KR20060124954A - Device for separating gasket of refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for separating gaskets of a refrigerator is provided to separate side gasket assemblies from each other by driving solenoid units after sensing door opening, thereby clearly separating the side gasket assemblies when opening doors. A device for separating gaskets of a refrigerator includes a plurality of doors(35L) connected to a main body(40) of the refrigerator by hinges to move forward. Side gasket assemblies(50) are mounted to facing portions of the doors for sealing a gap between the doors. Sensors(62,64,66,68) are provided to the doors for sensing opening of the doors. Separation units such as solenoid units(70) are driven by signals output from the sensors to generate electromagnetic force and move connection elements connected to the side gasket assemblies by the generated electromagnetic force, thereby separating the side gasket assemblies from each other.

Description

Device for separating gasket of refrigerator

1 is a front view showing a French type refrigerator

2 is a front view showing an open state of a French type refrigerator equipped with a gasket separating device of the prior art

3 is a cross sectional plan view of an essential part of a gasket separating apparatus of the prior art

Figure 4 is a detailed view showing a deformation state of the gasket at the time of opening the door in the prior art

5 to 7 are views showing a first embodiment of the gasket separating apparatus according to the present invention,

5 is a perspective view of the door open state of the refrigerator;

6 is a front view of the refrigerator with the door closed;

7 is a plan view of the main part of the door closed state

8 is a plan view showing the operating state of the gasket separating apparatus

9 is a flowchart illustrating a gasket separation method of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

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

31: freezer 32: cold storage room

35R, 35L: Door 36: Door cap

37: gasket 40: refrigerator body

45 hinge portion 50 side gasket assembly

51: Gasket Holder 53: Gasket

55 magnetic material 57 rotation axis

59: spring 62, 64, 66: magnetic sensor

68: contact sensor 70: solenoid mechanism

71: wire 72: stator

73: ring 74: mover

75: first stopper 76: coil

77: second stopper 78: coil spring

79: guide

The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a double-door door, and when the door is opened and closed, the sensor detects whether the door is opened and closed, and operates the solenoid mechanism installed on the door through the detection signal, so that the side gasket is installed at the opposite part of the door. The present invention relates to a gasket separating apparatus and a separating method of a refrigerator for separating an assembly.

1 and 2 are views illustrating a typical French type refrigerator.

As shown in the refrigerator, the refrigerating chamber 1 is positioned above and the freezing chamber 2 is positioned below. 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) has a door (3) for opening and closing the structure of the two-door open type, the circumferential surface of each door (3) is provided with a gasket (10) in close contact with the refrigerator main body (5) so that cold air does not leak out do.

In particular, the gasket 11 is installed so that cold air does not leak to the part where the doors 3 meet each other. In general, a refrigerator of a French type is provided with a filler on 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.

1 and 2 illustrate a pillarless type, in which the gaskets 11 provided on both doors are in close contact with each other while the doors 3 are closed, as shown in FIG. 1. Seal the gap.

3 is a cross-sectional configuration view in the direction A of FIG. 1 showing a state in which the gasket 11 is in close contact with both the doors 3 closed, and the gasket 11 has both doors 3 mutually connected to each other. It consists of the gasket holder 12 provided in the opposing side surface, and the gasket rubber 13 attached to this gasket holder 12, and mutually in close contact.

Inside the gasket rubber 13, the magnetic body 14 is installed so as to maintain mutual adhesion.

In particular, the gasket 11 is a gasket separation device 15 that separates the two gaskets 11 to some extent during the initial opening of the door, in order to solve the problem of opening the other door accordingly when one door 3 is opened. ) Is installed.

The gasket separating device 15 is configured to rotate the gasket holder 12 about the hinge portion 16 supported by the door 3 and toward the refrigerator main body 5 around the hinge portion 16. The cam lever 17 which protrudes long is provided. In addition, the cam body 6 is formed in the refrigerator main body 5 so that the cam lever 17 comes into close contact with the door when the door is opened.

Here, the gasket rubber 13 and the gasket holder 12 are rotated about the hinge portion 16 when the cam lever 17 is moved forward along the cam portion 6 when the door is opened.

