JPWO2018116707A1 - Opening device and refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The door opening device (32) includes a gear (38) for transmitting a rotational force generated by driving the motor (34) and a lever (40) that rotates in conjunction with the gear (38). The lever (40) has a base end portion (40a) serving as a rotation axis and a free end portion (40b) that rotates and moves with the base end portion (40a) as a fulcrum. The proximal end (40a) is fixed above the gear (38).

Description

  The present disclosure relates to a door opening device and a refrigerator including the door opening device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a door opening device that automatically opens a door with an increase in size of a refrigerator, a configuration has been disclosed in which a door is automatically opened by a linear movement of a pressing member by a worm gear and a rack using a motor as a drive source. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  Further, a configuration is disclosed in which a semicircular cam member is coupled to an output stage gear of a reduction gear and uses a motor as a drive source to press the door outward while rotating (see, for example, Patent Document 2). ).

  However, in such a conventional refrigerator, as the refrigerator becomes larger, the amount of food stored in a refrigerator room having a hinged refrigerator door, a freezer room having a drawer door, a vegetable room, and the like increases. The force required to open the door tends to increase. Further, when the door is closed, there is also a magnetic force of the door gasket adsorbed to the refrigerator main body, and a force for separating the gasket from the refrigerator main body is also added, and the force for opening the door tends to increase.

  Moreover, in the case of the door opening apparatus of patent document 2, the cam member is provided in the substantially same height as the motor. The cam member is housed in a drive case such as a motor as a drive source when the door is closed. In such a door opening device, in order to ensure the cam member storage space and the rotation space of the cam member in the drive case, the motor is disposed away from the rotation locus of the cam member, and the door opening device is enlarged. There is a problem of doing.

  In addition, in the case of the door opening device of Patent Document 2, since the cam member is configured to be open by opening a part of the unit case, when the door opening device is arranged in the warehouse, dew condensation water is generated. There is a risk of entering inside.

  Moreover, the door opening apparatus of patent document 2 is embed | buried in the front partition which comprises the front opening part between each storage chamber, rotates a cam member to the outer side of a refrigerator main body from the front surface of a partition member, and opens a storage chamber door. It is comprised so that it may press. When providing a door opening device as described in Patent Document 2 in a storage room having a drawer-type door, the door opening device is provided in the vicinity of the opening of the refrigerator main body. In this case, the storage container that moves forward together with the drawer-type door passes through the portion where the opening device of the refrigerator main body is disposed, and the refrigerator main body is pulled out, but the refrigerator main body is near the opening. Since it is necessary to secure a space for installing the door opening device, there is a problem that the storage volume is reduced. Further, there is a problem that the storage container comes into contact with the door opening device due to deformation of the storage container during the movement of the drawer storage container that moves together with the drawer door.

  Further, in a door opening device in which a cam member is provided with a plurality of stepped portions and a connecting member having a plurality of stepped portions having a shape matching the shape of the plurality of stepped portions of the cam member is provided, the rotation of the cam member During operation, there is a possibility that a problem such as deviation occurs in contact between the cam member and the connecting member. Further, in such a door opening device, the cam member and the connecting member perform the door opening operation by meshing the plurality of stepped portions with each other, so there is room for improvement in terms of smooth door opening operation. is there.

JP 2001-033150 A JP 2002-257466 A

  This indication is made in view of the above conventional subjects, and provides a compact door opening device which can open a door automatically, and a refrigerator provided with this.

  Specifically, a door opening device according to an example of an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a motor, a gear that converts rotational force generated by driving the motor into driving force, and a lever that rotates in conjunction with the gear. The lever has a base end serving as a rotation shaft and a free end that rotates around the base end as a fulcrum. The base end is fixed above the gear.

  With such a configuration, the depth dimension of the door opening device can be suppressed, and a compact door opening device can be obtained. Moreover, in a refrigerator provided with the door opening apparatus comprised in this way, internal volume reduction can be suppressed, improving the usability of a refrigerator.

  Moreover, in the door opening device according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the lever may have a convex portion or a concave portion between the base end portion and the free end portion. With such a configuration, a strong torque can be generated at the initial stage of opening the door, and the influence of a load due to the magnetic force of the magnet of the door gasket can be reduced. With such a configuration, the door opening operation can be performed efficiently.

  The door opening device according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a case having an upper case and a lower case. In this case, a motor, a gear, and the like are accommodated in the lower case, a lever is disposed on the outer upper surface of the upper case, and the lever, the motor, and the gear may be partitioned by the upper case. With such a configuration, the motor, the gear, and the like can be housed in the case, and these can be arranged separately from the lever. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent dew condensation water or the like from entering the case. Further, with such a configuration, only the lever can be disposed on the outer upper surface of the upper case, so that the invalid space of the storage chamber can be reduced and the internal volume of the storage chamber can be increased.

  Further, in the door opening device according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the base end portion may pass through a through hole provided in the upper case, and may be fixed to the rotation center portion of the gear by a fixing member. With such a configuration, a portion communicating with the inside of the case can be made as small as possible.

  Further, in the door opening device according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure, a waterproof member may be disposed on the outer periphery of the lever and between the gear to which the lever is fixed and the upper case. With such a configuration, water can be prevented from entering the door opening device, and the reliability of the door opening device can be improved.

  Further, in the door opening device according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the upper case may have a lower flange portion extending downward from the upper case. In this case, the lower flange portion may be arranged to overlap the side wall surface in the height direction of the side wall surface of the lower case. With such a configuration, the waterproof property of the door opening device can be enhanced.

  Further, in the door opening device according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the convex portion of the lever protrudes from the outer periphery of the lever toward the outer periphery of the case, that is, from the outer periphery of the lever toward the outside of the door opening device. You may have a protrusion part. With such a configuration, a strong torque can be generated at the initial stage of opening the door, and the influence of a load due to the magnetic force of the magnet of the door gasket can be reduced. Therefore, with such a configuration, the door opening operation can be performed efficiently.

