KR20060024598A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator. More particularly, the present invention relates to a refrigerator in which food can be easily taken out of a basket.

To this end, the present invention is the main body 10 is provided with a cooling chamber in the upper and lower; A lower door 50 installed to slide along the front and rear directions of the main body 10 to open and close the lower cooling chamber 12; A basket 55 installed to be pulled out of the lower cooling chamber 12; The basket 55 is fixed to the lower door 50 so that the basket 55 can be drawn out, the basket 55 can be lifted up and down while the lower door 50 is opened, and the basket 55 A lift assembly which tilts the basket 55 when the upper side is reached; In addition, a refrigerator including a driving device 70 for elevating the lift assembly up and down is provided.

Refrigerator, Basket, Lift, Sliding Member

Description

Refrigerator {refrigerator}

1 is a perspective view showing a conventional refrigerator.

Figure 2 is a side view of the refrigerator of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view showing a refrigerator according to the present invention.

4 is a perspective view illustrating a lift assembly and a driving device of the refrigerator of FIG. 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the shape of the guide member installed in the door of the refrigerator of Figure 3;

6 is a side view showing a state in which the basket of the refrigerator of FIG. 3 is raised;

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

10 main body 11: upper cooling chamber

12: lower cooling chamber 14: door rail

50: lower door 51: groove

52: control panel 55: the basket

61: lift 62: sliding member

63: guide member 63a: inclined portion

70: drive device 71: drive motor

72: drive shaft 73: gear part

73a: Drive Gear 73b: Drive Gear

74: driven shaft 75: drive arm

The present invention relates to a refrigerator. More particularly, the present invention relates to a refrigerator in which food can be easily taken out of a basket.

Hereinafter, a conventional refrigerator will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view of a conventional refrigerator, and FIG. 2 is a side view of the refrigerator of FIG. 1.

A configuration of a refrigerator will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

The refrigerator includes a main body 10 in which a cooling chamber is formed, and doors 21 and 22 that open and close the main body. The main body 10 is divided into upper and lower cooling chambers 11 and 12 by partition walls 13 (refer to FIG. 2). Upper and lower doors 21 and 22 are installed in the openings of the upper and lower cooling chambers.

Hinges 21a are installed at upper and lower ends of the upper door 21, and the upper door is rotated to open left and right. In addition, the lower door 22 is installed to open and close the lower cooling chamber 12 while sliding along the front and rear directions of the main body 10. That is, the door rails 14 which support the lower door so as to be slidable are provided in both wall surfaces of the lower cooling chamber so as to be able to expand and contract in the front and rear directions. In the lower cooling chamber 12, a basket 24 having an upper end opened to store food may be installed. This basket is installed so that it can be pulled out together with the lower door when opening the lower door 22. These baskets 24 typically store vegetables or fruits.

In addition, a drawer 25 is installed between the upper and lower cooling chambers 11 and 12 so as to be withdrawn as shown in FIG. 2. That is, a drawer is installed above the lower cooling chamber.

However, the conventional refrigerator described above has the following problems.

That is, when the basket is installed in the lower portion of the main body, the basket has a low position, so that the user has to lower or lower his posture by bending or squatting to store or withdraw food. In particular, since it is necessary to find and withdraw the desired food from among various foods while bending the waist, the time for bending the waist is long and the user's back health has not been beneficial.

The present invention is to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator in which the user can store or withdraw food without lowering the posture when the basket is installed in the lower portion of the main body.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that allows the inside of the basket to be seen more easily and to easily withdraw the desired food.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cooling chamber provided in the upper and lower parts; A lower door installed to slide along the front and rear directions of the main body to open and close the lower cooling chamber; A basket installed in the lower cooling chamber so as to be pulled out; A lift assembly fixed to draw the basket to the lower door, and capable of lifting the basket up and down with the lower door open, and tilting the basket at an angle when the basket reaches the upper side. ; And, to provide a refrigerator comprising a drive device: for elevating the lift assembly up and down.

The lift assembly includes: a lift supporting the basket; And a guide member fixed to the lower door and configured to guide the lift up and down, and to be inclined toward the front side of the main body so that the lift is inclined when the lift reaches the upper side.

At this time, the guide member is preferably formed such that one side of the rear side is inclined toward the front side. In addition, the lift is preferably provided with a sliding member to be slidably coupled to the guide member.

The drive device, a drive motor; A gear part axially coupled to the drive shaft of the drive motor;

A driven shaft axially coupled to the gear portion; And, one end is axially coupled to the driven shaft, and the drive arm is installed so that the other end can lift the lift is configured to include.

