KR20060122496A - Door opening and closing device for refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

A door opening/closing device for a refrigerator is provided to tilt doors laterally in the opposite directions from each other and rotate the door forward when opening the doors, thereby separating side gasket assemblies in a short time. A door opening/closing device for a refrigerator includes separation units(60,70) mounted between a main body and doors(35L,35R) of the refrigerator for separating the doors from each other when the doors are opened. Upper and lower hinge parts(45,41) are connected between the main body and the doors and serve as rotation centers of the doors, so that the doors are opened while rotating forward with respect to the main body. One or the upper and lower rotation centers of the doors are fixed and the other one is moved by the separation units, so that one of the doors, which is opened, is tilted from the other one.

Description

Door opening and closing device for refrigerator

1 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator having a conventional door opening and closing device,

2 is a plan view of an essential part showing a door closed state of a conventional refrigerator;

3 is a plan view of an essential part showing a gasket separation state when the door is opened and closed of a conventional refrigerator;

4 is a plan view of the main part showing a shock occurrence state when the door is closed in the refrigerator of the prior art;

5 is a perspective view of a refrigerator having a door opening and closing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 6 is a detail view "A" of FIG. 5;

7 is a detailed view of the main part of the door opening and closing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention,

8 is a plan view of an essential part showing a door closed state in a first embodiment of the present invention;

9 is a plan view of a main portion showing a gasket separation state when the door is opened and closed in the first embodiment of the present invention;

10 to 12 are views showing a state in which the door is open in the first embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 13 is an operation diagram illustrating a tilting process of the door when the door is opened in the first embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

35, 35R, 35L: Door 37: Gasket

39: door bracket 40: refrigerator body

45 hinge mechanism 46 hinge bracket

47: hinge link 47a: bracket hinge axis

47b: door hinge shaft 49: elastic member

50: gasket assembly 51: gasket holder

53: gasket 55: magnetic material

60: first separation mechanism 61: first cam member

62: cam surface 65: first cam contact lever

66: lever portion 67: roller

70 second separation mechanism 71 second cam member

72 cam surface 75 second cam contact lever

76: lever 77: boss

The present invention relates to a door opening and closing device of a refrigerator having a double door type, and more particularly, to a door opening and closing device of a refrigerator configured to separate the gaskets by separating both doors at the time of opening and closing the door.

1 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator having a conventional door opening and closing device.

As shown in the refrigerator, a refrigerating chamber 1 is positioned at an upper side and a freezing chamber 2 is positioned at a lower side thereof. In particular, the refrigerating chamber is a French-type refrigerator in which a partition wall separating the interior is not formed.

The refrigerating chamber (2) is a door (3) for opening and closing it is composed of a double-door open structure, the gasket (10) that is in close contact with the refrigerator main body (5) is installed on the circumferential surface of each door (3) do.

In particular, the gasket 11 is installed so that cold air does not leak even in a portion where the doors 3 meet each other. In general, a refrigerator of a French type is provided with a filler at one door so that the gaskets of both doors are in close contact with each other. It has a structure or a fillerless structure in which the gaskets 11 of both doors 3 are in close contact with each other without a filler.

The refrigerator shown in FIG. 1 shows a pillarless type, and side gaskets 11 provided on both doors are in close contact with each other while the doors 3 are closed to seal the gap between the doors 3.

2 is a plan view of an essential part showing a state in which the side gaskets 11 are in close contact with each other when both the doors 3 are closed.

The gasket 11 is provided with a magnetic body 14 to maintain the mutual close force therein, the adhesion of the two gaskets 11 is a problem that the other door is also opened when one door 3 is opened. .

Due to this problem, a door separation structure is provided which separates the open door from the counterpart door so that both the gaskets 11 are separated when the door 3 is initially opened and the door 3 is almost closed.

That is, the hinge mechanism 15 connecting the refrigerator main body 5 and the door 3 is formed of a hinge link 17 to allow horizontal movement, that is, translational movement of the door when the door is opened and closed. 17 is connected to the hinge bracket 16 and the door 3 installed in the refrigerator main body 5 so as to be relatively rotatable.