  Further, in the door opening device according to the example of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the lever may have a notch portion that is a concave portion between the base end portion and the free end portion. With such a configuration, when the lever and the contact member are in contact with each other, the contact member is reliably pressed by the lever without slipping the surfaces of the contact portions of the lever and the contact member, and the pressing force of the lever is reduced. It can be efficiently transmitted to the contact member. With such a configuration, when a large door opening force is required, the power of the motor can be received efficiently, so the load on the motor can be reduced.

  Further, the door opening device according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure further includes a cam member that is interlocked with a gear that fixes the lever, and a position detection unit that detects the rotation position of the lever by the operation of the cam member. Also good. With such a configuration, when the lever rotates by a predetermined angle, the lever is detected by the position detector, and the rotation direction or stop of the motor is controlled by the control device, so that the operation of the lever can be controlled.

  Moreover, this indication provides the refrigerator provided with the door opening apparatus which has one of the said forms. By providing the door opening device according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure, a refrigerator with improved usability and reliability can be obtained.

  Further, a refrigerator according to an example of an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a refrigerator main body, a partition wall that divides the refrigerator main body into a plurality of storage chambers, a case that stores functional components including a motor that rotates a lever, and a case And a base member for storing the battery. In this case, the partition wall may have a recess, the base member may be disposed in a recess provided in the partition wall, and a waterproof member may be disposed between the case and the base member. With such a configuration, a refrigerator with further improved reliability can be provided.

  Moreover, in the refrigerator according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of storage rooms may have a drawer-type storage room. Moreover, in the refrigerator according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the lever of the door opening device may be configured to press the bottom surface of the storage case disposed in the drawer-type storage chamber. With such a configuration, the opening device can be arranged in the refrigerator while suppressing a reduction in the internal volume of the drawer-type storage chamber.

  In the refrigerator according to the example of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the contact member may be disposed at the pressing position of the storage case pressed by the lever. In the refrigerator according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the contact member may be made of a material different from that of the storage case. With such a configuration, the durability of the contact member can be increased.

  Moreover, the refrigerator by the example of embodiment of this indication may be provided with the reinforcement rib which reinforces a case in the left-right direction of a storage case in the bottom face of a storage case. In the refrigerator according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the contact member may be disposed in contact with the reinforcing rib. With such a configuration, the contact member can be reinforced.

  In addition, a refrigerator according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a drawer-type storage chamber, a drawer-type door provided in front of the drawer-type storage chamber, a storage case provided in the drawer-type storage chamber, and a storage case You may provide the door opening apparatus provided in the bottom face. The storage case may have a contact member on the bottom surface. The door opening device may include a motor, a gear that converts a rotational force generated by driving the motor into a drive force, and a lever that rotates in conjunction with the gear. The lever may have a base end serving as a rotation shaft and a free end that rotates around the base end as a fulcrum. The lever may have a notch between the base end and the free end. The lever may have an arc portion that contacts the contact member.

  With such a configuration, at the time of the rotation operation of the lever, a part of the contact member enters the notch portion, and the contact surface of the contact member is pressed against the arc portion of the lever with the further rotation operation of the lever, The storage case moves smoothly in the opening direction. Further, with such a configuration, it is possible to avoid problems such as a shift of contact that occurs when the lever and the contact member each have a plurality of stepped portions, and the reliability can be improved.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator in the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the door opening device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of main parts of the door opening device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the door opening device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a plan view of a main part of the door opening device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a main part of the refrigerator in the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating the opening force of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9A is a diagram illustrating standby positions of the contact member of the refrigerator and the free end of the door opening device according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating a first-stage contact position between the contact member of the refrigerator and the free end portion of the door opening device according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. FIG. 9C is a diagram illustrating a third-stage contact position between the contact member of the refrigerator and the free end portion of the door opening device according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the bottom of the storage case of the refrigerator according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the refrigerator door opening device according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 is a diagram for describing a contact position between a contact member and a free end portion of the door opening device in the refrigerator according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to an example of an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator according to an example of an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 3 is an embodiment of the present disclosure. It is a disassembled perspective view of the door opening apparatus by an example. 4 is a perspective view of a main part of a door opening device according to an example of an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 5 is a plan view of the door opening device according to an example of an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. It is a top view of the important section of the door opening device by an example of an embodiment of an indication. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a main part of a refrigerator according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a door opening force of the refrigerator according to the example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. 9A to 9C are diagrams illustrating a relationship between the contact member and the door opening device of the refrigerator according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the bottom of the storage case of the refrigerator according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure.