The present invention is characterized in that the basket is automatically lifted after opening the lower door, the basket is inclined when the basket reaches the upper side.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention that can specifically realize the above object will be described. The same components as in the prior art are given the same names and the same reference numerals for convenience of description, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Figure 3 is a side view showing a refrigerator according to the present invention, Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a lift assembly and a driving device of the refrigerator of Figure 3, Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the shape of the guide member installed in the door of the refrigerator of Figure 3 6 is a side view illustrating a state in which the basket of the refrigerator of FIG. 3 is raised.

A configuration of a refrigerator according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

The refrigerator includes a main body 10 having upper and lower cooling chambers 11 and 12, a lower door 50 installed to slide along the front and rear directions of the main body, and opening and closing the lower cooling chamber 12. A basket 55 installed in the lower cooling chamber 12, a lift assembly installed to draw the basket 55 out of the lower door, and a driving device installed to lift the lift assembly up and down; It comprises 70.

At this time, it is preferable that the operation unit 52 is installed on the front surface of the lower door 50 so that the lift assembly can be lifted and lowered by the driving device 70. These operating units are provided with buttons for selecting the lift of the lift. In addition, the driving device 70 may be configured to be automatically raised and lowered after a predetermined time in the state in which the lower door 50 is opened. In addition, door rails 14 are installed on both side walls of the lower cooling chamber 12 so as to overlap a predetermined number so as to be stretchable when the lower door 50 is opened and closed. This door rail is substantially the same as the prior art.

The lift assembly and the driving device will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4.

The lift assembly is installed to enable the basket 55 to be lifted up and down while the lower door 50 is opened, and to tilt the basket at an angle when the basket reaches the upper side.

For example, the lift assembly may include a lift 61 supporting the basket 55, fixed to the lower door 50, guiding the lift to move up and down, and the lift 61 reaching the upper side. It comprises a guide member 63 formed to be inclined a predetermined angle toward the front side of the main body 10 so that the lift 61 is inclined. In this case, the lift member is preferably provided with a sliding member 62 to be slidably coupled to the guide member. Such a sliding member presents a roller.

At this time, the lift 61 preferably has a substantially "b" shape to support the lower surface and the front surface of the basket (55). This is to ensure that the lower surface on which the load of the basket 55 acts and the front surface on which the load of the basket 55 acts when the basket 55 is inclined can be stably supported. Of course, it is also understood that the lift 61 may be installed to support both sides, front and rear or top surfaces of the basket 55. The lift 61 may be changed into various shapes as long as the basket 55 can be elevated. In addition, the lift 61 has a departure preventing rib 61a to prevent the bottom surface of the basket 55 from being inserted and moved.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the guide member 63 may be formed such that one rear surface thereof is inclined toward the front side by a predetermined angle θ. As such, the upper side of the guide member is inclined to incline the upper movement path of the sliding member toward the front side of the main body 10. In this case, a groove 51 having a predetermined size is formed in a predetermined portion of the door corresponding to the inclined upper side of the guide member 63 so that the sliding member 62 may be inserted.

The guide member 63 is preferably installed symmetrically on the rear of the door. This is to allow the weight balance of the basket 55 to act on the lift 61 in balance. For example, when the odd number of the guide members 63 is vertically disposed, one of the guide members 63 may be symmetrically disposed at both sides from the guide member 63 at the center of the lower door 50. In addition, as shown in Figure 5, when evenly arranged vertically, it is preferable to be arranged symmetrically on both sides with respect to the center of the lower door (50).

The sliding member 62 is inserted into the guide member 63 described above, respectively. At this time, the guide member 63, one surface facing each other is open, or one side opposite to the opposite surface may be opened, although not shown. Of course, it is also understood that one surface of the refrigerator main body 10 side of the guide member 63 may be opened. The guide member may be formed in various structures in addition to the above-described structure.

The sliding member 62 is fixed to the door side surface of the lift 61 to correspond to the guide member 63. For example, at least two or more sliding members 62 are fixed in a row so as to correspond to the guide member 63. In addition, one sliding member may be fixed to correspond to each guide member.

In addition, the door is provided with a lift detector 65a to detect whether the lifter has reached the highest position, and a drop detector 65b to detect whether the lifter has reached the lowest position. The position detecting sensor is applied to the rising detector 65a and the falling detector 65b.

The drive device 70 includes a drive motor 71, a gear portion 73 axially coupled to the drive shaft 72 of the drive motor 71, and a driven shaft axially coupled to the gear portion 73. 74 and a driving arm 75 having one end axially coupled to the driven shaft 74 and installed to lift the other end of the lift 61.

At this time, it is preferable that the driving motor 71 can be rotated in both directions. In addition, the gear unit 73 is driven by the drive gear (73a) is axially coupled to the drive shaft 72 of the drive motor 71, the driven gear (73a) and the driven shaft 74 is the driven shaft axially coupled It consists of a gear 73b. In addition, driving arms 75 are fixed to both ends of the driven shaft 74. Since the driving arm 75 is fixed to the same shaft and the rotational speed is the same, the driving arm 75 is able to push up the lift 61 in a balanced manner.

