KR100286025B1 - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A refrigerator is provided to reduce parts costs by arranging a rack, pinion and a damping unit, while achieving improved operating reliability of refrigerator. CONSTITUTION: A refrigerator comprises a main body having a refrigerating compartment; a door for opening/closing the front opening of the refrigerating compartment; an ice making tray disposed in the refrigerating compartment; a baffle(31) for opening/closing an ice outlet port(29) arranged at the front surface of the door; an operating lever(37) for operating the baffle in the direction of opening or closing the ice outlet port; a rack(43) spaced apart from a rotary shaft(39) of the operating lever, and which is slidable during the rotation of the operating lever; a pinion(53) rotating as being engaged with the rack; a damping unit connected to the pinion in such a manner that the damping unit integrally rotates with the pinion and reduces rotating speed of the pinion; a guide unit having a return guide path disposed in the upper portion and an open guide path disposed underneath the return guide path and communicated to the return guide path; a torsion coil spring(54) for elastically lifting the rack from an end of the open guide path; and a guide pin(45) protruded from the side of the rack and accommodated into the guide unit, wherein the guide pin moves along the return guide path and open guide path of the guide member.

Description

Refrigerator

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to open and close a main body having a cooling chamber, a door for opening and closing a front opening of the cooling chamber, an ice tray provided in the cooling chamber, and an ice discharge port provided at the front of the door. It relates to a refrigerator having a baffle, an opening lever for pressing the baffle to open the ice discharge port, and an operation lever for opening and closing the baffle in a return direction in which the baffle blocks the ice discharge port.

The refrigerator has a main body in which a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment are formed with an intermediate partition therebetween, and a freezer compartment door and a refrigerating compartment door that open and close front openings of the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment. Some of these refrigerators are provided with a dispenser on the front of the door to provide an ice tray in the freezer compartment and a water storage tank in the refrigerating compartment to supply ice and water to the outside.

5 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a dispenser region of a conventional refrigerator, FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the operating lever region of FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the pneumatic cylinder of FIG. 5. As shown in these figures, the freezing chamber door 107 has a door outer plate 119 forming an appearance and a door inner plate 121 spaced apart from the door outer plate 119 at a filling interval of the heat insulating material. Door caps (not shown) are coupled to upper and lower ends of the outer plate 119 and the door inner plate 121 to be coupled to block the upper and lower ends.

An opening 120 is formed in the central region of the door outer plate 119, and the dispenser accommodating part 124 recessed from the plate surface is formed in the door inner plate 121 corresponding thereto. The dispenser accommodating part 124 is coupled to the dispenser case 125 having a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape, and a dispenser cover 122 having an operation panel 123 for operating an apparatus is formed on the front side of the dispenser case 125. Are combined.

A cylindrical ice guide member 127 is formed in the upper region of the dispenser case 125. An ice discharge port 129 is formed at the end of the ice guide member 127, and the support bracket 130 is coupled to the front edge of the ice discharge port 129, and the support pin 130 has a pivot pin 133. Baffle 131 for rotating and opening the ice discharge port 129 is coupled to the axis. The pivot pin 133 of the baffle 131 is coupled with a spring 135 for applying an elastic force to the baffle 131 in the direction in which the baffle 131 blocks the ice discharge port 129.

On the other hand, the baffle 131 is coupled to the operation lever 137 so that the baffle 131 is spaced apart from the ice discharge port 129 so that the ice discharge port 129 is open, and rotatable, on one side of the operation lever 137 A locking pin 141 protruding parallel from the rotation shaft 139 and parallel to the rotation shaft 139 is formed. The locking pin 141 applies resistance to the rotation of the operating lever 137 so that the ice can be completely discharged from the ice discharge port 129 during the return direction rotation in which the baffle 131 rotates to block the ice discharge port 129. The pneumatic cylinder mechanism 143 is coupled.

The pneumatic cylinder mechanism 143 has a cylindrical cylinder 145 and a piston 147 accommodated to slide in the cylinder 145. The piston rod 149 is coupled to the piston 147, and the other end of the piston rod 149 is coupled to the locking pin 141 of the operation lever 137 so as to be relatively movable. The piston 147 is provided with an air passing hole 151 along the shaft center, and the air passing hole 151 is opened and closed by a blocking member 153 provided at the end of the piston rod 149.

By such a configuration, when the operation lever 137 is pressurized inwardly, the operation lever 137 rotates about the rotation shaft 139 by the shaft, whereby the baffle 131 rotates the ice pin 133 around the ice discharge port 129. Rotate so as to be spaced apart from) so that the ice discharge port 129 is opened. When the operation lever 137 is released from pressure, the operation lever 137 rotates the rotation shaft 139 back to the axis. At this time, the pneumatic cylinder mechanism 143 coupled to the locking pin 141 of the operation lever 137 is rotated. ) Adds resistance to the return rotation of the operation lever 137.