  1 and 2, the refrigerator 100 includes a plurality of storage rooms partitioned into an upper stage, a middle stage, and a lower stage. Specifically, the refrigerator 100 is provided with the refrigerator compartment 2 in the upper stage. The refrigerator compartment 2 has the refrigerator compartment door 2a in the front. The refrigerator compartment door 2a is constituted by a double door that opens and closes by a hinge type. Below the refrigerator compartment 2 in the middle of the refrigerator 100, the first freezer compartment 3 provided with the drawer-type first freezer compartment door 3a and the first freezer compartment 3 are arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction. An ice making chamber 5 having a drawer type ice making chamber door 5a is provided. A second freezer compartment 4 having a drawer-type second freezer compartment door 4 a is disposed below the first freezer compartment 3 and the ice making chamber 5 in the middle of the refrigerator 100. A vegetable room 6 having a drawer-type vegetable room door 6a is disposed at the lower stage of the refrigerator 100 (the lowermost part in the present embodiment).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerator compartment 2 and the ice making compartment 5 and the first freezer compartment 3 arranged in parallel with each other are partitioned vertically by a heat insulating partition wall 11. Similarly, the ice making room 5 and the first freezing room 3 and the second freezing room 4 are partitioned vertically by a heat insulating partition wall 11, and the second freezing room 4 and the vegetable room 6 are also insulated. It is partitioned vertically by a partition wall 11.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerator 100 includes a refrigerator body 1. The refrigerator main body 1 includes an outer box 8, an inner box 9, and a heat insulating material 10 filled between the outer box 8 and the inner box 9. The refrigerator 100 includes a lighting device 19 that illuminates the inside of the refrigerator compartment 2 provided in the upper stage. The refrigerator 100 has a plurality of shelves 18 in the refrigerator compartment 2. The lighting device 19 is disposed in front of the front end of the shelf 18 that is disposed in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction in the refrigerator compartment 2. In addition, a variable temperature room 7 as a storage room independent from the refrigerator compartment 2 is defined in the lower part of the refrigerator compartment 2 of the refrigerator 100. An illuminating device 21 that illuminates the inside of the variable temperature chamber 7 is disposed above the variable temperature chamber 7. The variable temperature room 7 is configured as a switching room. In the case of the present embodiment, the first temperature zone (chilled) in the refrigeration temperature zone near 0 ° C., the first temperature zone, and the refrigeration at about −6 ° C. or less. It can be set to a second temperature zone (partial) of about −3 ° C. which is a temperature zone between the temperature zones.

  Next, the configuration of the cooling system of the refrigerator 100 will be described.

  A cooling chamber 14 is disposed behind the second freezer compartment 4 of the refrigerator 100. The cooling chamber 14 has a cooler 15 inside. A defrost heater 22 is disposed below the cooler 15. In the upper part of the refrigerator 100, an upper machine room 13 is disposed, and a compressor 12 is installed in the upper machine room 13. The cooler 15 constitutes a refrigeration cycle for cooling the refrigerator 100 together with the compressor 12. The cooling chamber 14 is provided with a blower fan 16 that forcibly circulates the cold air heat-exchanged by the cooler 15. Above the blower fan 16, a damper device 17 a that distributes the cold air flowing into the refrigerator compartment 2 and a damper device 17 b that distributes the cold air flowing into the variable temperature chamber 7 are arranged as twin dampers. The cold air passes through these damper devices, is led to a cold room duct 20 disposed on the back surface of the cold room 2, and discharges cold air from a discharge hole provided in the cold room duct 20 into the room.

  The cooling chamber 14 is partitioned in the front-rear direction by a first freezing chamber 3 and a second freezing chamber 4 disposed in front and a partition wall 23.

  In refrigerator 100 of the present embodiment, the temperature in refrigerator compartment 2 is set to about 2 ° C. to 3 ° C., and the temperature in vegetable compartment 6 is set to about 2 ° C. to 5 ° C. The internal temperature of the freezer compartment 3 and the second freezer compartment 4 is set to about −18 ° C. to −20 ° C., respectively. Thus, the refrigerator 100 of this Embodiment is comprised so that the temperature zone of the internal temperature is set in each store room, and each store room can be used by dividing the temperature zone. With such a configuration, it is possible to select a temperature range suitable for storage of each food and store the food, and it is possible to realize higher freshness and long-term storage.

  Each door of the refrigerator 100 is provided with a gasket 30. The gasket 30 has magnets disposed therein and is attracted to the peripheral edge of the front opening of each storage chamber.

  Moreover, in the 2nd freezer compartment 4 and the vegetable compartment 6, the storage case 31 is mounted on the drawer rail, and is supported by the drawer rail so that it can be pulled out forward. On the back side of the drawer rail, a drawing device (not shown) having an urging portion for drawing the drawer rail is provided. In the second freezer compartment 4 and the vegetable compartment 6, during the closing operation of the door, immediately before the drawer rail is adsorbed to the gasket, a part of the drawer rail is engaged with the drawing device, and the urging portion of the drawing device The drawer rail is drawn by being biased in the closing direction. With such a configuration, it is possible to assist the closing operation of the door and prevent the user from forgetting to close the door.

  An opening device 32 is disposed on the heat insulating partition wall 11 below the storage case 31 of the vegetable compartment 6.

  Next, the configuration of the door opening device 32 will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the door opening device 32 has a substantially rectangular shape in the present embodiment. The door opening device 32 includes a case 32 a having an upper case 39 and a lower case 33. In FIG. 3, the front of the page is the front of the door opening device 32, and the back of the page is the rear of the door opening device 32. 4 and 5, the front side of the paper is behind the door opening device 32, and the back of the paper is the front of the door opening device 32. The door opening device 32 is arranged in a lower case 33 whose upper surface is open, a motor 34, a worm gear 35 for reducing the rotational force obtained by the motor 34 and converting it into driving force, a worm wheel 36, The first gear 37 and the second gear 38 are provided. The second gear 38 transmits the rotational force generated by the motor 34, and a high torque is obtained.

  In addition, a lever 40 that rotates is disposed on the outer upper surface of the upper case 39 of the door opening device 32. A base end portion 40 a serving as a rotation fulcrum of the lever 40 passes through a through hole 39 a formed in the upper case 39, and is fixed to a rotation shaft portion of the second gear 38 with a fixing member 41 such as a screw. The opening device 32 is configured such that the lever 40 is also interlocked with the rotation of the second gear 38, and the lever 40 rotates with the base end 40a as a fulcrum. When the motor 34 rotates in the forward direction, the lever 40 rotates in a direction protruding from the door opening device 32 to the outside of the door opening device 32 around a rotation shaft described later. When the motor 34 rotates in the reverse direction, the lever 40 rotates in a direction approaching the door opening device 32.

