invention, (A) is a perspective view which shows the structure of a switchgear and a resistor, (B) is a graph which shows the relationship between the angle which opens a door, and resistance value. It is a figure which shows the refrigerator of this invention, and is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which operates a door by an opening / closing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the refrigerator of this invention, and is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which operates a door by an opening / closing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the refrigerator of this invention, and is a graph which shows the speed which opens and closes a door with an opening / closing apparatus.

  Hereinafter, the refrigerator which concerns on embodiment of this invention is demonstrated in detail based on drawing.

  FIG. 1A is a perspective view generally showing the refrigerator 10, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing a partially enlarged upper end portion of the refrigerator 10.

  In the following description, the configuration and operation of each part will be described using the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction. The X direction indicates the width direction of the refrigerator 10, the Y direction indicates the front-rear direction (depth direction) of the refrigerator, and the Z direction indicates the vertical direction of the refrigerator 10.

  With reference to FIG. 1 (A), the refrigerator 10 is equipped with the heat insulation box 12 as a refrigerator main body, and forms the storage chamber which stores a foodstuff etc. in the inside of the heat insulation box 12. FIG. The interior of the storage room is divided into a plurality of storage rooms according to storage temperature and usage. The uppermost stage is the refrigerator compartment 14, the lower stage is the upper stage freezing room 18, the lower stage is the lower stage freezing room 20, and the lowermost stage is the vegetable room 22.

  The front surface of the heat insulation box 12 is opened, and doors 24 and the like are provided in the openings corresponding to the respective storage chambers so as to be freely opened and closed. The door 24 closes the front surface of the refrigerator compartment 14, and the upper and lower side surfaces of the + X side end portion of the door 24 are rotatably supported with respect to the heat insulating box 12 by a pair of upper and lower pivot mechanisms.

  The doors 26, 28, and 30 are drawer-type doors that are provided so as to be freely drawable in the front-rear direction of the refrigerator 10 and are each supported by the heat insulating box 12.

  The heat insulation box 12 is made of a polyurethane foam that is filled and foamed in a gap between the outer box and the inner box, and an outer box made of a steel plate, an inner box made of a synthetic resin with a gap inside. Insulating material. The door 24 and the like also adopt a heat insulating structure similar to that of the heat insulating box 12.

  Referring to FIG. 1B, an opening / closing device 32 is provided on the upper side of the heat insulating box 12 on the pivot mechanism side of the door 24, and an opening device 34 is provided on the open end side of the door 24.

  As will be described in detail below, the opening / closing device 32 has a function of opening and closing the door 24 in response to the user's request, and the opening device 34 assists the initial operation of the opening operation of the door 24 in response to the user's request. It has a function. In the refrigerator 10 of this embodiment, the door 24 can be manually opened and closed by operating a handle, and can be automatically opened and closed using the opening and closing device 32 and the opening device 34. Further, if the opening / closing operation of the door 24 can be performed only by the opening / closing device 32, the opening device 34 may be omitted. Here, the opening / closing device 32 is covered with a cover made of a plastic material or the like molded into a box shape.

  With reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the above-described opening / closing device 32 will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a view showing the opening / closing device 32, and FIG. 3 is a view partially showing members constituting the opening / closing device 32.

  Referring to FIG. 2A, the opening / closing device 32 includes a power transmission mechanism 35 attached to the refrigerator main body, a motor 36 that can be rotated in forward and reverse directions to give a driving force to the power transmission mechanism 35, and a motor 36. A clutch mechanism 56 that connects the power transmission mechanism 35 so as to be connectable, a first bracket 48 that has one end connected to the door 24 (FIG. 1B) and the other end connected to the power transmission function, and the like. Yes.

  The power transmission mechanism 35 decelerates the rotational force of the motor 36 and transmits it to the first bracket 48 and the like, and includes a plurality of gears such as a first gear 38.