That is, the air passing hole 151 of the piston 147 is opened at the time of the open rotation of the operation lever 137 to smoothly rotate the operation lever 137, and the air passage at the time of the return rotation of the operation lever 137. The ball 151 is blocked by the blocking member 153 to compress the air to apply resistance to the return rotation of the operating lever 137.

By the way, in such a conventional refrigerator, a pneumatic cylinder mechanism that resists rotation of the operating lever so that ice can be completely discharged from the ice discharge port is dependent on imports, and the purchase cost is relatively high, and the inner diameter of the cylinder Since the outer diameter portions of the piston are in sliding contact with each other, the airtightness may be degraded as the service period elapses. Therefore, when the airtightness is lowered, there is a problem that it is difficult to maintain a constant return rotation speed of the operation lever, which may lower the reliability of the product.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator which can reduce component costs and improve reliability.

1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to the present invention;

2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the dispenser region of FIG. 1;

3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the operating lever region of FIG. 2;

4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a transfer path of the guide pin of FIG. 2;

5 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a dispenser area of a conventional refrigerator;

6 is a side cross-sectional view of the operation lever region of FIG. 5;

7 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the pneumatic cylinder of FIG. 5.

* Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings

1: body 3: freezer

5: refrigerator compartment 7: freezer door

25: dispenser case 29: ice discharge outlet

31: baffle 37: operation lever

39: rotating shaft 41: locking pin

43: rack 45: guide pin

47: guide member 49: return transfer guide

50: escape route 51: open transport guide

54: torsion coil spring 53: pinion

55 damping means

According to the present invention, there is provided a main body having a cooling chamber, a door for opening and closing a front opening of the cooling chamber, an ice tray provided in the cooling chamber, and a baffle for opening and closing an ice discharge port provided at the front of the door; And a control lever configured to pressurize the baffle to open and close the baffle in an opening direction in which the baffle opens the ice discharge port, and to open and close the baffle in a return direction in which the baffle blocks the ice discharge port. A rack which is connected to a position spaced a predetermined distance from the coaxial and slidably movable when the operation lever is rotated, a pinion which rotates in engagement with the rack, and which is connected to the pinion so as to be integrally rotatable with the pinion to increase the rotational speed of the pinion. Damping means for lowering, and is disposed below the return transfer guide path and the return transfer guide path disposed on the upper side A guide member having an open transfer guide in communication with the return transfer guide, a spring member for elastically raising the rack at an end position of the open transfer guide, and protruding from the side of the rack to guide the guide member. It is achieved by a refrigerator comprising a guide pin to interact with.

Here, it may be preferable that at least one toffee path is formed between the return transfer guide path and the open transfer guide path so that the guide pin can escape from the return transfer guide path to the open transfer guide path.

In addition, it is effective that the escape path is inclined downward toward the opening direction.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail with respect to the present invention.

1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the dispenser region of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the operating lever region of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a guide pin of FIG. 2. An enlarged cross-sectional view showing a transport path. As shown in these drawings, the refrigerator according to the present invention has a main body 1 having a freezing compartment 3 and a refrigerating compartment 5 respectively formed on the left and right sides with an intermediate partition 2 therebetween, and opening and closing the front opening thereof. It has a freezer compartment door 7 and a refrigerating compartment door 9 respectively coupled to the front left and right regions of the main body 1.

In the upper region of the refrigerating compartment 5, a plurality of shelves 10 are installed along the vertical direction to divide the space in the refrigerating compartment 5, and the lower region of the refrigerating compartment 5 can store and store vegetables and fruits. A plurality of storage drawers 12 are provided. Behind these drawers 12, a water storage tank (not shown) is installed to store water.

An ice making tray 13 for ice making is installed in an upper region of the freezing compartment 3, and an ice storage container 15 is provided below the ice making tray 13 to store ice that has been de-iced from the ice making tray 13. ) Is provided. An ice passage opening 17 is formed on the lower front surface of the ice storage container 15 to penetrate the plate surface so that the ice stored in the ice storage container 15 can be discharged.

On the other hand, the freezer door 7 has a door outer plate 19 to form an appearance and a door inner plate 21 spaced apart from the door outer plate 19 at a filling interval of the heat insulating material, and the door outer plate 19 and the door are spaced apart from each other. Door caps (not shown) are coupled to upper and lower ends of the inner plate 21 to be coupled to block the upper and lower ends.

An opening 20 is formed in the central region of the door outer plate 19 through the plate surface, and the dispenser accommodating portion 24 recessed from the plate surface is formed in the door inner plate 21 corresponding thereto. The dispenser accommodating part 24 is coupled with a dispenser case 25 having a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape, and a dispenser cover 22 having an operation panel 23 for operating an apparatus is formed on the front side of the dispenser case 25. Are combined.