  As described above, the door opening device 32 includes the lever 40 on the outer upper surface of the upper case 39, and the motor 34, the worm gear 35, the worm wheel 36, the first gear 37, and the second gear 38 are provided below the upper case 39. Has been placed. The lever 40 is partitioned into an upper part and a lower part by a motor 34, a worm gear 35, a worm wheel 36, a first gear 37 and a second gear 38, and an upper case 39.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lever 40 is formed in a substantially arc shape from the base end portion 40a toward the free end portion 40b. Between the base end portion 40a and the free end portion 40b, a protrusion protruding from the outer periphery of the continuous substantially arc-shaped lever 40 toward the outer periphery of the case 32a (more specifically, the outer periphery of the upper case 39). The part 40c is partially formed in the vicinity of the base end part 40a. The lever 40 and the motor 34 are partitioned vertically by an upper case 39. Regarding the arrangement relationship between the lever 40 and the motor 34, the lever 40 is arranged above the worm gear 35 attached to the shaft of the motor 34, and the motor 34 is arranged at a position near the free end 40 b of the lever 40. . As shown in FIG. 5, the base end portion 40 a serving as the rotation axis of the lever 40 is positioned in the direction in which the rotation axis of the worm gear 35 extends, specifically, substantially on the extension line of the rotation axis of the worm gear 35. In addition, the rotation shaft of the second gear 38 is arranged.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, a position detection switch 42 that detects the rotational operation position of the lever 40 is disposed in the lower case 33. Further, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, a detection member 44 that detects the position detection switch 42 by a cam member 43 provided integrally with the second gear 38 is disposed in the lower case 33. ing. As shown in FIG. 7, the cam member 43 is disposed on the lower rotation shaft of the second gear 38 on the side opposite to the side on which the lever 40 is fixed (upper side in FIG. 7) (lower side in FIG. 7). The In FIG. 7, the left side of the paper is the front of the door opening device 32, and the right side of the paper is the rear of the door opening device 32. As shown in FIG. 6, the detection member 44 includes an engagement portion 44 a that engages with the cam member 43 and a detection portion 44 b. A coil spring 44c is urged and disposed on the detection unit 44b.

  When the lever 40 is opened 90 degrees from the standby position by the forward rotation of the motor 34, it is detected by the position detection switch 42, and the motor 34 is reversely rotated to return the lever 40 to the standby position.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the upper case 39 includes a horizontal flange portion 39b extending in a substantially horizontal direction, a lower flange portion 39c extending vertically downward from the horizontal flange portion 39b, and one step from the horizontal flange portion 39b. It is comprised by the step part 39d formed in the horizontal direction substantially upwards.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the lower flange portion 39 c is disposed so as to enter the lower case 33 so as to overlap the side wall surface 33 a of the lower case 33 in the height direction of the side wall surface 33 a of the lower case 33. Is done. Further, a base end portion 40a of the lever 40 is disposed on the step portion 39d. The base end portion 40 a passes through the through hole 39 a and is fixedly disposed on the rotation shaft portion that becomes the rotation center of the second gear 38. Further, a storage portion 39e that covers the motor 34, the first gear 37, and the second gear 38 is disposed on the step portion 39d.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a rubber-like waterproof member 48 is disposed on the outer periphery of the lever 40. The waterproof member 48 is disposed between the upper case 39 and the second gear 38 below the through hole 39a.

  Next, the attachment structure to the refrigerator 100 of the door opening apparatus 32 comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the door opening device 32 is disposed on the heat insulating partition wall 11 that is the lower heat insulating wall of the drawer-type vegetable compartment 6. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, a resin base member 45 formed of a member different from the inner plate 11 a is provided in the opening formed in the inner plate 11 a constituting the heat insulating partition wall 11. 10 (see FIG. 2) side, and the opening is closed by the base member 45. As shown in FIG. 7, the base member 45 has a recessed portion that is recessed in a step shape below the horizontal surface of the inner plate 11 a. The door opening device 32 is disposed in the recess of the base member 45. The horizontal flange portion 39b of the upper case 39 is disposed so as to cover the inner plate 11a and overlap the inner plate 11a. A flexible foam waterproofing member 48 is disposed between the horizontal flange portion 39b and the inner plate 11a. The waterproof member 48 is provided below the horizontal flange portion 39b. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent water from entering between the lower case 33 and the base member 45 from the inner plate 11a.

  The storage case 31 of the vegetable compartment 6 is located above the opening device 32 as shown in FIGS. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, a POM (polyacetal) having higher slidability and wear resistance than the material of the storage case 31, on the outer bottom surface of the storage case 31, at a substantially central portion in the lateral width direction of the storage case 31. A contact member 46 made of a material is attached. The contact member 46 is fixed to the bottom surface of the storage case 31 at a position where the lever 40 contacts. For example, in the present embodiment, the contact member 46 is disposed on the rear side of the bottom surface of the storage case 31 (in FIG. 10, the lower right side of the paper surface). Further, the contact member 46 has a contact surface extending downward from the reinforcing rib 31 a of the storage case 31. On the surface of the contact member 46 opposite to the contact surface, a reinforcing rib 31a is formed to extend in the left-right direction of the storage case 31 in contact with the contact member 46. In addition, the lever 40 is disposed behind the contact member 46 (for example, on the right side of the paper surface in FIG. 9A).

  The operation of the door opening device 32 of the refrigerator 100 configured as described above will be described below.

  When the electrostatic capacity of the user is detected by a conductor (not shown) provided on the refrigerator compartment door 2a or the vegetable compartment door 6a, the control device (not shown) The motor 34 of the door opening device 32 is rotated forward. The rotational force of the motor 34 is converted into driving force by the worm gear 35, the worm wheel 36, the first gear 37 and the second gear 38. With this driving force, the lever 40 rotates around the base end 40a, and the free end 40b moves so as to protrude in the direction of the front vegetable compartment door 6a.

