JPH10122723A - Damper for refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively conduct a switching operation of a damper by performing the operation of the damper by rotating a motor only in one direction, accurately detecting a switching position of the damper, and stopping the motor. SOLUTION: In the damper constituted to switch a chilled gas port by rotating a baffle arm 3 via a front surface cam mechanism or crank mechanism provided at one side of a rotary plate for rotating in one direction in cooperation with a motor 6, a semicircular arc-like element 9 to be detected concentrically with the plate is provided in a predetermined range corresponding to opening or closing direction of the arm 3 on one side opposite to the one side of the plate. Further, a detector 10 is oppositely provided at a position where the detector 9 is passed upon rotation of the plate. Both ends of the detector 9 detect two types of timing for passing a detecting area of the detector 10, and stop the motor 6 in response to the two types of timing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator damper for controlling the temperature in a refrigerator by opening and closing a cool air port.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a cold air opening communicating with each room of a refrigerator is opened and closed by a damper. For example, when the temperature of the refrigerator becomes higher than a set temperature, the above damper is opened and a freezer located above the refrigerator is opened. Techniques for adjusting the temperature by taking in cold air from are known. In general, the damper is driven to open and close by a motor controlled by a temperature sensor or an electromagnetic actuator.

[0003]

In order to open and close the damper with the driving force of the motor, it is conceivable to rotate the motor in the normal or reverse direction. There is a problem that the configuration of the control means becomes complicated.

Further, in order to reliably open and close the damper, it is necessary to constantly detect the posture of the moving part. For this purpose, it is necessary to determine in which position the damper is to be stopped, and the structure must be such that this position can be reliably grasped. If the stop position of the damper is incorrect, the damper may be opened or closed at an inadvertent position, and proper temperature adjustment in the refrigerator cannot be achieved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to enable the opening and closing operation of a damper by rotating a motor only in one direction, and to accurately detect the opening and closing position of the damper. Then, the motor is stopped, and the opening / closing operation of the damper is made more reliable thereafter.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a damper according to the present invention uses a rotating plate which rotates in one direction in conjunction with a motor, and a circular cam groove is formed on one side of the rotating plate. Is provided eccentrically with respect to the rotation axis of the rotating plate,
The cam groove and the baffle arm are connected by a follower (open rod) to form a front cam mechanism, or an eccentric shaft is provided on the rotary plate, and the eccentric shaft and the baffle arm are connected to the follower (connecting). A crank mechanism is connected with a rod to convert the rotation of the rotating plate into the movement of the follower, and the movement of the follower rotates the baffle arm to open and close the cool air port. I do. Then, the rotational position of the rotating plate is monitored, at least two types of timings when the baffle arm is fully opened and fully closed are detected from the rotational position, and the motor is stopped according to the two types of timings. The above object has been achieved by means.

More specifically, the baffle arm is rotated via a front cam mechanism or a crank mechanism provided on one side surface of a rotating plate which rotates in one direction in conjunction with a motor to open and close a cool air port. A damper, a semicircular object to be detected concentric with the rotating plate on one side opposite to the one side of the rotating plate corresponding to either the opening direction or the closing direction of the baffle arm. A baffle arm position detecting means is provided in a predetermined range, and a detection object is provided at a position where the detection object passes while the rotating plate is rotating, and both ends of the detection object are the detection object. The object of the present invention can be achieved by means of detecting two kinds of timings passing through the detection area and stopping the motor in accordance with the two kinds of timings. In other words, the two types of timings for stopping the motor are generated at least at the position where the baffle arm closes the cool air port and at the position where the cool air port is opened, and both end positions of the detected object are based on the above two types of timings. Is determined in advance. Here, the detected object constituting the position detecting means corresponds to a magnet or a reflection plate, and the corresponding detecting object corresponds to a magnetic force sensor or a reflection type photoelectric sensor.