Therefore, in the state in which the door 3 is completely closed, as shown in FIG. 3, the cam portion 18 of the cam lever 17 is caught behind the cam portion 6 of the refrigerator main body 5, and one door 3 is closed. When opened, it is rotated around the hinge portion 16 as it comes out along with the cam lever 17 along the door, and the gasket holder 12 also rotates about the hinge portion 16 at the same time. The gasket 11 'indicated by the dotted line is separated from the gasket 11 of the other door 3 so that only one door is opened.

However, the conventional gasket separating apparatus of the refrigerator having the above-described one door 3 because the amount of change in the left and right separation of the gasket 11 is relatively smaller than the rotational movement distance of the cam lever 17 generated when the door 3 is opened. When the gasket 11 is opened, the contact between both gaskets 11 is not completely separated, which causes a friction force between one of the doors to be opened and the closed door, thereby slightly opening the closed door forward.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, when both gaskets 11 are not completely separated in the process of opening the door 3 as described above, the magnetic body 14 of the door 3 closed by the interaction of the two magnetic bodies 14. The contact time of the gasket rubber 13 is increased while coming out toward the magnetic body 14 of the door 3 to which the door 3 is opened, thereby increasing the friction of the gasket rubber 13 and thus greatly reducing the gasket life.

Further, since the cam lever 17 and the cam part 6 of the refrigerator main body 5 are in contact with each other, the gasket 11 is spaced apart from each other at the center of the refrigerator farthest from the hinge part of the door 3. There is also a problem in that when opening (3), the resistance increases, so much force is required.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, when the door is opened and closed detects whether the door is opened and closed through the sensor, and installed on the opposite portion of the door by operating the solenoid mechanism installed on the door through the detection signal It is an object of the present invention to provide a gasket separating apparatus and a separating method of a refrigerator separating a side gasket assembly.

The gasket separation apparatus of the refrigerator according to the first aspect of the present invention for realizing the above object is a plurality of doors connected to the refrigerator through a hinge portion and rotated forward; A side gasket assembly installed at portions facing each other in the plurality of doors to seal gaps between the doors; A sensor for detecting whether the door is opened or closed; It is operated by receiving the signal sensed by the sensor to generate an electromagnetic force, and by moving the connecting member connected to the side gasket assembly through the generated electromagnetic force, comprising a spacer for separating the side gasket assembly from the relative door do.

The gasket separation method of the refrigerator according to the second aspect of the present invention comprises the steps of: detecting that the door is opened from at least one of a plurality of sensors installed in the refrigerator; And detecting the further opening of the door from at least another one of the plurality of sensors.

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

For reference, the present invention may be applied to a refrigerator having neither a freezer compartment or a refrigerating compartment but having a double door open type door, and may be applied to a refrigerator that is open in a vertical direction as well as a refrigerator in which both doors are opened in left and right directions. Therefore, the present invention is applicable to all refrigerators in which side gasket assemblies are installed in close contact with each other on opposite doors and seal gaps between the doors.

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.

5 to 7 are views showing a first embodiment of a gasket separating apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a door open state of the refrigerator, FIG. 6 is a front view of the refrigerator with the door closed, and FIG. Fig. 8 is a plan view showing the main part of the door in the closed state, and FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, the refrigerator according to the present invention has a freezing compartment 31 positioned below and a refrigerating chamber 32 having double doors 35L and 35R disposed above.

The both doors 35L and 35R are connected to the refrigerator main body 40 by a hinge portion 45 so as to open and close the refrigerating chamber 32 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. Is installed.

6 or 7, the side gasket assembly 50 is provided between the gasket holder 51 installed on the side surfaces of the doors 35L and 35R, and the gasket holders 51 are in close contact with each other. It is composed of a gasket 53 and a magnetic body 55 provided inside the gasket 53 to generate magnetism to be in close contact with the gasket 53 of the mating doors 35L and 35R.

In particular, since the side gasket assembly 50 seals the inside of the refrigerating compartment 32 while being in close contact with the side gasket assembly 50 of the mating door, the side gasket assembly 50 is connected to the mating side gasket assembly 50 when the door 35L or 35R is opened or closed. Sweep and move along the door (35L or 35R).

Therefore, in order to minimize the phenomenon in which both side gasket assemblies are opened in close contact with each other, the present invention provides a spacer for separating both side gasket assemblies 50 laterally when the doors 35L and 35R are closed. 70 and sensors 62, 64, 66 and 68 which detect whether the doors 35L and 35R are opened or closed.