The hinge mechanism 15 is provided with an elastic member 18 to provide an elastic force in the direction in which the door 3 is in close contact with the mating door.

In addition, a cam member 21 is installed in the refrigerator main body 5 so as to move the open door by mutual interference when the door is opened and closed, and a cam contact lever in contact with the cam member 21 in the door 3. 25) is installed. The cam contact lever 25 is provided with a roller 26 to make a rolling contact with the cam member 21.

Therefore, when the door 3 is opened, the door is opened while rotating about the door hinge shaft 17a, and at this time, the roller 26 of the cam contact lever 25 moves the cam according to the displacement of the door 3. It moves along the cam surface of the member 21. When the roller 26 reaches the apex of the cam surface, as shown in FIG. 3, the door 3 is pushed laterally around the main body hinge shaft 17b and separated from the mating door to separate both gaskets 11. Door will open.

When the door is further opened, the door 3 is opened while rotating about the door hinge shaft 17b.

On the contrary, even when the door 3 is closed, the roller 26 of the cam contact lever 25 moves on the curved surface of the cam member 21, so that the door is closed in a state where both gaskets 11 are separated.

Since the door 3 which is opened and closed at the door opening and closing as described above is separated from the counterpart door, the interference between both gaskets 11 is minimized, and the door is opened momentarily while the other door is opened when one door is opened, Frequent contact of the gaskets will solve some of the fast wear problems.

However, in the refrigerator having the conventional door opening and closing device as described above, the door 26 is closed because the roller 26 of the cam contact member 25 hits the cam member 21 when the door 3 is closed. Significant noise and shock is generated when closing the door, the door is also rapidly closed while being pushed laterally, there is a problem that significantly lowers the user's sensitivity when opening and closing the door.

In addition, when using for a long time in the above state, there is a problem that the roller 26, etc. are damaged by frequent collision between the roller 26 and the cam member 21, so that the operation of separating the gaskets is not smoothly performed.

In addition, since the cam member 21 protrudes long from the refrigerator main body 5 toward the door 3, the aesthetic appearance falls when the user opens the door 3, and thus, the cam member 21 includes the refrigerator main body ( 5) In order to gently form the cam surface in order to alleviate the impact when closing the door in the structure protruding long forward there is a problem that the length of the cam member 21 should be too long.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, by reducing the noise and impact generated when opening and closing the door by separately configuring the separation mechanism for separating the door when the door is opened and the door when the door is closed, Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a door opening / closing device of a refrigerator that provides a smoother and smoother feeling when opening and closing the door, and improves durability of interference components and makes the appearance of the refrigerator beautiful.

The door opening and closing apparatus of the refrigerator according to the present invention for realizing the above object comprises a plurality of doors for opening and closing the refrigerator body; A spacing mechanism provided between the main body and the door so that a door opened when the door is opened and closed is spaced apart from the counterpart door; It is configured to include an upper and lower hinge mechanism for connecting the main body and the door so that the door is rotated forward and closed with respect to the main body, and to form the center of rotation of the door to the upper and lower parts of the door, By fixing any one of the upper / lower rotational center of the door and the other part is moved by the spacer, it is characterized in that the door to be opened is tilted from the mating door.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the French type refrigerator that can be opened in the left and right direction is provided with a double door type in one refrigerator compartment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a refrigerator having a door opening and closing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a detailed view of a portion “A” of FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a detailed view of a main part of the door opening and closing apparatus, and FIG. 8. Is a plan view of the main part showing the door closed state.

As shown in FIG. 5, both doors 35L and 35R are connected to the refrigerator main body 40 by a hinge mechanism 45, and are configured to open and close the refrigerating compartment in an opening and closing manner.

Gaskets 37 are installed on both the doors 35L and 35R in close contact with the refrigerator main body 40 so as to prevent cold air from leaking out to the outside.

Particularly, since the partition wall or the refrigerator main body 40 does not exist in a portion where the two doors 35L and 35R face each other, the side gasket assembly 50 closes to the counter door and seals the gap between the doors 35L and 35R. (Hereinafter referred to as 'gasket assembly') is installed.