[0008] A series of operations of the damper of the present invention by the above means will be described. First, the motor is started when the temperature sensor or the like detects that the temperature inside the refrigerator has exceeded the set temperature with the cold air port closed. Rotate the baffle arm in the opening direction. Thereafter, the end of the detection body is detected while the rotating plate is rotating, and if it is detected that the baffle arm has reached the open position, the motor is stopped and the opening operation of the baffle arm is stopped. On the other hand, if it is detected from this state that the internal temperature has returned to the set temperature due to the intake of cool air, the motor is started again to rotate the baffle arm in the closing direction. Thereafter, the other end of the detection object is detected, and when it is detected that the baffle arm has reached the closed position, the motor is stopped, and the baffle arm is stopped in the closed state. As described above, the degree of opening of the baffle arm is detected from the rotational position of the rotary plate, which is the driving means of the baffle arm, so that the baffle arm can be reliably stopped in the fully opened and fully closed states.

Further, as described above, the rotating plate and the baffle arm perform closely related operations, and detecting the rotational position of the rotating plate is equivalent to detecting the position of the baffle arm. The position to be detected is determined by which rotational position of the rotating plate is to be detected. Therefore, the manner in which the detection body is formed on the rotating plate, that is, the timing of detecting the rotational position of the rotating plate is not necessarily limited to when the baffle arm is fully opened and fully closed. In the case where an overrun of the arm occurs, the object of the present invention can be achieved even if the detection is performed prior to the fully open position and the fully closed position of the baffle arm.

Here, the fully open or fully closed state of the baffle arm means not only a momentary state but also a state in which the cold air port is continuously closed and the cold air port is continuously opened. Thus, a configuration in which the cool air port is kept closed within a certain range during the rotation of the rotating plate is also included in the present invention. That is, in the configuration in which the baffle arm is rotated via the front cam mechanism, the cam groove is constituted by two types of large and small arcs having different diameters, and the baffle arm is fully opened and fully opened in the range of the large-diameter arc among the arcs. By adopting the configuration to be in the closed state, even when the rotating plate is rotating, the cold air port is continuously opened in the range of the large-diameter arc,
Or it can be in a closed state. Therefore, even if the baffle arm inadvertently overruns due to inertia after the motor stops, the cool air port can be reliably opened and closed.

[0011]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, a damper according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a frame including a cool air port 1a, a gear box 1b, and a gear cover 1c capable of engaging with the gear box 1b. The refrigerator compartment 50 and the freezer compartment 5 in the refrigerator
It is attached to one partition wall 52. Reference numeral 2 denotes a baffle capable of sealing the cold air port 1a.
b. Reference numeral 3 denotes a baffle arm having a baffle 2 attached to a front end, and a rear end of the baffle arm is rotatably fixed to a gear cover 1c of the frame 1.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a cam gear. A circular cam groove 4a is formed on one side of the cam gear eccentrically with respect to the rotation axis of the cam gear 4. 5 is an open rod,
The upper end thereof is provided with a sliding portion 5a which can be freely fitted into the cam groove 4a of the cam gear 4. The baffle arm 3 and the open rod 5 are connected to a pin 3a formed in the baffle arm 3 through a through hole 5b formed at the lower end of the open rod 5.
Are hooked up.

Further, reference numeral 6 denotes a motor, and a gear box 1 of the frame 1 with the drive shaft 6a facing downward.
b. A worm 7 is mounted on a drive shaft 6a of the motor 6, and a first worm wheel 8a meshing with the worm 7 and a second worm wheel 8b meshing with the cam gear 4 are coaxially connected. The driving force of the motor 6 is transmitted to the cam gear 4 via the gear shaft 8. That is, the motor 6 and the cam gear 4 rotate in conjunction with each other via the gear shaft 8.

