JPH05340665A - Freezer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a freezer of top-opening type whose top cover and the back are connected by a hinge, using no mercury-type switch for a lamp in a case but a safe and accurate switch. CONSTITUTION:A hinge part 16 is provided with a microswitch 22 for a lamp in a case, having a slot 32, in which a transmission member 32 is provided which moves vertically so as to position at the upper part of the slot 32 when a cover 14 is opened, and at the lower part thereof when closed interlocking with a revolving shaft 28 of the hinge 16, and a contact 48 of the microswitch 22 is coupled to the transmission member.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an open-top freezer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an open-type freezer for storing ice cream, frozen foods and the like. In this freezer, a back surface of a main body having a freezing chamber and a back surface of a door arranged on the upper surface of the main body are connected by a hinge portion so that the door can be freely opened and closed. An internal lighting is provided at the center of the back plate of the door, and when the door is opened, the internal lighting turns on to illuminate the stored items inside the main body.

In the freezer having the above-mentioned structure, the structure in which the interior illumination lamp is turned on / off by opening / closing the door generally has a mercury switch installed inside the door. A mercury switch is also called a tilt switch, and when the door is opened, the tilt of the door causes the liquid mercury to flow due to the tilt, and the switch turns on when the door is opened or closed to a certain angle. The state or the OFF state (hereinafter, this angle is referred to as a blinking angle).

[0004]

The mercury used in the above mercury switch is a toxic substance, and due to the recent increase in social conditions for environmental protection, toxic substances have been used as little as possible. Further, when the freezer is installed tilted, the blinking angle changes, and in a remarkable case, there is a problem that the light continues to be turned on even when the door is opened.

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a freezer that does not use a mercury switch and that uses a switch for a safe and reliable internal lighting.

[0006]

A freezer according to the present invention has an internal illumination lamp, and an upper opening type in which a rear surface of a main body of the freezer and a rear surface of a door arranged on the upper surface of the freezer are connected by a hinge portion. In the freezer, the hinge is provided with a switch for the inside illumination lamp, a transmission member is provided which moves up and down in conjunction with the rotation axis of the hinge, and the contacts of the microswitch are connected to the transmission member. ..

[0007]

[Operation] When the door is opened in the freezer with the above configuration, the rotary shaft of the hinge portion rotates and the transmission member moves to the upper portion of the long hole. By this movement, the contact of the micro switch is turned on, and the internal lighting is turned on.

Further, when the door is closed, the transmission member moves to the lower portion of the elongated hole in conjunction with the rotating shaft of the hinge portion. By this movement, the contact of the micro switch is turned off, and the internal lighting is turned off.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Reference numeral 10 is a freezer which shows an embodiment of the present invention. The freezer 10 includes a main body 12 that stores ice cream and frozen foods, and a door 14 arranged on the upper surface of the main body 12. Reference numeral 20 is an internal illumination lamp provided in the central portion of the back plate 15 of the door 14. The internal lighting 24 is
It is covered with the lighting cover 52 (see FIG. 1).

Reference numerals 16 and 18 denote hinge portions which rotatably connect the upper rear surface of the main body 12 and the rear surface of the door 14 (see FIG. 2).

The structure of the hinge portion 16 will be described below (see FIGS. 3 to 7).

Reference numeral 24 is a hinge protrusion protruding from the rear portion of the door 14.

Reference numeral 26 is a hinge receiving portion provided on the upper rear surface of the main body 12. The hinge receiving portion 26 is hinge-coupled at its upper end portion to the hinge protrusion 24 via a rotary shaft 28. Further, a micro switch 22 for blinking the internal lighting 24 is screwed to the outer surface of one side of the hinge receiving portion 26.

Reference numerals 30 and 30 are semi-arcuate elongated holes provided at the upper portions of both side surfaces of the hinge receiving portion 26.

Reference numerals 32 and 32 are vertical straight elongated holes provided below the elongated holes 30 on both side surfaces of the hinge receiving portion 26.

Reference numeral 34 designates an upper support shaft which is provided between the elongated hole 30 on one side surface, the hinge protrusion 24 and the elongated hole 30 on the other side surface.