As shown in FIG. 8, the gasket assembly 50 is provided with a gasket holder 51 installed on the side surfaces of the doors 35L and 35R, and is provided in front of the gasket holder 51 to form a gasket of the mating door. A gasket 53 in close contact with the gasket 53 and a magnetic body 55 provided in the gasket 53 to generate magnetism to be in close contact with the gasket 53 of the mating doors 35L and 35R.

In order to minimize the phenomenon that the doors 35L and 35R are opened while the two gasket assemblies 50 are in close contact with each other, an apparatus for separating both gasket assemblies 50 by tilting a part of the door when the door is opened or closed. Is provided.

The device for separating the gasket assembly 50 is composed of an upper and lower hinge mechanisms 41 and 45 and two pairs of spacers 60 and 70 installed between the door 35 and the main body 40. .

First, as shown in FIG. 6, 7, or 13, the upper hinge mechanism 45 has a hinge link 47 mounted on the hinge bracket 46 and the door 35 installed on the refrigerator main body 40. Each is connected.

That is, one end of the hinge link 47 is connected to the bracket hinge shaft 47a of the hinge bracket 46, and the other end is connected to the door hinge shaft 47b of the door 35.

The bracket hinge shaft 47a is provided with an elastic member 49, which is a return means supported at both ends of the hinge bracket 46 and the hinge link 47 so as to provide an elastic force in a direction in which both doors 35 are in close contact with each other. It is provided.

When the hinge mechanism 45 is rotated while the door 35 is opened and closed, the hinge mechanism 45 is rotated about the door hinge shaft 47b, and the door 35 has the first spacer 60 and the second spacer ( 70) is configured to rotate about the bracket hinge axis 47a when translated.

The elastic member 49 provides an elastic force so that the hinge link 47 rotates in a direction in which both doors 35L. 35R, that is, both gasket assemblies 50 are in close contact with each other about the bracket hinge axis 47a. Done.

On the other hand, the lower hinge mechanism 41 is installed in the lower portion of the door (35L, 35R) is fixed to the main body 40, the bracket 43 protrudes forward, the bracket 43 and the door (35L, It consists of a hinge shaft 44 for connecting 35R, and a bush 42 which is a cushioning member provided on the outer circumference of the hinge shaft 44.

Here, when the doors 35L and 35R are opened and closed, the center of rotation of the door formed in the upper hinge mechanism 45 is translated by the spacer 60 and 70, but is formed in the lower hinge mechanism 41. The center of rotation of the door does not move.

Thus, when the doors 35L and 35R are opened and closed, the doors 35L and 35R are tilted about the lower hinge mechanism 41 installed at the lower portion, and the doors 35L and 35R which are opened and closed as shown in FIG. ) Is tilted toward the side of the refrigerator when viewed from the front of the refrigerator.

Next, the first spacer 60 is configured to be in contact with each other until a predetermined section in which the door is opened in a state in which the door is closed, to separate the plurality of doors 35R and 35L, and the second spacer 70 ) Are configured to be in contact with each other to space the plurality of doors when the door is opened for a certain period, in particular when the door is closed.

The first spacer 60 and the second spacer 70 are installed on the hinge bracket 46 and the door bracket 39 on which the hinge mechanism 45 is installed, and on the side closer to the hinge mechanism 45. The first spacer 60 is positioned, followed by a second spacer 70.

First, the first spacer 60 will be described. The first spacer 60 is fixed to the refrigerator main body 40 and has a cam surface 62 so as to space both doors when the door is opened. The first cam member 61 and the first cam contact lever 65 are fixed to the door 35 to contact the cam surface 62 of the first cam member 61 so that the doors are spaced apart from each other.

Here, the first cam member 61 is installed on the upper surface of the refrigerator body 40, it is preferable that the front portion is installed in such a position that does not protrude toward the front of the refrigerator body (40). On the other hand, the first cam contact lever 65 is preferably installed so as to protrude from the upper portion of the door 35 in the direction of the refrigerator main body 40 long.