  In the refrigerator 100 including the door opening device 32 of the present embodiment, when opening the vegetable compartment door 6a, the door opening force (force required for opening the door) applied to the door opening device 32 is as shown in FIG. Divided into three stages. The first stage is at the time of initial opening with the largest opening force. In the first stage, the gasket force required to pull the gasket 30 away from the vegetable compartment door 6a, the spring force of the retractor that pulls the drawer-type vegetable compartment door 6a in the closing direction, the weight of the storage case 31, and the drawer rail The frictional force is applied to the door opening device as the door opening force. In the second stage, the gasket 30 is pulled away from the refrigerator body 1, and in the first stage, the gasket force of the door opening force applied to the door opening device 32 is not applied. In the third stage, the spring force of the retracting device is further released, and in the second stage, the spring force of the retracting device is no longer applied from the opening force applied to the door opening device 32.

  In the state where the vegetable compartment door 6a is closed, as shown in FIG. 9A, the lever 40 has a space between the contact member 46 and waits in a state where it does not contact the contact member 46 (standby position). ing.

  When the user's capacitance is detected by the conductor that detects the capacitance, the motor 34 is driven by the control device, and the rotation of the motor 34 is transmitted to the second gear 38 via the first gear 37. The lever 40 rotates around the base end 40a.

  In the first stage, as shown in FIG. 9B, the protrusion 40 c of the lever 40 presses the contact member 46. While the vegetable compartment door 6a moves forward, for example, about 10 mm, the magnet attracting force by the gasket 30 is applied, so the door opening device 32 needs a large door opening force. Until the vegetable compartment door 6a moves forward by, for example, about 10 mm, the protruding portion 40c formed at a position close to the base end portion 40a of the lever 40 presses the contact member 46. Can be pulled away from 1. Further, when the lever 40 is in the standby position, the lever 40 is configured to have a space between the contact member 46. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent an unnecessary load from being applied to the lever 40 during standby.

  The second stage is when the vegetable compartment door 6a moves forward from the closed state, for example, by about 10 mm or more. In the second stage, the projecting portion 40 c moves away from the contact member 46, and the pressing point of the lever 40 moves in the direction of the free end portion 40 b along the arc of the lever 40. As the pressing point of the lever 40 moves in the direction of the free end 40b, the contact member 46 is pressed by the lever 40 and presses the storage case 31 forward.

  The contact member 46 is first pressed by the protrusion 40 c of the lever 40. Then, the contact member 46 is pressed at a portion of the arc-shaped portion of the lever 40 that is away from the protruding portion 40c. That is, since the protruding portion 40c has a height that protrudes from the arc-shaped portion, the contact member 46 is pressed at a portion of the arc-shaped portion of the lever 40 that is away from the protruding portion 40c in the direction of the free end portion 40b. . The contact member 46 is further pressed by the arc-shaped portion of the lever 40 up to the free end portion 40 b of the lever 40. Thus, the pressing point of the lever 40 against the contact member 46 moves from the protruding portion 40C to the free end portion 40b, whereby the pressing force of the lever 40 is transmitted to the contact member 46, and the contact member 46 causes the door to move. It is pushed out in the opening direction.

  The pressing force of the lever 40 in the second stage is smaller than that in the first stage, but the storage case 31 is in a state of moving forward from the first stage, and in the door opening direction against the urging force of the retracting device. It is extruded smoothly.

  In the third stage, as shown in FIG. 9C, the rotation angle of the lever 40 reaches, for example, 90 degrees, the lever 40 presses the contact member 46 with the free end portion 40b, and then the free end portion 40b The contact member 46 is separated. At this time, the drawer rail is separated from the retracting device and released from the spring force of the retracting device. Further, the storage case 31 is also moved in the door opening direction by the remaining door opening force in the second stage. For this reason, the user can handle the vegetable compartment door 6a and open the vegetable compartment door 6a smoothly.

  In the door opening device 32 of the present embodiment, the lever 40 is formed with a protrusion 40 c. With such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the distance from the base end portion 40 a serving as the rotation axis of the lever 40 to the contact member 46 serving as the pressing point of the storage case 31. With such a configuration, the pressing force of the lever 40 against the contact member 46 is increased. Further, the protruding portion 40 c is partially formed on the lever 40. With such a configuration, the lever 40 is not increased in size, and the compact door opening device 32 can be obtained.

  When the lever 40 rotates by a predetermined angle, for example, 90 degrees from the standby position, the lever 40 is detected by the position detection switch 42, and the rotation of the motor 34 is temporarily stopped by the control device, and then the motor 34 rotates in the reverse direction. . Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, when the lever 40 rotates by a predetermined angle, the cam member 43 interlocked with the second gear 38 rotates, and the engaging portion 44 a of the detection member 44 interlocks with the cam member 43. . The convex part 43a formed partially of the cam member 43 rotates in the engaging part 44a, so that the detection member 44 moves against the urging force of the coil spring 44c built in the detection member 44, The detection unit 44b presses the position detection switch 42.

  When the pressing of the position detection switch 42 by the detection unit 44b is detected, the detection member 44 is pulled back by the urging force of the coil spring 44c. The lever 40 returns to the standby position with the base end 40a as an axis by the reverse rotation of the motor 34.

  In the present embodiment, the opening / closing speed of the lever is 85 mm / sec both when the door is opened (forward rotation) and when the door is closed (reverse rotation). In addition, although the cam member 43 illustrated the aspect formed integrally with the 2nd gear 38, the cam member 43 may be formed separately from the 2nd gear 38. FIG.

  As described above, in the door opening device 32 of the present embodiment, when the door opening force is at the second stage, the lever 40 moves away from the storage case 31 and the lever 34 is immediately turned by the reverse rotation of the motor 34. Return to the standby position. With such a configuration, even if the vegetable compartment door 6a is closed immediately after being opened, it is possible to prevent the lever 40 from interfering and the door from being closed.