The damper having the above-described structure is provided with a baffle arm 3.
As a driving means, a front cam mechanism constituted by a cam gear 4 and an open rod 5 is employed. That is, the rotational movement of the cam gear 4 is converted into the vertical movement of the open rod 5, and the vertical movement of the open rod 5 rotates the baffle arm 3 to open and close the cool air port 1a. Therefore, according to the damper of the present embodiment, the baffle arm 3 can be opened and closed by rotating the cam gear 4 in one direction (clockwise in FIG. 3 in this embodiment), as shown in FIG. . With this configuration, when the baffle arm 3 is driven, the motor 6 does not reverse every time, so that the load on the motor 6 can be reduced and the life of the motor 6 can be extended.

Here, the motor 6 is controlled by a control circuit (not shown).
It is controlled to drive or stop by. That is, a temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the temperature inside the refrigerator is connected to the control circuit, and the temperature inside the refrigerator exceeds the set temperature when the damper is closed, and the temperature of the cold air is reduced when the damper is opened. The control circuit drives the motor 6 and opens and closes the baffle arm 3 when the signal from the temperature sensor detects that the internal temperature has dropped to the set temperature due to the introduction of the above.

On the other hand, the motor 6 is stopped by a signal from the position detecting means of the cam gear 4 connected to the control circuit. That is, the position detecting means detects that the baffle arm 3 has reached the open / closed state from the rotational position of the cam gear 4, and stops the motor 6. The detailed structure will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. On one side of the cam gear 4 opposite to the side on which the cam groove 4a is formed, a semi-circular shape (here, 185) °)
Are provided. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the baffle arm 3 is in a closed state corresponding to FIG. 1. In this state, it is assumed that the cam gear 4 rotates counterclockwise. Are provided corresponding to the closing direction of the baffle arm 3 (approximately half the circumference on the right side of the cam gear 4 in FIG. 4). Further, both ends 9a and 9b of the band magnet 9 correspond to the fully open position and the fully closed position of the baffle arm 3, respectively. On the other hand, a Hall element 10 is provided on the frame 1 at a position where the band magnet 9 passes on a radius extending directly above the rotation shaft 4b of the cam gear 4 (see FIG. 5).

As described above, in the present embodiment, the position detecting means of the baffle arm 3 is provided with the arc-shaped band magnet 9 which is a detection object in a certain range of the cam gear 4 and the Hall element which is the detection object at the passing point. 10 are provided opposite each other. According to this configuration, while the cam gear 4 is rotating, when the band magnet 9 faces the Hall element 10 (when the baffle arm 3 is rotating in the opening direction), a constant output is output from the Hall element 10 to the control circuit. When the band magnet 9 does not face the Hall element 10 (when the baffle arm 3 is rotating in the closing direction),
Is not in a magnetic field of a certain magnetic flux density or higher, no output is made from the Hall element 10 to the control circuit. In this configuration, during the rotation of the cam gear 4, the change point between the output and the non-output by the Hall element 10 is determined by connecting the Hall element 10 to both ends 9 a of the band magnet 9.
In this embodiment, the control circuit reads the change point and performs control to automatically stop the motor 6 to stop the opening and closing operation of the baffle arm 3.

When the motor 6 is stopped by detecting that the baffle arm 3 is open or closed by the position detecting means of the cam gear 4 described above,
Actually, it is difficult to completely stop the baffle arm 3 simultaneously with the stop of the motor 6. That is, due to the inertia of the motor 6 and the baffle arm 3 itself, the baffle arm 3 is over-driven from the stop timing of the motor 6, that is, the fully closed state in which the cold air port 1a is completely closed or the fully open state in which the cold air port 1a is completely opened. It is conceivable that the vehicle runs and stops with a slight time lag from the state. But,
In order to properly control the temperature and to ensure the subsequent operation of the baffle arm 3, it is necessary to reliably stop the baffle arm 3 at two timings: a fully closed state and a fully opened state.

Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the cam groove 4a formed in the cam gear 4 has an Aa-Ab range .theta. 26 °) and a range θ ′ (here, θ ′ = 30 degrees) of Ba-Bb near the point B in the closed state is formed by an arc having a diameter larger than that of the other, and the cam groove 4a as a whole has a flat shape. The shape was a deformed circle. In the above ranges θ and θ ′, the displacement amount of the open rod 5 is set to 0,
The baffle arm 3 is configured to be continuously closed or fully opened. That is, the cam groove 4 having the shape
According to a, the sliding portion 5a of the open rod 5 is Aa-B
a or the baffle arm 3 rotates when it is located in the range of Ab-Bb, and when the sliding portion 5a is located in the range θ or θ ′, the baffle arm 3 is maintained in the fully open state or the fully closed state. can do. Therefore, even if the baffle arm 3 overruns due to inertial force or the like after the motor 6 stops, as long as the sliding portion 5a of the open rod 5 is located in the range θ, θ ′, the baffle arm 3 is fully opened or fully closed. Can be maintained in a state. Further, even if the sensitivity of the Hall element 10 varies, if both ends 9a and 9b of the band magnet 9 can be detected within the above ranges θ and θ ′, the baffle arm 3 can be stopped in the fully open state or the fully closed state. You can. Here, the reason that the range θ for maintaining the open state is larger than the range θ ′ for maintaining the closed state is that when the baffle arm 3 rotates in the opening direction, it overruns when the baffle arm 3 rotates in the closing direction. This is because a large amount is expected.

Further, in this embodiment, when the belt magnet 9 is provided on the cam gear 4, as shown in FIG. 7, both ends 9a and 9b and the center line X of the cam gear 4 have a fixed angle difference (in the figure, α and β, where α = 5 degrees and β = 1
0 degrees). Here, the center line X connects the points A and B of the cam groove 4a where the baffle arm 3 is fully opened and fully closed.

The stop control of the motor 6 in this embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG. 7. If the cam gear 4 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 7, both ends 9a and 9b of the band magnet 9 The baffle arm 3 enters the detection area of the Hall element 10 in advance of the angle difference α from the fully opened state or the angle difference β from the fully closed state of the baffle arm 3. That is, the control circuit operates the Hall element 10 at two kinds of timings preceding the fully closed state or the fully opened state of the baffle arm 3.
The motor 6 is stopped by detecting a change point between the output and the non-output. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the stop control of the motor 6 can be performed in anticipation of the overrun amount of the baffle arm 3, so that the baffle arm 3 is stopped at the fully closed and fully open positions without performing strict control. be able to. It is needless to say that the baffle arm 3 can be more reliably stopped at an appropriate position without acquiring a strict motor stop timing by using this configuration and the above-described flat cam groove 4a in combination. . However,
Stopping the motor 6 prior to the fully closed position or the fully open position of the baffle arm 3 is one embodiment of the present invention. For example, when a brake motor is adopted as the motor 6, the angle It is also possible to perform motor control such that the motor 6 is stopped at the same time that the baffle arm 3 is fully opened or fully closed without securing the difference α · β.

The Hall element 10 is an example of the magnetic sensor according to the present invention, and may be a reed switch. Further, the position detecting means of the baffle arm 3 is not limited to the combination of the band magnet 9 and the magnetic force sensor described above, but may be a photoelectric sensor combining a reflector and a reflective photoelectric sensor. That is, a reflection plate of the same shape is attached to the cam gear 4 instead of the band magnet 9, and a reflection type photoelectric sensor is installed at the same position as the Hall element 10 instead of the Hall element 10, and this photoelectric sensor is connected to the control circuit. Then, the object of the present invention can be achieved even by reading the change point of the output. In addition, the position detecting means of the baffle arm 3 may be configured by a combination of the detected object and the detecting object other than the above as long as the control circuit generates a signal capable of detecting a change point of the output. It is.

The semi-circular object to be detected may be provided on the cam gear 4 in a manner corresponding to the closing direction of the baffle arm 3 (substantially half the circumference of the cam gear 4 in FIG. 7). Here, it is necessary to detect two different timings at which both ends of the detection object pass through the detection area of the detection object, and stop the motor at each timing.