First, the gasket holder 51 of the side gasket assembly 50 is rotatably installed at the doors 35L and 35R. That is, the gasket holder 51 is installed on the doors 35L and 35R through the rotation shaft 57, and the rotation shaft 57 is formed in the magnetic body 55 capable of increasing the separation displacement of the main close contact portion of the gasket 53. It is preferable to be installed at a distant position, and the rotation shaft 57 is provided with a spring 59, which is an elastic member, to provide an elastic force for rotating the gasket holder 51 toward the gasket 53 side of the mating door 35L. .

The sensor may include a first magnetic sensor 62 installed at portions of the doors 35L and 35R facing each other, and second and third magnetics installed between the doors 35L and 35R and the main body 40. And sensors 64 and 66.

Here, the first magnetic sensor 62 is preferably installed in the magnetic body 55, the second magnetic sensor 64 is installed on the side gasket assembly 50 side of the doors 35L and 35R, The third magnetic sensor 66 is installed on the hinge part 45 side of the doors 35L and 35R.

Thus, when the magnetic sensors 62, 64 and 66 are close to each other, currents are in an on state in which currents are communicated with each other. When the magnetic sensors 62, 64 and 66 are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, the currents are cut off to be in an off state.

On the other hand, the handle (61L, 61R) of the door (35L, 35R) is provided with a contact sensor 68 for detecting whether the user's hand touches, when the user touches the handle (61L, 61R) of the refrigerator A controller (not shown) receives the signal from the sensor 68 and considers the doors 35L and 35R to be open.

In addition, although not shown, the door may be opened or closed by using a door switch installed in a conventional refrigerator at the position of the third magnet sensor 66.

Meanwhile, all signals detected by the sensors 62, 64 and 66 are transmitted to the controller of the refrigerator, and the controller receives the signals transmitted from the sensors 62, 64, 66 and 68. To control the separation mechanism 70.

As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the separation mechanism is a solenoid mechanism 70 operated by a current applied from the controller, and the solenoid mechanism 70 is installed inside the doors 35L and 35R. In the closed state, the side gasket assemblies 50 which are in close contact with each other are separated.

The solenoid mechanism 70 is a mechanism for generating an electromagnetic force by receiving an applied current, and converts the generated electromagnetic force into kinetic energy. The stator 72 is fixed to the doors 35L and 35R, and the stator ( 72 and a coil 76 wound around the stator 72 and the mover 74.

In particular, the mover 74 is connected to the gasket holder 51 and the wire 71 of the side gasket assembly 50, the stator 72 is formed long in the left and right direction of the refrigerator, when the current is applied Interact with 74 to move the mover 74 in the left and right directions.

In addition, the wire 71 connects the doors 35L and 35R and the side gasket assembly 50 in a staggered manner so that the side gasket assembly 50 is easily separated.

That is, the wire 71 connected to the gasket holder 51 in the mover 74 is zigzag connected in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. 6, and the wire 71 is connected to the side gasket assembly 50 and It is connected through the ring 73 formed in the door (35L, 35R).

Thus, when the mover 74 is operated, the side gasket assembly 50 is separated from the mating side gasket assembly 50, and the wire 71 is connected to the doors 35L and 35R and the side gasket assembly 50. Installed side by side to move the side gasket assembly 50 more uniformly.

The mover 74 and the wire 71 serve as a connecting member for connecting the side gasket assembly 50 and the spacer.

On the other hand, as shown in Figure 7, the door (35L, 35R) is provided with stoppers 75, 77 for limiting the moving distance of the mover 74, the stopper 77 and the mover 74 The coil spring 78 is installed as an elastic member for returning the mover 74 to its original position.

In addition, the mover 74 is provided with a guide 79 for preventing the positional deviation during the movement, the guide 79 is installed through the stopper 77.

Although not shown, the solenoid mechanism is installed in the left door 35L.

Referring to the operation of the gasket separating apparatus according to the present invention configured as described above are as follows.

In the state in which both doors 35L and 35R of the refrigerator are closed, as shown in FIG. 6 or 7, the magnetic bodies 55 of the gasket assembly 50 generate mutual attraction to thereby close and close the gasket 53. In close contact with each other to block the outflow of cold air in the refrigerating chamber 32.

Here, the magnetic sensors 62, 64 and 66 installed on the doors 35L and 35R or the main body 40 are in close contact with each other, and transmit an on-signal to the control unit, and to the handles 61L and 61R. The installed signal transmits an off signal until the user touches it.