  Further, the door opening device 32 of the present embodiment further has a clutch mechanism provided in the first gear 37. Further, the door opening device 32 of the present embodiment is configured such that when the lever 40 is subjected to a load due to an external force during the opening operation of the lever 40, the clutch is disengaged by a clutch mechanism when a predetermined load amount is exceeded. May be. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the lever 40 from being damaged due to a high load.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the door opening device 32 is configured to press the contact member 46 disposed on the rear side of the outer bottom surface of the storage case 31. With such a configuration, when the storage case 31 moves forward, the bottom surface of the storage case 31 comes into contact with the door opening device 32 due to deformation of the storage case 31 due to the stored items in the storage case 31 and other factors. Can be prevented.

  Further, in the door opening device 32 of the present embodiment, the reinforcing rib 31 a is provided on the surface of the contact member 46 opposite to the contact surface with the lever 40. With such a configuration, when the lever 40 presses the contact member 46 and pushes the storage case 31 in the opening direction, the reinforcement rib 31a prevents the contact member 46 from being deformed in a load direction, It is possible to prevent the vegetable compartment door 6a from being opened with a predetermined dimension.

  The door opening device 32 is disposed in a base member 45 provided on the heat insulating partition wall 11 which is the lower heat insulating wall of the drawer-type vegetable compartment 6. The base member 45 has a concave portion that is recessed in a step shape below the horizontal plane of the inner plate 11a of the heat insulating partition wall 11 that is the lower heat insulating wall of the drawer-type vegetable compartment 6. With such a configuration, the door opening device 32 is disposed in the concave portion of the base member 45, so that the storage volume of the vegetable compartment 6 can be ensured.

  Even when condensed water accumulates on the inner plate 11a of the heat insulating partition wall 11, the horizontal flange portion 39b of the door opening device 32 is formed one step higher than the inner plate 11a. It is located on the step 39d that is one step higher than that. Further, the through hole 39a through which the base end portion 40a of the lever 40 passes is sealed with a rubber-like waterproof member 48. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent dew condensation water from entering the case of the door opening device 32 from the through hole 39a.

  Moreover, the flexible foam 47 is arrange | positioned between the horizontal flange part 39b and the inner board 11a. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the condensed water on the inner plate 11a from entering the inside of the door opening device 32 through the gap between the horizontal flange portion 39b and the inner plate 11a. The upper case 39 and the lower case 33 are configured such that the lower flange portion 39c of the upper case 39 overlaps with the side wall surface 33a of the lower case 33 in the height direction of the side wall surface 33a of the lower case 33. It is arranged to go inside. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent water from entering the case 32a from the inner plate 11a through the base member 45 and the upper case 39. Therefore, with such a configuration, the waterproof property of the door opening device 32 can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, the example in which the opening device 32 is installed on the heat insulating partition wall 11 of the vegetable compartment 6 has been described. However, the opening device 32 is a drawer-type second refrigeration above the vegetable compartment 6. You may install in the heat insulation division wall 11 formed in the lower part of the chamber 4. FIG.

  Moreover, the opening / closing speed of the lever 40 can suppress the external force being applied to the lever 40 when the storage case 31 is pushed in the closing direction by increasing the closing speed more than the opening speed. Also, when the lever 40 is closed, no load is applied to the lever 40, so the motor sound can be lowered by lowering the driving voltage of the motor 34 and lowering the closing speed of the lever 40 than when it is opened. , Noise can be reduced. Moreover, in order to ensure the strength of the gear, the reliability of the gear can be further ensured by configuring the metal gear by insert molding.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the refrigerator opening device according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 12A to FIG. 12F are diagrams for explaining the contact position between the contact member and the free end of the door opening device in the refrigerator according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

  The second embodiment of the present disclosure differs from the first embodiment in the following points. That is, the door opening device 50 in the refrigerator 100 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure is different from the door opening device 32 in the refrigerator 100 according to the first embodiment in the configuration of the lever. Hereinafter, the configuration of the door opening device 50 according to the present embodiment will be described with a focus on the differences from the door opening device 32 according to the first embodiment. Are the same names and symbols, and the explanation thereof is omitted here.

  FIG. 11 shows a standby state of the door opening device 50 in a state where the vegetable compartment door 6a is closed. A lever 52 that rotates is disposed on the outer upper surface of the upper case 39 of the door opening device 50. A base end portion 52a that is the center of the rotation operation of the lever 52 passes through a through hole 39a formed in the upper case 39, and is fixed to the rotation shaft portion of the second gear 38 by a fixing member 41 such as a screw. The opening device 50 is configured such that the lever 52 is also interlocked with the rotation of the second gear 38, and the lever 52 rotates around the base end portion 52a.

  The storage case 31 of the vegetable compartment 6 is located above the door opening device 50 (see FIGS. 2 and 7). Further, as shown in FIG. 10, at the outer bottom surface of the storage case 31, a POM material having a higher slidability and wear resistance than the material of the storage case 31 is provided at a substantially central portion in the lateral direction of the storage case 31. The formed contact member 53 is attached. The contact member 53 is fixed to the bottom surface of the storage case 31 at a position where the lever 52 contacts. For example, in the present embodiment, the contact member 53 is fixed to the rear side of the bottom surface of the storage case 31 (the lower right side of the paper surface in FIG. 10). The contact member 53 includes a contact surface 53a that is pressed by the lever 52 and a corner portion 53b that is formed substantially at right angles to the contact surface 53a. The corner portion 53b is provided on the contact member 53 so as to be positioned in the vicinity of the base end portion 52a.

  Next, the structure of the lever 52 of the door opening device 50 of the present embodiment will be described.