The first cam contact lever 65 has a lever 66 fixed to the door bracket 39 and a roller installed to contact the first cam member 61 at the end of the lever 66. 67).

Next, the second spacing mechanism 70 will be described. The second spacing mechanism 70 is provided in the door 35 so that the cam surface 72 is spaced apart from both doors 35L and 35R when the door is closed. A second cam member 71 having a) and a second cam contact lever 75 fixed to the refrigerator main body 40 so as to contact the second cam member 71 so that the doors 35L and 35R are spaced apart from each other. It consists of.

The second cam member 71 is installed on the door bracket 39 fixed to the upper surface of the door 35, and the second cam contact lever 75 is a hinge bracket of the upper portion of the refrigerator body 40 ( Fixed to 46 is preferably installed to protrude long in the direction of the door (35).

Here, the second cam contact lever 75 is formed to protrude from the lever portion 76 installed on the hinge bracket 46 and the end portion of the lever portion 76 to the second cam member 71. It consists of a boss 77 in contact.

When the door is opened, the first spacer 60 and the second spacer 70 are horizontally moved in the direction in which the door is spaced apart from the counterpart door by the action of the first spacer 60. When closed, the second spacer 70 is configured to horizontally move the door while changing the trajectory from which the door returns to prevent a collision that may occur when the door is closed. 2 is made by the cam surface trajectory of the cam member 71.

The cam surfaces 62 and 72 of the first cam member 61 and the second cam member 71 are each formed in a convex curved shape, and the cam surfaces 62 and 72 of the two members protrude in a direction facing each other. Are arranged.

Looking at the cam surface 62 of the first cam member 61, the contact cam surface 62a and the non-contact cam surface 62c around the apex 62b of the cam surface as shown in FIG. 62a is formed in a relatively sharp curved surface so as to quickly space the doors 35L and 35R and the gasket assembly 50 while the roller 67 of the first cam contact lever 65 is moved in contact when the door is opened. The non-contact cam surface 62c is formed into a curved surface such that the roller 67 of the first cam contact lever 65 does not contact by the action of the second spacer 70.

Looking at the cam surface 72 of the second cam member 71, the non-contact cam surface 72a and the contact cam surface 72c around the apex 72b of the cam surface, the non-contact cam surface 72a is the first By the action of the spacer 60 is formed into a steep inclined surface such that the boss 77 of the second cam contact lever 75 does not contact, the contact cam surface 72c is the door when the door is opened or closed It is formed in a relatively smooth curved surface compared to the contact cam surface 62a of the first cam member 61 so as to gradually move horizontally.

Accordingly, when the door is opened while the door is closed, the roller 67 of the first cam contact lever 65 moves along the contact cam surface 62a of the first cam member 61 to rapidly space the door. The boss 77 of the second cam contact lever 75 is configured to hardly contact the non-contact cam surface 72a of the second cam member 71. On the contrary, when the door is closed in the open state, the boss 77 of the second cam contact lever 75 moves along the contact cam surface 72c of the second cam member 71 so that the door is gradually spaced apart. The roller 67 of the contact lever 65 is configured not to directly contact the non-contact cam surface 72c of the first cam member 61.

Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, the upper hinge mechanism is moved to form a structure in which the door is tilted. Alternatively, the door may be tilted by moving the lower hinge mechanism.

Operation of the door opening and closing device of the refrigerator according to the present invention configured as described above with reference to Figures 8 to 13 as follows.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a door closed state, FIG. 9 is a gasket spaced state when the door is opened and closed, FIGS. 10 to 12 are views showing a state in which the door is opened, and FIG. 13 is a tilting process of the door when the door is opened. It is also working.

First, the process of opening the door will be described. Here, the process of opening the right door 35R will be described for convenience.

In the state in which the doors 35L and 35R are closed as shown in FIG. 8, since the first spacer 60 and the second spacer 70 are in a coupled state, the door 35R is hinged. Since it is in the state moved toward the counter door 35L by the elastic force of the elastic member 49 provided in the inside, the gasket 53 of both doors 35L and 35R will be in close contact with each other.