Reference numeral 36 is a lower support shaft which is provided between the elongated holes 32. One end of the lower support shaft 32 projects from the elongated hole 32. The tip of the contact 48 of the micro switch 22 is in contact with one end of the lower support shaft 36. When the lower support shaft 36 moves upward along the long hole 32, the contact 48 also moves upward at the same time, and the microswitch 2
2 is turned on. Further, the lower support shaft 36 has the long hole 32.
When the contact point 48 moves to the lower end, the contact 48 also moves downward, and the micro switch 22 is turned off. That is, the lower support shaft 36 is the transmission member described in the claims.

Reference numeral 38 is a plate-like connecting plate for connecting the upper support shaft 34 and the lower support shaft 36.

Reference numeral 40 denotes an upper spring receiving portion projecting inward from the hinge receiving portion 26 from the lower portion of the connecting plate 38.

Reference numeral 44 is a bolt screwed to the bottom of the hinge receiving portion 26.

Reference numeral 42 is a lower spring receiving portion arranged on the upper end of the bolt 44. A coil-shaped spring 46 is arranged between the upper spring receiving portion 40 and the lower spring receiving portion 42.

Reference numeral 50 is a cover for covering the micro switch 22 arranged on one side surface of the hinge receiving portion 26.

The case of opening the door 14 having the above structure will be described.

When the door 14 is pulled up by hand, the rotary shaft 2
Rotate around 8. At the same time, the upper support shaft 34 moves from the lower end portion to the upper end portion of the semicircular arc-shaped long hole 30, and the connecting plate 3
The lower support shaft 36 also moves from the lower end portion of the elongated hole 32 to the upper portion by means of 8. In this case, the lower support shaft 36 is prevented from dropping to the lower end of the elongated hole 32 by the urging force of the spring 46. Therefore, the door 14 stops while rotating upward. Therefore, the door 14 is not closed by its own weight even while the stored items are being taken out from the main body 12. Further, when the lower support shaft 36 moves upward, the contact 48 of the micro switch 22 also moves upward, and the micro switch 2
2 is turned on, and the interior lighting 20 is turned on.

The hinge portion 16 having the above structure has the following effects.

Since the mercury-type switch is not used, it does not take time and effort to collect parts when the freezer 10 is discarded, and mercury does not leak even if it is discarded as it is.
Further, the blinking angle does not change due to the inclination of the freezer when it is installed.

Since the micro switch 22 is attached to the outer surface of one side of the hinge receiving portion 26, if the cover 50 is removed, replacement at the time of failure is easy.

Since the micro switch 22 is fixed to one side of the hinge receiving portion 26 of the hinge portion 16, the freezer 10
The micro switch 22 does not collide with the wall even if the back surface of the is attached to the wall.

As the door 14 is opened, the lower support shaft 3
Since the movement amount of 6 is small, even if the door 14 is opened vigorously, the micro switch 22 does not react sensitively to the repulsion of the door 14 and chattering or the like does not occur.

Since the lower support shaft 36 is constantly pushed upward by the force of the spring 46 and has relatively high accuracy without rattling, a micro switch using a contact 48 having a small stroke may be used.

Since the micro switch 22 is turned on / off by the amount of movement of the lower support portion 36 in the hinge portion 16, the versatility is high without being affected by the size of the product, variation in attachment of the door 14, and the like.

Next, the lighting cover 52 of the internal lighting 20.
The structure for attaching the to the back plate 15 of the door 14 will be described (see FIGS. 8 to 10).

Conventionally, the lighting cover is firmly fixed to the back plate 15 of the door 14 by screws or fitting. However, with this mounting structure, when the internal lighting 20 is continuously lit, the lighting cover and its surroundings may be heated, leading to ignition and smoke. Further, there is a problem that it is not possible to judge whether or not the internal lighting 20 is continuously lit due to a failure of the switch or the like.

Therefore, the mounting structure of the lighting cover 52 of the present embodiment provides a structure for determining continuous lighting and preventing ignition or smoke around the lighting cover 52.

Reference numeral 54 is a concave portion provided in the central portion of the back plate 15 of the door 14 for mounting the interior illumination lamp 20.

Reference numeral 56 is an engaging hole 56 provided in the back plate 15 located outside both sides of the recess 54.

Reference numeral 58 is a fixing protruding piece protruding from both ends of the upper surface of the illumination cover 52. The protruding piece 58 is inserted into the engagement hole 56.

Reference numeral 60 is a cubic fixing member, which is arranged on the upper surface of the engaging hole 56. The lower surface of the fixing member 60 is open, and a pair of grooves 62, 62 are provided inside the opposite side walls.