  In the lever 53, a notch 52b, which is an example of a concave portion, is formed in the vicinity of the base end portion 52a. The lever 53 has a free end 52c at the end opposite to the end where the base end 52a is provided in the longitudinal direction. In addition, the lever 52 includes a continuous corner portion 52d, a straight portion 52e, and an arc portion 52f that serve as a pressing portion against the contact surface 53a from the cutout portion 52b toward the free end portion 52c. The corner 52d may be rounded at the corner. Moreover, the corner | angular part 52d does not necessarily need to be provided. Further, the linear portion 52e is not necessarily provided on the lever 52. In this case, the straight line part 52e may be comprised by the circular arc part 52f.

  As shown in FIG. 12 (a), the lever 52 has a free end 52 c extending rearward of the vegetable compartment 6 with the base end 52 a as a fulcrum in the standby state in which the vegetable compartment 6 is closed. Waiting in state. Further, the storage portion 39e and the contact member 53 are in the left and right positions with the lever 52 interposed therebetween in the standby state. The base end portion 52a of the lever 52 is more than the contact surface 53a on the projection surface as viewed from above the contact member 53 in the front-rear direction of the door opening device 50 (the left side in FIG. Is also located on the front side, that is, on the vegetable compartment door 6a side.

  The operation of the door opening device 50 of the refrigerator 100 configured as described above will be described below.

  When the presence of a user is detected by a conductor (not shown) that is provided in the refrigerator compartment door 2a or the vegetable compartment door 6a and detects a human capacitance, the control device (not shown) opens the door. The motor 34 of the device 32 is rotated forward. The worm gear 35, the worm wheel 36, the first gear 37, and the second gear 38 convert the rotational force of the motor 34 into a driving force, and the lever 52 rotates.

  FIG. 12A shows a standby state of the lever 52 and the contact member 53. FIG. 12B shows a state where the lever 52 contacts the contact member 53. As shown in FIG. 12 (b), the lever 52 rotates around the base end 52a in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 12 (b), and the free end 52c protrudes toward the front vegetable compartment door 6a. (See FIG. 12 (f)). At the contact position where the lever 52 contacts the contact member 53 (see FIG. 12B), the corner portion 53b of the contact member 53 enters the cutout portion 52b. In addition, the first pressing point with respect to the contact member 53 (in this embodiment, the corner portion 52d) presses the contact surface 53a of the contact member 53. When the door opening device 50 is in the state shown in FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b), the lever 52 has a door opening force at the first stage (at the time of initial opening with the largest door opening force) as shown in FIG. The door opening device 50 requires a large opening force. In the door opening device 50 according to the present embodiment, a corner portion 52d serving as a pressing point of the contact surface 53a is formed in the vicinity of the base end portion 52a serving as the rotation shaft of the lever 52. With such a configuration, the contact surface 53a can be pressed with a large pressing force. Further, in the door opening device 50 of the present embodiment, the lever 52 is provided with a notch 52b. With such a configuration, when the lever 52 starts to operate, that is, when the door opening force is maximized, the distance from the base end portion 52a to the position where the lever 52 and the contact member 53 abut (the base end portion 52a is reduced). (Center radius) can be reduced. With such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the load on the motor of the drive source.

  FIG. 12 (c) shows the lever when the magnetic force of the gasket 30 of the vegetable compartment door 6a moves away from the refrigerator main body 1, that is, the second stage as shown in FIG. 52 behavior is shown. At this time, the pressing point of the lever 52 against the contact surface 53a of the contact member 53 continuously moves in the direction from the corner portion 52d to the straight portion 52e as the lever 52 rotates. Thereby, the contact member 53 is pushed out by the lever 52 and moves in a direction to open the storage case 31. At this time, the storage case 31 is pushed out in the door opening direction against the urging force of a pull-in device (not shown) provided at the rear end of the drawer rail, so that the door opening force in the second stage is gradually increased. (See FIG. 8).

  FIG. 12D shows the behavior of the lever 52 when the door opening force is in the second stage (see FIG. 8). In the lever 52, the pressing point of the lever 52 against the contact surface 53a continuously moves from the corner portion 52d to the linear portion 52e, and then to the arc portion 52f without moving away from the contact surface 53a. It rotates while pressing the contact surface 53a. Thereby, the contact member 53 is pushed forward, and the contact member 53 moves in a direction to open the storage case 31.

  In FIG. 12E, the lever 52 further rotates forward, and the pressing portion of the lever 52 that presses the contact surface 53a moves from the arc portion 52f to the free end portion 52c. Thereby, the drawer rail is released from the urging force of the retracting device, and shifts to the third stage door opening force as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 12 (f), the lever 52 stops in a state where the free end 52 c of the lever 52 is in contact with the contact surface 53 a, and the pressing operation to the storage case 31 ends. In the same manner as in the first embodiment, the lever 52 detects the position detection switch 42 by the operation of the cam member 43 interlocked with the gear 38 that fixes the lever 52, and reversely rotates the motor 34 to bring the lever 52 into the standby position. Return to the initial position as shown in FIG.

  As described above, the door opening device 50 according to the present embodiment has the notch portion 52 b in the vicinity of the base end portion 52 a serving as the rotation shaft of the lever 52. With such a configuration, when the lever 52 rotates, a part of the contact member 53 enters the notch 52b, and the corner 52d contacts the contact surface 53a. As a result, the distance from the base end portion 52a to the position where the lever 52 and the contact member 53 abut when the operation of the lever 52 starts, that is, when the door opening force becomes maximum (centering on the base end portion 52a). Radius) can be made smaller. Therefore, with such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the torque applied to the base end portion 52a serving as the rotation shaft of the door opening device 50, and to reduce the motor load.