  The first gear 38 is connected to a motor, and teeth are spirally formed on the surface of a shaft having an axis extending in the Y direction. The second gear 40 (movable gear) is a gear having teeth on the outer periphery that engage with the first gear 38 and rotate. The third gear 42 is a gear that rotates in synchronization with the second gear 40 under operating conditions, and has teeth on the outer periphery and a portion that engages with the second gear 40 inside. The fourth gear 44 is a gear having teeth on the outer periphery that engage with the teeth of the third gear 42. Further, the fourth gear 44 is formed with teeth that do not appear in the lower part of the fourth gear 44, and the teeth not shown are engaged with the teeth of the fifth gear 46. The fifth gear 46 is a gear having a diameter larger than that of the fourth gear 44, and teeth for engaging with the fourth gear 44 are formed around the fifth gear 46. Further, the end of the first bracket 48 is fixed near the center of the upper surface of the fifth gear 46, and the first bracket 48 rotates together with the fifth gear 46.

  The bracket of this embodiment is composed of a first bracket 48 to a fourth bracket 54.

  The + X side end of the first bracket 48 is rotatably connected to the fifth gear 46, and the −X side end is rotatably connected to the second bracket 50. A contact portion 49 that restricts the rotation of the first bracket 48 and the second bracket 50 is formed at the −X side end of the first bracket 48.

  The −Y side end of the second bracket 50 is rotatably connected to the first bracket 48. Further, a contact portion 51 for restricting rotation is formed at an end portion on the −Y side of the second bracket 50. Therefore, when the first bracket 48 rotates counterclockwise in accordance with the operation of the opening / closing device 32, the contact portion 49 and the contact portion 51 come into contact when reaching a certain angle, and the first bracket 48 and the second bracket 48 are in contact with each other. The angle of the connection location with the bracket 50 is fixed at a predetermined angle. This matter will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The −X side end of the third bracket 52 is connected to the end of the second bracket 50 in a rotatable manner. The + X side end of the third bracket 52 is rotatably connected to the fourth bracket 54. Further, a contact portion 53 is formed at the + X side end portion of the third bracket 52, and a contact portion 55 is also formed at the −X side end portion of the fourth bracket 54. As a result, the contact portion 53 and the contact portion 55 come into contact with each other under usage conditions, thereby restricting the rotation of the connection portion between the third bracket 52 and the fourth bracket 54 at a predetermined angle.

  The −X side end of the fourth bracket 54 is rotatably connected to the third bracket 52 and is also rotatably connected to the upper surface of the door 24 (see FIG. 1B). The + X side end of the fourth bracket 54 is fixed to the door 24.

  Referring to FIG. 2B, the second gear 40 and the third gear 42 are arranged coaxially, and the third gear 42 is arranged below the second gear 40. A spring 37 as an urging means is disposed between the second gear 40 and the third gear 42. The spring 37 is, for example, a coil spring. Under use conditions, the second gear 40 receives a biasing force from the spring 37 to the + Z side.

  The clutch mechanism 56 has, for example, a solenoid, and has a function of releasing the connected state of the power transmission mechanism 35 by moving the second gear 40 in the + Z direction according to conditions. Specifically, when the clutch mechanism 56 moves the second gear 40 upward, the engagement between the second gear 40 and the third gear 42 is released, and further, the second gear 40 and the first gear 38 are Is also released. Conversely, when the clutch mechanism 56 moves the second gear 40 downward, the gears are engaged with each other. The details of the clutch mechanism 56 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  With reference to FIG. 3, a related configuration of the second gear 40 and the like included in the opening / closing device 32 described above will be described. 3A is a perspective view showing the third gear 42, FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing the second gear 40, and FIGS. 3C and 3D show the second gear 40. FIG. 3E is a perspective view showing the clutch mechanism 56 and the like.

  Referring to FIG. 3A, the third gear 42 has a plurality of teeth formed around it. In addition, a concave engaging portion 60 that is recessed in the −Z direction in a ring shape is formed inside. A plurality of inclined surfaces 64 and inclined surfaces 66 are alternately formed on the bottom surface of the concave engaging portion 60 along the circumference. The inclined surface 64 is a surface inclined from the XY plane, and the inclined surface 66 is a surface inclined from the XY plane in a direction opposite to the inclined surface 64.