Reference numeral 64 is a metal plate mounted between the pair of grooves 62, 62. This metal plate 64 is of a bimetal type or a shape memory alloy type and is shown in FIG.
As shown by the solid line, the curve is outward of the fixing member 60. When the temperature of the metal plate 64 rises, as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 9, the bending direction of the metal plate 64 changes to the inner side of the fixing member 60.

The case where the lighting cover 52 is attached to the back plate 15 of the door 14 will be described.

A pair of projecting pieces 58, 58 of the lighting cover 52.
Are inserted into the engagement holes 56, 56. Metal plate 6 of fixing member 60
Since 4 is curved outward of the fixing member 60, the protruding piece 58 is supported by the metal plate 64 and the side wall of the fixing member 60. As a result, the lighting cover 52 is fixed to the back plate 15 of the door 14.

When the internal lighting 20 is used in a normal state, the temperature of the lighting cover 52 does not rise, so that the metal plate 64 constantly presses the protruding piece 58 of the lighting cover 52, and the lighting cover 52 is constantly pressed. 52 is fixed to the back plate 15 of the door 14.

However, when the internal lighting 20 is continuously turned on for some reason and the temperature of the lighting cover 52 rises, the heat is transmitted to the metal plate 64, and the metal plate 64 is curved inward of the fixing member 60. Therefore, the protruding piece 58 held by the metal plate 64 loses its support, and the lighting cover 52 falls.

With the mounting structure of the lighting cover 52 having the above-described structure, the internal lighting lamp 20 is continuously lit, and when the surrounding temperature rises, the lighting cover 52 drops, so whether the lighting lamp 52 is continuously lit or not. Easy to judge. Further, since the lighting cover 52 falls inside the main body 12, the lighting cover 5
2. Prevent excessive temperature rise in and around the area and prevent ignition, smoke, etc.

11 to 13 show a second embodiment in which the lighting cover 52 is mounted.

The mounting structure of the illumination cover 52 of the second embodiment differs from the mounting structure of the first embodiment in that the protruding piece 58 is used.
The claw 66 is formed on the upper end of the metal plate 64, and the metal plate 64 is held by a pair of support columns 65 protruding from the back plate 15.

When the metal plate 64 is at room temperature, the claw 66 is supported and the lighting cover 52 is fixed. When the temperature of the metal plate 64 rises and its bending direction changes, the claw 66 loses its support and the lighting cover 52 falls.

[0049]

As described above, according to the freezer of the present invention,
Since no mercury type switch is used, it does not take time to collect parts when disposing of the freezer, and mercury does not leak even if it is discarded as it is. Further, the blinking angle does not change due to the inclination of the freezer when it is installed. further,
Since the micro switch is attached to the hinge part, which is the outer surface of the main body, replacement at the time of failure is easy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a freezer as seen from the front, showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same as seen from the rear of the freezer.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view from the back surface of the hinge portion.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a hinge portion.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the hinge portion with the cover removed with the door closed.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the hinge portion with the cover removed, with the door partially opened.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the hinge portion with the cover removed with the door completely opened.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a portion of the door where the interior light is attached.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a fixing member.

FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a fixing member.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view showing a mounted state of the interior illumination lamp of the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the metal plate in a heated state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Freezer 12 ... Main body 14 ... Door 16 ... Hinge part 18 ... Hinge part 20 ... Interior lighting 22 ... Switch 24 ... Hinge protrusion 26 ... Hinge receiving part 28 ... Rotating shaft 30 ...... long hole 32 ...... long hole 34 ...... upper support shaft 36 ...... lower support shaft 38 ...... connecting plate 40 ...... upper spring receiving part 42 ...... lower spring receiving part 44 ...... bolt 46 ...... spring 48 ...... Contact point 50 …… Cover

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An upward-opening type freezer having an interior lighting lamp, wherein a rear surface of a main body of the freezer and a rear surface of a door arranged on the upper surface of the main body are connected by a hinge portion, wherein the hinge portion is provided inside the refrigerator. A micro switch for an illuminating lamp is provided, a longitudinal elongated hole is provided in the hinge portion, and the hinge portion is located above the elongated hole when the door is in an open state in conjunction with the rotation axis of the hinge portion, and the door is closed. A freezer comprising a transmission member that moves up and down so as to be positioned below the elongated hole when in the state, and the contact of the microswitch is connected to the transmission member.