Here, the gear portion 73 preferably has an appropriate gear ratio in view of the rotational speed of the drive arm 75. In addition, the gear ratio of the gear portion 73 should be properly designed so that the drive arm 75 can have a torque of a size that can sufficiently push the lift 61. In addition, it is preferable that the roller 76 is installed at the other end of the driving arm 75 so as to slide along the lower surface of the lift 61.

Meanwhile, although not shown, the following method may be applied to the driving device.

First, a rack and pinion structure may be applied as the driving device. This drive moves up and down with the basket. At this time, the rack is fixed perpendicularly to the door, the pinion is axially coupled to the motor is installed to move up and down along the rack. Accordingly, when the motor is rotated, the pinion is raised and lowered along the rack while elevating the basket.

It is also understood that a ball screw method can be employed as the drive device. The ball screw is fixed perpendicularly to the door, the basket can be lifted as the ball screw is rotated. In this structure, the drive motor rotates the ball screw, but the drive motor is fixed so as not to lift.

Referring to the operation of the embodiment according to the present invention described above are as follows.

When the user pulls the lower door 50, the door rail 14 extends as the lower door 50 slides. At this time, since the door rail 14 is provided so that a predetermined number of ends overlap, the door rail 14 extends as the lower door 50 is opened.

After the door is completely opened, a button of the operation unit 52 is selected to operate the driving device 70.

As the drive motor 71 is rotated, the drive gear 73a and the driven gear 73b are rotated, and the drive arm 75 is rotated as the driven shaft 74 axially coupled to the driven gear 73b is rotated. Is rotated. At this time, since the driving arm 75 is fixed to both sides of the driven shaft 74, the other end of the driving arm 75 is pushed up by applying the same force to both sides of the lift (61). At the same time, the sliding member 62 is moved upward while rotating along the guide member 63.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the lift 61 reaches the upper side of the guide member 63, the sliding member 62 is positioned on the inclined surface of the guide member 63. Thus, the basket 55 is inclined as the lift 61 is inclined. At this time, the weights of the lift 61 and the basket 55 act on the sliding member 62 and the guide member 63. Accordingly, the upper sliding member 62 exerts a reaction force toward the front side of the main body 10, and the lower sliding member 62 exerts a reaction force toward the rear side of the main body 10.

Since the basket 55 is raised as described above, the user can take out the desired food from the basket 55 in a standing state. In addition, the basket 55 is inclined, so that the user can identify and take out the desired food more quickly by looking at the inside of the basket 55.

When the user takes out the food and then selects the button 52, the driving motor 71 is rotated as opposed to when it is raised. Accordingly, when the lift 61 and the basket 55 are lowered, the user pushes the lower door 50 into the lower cooling chamber 12. At this time, the lower door 50 is closed while the door rail 14 overlaps.

Referring to the effect of the refrigerator according to the present invention described above are as follows.

First, since the basket below the main body is installed to be elevated up and down, there is an effect that the user can store or withdraw food or the like without lowering posture, such as bending the waist.

Second, since the basket is inclined in an elevated state, the user has a comfortable effect of looking into the inside of the basket. Thus, the user can find and retrieve food from the basket more comfortably and quickly.

Third, since food can be taken out of the basket more quickly, the time for opening the lower door is inevitably shortened. Therefore, there is an effect that can reduce the loss of cold air, and reduce the power consumption.

Claims (5)

A main body provided with a cooling chamber at an upper portion and a lower portion; A lower door installed to slide along the front and rear directions of the main body to open and close the lower cooling chamber; A basket installed in the lower cooling chamber so as to be pulled out; A lift assembly fixed to draw the basket to the lower door, and capable of lifting the basket up and down with the lower door open, and tilting the basket at an angle when the basket reaches the upper side. ; And a driving device for elevating the lift assembly up and down. The method of claim 1, The lift assembly is: A lift supporting the basket; And, And a guide member fixed to the lower door and configured to guide the lift to move up and down, and to be inclined toward the front side of the main body so that the lift is inclined when the lift reaches the upper side. The method of claim 2, The guide member is a refrigerator, characterized in that the rear side is formed to be inclined toward the front side. The method of claim 3, The refrigerator is characterized in that the sliding member is installed to be slidably coupled to the guide member. The method of claim 2, The drive unit is: Drive motor; A gear part axially coupled to the drive shaft of the drive motor; A driven shaft axially coupled to the gear portion; And, And a driving arm having one end coupled to the driven shaft and installed to lift the other end of the lift.

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