Further, the object to be detected such as a magnet and a reflecting plate does not necessarily have to be formed in a semicircular arc shape. For example, as shown in FIG. The object of the present invention can be achieved even if the detected objects 9 'and 9 "are provided only at the positions. In other words, according to this example, the size of the detected objects 9' and 9" is supplied to the control circuit. A pulse signal with a width corresponding to the output is output at two kinds of timings,
This is because it is possible to control the motor 6 to stop by using the appearance of these pulse signals as a change point of the output by the detection object. In this case, the detected objects 9 'and 9 "
By changing the size or number of the output, the change point of the output from the magnetic force sensor or the like can be read more reliably.
Since the configuration and control of the control circuit are simplified, it is suitable as an embodiment of the present invention. What is important here is that the position of the baffle arm 3 is detected at two different timings, and that the motor 6 is stopped at two different timings.

Further, in the above embodiment, the baffle arm 3 is operated by the front cam mechanism to open and close the damper. However, another structure for opening and closing the damper using the cam gear 4 as a rotating plate is shown in FIG. It is also possible to employ a crank mechanism as shown in FIG. That is, the crank mechanism includes a rotating shaft 4b on the cam gear 4.
An eccentric shaft 4c is provided separately, and the eccentric shaft 4c and the baffle arm 3 are connected to the connection hole 11 capable of being fitted to the eccentric shaft 4c.
a, the baffle arm 3 can be rotated in conjunction with the cam gear 4 similarly to the front cam mechanism. Further, even when the crank mechanism is employed, by providing the position detecting means of the baffle arm 3 in the same manner as in the above embodiment employing the front cam mechanism, the baffle arm 3 can be fully closed or fully opened. Needless to say, it is possible to perform motor control for stopping the motor.

Although the baffle arm 3 repeats the opening and closing operation by the above-described configuration, when the baffle arm 3 is fully closed, the cool air port 1 must be completely sealed by the baffle 2. In other words, the baffle 2 and the cold air port 1a may be slightly displaced from each other by a deformation due to a dimensional error or a temperature change. However, even in such a case, the baffle arm 3 is in the fully closed state. , The horizontal surface of the baffle 2 and the cold air port 1a must be completely adhered. Therefore, paying attention to the mounting structure of the baffle 2 and the baffle arm 3,
10 to 12, the cold air port 1a formed by the baffle 2
A configuration capable of realizing the complete sealing of the above will be described.

FIG. 10 shows the baffle arm 3, in which the tip is divided by two notches 3b, 3b (see FIG. 10A), the middle is a horizontal portion 3c, and both sides are formed downward. Spring portions 3d and 3d (see FIG. 3B). Also, dowel holes 3e are provided in each of the spring portions 3d.
3e is formed.

On the other hand, FIG. 11 shows a support 2a of the baffle 2, and an engaging portion 2c to which the tip of the baffle arm 3 can be attached is formed substantially at the center of the lower surface. The engaging portion 2c is, as shown in FIG.
A connecting plate 2e is provided on the lower surface of the support 2a via two connecting columns 2d, 2d, and a space 2f in which the tip of the baffle arm can be inserted is secured between the support 2a and the connecting plate 2e. . The connecting plate 2e has a dowel hole 3 of the baffle arm 3.
Dowels 2g and 2g are protruded in correspondence with e and 3e,
Further, the horizontal portion 3 of the baffle arm 3 is provided on the lower surface of the support 2a.
A projection 2h having an arc-shaped tip is formed downward corresponding to c (see FIG. 2B).