Here, since the elastic member 49 provides an elastic force to rotate the hinge link 47 in the clockwise direction about the bracket hinge axis 47a, the door 35R moves in the direction of the relative door 35L. Will be in a closed state.

When the door 35R is opened in such a state, as shown in FIG. 9, as the door 35R opens, the roller 67 of the first cam contact lever 65 contacts the cam surface of the first cam member 61. The right door 35R is horizontally moved in the direction away from the left door 35L while moving in the 62a, and the roller 67 reaches the apex 62b of the cam surface of the first cam member 61. Will have the maximum displacement. At this time, since the door 35R is pushed by the force generated while the roller 67, the contact cam surface 62a, and the vertex 62b are in contact with each other, the bracket hinge shaft 47a is disposed on the upper hinge mechanism 45 side. The hinge link 47 is rotated about a predetermined angle (θ) in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing while compressing the elastic member 49.

At the same time, the boss 77 of the second cam contact lever 75 reaches the apex 72b of the cam surface with little contact with the non-contact cam surface 72a of the second cam member 71.

Therefore, the door 35R is opened while the door is quickly moved horizontally to the side by the action of the contact cam surface 62a of the first cam member 61 which is formed relatively sharply, and thus the gasket assembly 50 is in close contact with each other. The door 35R can be opened in a state where it is quickly separated.

FIG. 13A is a front view of the refrigerator when the door is closed as shown in FIG. 8, and FIG. 13B is a front view of the refrigerator when the door is opened as shown in FIG. 9.

Thus, when the door 35R is opened by the user, the door hinge shaft 47b which is the upper rotation center of the door 35R is laterally moved by the first spacer 60, but the door 35R Since the hinge shaft 44, which is the lower rotation center, performs only a rotational motion, the gasket assembly 50 of the door 35R, which opens while rotating forward, is tilted toward the hinge portion 45.

Here, the bush 44 installed on the hinge shaft 44 which is the rotation center of the tilting motion of the door 35R absorbs the tilting angle generated when the door 35R is tilted.

Thereafter, when the door 35R is further opened as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the roller 67 of the first cam contact lever 65 gradually passes past the vertex 62b of the first cam member 61. At the same time, the boss 77 of the second cam contact lever 75 moves while being in close contact with the contact cam surface 72c past the vertex 72b of the second cam member 71.

Therefore, the second cam contact lever 75 and the first cam contact lever 75 are different from the one in which the door is moved laterally in order to quickly remove the gasket assemblies 50 which are in close contact with each other while the door 35R is closed. The door is opened while gradually returning to the original position by the action of the contact cam surface 72c of the two cam member 71.

At this time, the hinge link 47 is rotated in the clockwise direction in the drawing by the elastic force of the elastic member 49.

Thereafter, when the door 35 is further opened and the boss 77 of the second cam contact lever 75 is detached from the contact cam surface 72c of the second cam member 71, as shown in FIG. The link 47 is rotated in the clockwise direction to return to its original position completely, and the door 35R is opened while rotating about the door hinge shaft 47b.

Next, the process of closing the door will be described. Here, it demonstrates centering on the right door 35R.

When the door 35R is closed, as shown in Fig. 12, after the boss 77 of the second cam contact lever 75 is in contact with the contact cam surface 72c of the second cam member 71, in Figs. As described above, the boss 77 moves along the contact cam surface 72c formed smoothly.

At this time, the door 35R gradually moves horizontally laterally by the action of the boss 77 of the second cam contact lever 75 and the contact cam surface 72c of the second cam member 71, and the hinge link 47. ) Is also rotated counterclockwise in the drawing gradually about the bracket hinge axis (47a).

As described above, when the door 35R is closed and the boss 77 of the second cam contact lever 75 reaches the cam surface vertex 72b of the second cam member 71 as shown in FIG. Movement displacement is reached, with both gasket assemblies 50 in a separated state.