  Further, the pressing point at which the lever 52 presses the contact member 53 continuously moves from the corner portion 52d to the free end portion 52c as the lever 52 moves forward. Specifically, in a section where the urging force of the retracting device with respect to the storage case 31 works, the pressing point of the lever 52 presses the contact surface 53a from the corner portion 52d to the straight portion 52e, and subsequently to the arc portion 52f. Move continuously. In a section in which the storage case 31 is released from the urging force of the retracting device, the pressing point on the arc portion 52f presses the contact surface 53a of the contact member 53 while continuously moving to the free end portion 52c. Thereby, the opening force of the lever 52 becomes smaller than that at the start of the operation of the lever 52, so that the rapid opening speed of the storage case 31 can be reduced. Therefore, the opening speed of the storage case 31 at the time of the user's opening operation can be reduced, and the door opening device 50 that ensures safety to the user, and the refrigerator 100 including such an opening device 50 are obtained. It is done.

  In the present embodiment, the door opening device 50 has been described in the configuration arranged in the vegetable compartment 6 of the refrigerator 100. However, even if the opening device 50 is arranged in another storage room of the refrigerator 100 such as the freezer compartment 4 The refrigerator 100 which has the same operation effect as the form of is obtained.

  As described above, the present disclosure provides a compact door opening device capable of automatically opening a door and a refrigerator including the same. Therefore, it can be applied to any cooling device provided with a door.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator body 2 Refrigerating room 2a Refrigerating room door 3 First freezing room 3a First freezing room door 4 Second freezing room 4a Second freezing room door 5 Ice making room 5a Ice making room door 6 Vegetable room 6a Vegetable room door 7 Changing room 8 Outer box 9 Inner box 10 Heat insulation material 11 Heat insulation partition wall 11a Inner plate 12 Compressor 13 Upper machine room 14 Cooling room 15 Cooler 17a, 17b Damper device 18 Shelf 19, 21 Lighting device 20 Cold room duct 22 Removal Frost heater 23 Partition wall 30 Gasket 31 Storage case 31a Reinforcing rib 32 Door opening device 32a Case 33 Lower case 33a Side wall surface 34 Motor 35 Warm gear 36 Warm wheel 37 First gear 38 Second gear 39 Upper case 39a Through hole 39b Horizontal flange portion 39c Lower flange part 39d Step part 39e Storage part 40 Lever 40a Base end part 40b Self End portion 41 Fixing member 42 Position detection switch 43 Cam member 44 Detection member 44a Engagement portion 44b Detection portion 44c Coil spring 45 Base member 46 Contact member 48 Waterproof member 50 Door opening device 52 Lever 52a Base end portion 52b Notch portion 52c Free End portion 52d Corner portion 52e Linear portion 52f Arc portion 53 Abutting member 53a Abutting surface 53b Corner portion 100 Refrigerator

Claims (15)

A motor, a gear that converts a rotational force generated by driving the motor into a driving force, and a lever that rotates in conjunction with the gear;
The lever has a base end serving as a rotation shaft, and a free end that rotates around the base end as a fulcrum,
The base end portion is a door opening device fixed above the gear. The door opening device according to claim 1, wherein the lever has a convex portion or a concave portion between the base end portion and the free end portion. It further includes a case having an upper case and a lower case,
The lower case accommodates the motor and the gear,
The lever is disposed on the outer upper surface of the upper case,
The door opening device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lever, the motor, and the gear are partitioned by the upper case. The door opening device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the base end portion passes through a through hole provided in the upper case and is fixed to a rotation center portion of the gear by a fixing member. The door opening device according to claim 4, wherein a waterproof member is disposed between an outer peripheral portion of the lever and the gear to which the lever is fixed and the upper case. The upper case has a lower flange portion extending downward from the upper case,
The door opening device according to claim 3, wherein the lower flange portion is disposed so as to overlap the side wall surface in a height direction of the side wall surface of the lower case. The lever has a protruding portion which is the convex portion between the base end portion and the free end portion,
The door opening device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the protruding portion protrudes from an outer periphery of the lever toward an outer periphery of the case. The said lever is a door opening apparatus as described in any one of Claim 2 to 6 which has the notch part which is the said recessed part between a base end part and a free end part. A cam member interlocking with the gear for fixing the lever;
The door opening device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a position detection unit configured to detect a rotation position of the lever by an operation of the cam member. The refrigerator provided with the said door opening apparatus as described in any one of Claim 1 to 9. The refrigerator body,
A partition wall that divides the inside of the refrigerator main body into a plurality of storage rooms in the vertical direction;
A case for storing a functional component including the motor for rotating the lever;
A base member for storing the case;
The partition wall has a recess;
The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the base member is disposed in the concave portion provided in the partition wall, and a waterproof member is disposed between the case and the base member. The plurality of storage rooms have a drawer-type storage room,
The refrigerator according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the lever of the door opening device is configured to press a bottom surface of a storage case disposed in the drawer-type storage chamber. A contact member is disposed at the pressing position of the storage case pressed by the lever,
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the contact member is made of a material different from that of the storage case. Reinforcing ribs for reinforcing the case in the left-right direction of the storage case are provided on the bottom surface of the storage case,
The refrigerator according to claim 13, wherein the contact member is disposed in contact with the reinforcing rib. A storage room; a drawer-type door provided in front of the storage room; a storage case provided in the storage room; and a door opening device provided on the bottom surface of the storage case;
The storage case has a contact member on the bottom surface,
The door opening device includes a motor, a gear that converts rotational force generated by driving the motor into driving force, and a lever that rotates in conjunction with the gear,
The lever has a base end portion serving as a rotation shaft, and a free end portion that rotates and moves with the base end portion as a fulcrum,
The said lever has a notch part between the said base end part and the said free end part, and is a refrigerator which has a circular arc part between the said notch part and the said free end part.