As shown in FIG. 12, the baffle 2 and the baffle arm 3 having the above-described configuration are arranged such that the spring portions 3d are pushed up to the horizontal portion 3c in the space 2f of the baffle 2. Insert the tip of 3 and dowel 2g
-2g can be connected by engaging the dowel holes 3e. At this time, positioning is performed by engagement of the dowels 2g and 2g and the dowel holes 3e and 3e, so that the baffle 2 can be accurately attached to the baffle arm 3. The horizontal portion 3c is formed by the elastic force of the spring portions 3d.
Is biased upward so as to abut against the protruding portion 2h, and the two can be fixed with a force corresponding to the elastic force. At this time, since the protruding portion 2h has a tip (a contact surface with the horizontal portion 3c) formed in an arc shape, the baffle 2 is angled with respect to the baffle arm 2 in accordance with the arc of the protruding portion 2h. It can be attached only to swing back and forth. Therefore, the baffle 2 and the cold air port 1a are caused by dimensional errors and the like.
Even if there is slight blurring in the horizontal plane, the above-mentioned blurring can be absorbed in the range in which the baffle 2 can swing, and the cold air port 1a can be completely sealed by the baffle 2.

[0030]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
The baffle arm is opened and closed by the front cam mechanism or the crank mechanism, and the rotational position of the rotating plate of the mechanism is detected.Therefore, the drive of the motor must be stopped after the exact position of the baffle arm is grasped. Can be.

Also, since the rotational position of the rotating plate is detected prior to the fully closed state or the fully closed state of the baffle arm, overrun of the baffle arm or the like due to inertia can be corrected, and strict control of the baffle arm can be performed. Can be avoided.

Further, the cam groove is constituted by two types of arcs having different diameters, and the baffle arm is configured to be in a fully open state and a fully closed state within the range of the arc having the larger diameter. Even if the baffle arm overruns, the baffle arm can always be kept open or kept open in the above range.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view (a cam groove side of a cam gear) showing a main part of a damper according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the baffle arm.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the same (the band magnet side of the cam gear).

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cam gear.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the cam gear showing the shape of the cam groove.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the cam gear showing the shape of the band magnet.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a cam gear showing another aspect of the detection body.

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory view showing another driving mechanism of the baffle arm.

10A is a bottom view of the baffle arm, FIG.
(B) is a side view

11A is a bottom view and FIG. 11B is a rear view of the baffle.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a mounting state of a baffle arm and a baffle.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 frame 2 baffle 3 baffle arm 4 cam gear 4a cam groove 5 open rod 6 motor 9 band magnet (detected object) 10 Hall element (detected object)

Claims (6)

[Claims] A damper configured to open and close a cool air port by rotating a baffle arm via a front cam mechanism or a crank mechanism provided on one side of a rotary plate that rotates in one direction in conjunction with a motor. There is provided a refrigerator characterized by detecting at least two timings when the baffle arm is fully opened and fully closed from the rotational position of the rotary plate, and stopping the motor according to the two timings. Damper. 2. A damper configured to rotate a baffle arm via a front cam mechanism or a crank mechanism provided on one side surface of a rotary plate that rotates in one direction in conjunction with a motor to open and close a cool air port. A semicircular object to be detected concentric with the rotating plate is provided on a side surface opposite to the one side surface of the rotating plate within a predetermined range corresponding to either the opening direction or the closing direction of the baffle arm. Along with the provision of the detection object, a detection object is provided at a position where the detection object passes along with the rotation of the rotating plate, and both ends of the detection object detect two kinds of timings when the detection object passes through the detection area of the detection object. A refrigerator damper for stopping the motor in accordance with the two timings. 3. The refrigerator damper according to claim 2, wherein the object to be detected comprises a magnet, and the object comprises a magnetic sensor. 4. The damper for a refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the object to be detected is a reflector and the detector is a reflection type photoelectric sensor. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the two kinds of timings are detected prior to a fully open state and a fully closed state of the baffle arm.
The refrigerator damper according to 2, 3 or 4. 6. A structure for rotating a baffle arm via a front cam mechanism, wherein a cam groove is constituted by two types of large and small circular arcs having different diameters, and the baffle arm is fully opened in a range of the circular arc having a large diameter among the circular arcs. The refrigerator damper according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the damper is in a state and a fully closed state.