Thus, the control unit does not apply current to the solenoid mechanism 70, and thus the mover 74 is moved to the first stopper 75 in a state where the mover 74 is moved to the side gasket assembly 50 by the coil spring 78. Is stopped by.

The side gasket assemblies 50 are brought into close contact with each other by the magnetic body 55 by the solenoid mechanism 70.

Next, when the user pulls one door 35R, the door 35R is rotated about the hinge portion 45, and the side gasket assembly 50 of the door 35R is connected to the door 35R. It is rotated by circular motion by rotation.

At this time, the magnetic sensors 62, 64 and 66 installed in the doors 35L and 35R or the main body 40 are turned off while being spaced apart from each other, and transmit this signal to the controller.

In addition, the user pulls the handle 61R to open the door 35R, and the user turns on the contact sensor 68 installed on the handle 61R, and this signal is also transmitted to the controller.

Thus, the control unit detecting that the door 35R is opened from the sensors 62, 64, 66, 68 applies a predetermined current to the solenoid mechanism 70, and the solenoid mechanism 70. Is interacted by the applied current to convert the electromagnetic force into kinetic energy.

That is, when the current is applied to the solenoid mechanism 70 and the mover 74 is moved, as shown in FIG. 8, the mover 74 is moved to the right side, and the side gasket is moved by the movement of the mover 74. The gasket holder 51 of the assembly 50 is pulled to the right.

Thus, the gasket holder 51 pulled as described above is rotated about the rotation shaft 57 to be spaced apart from the side gasket assembly 50 of the mating door 35L.

In addition, the wire 71 connected to the gasket holder 51 is zigzag installed in the entire side gasket assembly 50 as shown in FIG. 6, and the actuation force by the mover 74 is the side gasket assembly ( 50) is quickly delivered to the whole to allow for quick separation of the side gas assembly 50.

On the other hand, when the mover 74 is moved to the right, the second stopper 77 guides the moving direction of the guide 79 and at the same time limits the moving distance of the mover 74.

Next, when the door 35R is closed and the door 35R is in close contact with the main body 40, the control unit receives the on-signal from the sensors 62, 64, 66 and then the solenoid mechanism 70. Cut off current applied to.

Here, when the operation of the solenoid mechanism 70 is stopped, the coil spring 78 moves the mover 74 to the left.

In addition, the spring 59 installed in the gasket holder 51 closely contacts the gasket 53 to the mating gasket 53, and the mover 74, the wire 71, and the side gasket assembly 50 are initially positioned. To the original position.

Next, the gasket separation method of the refrigerator different from the above will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9.

As shown in FIG. 10, the gasket separation method of the refrigerator includes a sensor 62 installed between the door 35L and the door 35R of the refrigerator or between the doors 35L and 35R and the main body 40. Detecting which one of the door (35L, 35R) is opened and closed from (64) (68) (S10), and receiving the signal from the sensor (62, 64, 68) solenoid mechanism (installed in the door ( By operating 70, it comprises a step (S20) of separating the side gasket assembly 50 facing each other between the plurality of doors, and detecting the further opening of the door from the sensor 66.

Thus, the detaching method of the refrigerator detects that the door 35R is opened through the sensors 62, 64 and 68, and when the door 35R is further opened, the sensor 66 installed on the hinge part 45 side. The door is opened further.

Here, the sensor 66 installed on the hinge part 45 side is advantageous in detecting that the door 35R is opened at the latest since the change in the separation distance with the main body 40 occurs least.

In addition to detecting that the door 35R is further opened by the sensor 66, a step S50 of returning the solenoid mechanism 70 after a predetermined time elapses may be included.

Here, the combination of the sensors 62, 64, 66, 68 can be variously combined as described in the table below.

Solenoid Mechanism ON Solenoid mechanism OFF Example 1 2nd magnetic sensor Third magnetic sensor 2 Examples 2nd magnetic sensor Door switch 3 Examples First magnetic sensor Third magnetic sensor 4 Examples First magnetic sensor Door switch 5 Examples First magnetic sensor Time lapse 6 Example 2nd magnetic sensor Time lapse

Thus, after receiving a signal from at least one of the sensors 62, 64 and 68, the solenoid mechanism 70 is turned on, and after receiving a signal from the sensor 66 or after a predetermined time elapses, When the solenoid mechanism 70 is turned off, the solenoid mechanism 70 is operated only when the side gasket assembly 50 of the door 35R is rubbed with the mating side gasket assembly 50.