In the central region of the dispenser case 25, a supply space 26 recessed from the plate surface is formed, and in the upper region, a cylindrical ice guide member 27 for guiding the ice from the ice passage opening 17 is formed. . The support bracket 30 is coupled to the front edge of the ice discharge port 29 formed at the end of the ice guide member 27, and the support bracket 30 is connected to the ice discharge port 29 with the pivot pin 33 as the axis. The baffle 31 which opens and closes is rotatably coupled. The pivot pin 33 of the baffle 31 is coupled with a spring 35 for applying an elastic force to the baffle 31 in the direction in which the baffle 31 blocks the ice discharge port 29.

The baffle 31 is coupled to the operation lever 37 so that the baffle 31 is spaced apart from the ice discharge port 29 so that the ice discharge port 29 is opened, and the operation lever 37 is provided at the rear side of the operation lever 37. An open detecting switch 38 for contacting 37 and detecting rotation of the operating lever 37 is protruded toward the operating lever 37.

On the other hand, on one side of the operating lever 37, a locking pin 41 protruded in parallel with the rotation shaft 39, a predetermined distance from the rotation shaft 39 is formed. The locking pin 41 is coupled to the rack 43 so as to be rotatable, and one side of the locking pin 41 is formed with a spring support pin 52 protruding alongside the locking pin 41. The torsion coil spring 54 is coupled to the support pin 52 so as to be in contact with the rack 43 to apply an elastic force to the rack 43 so as to pivot the rack 43 upward.

Guide pins 45 protruding horizontally in the longitudinal direction of the rack 43 are formed on the opposite side of the rotation shaft of the rack 43. The guide pin 45 has a return transfer guide path 49 formed at an upper portion thereof, and is accommodated in a guide member 47 formed with an open transfer guide path 51 parallel to the return transfer guide path 49 at a lower side thereof. It is interlocked with each other when the operating lever 37 opens and returns.

A plurality of escape passages 50 are formed between the return transfer guide 49 and the open transfer guide 51 and are inclined downward toward the opening direction so that the guide pin 45 can escape. The pinion 53 is installed on the upper side of the rack 43 so that the guide pin 45 of the rack 43 is spaced at a predetermined interval so that the guide pin 45 of the rack 43 can be engaged with the rack 43 when transported along the return transfer guide path 49. The damping means 55 which applies resistance to the rotation of the pinion 53 is provided in the rotation shaft of the pinion 53.

By this configuration, when the operating lever 37 is pressed inward to rotate the pivot shaft 39 to the axis, the guide pin 45 of the rack 43 installed to be rotatable to the operating lever 37 is an open transfer guide. It is conveyed along the furnace 51 and the rack 43 is spaced apart from the pinion 53 and does not affect the rotation of the operating lever 37. When the guide pin 45 is moved to the end position of the open transfer guide 51, the rack 43 is rotated upward by the elastic force of the torsion coil spring 54 to enter the return transfer guide 49. .

When the operation lever 37 is released, the return rotation is performed by the spring 35 coupled to the rotation pin 33 of the baffle 31. Accordingly, the guide pin 45 opens the return transfer guide 49. The sliding movement along. At this time, the rack 43 is meshed with the pinion 53 and the pinion 53 applies a resistance to the linear movement of the rack 43 so that the operating lever 37 returns to rotate at a predetermined delay speed.

As such, the rack is connected to a position spaced a predetermined distance away from the rotational axis of the operation lever, and the sliding movable rack when the operation lever is rotated, the pinion rotated in engagement with the rack, and connected to the pinion so as to be integrally rotatable with the pinion. By providing a damping means for lowering the rotational speed of the pinion, the operation lever can be rotated back with a predetermined delay speed to block the ice discharge port. The rack and pinion and the damping means are relatively simple in configuration and easy to manufacture, and can be easily purchased at low cost, thereby reducing component costs.

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator capable of reducing component costs and improving reliability.

Claims (3)

A main body having a cooling chamber, a door for opening and closing the front opening of the cooling chamber, an ice tray provided in the cooling chamber, a baffle for opening and closing the ice discharge port provided at the front of the door, and the baffle being pressed A refrigerator having an opening direction for opening the ice discharge port and an operation lever for opening and closing the baffle in the return direction in which the baffle blocks the ice discharge port, A rack connected to a position spaced a predetermined distance away from the rotational shaft of the operation lever and slidably movable when the operation lever rotates; A pinion that rotates in engagement with the rack; Damping means connected to the pinion so as to be integrally rotatable with the pinion to lower the rotational speed of the pinion; A guide member disposed at an upper side thereof and having a return transfer guide path disposed below the return transfer guide path and in communication with the return transfer guide path; A spring member for elastically raising the rack at an end position of the open transfer guide path; And a guide pin protruding from the side of the rack and accommodated in the guide member and moving along the return transfer guide path and the open transfer guide path of the guide member. The method of claim 1, And at least one toffee path formed between the return transfer guide path and the open transfer guide path to allow the guide pin to escape from the return transfer guide path to the open transfer guide path. The method of claim 2, The escape passage is formed inclined downward toward the opening direction.

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