When the door 35R is further closed afterwards, the boss 77 of the second cam contact lever 75 passes through the cam surface vertex 72b of the second cam member 71 so that no mutual contact is made. As the roller 67 of the first cam contact lever 65 is in contact with the contact cam surface 62a of the first cam member 61, the door 35R is quickly closed while horizontally moving toward the counterpart door 35L. As shown in FIG. 8, both gasket assemblies 50 are tightly sealed to seal the inside of the refrigerator.

Therefore, when the door 35R is closed as described above, the door 77 of the second cam contact lever 75 first comes into contact with the contact cam surface 72c of the second cam member 71, and the door is gradually removed from the counterpart door. Since the horizontal movement in the direction to be spaced apart, when the door is closed, the first cam contact lever 65 and the non-contact cam surface 62c of the first cam member 61 does not directly collide with each other and the gasket assembly 50 is separated. Operation will be normal.

On the other hand, when the door 35R is closed, since the center of gravity of the door 35R tries to return to its original position from the tilted position, the open door 35R naturally closes even if the user does not apply excessive force.

In addition, the closer the door 35R is to its original position in the process of closing the door 35R, the more the acceleration is generated in the door 35R, so that the door 35R and the main body 40 are in close contact with each other.

Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, the right door 35R has been described based on the process of opening and closing, but the left door 35L of the present invention operates in the same manner as described above.

The door opening and closing device of the refrigerator according to the present invention configured and operated as described above is rotated to the front while the door is tilted in a lateral direction opposite to the relative door when the door is opened and closed, so that the side gasket assembly is opened and closed when the door is opened and closed. Has the advantage of separating more quickly.

The door opening and closing device of the refrigerator according to the present invention can reduce the noise and shock generated when the door is opened and closed because a separate mechanism for separating the door when the door is opened and a mechanism for separating the door when the door is closed are configured separately. This has the advantage of providing a smoother and smoother feeling to the user when opening and closing the door.

In addition, the present invention can improve the durability of the interference parts that separate the door as the collision is minimized at the time of opening and closing the door, and the protrusion of the cam contact lever on the refrigerator body side is also minimized, thereby improving the aesthetics when the refrigerator is opened.

In addition, since the present invention is configured by differently forming the cam surface at the initial opening of the door and the cam surface after the door is opened to some extent, it is possible to improve the user's sensitivity by reducing the shock generated when the door is opened and closed by using one separation mechanism. There is an advantage.

Claims (6)

A plurality of doors for opening and closing the refrigerator body; A spacing mechanism provided between the main body and the door so that a door opened when the door is opened and closed is spaced apart from the counterpart door; The door is configured to include the upper and lower hinge mechanisms for connecting the main body and the door so as to open and close while rotating forward with respect to the main body, and to form the center of rotation of the door, respectively, on the upper and lower parts of the door, The door opening and closing device of the refrigerator, characterized in that any one of the upper and lower rotational center of the door is fixed and the other part is moved by the spacer, so that the open door is tilted from the counterpart door. The method of claim 1, The upper hinge mechanism of the upper / lower hinge mechanism is configured to be movable by the spacing mechanism, the lower hinge mechanism is configured to be fixed to the door opening and closing device of the refrigerator. The method of claim 2, The upper hinge mechanism is a door opening and closing device of the refrigerator, characterized in that it comprises a hinge link connected to the main body and the door by a hinge axis so that the main body and the door relative movement. The method of claim 3, wherein The hinge shaft connecting the hinge link and the main body is a door opening and closing device of the refrigerator, characterized in that the elastic member for pressing the hinge link toward the mating door side. The method of claim 2, The lower hinge mechanism connects the door and the main body to a hinge shaft, and a cushioning member for cushioning a tilting angle of the door is further installed on an outer circumference of the hinge shaft. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The separation mechanism is provided between the door and the main body, the first separation mechanism to space between the plurality of doors while being in contact with each other when the door is opened to a predetermined position in a closed state; The door opening and closing device of the refrigerator, provided between the door and the main body, and configured to be spaced apart from the plurality of doors while being in contact with each other when the door is opened above the predetermined position.

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