Thus, when the solenoid mechanism 70 is turned on / off only in the process of opening the door 35R as described above, unnecessary power consumption due to the operation of the solenoid mechanism 70 may be minimized.

Meanwhile, in the above embodiments, the right door 35R of the refrigerator has been described as an example. However, this may be applied to the left door 35L.

The gasket separation apparatus of the refrigerator according to the present invention configured and operated as described above detects whether the door is opened or closed through a sensor, and then operates the solenoid mechanism to separate the side gasket assembly from the counterpart side gasket assembly, thereby opening and closing the door. This has the advantage of separating the seaside gasket assembly more clearly.

In addition, the gasket separating apparatus of the refrigerator according to the present invention has an advantage of minimizing interference with the counterpart door when the door is opened because the side gasket assembly of the door is rotated in a direction that is spaced apart from each other by the spacer when the front rotation of the door.

Therefore, the gasket separating apparatus of the refrigerator according to the present invention has the advantage of minimizing the contact between the side gasket assembly when the door is opened to facilitate the opening of the door and to extend the life of the gasket.

In addition, since the gasket separating apparatus of the refrigerator according to the present invention receives the open signal and the closed signal of the door from sensors installed at various positions of the door, it is possible to more accurately determine whether the door is opened or closed.

In addition, since the gasket separating apparatus of the refrigerator according to the present invention pulls the wire through the solenoid mechanism in a state in which each part of the side gasket assembly and the door are zigzag connected through a wire, the actuation force by the solenoid mechanism causes the soleside gasket to actuate. This has the advantage of being quickly delivered throughout the assembly.

In addition, the method for separating a gasket of the refrigerator according to the present invention has an advantage of quickly detecting whether the door is opened or closed through a combination of sensors installed in each part of the door, and then quickly separating the side gasket assembly from the counterpart side gasket assembly.

In addition, the gasket separation method of the refrigerator according to the present invention can receive a different signal according to the opening angle of the door, it is possible to more precisely control the operation of the solenoid mechanism installed on the door.

In addition, the gasket separation method of the refrigerator according to the present invention detects a signal that the door is opened after the solenoid mechanism is turned on to turn off the solenoid mechanism, thereby minimizing the operation of the solenoid mechanism, thereby minimizing power consumption. .

Claims (13)

A plurality of doors connected through the hinge body and the hinge part and pivoted forward; A side gasket assembly installed at portions facing each other in the plurality of doors to seal gaps between the doors; A sensor for detecting whether the door is opened or closed; It is operated by receiving a signal sensed by the sensor to generate an electromagnetic force, and by moving the connecting member connected to the side gasket assembly through the generated electromagnetic force, comprising a spacer for separating the side gasket assembly from the relative door The gasket separating device of the refrigerator, characterized in that the. The method of claim 1, And the spacer is connected directly to the side gasket assembly. The method of claim 1, The separation mechanism is a gasket separation apparatus of the refrigerator, characterized in that the solenoid mechanism consisting of a stator and a mover. The method of claim 3, wherein The gasket separating apparatus of the refrigerator, characterized in that the connecting member is the mover. The method of claim 3, wherein The connecting member is a gasket separating apparatus of the refrigerator, characterized in that the wire connecting the mover and the side gasket assembly. The method of claim 5, And the wires are staggeredly installed in the side gasket assembly and the door to uniformly move the side gasket assembly. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, The gasket separating apparatus of the refrigerator, characterized in that the stopper is installed in the door to limit the moving distance of the mover. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, And a solenoid mechanism is provided with an elastic member for repositioning the mover. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The gasket separating apparatus of the refrigerator, characterized in that a plurality of the sensor is installed. The method of claim 9, The sensor is a gasket separation apparatus of the refrigerator, characterized in that at least any one of a magnetic sensor, a contact sensor or a door switch. Detecting a door being opened from at least one of a plurality of sensors installed in the refrigerator; And a step (2) of detecting that the door is further opened from at least one of the plurality of sensors. The method of claim 11, The gasket separation method of the refrigerator is a gasket separation method of the refrigerator, characterized in that for operating the separation mechanism that separates the side gasket assembly installed in the door from the counterpart by the signal detected in step 1. The method of claim 12, Gasket separation method of the refrigerator characterized in that for returning the spacer to the initial state by the signal detected in the step 2.

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