  Referring to FIG. 3B, a plurality of teeth are formed around the second gear 40. In addition, a convex engagement portion 62 that protrudes in a substantially cylindrical shape with respect to the −Z direction is formed. The inclined surfaces 70 and the inclined surfaces 68 are alternately formed along the circumference at the −Z side end of the convex engaging portion 62. Here, the inclined surface 64 and the inclined surface 66 formed on the third gear 42 and the inclined surface 68 and the inclined surface 70 formed on the second gear 40 are the same in number, size, shape, and the like. Yes.

  Referring to FIG. 3C, when the transmission of the driving force is interrupted, the lower end portion of the convex engagement portion 62 of the second gear 40 is separated from the bottom surface of the concave engagement portion 60 of the third gear 42. . Thereby, the engagement of both gears is released.

  Referring to FIG. 3D, when transmitting the driving force, the second gear 40 is moved in the −Z direction so that the lower end of the convex engaging portion 62 is connected to the concave engaging portion of the third gear 42. The lower surface of 60 is brought into contact. Thereby, the inclined surfaces formed on both gears are in surface contact with each other, and the driving force of the second gear 40 can be transmitted to the third gear 42 satisfactorily.

  With reference to FIG. 3E, the movement of the second gear 40 described above is performed by the clutch mechanism 56 and the support plate 72. Specifically, the support plate 72 is a metal plate having a main surface parallel to the XY plane, and the vicinity of the end portion on the −X side is the concave portion 58 of the second gear 40 (see FIG. 3B). ) Is engaged. The clutch mechanism 56 has, for example, a solenoid that operates in the vertical direction, and moves the second gear 40 in the −Z direction via the support plate 72 during operation. Therefore, in a situation where no operation signal is applied to the clutch mechanism 56, the second gear 40 is arranged on the + Z direction side by the biasing force of the spring 37, and a driving force is applied from the second gear 40 to the third gear 42. Is not transmitted. On the other hand, when an operation signal is applied to the clutch mechanism 56, the second gear 40 moves in the −Z direction via the support plate 72. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3D, the second gear 40 and the third gear 42 are engaged with each other, and the driving force is transmitted from the second gear 40 to the third gear 42.

  With reference to FIG. 4, the operation of the opening / closing device 32 will be described in detail. Each figure of FIG. 4 is a plan view of the refrigerator of this embodiment as viewed from above. Specifically, FIGS. 4A and 4B show a state where the door 24 is slightly opened, and FIGS. 4C and 4D show that the opening angle of the door 24 reaches 45 degrees. FIGS. 4E and 4F show a case where this angle reaches 135 degrees (fully open).

  4A and 4B, when the user performs an operation for opening the door 24 in a state where the door 24 is closed, the opening device 34 opens the door 24. Press the end in the + Y direction. Specifically, by driving means such as a motor built in the opening device 34, the rod-shaped pressing portion 57 is moved in the + Y direction, and the vicinity of the opening end of the door 24 is pressed by the tip portion of the pressing portion 57. The door 24 is separated from the heat insulating box 12. Since the door 24 and the heat insulating box 12 are in close contact with each other by magnetic force, a certain amount of driving force is required to separate the two, but the opening device 34 having such a configuration can be used to easily separate the two. It can be made.

  Here, under the situation where the above opening operation instruction is not performed, referring to FIG. 2B, the second gear 40 is positioned above and is engaged with the first gear 38 and the third gear 42. The power transmission mechanism 35 and the motor 36 are not interlocked. Therefore, under this situation, the user can manually open and close the door 24 without being affected by the opening and closing device 32.

  Referring to FIG. 4B, the opening / closing device 32 disposed at the support end of the door 24 also operates substantially simultaneously with the operation of the opening device 34. Specifically, referring to FIG. 2 (B), by operating clutch mechanism 56, second gear 40 is pulled downward to engage with first gear 38 and third gear 42. . Next, the motor 36 is rotated in a predetermined direction. The driving force generated from the motor 36 is transmitted to the first bracket 48 via the power transmission mechanism 35. Specifically, the rotational force is reduced by rotating the first gear 38, the second gear 40, the third gear 42, the fourth gear 44, and the fifth gear 46 in this order. While being transmitted to the first bracket 48.

  Then, when the first bracket 48 fixed to the fifth gear 46 rotates counterclockwise, the second bracket 50, the third bracket 52 and the fourth bracket 54 constituting the link mechanism are rotated counterclockwise. Is transmitted to the door 24.

  Next, referring to FIGS. 4C and 4D, the first bracket 48 is moved via the power transmission mechanism 35 by operating the motor 36 shown in FIG. Rotated counterclockwise. Accordingly, the door 24 pushed by the fourth bracket 54 attached to the tip is further opened.

  When the opening operation described above proceeds, the fully opened state shown in FIGS. 4E and 4F is obtained. Here, the fully opened state is a state in which the door 24 has reached an angle at which it cannot be opened any further by the user's operation or the operation of the opening / closing device 32.

  Referring to FIG. 4 (F), when the first brackets 48 are rotated to a predetermined angle by the opening operation described above, the contact portions formed at the end portions of the brackets come into contact with each other, thereby opening and closing. The operation of the device 32 is restricted, and the fully opened position is defined. Specifically, referring to FIG. 2 (A), as the opening operation proceeds, the contact portion 49 of the first bracket 48 and the contact portion 51 of the second bracket 50 come into contact with each other. The connecting part of the door will not open any further. Further, when the contact portion 53 of the third bracket 52 contacts the contact portion 55 of the fourth bracket 54, the connecting portion of the both does not open any more. The fully open position is prescribed | regulated by the structure which concerns.

  Here, when the door 24 is closed, an operation reverse to the above is performed. That is, when the user performs an operation indicating a closing operation, the motor 36 is rotated in the reverse direction to the above, and the fifth gear 46 is rotated clockwise with reference to FIG. Then, the first bracket 48 also rotates clockwise, and a closing operation as shown in the order of FIGS. 4 (F), 4 (D), and 4 (B) is performed.

  FIG. 5 is a control block diagram relating to door opening / closing control of the refrigerator 10. The control device 82 controls the opening / closing operation of the door 24. A switch 74, a position sensor 80, a motor 36 and a solenoid 86 are connected to the control device 82.

  The switch 74 is a means for inputting a door opening / closing instruction by the user, and is provided, for example, on the front surface of the door 24. For example, a push button or a touch panel can be used as the switch 74. When the user operates switch 74 to instruct opening / closing of door 24, control device 82 drives motor 36 and energizes solenoid 86. Thereby, the motor 36 rotates, the clutch mechanism 56 is connected, and the door 24 is opened and closed.

  Instead of or in addition to the switch 74, a microphone 76 for inputting the user's voice or the like may be provided. Thereby, the door 24 can be opened and closed by a voice instruction from the user. By providing such a function, the user can open and close the door 24 even when it is difficult to operate by hand, for example, because the user has a baggage in both hands.

  Further, a camera 78 may be provided instead of or in addition to the above means. Then, the video information input from the camera 78 can be analyzed by the control device 82, and the door 24 can be opened and closed based on predetermined video analysis information. For example, when the user performs a predetermined operation, the door 24 can be opened and closed by recognizing the operation.

  Further, a remote controller (not shown) may be used as means for instructing the opening operation described above.

  The position sensor 80 is position detection means for detecting the position of the door 24. The control device 82 controls the driving of the motor 36 based on the position information of the door 24 detected by the position sensor 80. Specifically, the control device 82 executes a calculation for obtaining the moving speed of the door 24 based on the position information detected by the position sensor 80, and determines the rotation speed and the like. In this embodiment, a resistor 16 described later is employed as an example of the position sensor 80.

  In addition, the control device 82 includes a load sensor 84 as a power load detection unit that detects a power load of the motor 36. Specifically, the load sensor 84 detects the voltage and current of the motor 36. Then, the control device 82 determines the overload of the motor 36 based on the power load information of the motor 36 detected by the load sensor 84 and stops driving the motor 36.

  A mechanism for detecting the opening angle of the door 24 will be described with reference to FIG. 6A is a perspective view showing a configuration in which the resistor 16 is assembled to the switchgear 32, and FIG. 6B is a graph showing the relationship between the opening angle of the door and the resistance value.

  With reference to FIG. 6A, in this embodiment, a resistor 16 is employed as an angle detection means for detecting an angle at which the door 24 opens. The resistor 16 is provided with a rod-like rotating portion 17 protruding upward, and the upper end portion of the rotating portion 17 is fitted in the center of the fifth gear 46. The tip portion of the rotating portion 17 inserted into the center of the fifth gear 46 has a shape in which a part of the cylinder is formed flat. Therefore, the rotating part 17 is fixed in the rotating direction with respect to the fifth gear 46, and the rotating part 17 of the resistor 16 rotates in synchronization with the rotation of the fifth gear 46. Here, when the fifth gear 46 rotates, the opening / closing operation of the door 24 is performed via the first bracket 48 and the like, so measuring the rotation angle of the fifth gear 46 with the resistor 16 is the opening / closing of the door 24. It is equivalent to measuring the angle. The change in resistance value measured by the resistor 16 is transmitted to the control device 82 shown in FIG.

  In the graph shown in FIG. 6B, the horizontal axis indicates the opening angle of the door 24, and the vertical axis indicates the resistance value measured by the resistor 16. As is clear from this figure, since the opening angle θ of the door 24 and the resistance value have a predetermined correlation, it is possible to measure the opening angle of the door 24 by measuring the resistance value of the resistor 16. Become.

  Below, based on the flowchart shown in FIG.7 and FIG.8, and the graph shown in FIG. 9, the operation | movement which the door 24 with which the above-mentioned refrigerator 10 was equipped is opened and closed is demonstrated, referring each above-mentioned figure. Here, FIGS. 7 and 8 show the opening / closing operation of the door 24 of the refrigerator 10. In the graph of FIG. 9, the horizontal axis indicates the opening angle of the door 24, and the vertical axis indicates the speed of opening the door 24. The following operations are controlled by the control device 82 shown in FIG.

  First, the refrigerator 10 is turned on and started (YES in steps S10 and S11). Next, it is confirmed whether the opening angle θ of the door 24 of the refrigerator 10 is not fully opened or fully closed (step S12). At this time, referring to FIG. 2B, the clutch mechanism 56 is in a non-conductive state, so that the engagement between the second gear 40 and the first gear 38 and the third gear 42 is released. The power transmission mechanism 35 is cut off.

  If this state is not the fully open state or the fully closed state (YES in step S12), the door 24 is started in the direction before the power failure (step S13). Specifically, information indicating the direction in which the door was operating before the power was turned off is stored in a recording device such as an E2ROM in accordance with an instruction from the control device. Then, this information is read in this step, and the operation (opening operation or closing operation) indicated by this information is performed. As an initial operation, the door 24 is opened or closed at a slow speed V0 (FIG. 9). Here, the speed V0 is a speed slower than V1, V2, and V3 described below. Regardless of the opening angle of the door 24, by starting to move the door 24 at such a slow speed, the operation of the door 24 can be made smooth. Further, when the door 24 is started in the following steps, the door 24 is opened and closed at the speed V0 even when the opening angle θ of the door 24 is larger than θ1 (FIG. 9) or θ2. I do.

  Here, the operation in step S13 described above can be changed depending on the time required for recovery from a power failure. Specifically, if the time required for this return is within a certain time (for example, 5 minutes), the door 24 is operated in the direction that was operating before the power failure in step S13 as described above. On the other hand, if a time longer than a certain time is required for the return, the operation direction is reset and the door 24 is operated in the closing direction. Thereby, it is suppressed that the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 14 raises because the door 24 will be in an open state over a long time.

  Then, referring to FIG. 2B, the power transmission mechanism 35 is brought into a connected state by the clutch mechanism 56 (step S14). That is, the third gear 42, the first gear 38, and the second gear 40 are engaged by conducting the clutch mechanism 56 and moving the second gear 40 downward.

  Thereafter, after a predetermined time (for example, one second) has elapsed since the clutch mechanism 56 connected the power transmission mechanism 35, the speed at which the door opens is changed (step S15).

  Specifically, if the opening angle θ of the door 24 is smaller than a predetermined angle θ1 (for example, 10 degrees), the opening angle of the door 24 is set to a predetermined speed V1 (see FIG. 9). That is, since the door 24 is in the initial operation stage of the opening operation, the opening / closing speed is slowed in order to smoothly open and close the door 24.

  If this angle θ is equal to or larger than θ1 and smaller than an angle θ2 (for example, 110 degrees) set larger than θ1, the speed of the door 24 is set to V2 (see FIG. 9). Here, the speed V2 is faster than the above-described V1. By increasing the opening / closing speed in the middle of the opening operation of the door 24, the time for opening / closing the door 24 can be shortened as a whole.

  Furthermore, when the angle θ is equal to or larger than θ2 and smaller than θ3 (for example, 120 degrees) in the fully open state, the opening speed of the door 24 is set to V3 (see FIG. 9). Here, the speed V3 is a speed slower than the above-described V2, and may be the same speed as V1. In this way, the opening / closing operation is smoothed by reducing the speed V3 at which the door 24 opens in the final stage of the opening operation.

  If the door 24 is fully opened or fully closed (NO in step S12), the clutch mechanism 56 and the motor 36 shown in FIG. 2B are turned off (step S16).

  Thereafter, when the user instructs the refrigerator 10 to open the door 24 (YES in step S17), the door 24 is started in a direction to open the door 24 (step S18). As described with reference to FIG. 6, this command is input using the switch 74, the microphone 76, and the like. Specifically, referring to FIG. 2B, the clutch mechanism 56 is operated to move the second gear 40 downward. As a result, the first gear 38, the third gear 42, and the second gear 40 are engaged, and the power transmission mechanism 35 is connected. By rotating the motor 36 in this state, the first bracket 48 fixed to the fifth gear 46 moves, and the door 24 is opened.

  Thereafter, the opening speed of the door 24 is changed (step S19). Specifically, the opening speed is changed according to the opening angle θ of the door 24 as in step S15 described above.

  When the opening operation of the door 24 proceeds and the door 24 is fully opened, the opening operation is terminated, the conduction of the clutch mechanism 56 shown in FIG. 2 (B) is interrupted, and the second gear 40 is moved upward, so that the first The engagement with the gear 38 and the third gear 42 is released. Further, the conduction of the motor 36 is also cut off, and the rotation is stopped (step S20).

  Further, when the user gives a command for closing the door 24 to the refrigerator 10 (YES in step S21), the power transmission mechanism 35 is brought into a state capable of transmitting power by operating the clutch mechanism 56. Here, the closing instruction by the user is performed using the switch 74 and the like shown in FIG. 6 as in step S17 described above.

  Thereafter, the door 24 is started in the closing direction (step S22), and after a predetermined time has elapsed, the closing speed is changed according to the angle at which the door 24 is opened (step 23). The method for changing the speed at which the door opens in step 23 is the same as that in step S15 described above.

  Thereafter, when the door 24 is fully closed, the power to the clutch mechanism 56 and the motor 36 shown in FIG. 2B is shut off as in step S20 described above (step S24).

  Next, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, the door 24 is not fully closed (YES in step S25), the opening command or the closing command is not issued by the user (YES in step S26), and even in an abnormal state. If not (YES in step S27), the door 24 is started in the closing direction (step S28). Here, the abnormal state is a state in which the door 24 cannot be closed due to, for example, a foreign object such as food caught in the door 24.

  The reason why the door 24 is closed in this step S28 is to prevent this phenomenon because if the door 24 is left open, the cold air in the refrigerator compartment leaks to the outside and the temperature of the refrigerator compartment rises. is there. Further, the moving speed is changed according to the angle at which the door 24 is opened in the middle of the closing operation of the door 24. The details are the same as in step S15 described above.

  Further, when the motor 36 is operating in order to open and close the door 24 (YES in step S30), if an abnormality is detected (step S31), the clutch mechanism 56 and the motor 36 are turned off (step S31). FIG. 2 (B)). Specifically, the clutch mechanism 56 is turned off, the second gear 40 is moved upward to turn off the power transmission mechanism 35, and the motor 36 is turned off to stop its rotation.

  Next, the process proceeds to a return process from the abnormal state (YES in step S33). If the angle of the door 24 when the abnormality occurs is not fully closed or fully opened (YES in step S34), an abnormality has occurred. The door 24 is started in the opposite direction (step S35). That is, if an abnormality occurs in the middle of the opening operation, the door 24 is started in the closing direction, and if an abnormality occurs in the middle of the closing operation, the door 24 is started in the opening direction. If an abnormal stop occurs in the middle of the closing operation, it is possible that a foreign object such as food is caught between the door 24 and the refrigerator body. Therefore, in this case, the door 24 is moved in the opening direction to prevent foreign matter from being caught. On the other hand, if an abnormal stop occurs in the middle of the opening operation, the door 24 may be hit by a foreign object. Therefore, in this case, the door 24 is separated from the foreign matter by closing the door 24.

  Next, the power transmission mechanism 35 is brought into a connected state by operating the clutch mechanism 56 shown in FIG. 2B in a conductive state (step S36), and the opening / closing speed is changed according to the angle of the door 24 (step S36). S37). The details of step 37 are the same as step S15 described above.

  Thereafter, when the door 24 is fully opened or fully closed (step S38), the operation of the door 24 by the opening / closing device 32 is terminated.

  The above-described embodiment can be modified as follows.

  Referring to FIG. 6, in the above embodiment, the angle at which the door 24 opens is calculated from the resistance value detected by the resistor 16, but other electrical characteristic values may be adopted. For example, the angle may be calculated using means for measuring other electrical characteristic values such as a current value and a voltage value that change with the rotation of the fifth gear 46.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Refrigerator 12 Heat insulation box 14 Refrigerating room 16 Resistor 17 Rotating part 18 Upper stage freezing room 20 Lower stage freezing room 22 Vegetable room 24 Door 26 Door 28 Door 30 Door 32 Opening / closing device 34 Opening device 35 Power transmission mechanism 36 Motor 37 Spring 38 First 1 gear 40 2nd gear 42 3rd gear 44 4th gear 46 5th gear 48 1st bracket 49 contact part 50 2nd bracket 51 contact part 52 3rd bracket 53 contact part 54 4th bracket 55 contact part 56 Clutch mechanism 57 Press part 58 Concave part 60 Concave engaging part 62 Convex engaging part 64 Inclined surface 66 Inclined surface 68 Inclined surface 70 Inclined surface 72 Support plate 74 Switch 76 Microphone 78 Camera 80 Position sensor 82 Controller 84 Load sensor 86 Solenoid V0, V1, V2, V3 Speed

Claims (3)

A refrigerator body having an interior as a storage room, a door that is pivotally supported by the front opening of the refrigerator body and covers the front opening, an opening / closing device that opens and closes the door with respect to the refrigerator body, An angle detection device for detecting an angle at which the opening and closing device opens and closes the door, and
The opening / closing device varies a speed of opening and closing the door based on the angle detected by the angle detection device,
The switchgear is
When the angle of the door is smaller than the first angle, the door is opened and closed at a first speed,
When the angle of the door is equal to or larger than the first angle and smaller than a second angle defined larger than the first angle, the door is opened and closed at a second speed higher than the first speed. Let
If the angle of the door is equal to or greater than the second angle, the door is opened and closed at a third speed slower than the second speed,
Refrigerator said switchgear, when resuming the closing operation of the door is stopped in the middle, characterized by Rukoto was started at a slower rate than the door said first speed. The opening / closing device includes a motor, a gear rotating by a driving force of the motor, and a bracket having one end connected to the gear and the other end connected to the door,
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the angle detection device measures the angle of the door based on a change in an electrical characteristic value accompanying rotation of the gear. The angle detection device is a resistor that rotates in synchronization with the gear,
The refrigerator according to claim 2 , wherein the electrical characteristic value is a resistance value of the resistor.

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