KR20100061110A

KR20100061110A - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: KR20100061110A
Application number: KR1020080120004A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 심재환
Original assignee: 엘지전자 주식회사
Priority date: 2008-11-28
Filing date: 2008-11-28
Publication date: 2010-06-07

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, a height detecting unit for detecting the height of the container inserted into the cavity of the dispenser, a height adjusting unit for adjusting the height of the bottom of the dispenser, It includes a control unit for controlling the height adjustment unit based on the height. Thereby, it becomes possible to use conveniently, without restricting the height of the container inserted in a dispenser, and user convenience is increased.

Description

Refrigerator {Refrigerator}

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator having a dispenser with improved user convenience.

Generally, a refrigerator is a device used for storing food fresh for a long time, and includes a freezer compartment for freezing food, a freezer compartment for cold storage of plants, and a freezing cycle for cooling the freezer compartment and refrigerator compartment. The operation control is performed by the controller.

Unlike in the past, the refrigerator is not only a space for food, but also a family room where the family members are gathering and talking and solving the food. In addition, quantitative and qualitative functional changes are required for all family members to use easily.

On the other hand, the door of the refrigerator is provided with a dispenser which is a convenient means to easily take out ice or drinking water. However, if the container receiving cold water or ice is large, there is an inconvenience of not entering into the cavity of the dispenser. Accordingly, there are various discussions, such as designing an outlet for discharging cold water or ice to a projecting structure.

An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator having a dispenser that can be conveniently used without restriction of the height of the container inserted into the dispenser.

A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, the height sensing unit for detecting the height of the container inserted into the cavity of the dispenser, the height adjustment unit for adjusting the height of the bottom of the dispenser, the sensed height It includes a control unit for controlling the height adjustment unit based on.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, by automatically adjusting the height of the bottom of the dispenser by sensing the height of the container inserted into the dispenser, it is possible to conveniently use without restriction of the height of the container inserted into the dispenser, thereby increasing user convenience. In addition, this can be simply implemented to reduce the manufacturing cost.

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

1 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the refrigerator 1 according to the present invention, although not shown, a case 110 having an inner space divided into a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment, a freezer compartment 120 that shields the freezer compartment, and a refrigerating compartment. A rough appearance is formed by the refrigerating chamber door 140.

Further, the front surface of the freezing chamber door 120 and the refrigerating chamber door 140 is further provided with a door handle 121 protruding forward, so that the user can easily grip and rotate the freezing chamber door 120 and the refrigerating chamber door 140. Make it work.

On the other hand, the front of the refrigerator compartment door 140 may be further provided with a home bar 180, which is a convenient means for allowing a user to take out a storage such as a beverage contained therein without opening the refrigerator compartment door 140.

In addition, the front side of the freezer door 120 may be provided with a dispenser 160 which is a convenient means for allowing the user to easily take out ice or drinking water without opening the freezer door 120, and such a dispenser 160. An upper side of the control panel 200 may be further provided to control the driving operation of the refrigerator 1 and to show a state of the refrigerator 1 being operated on the screen.

In the drawing, the dispenser 160 is illustrated as being disposed on the front surface of the freezing chamber door 120, but is not limited thereto, and may be disposed on the front surface of the refrigerating chamber door 140. Detailed description of the dispenser 160 will be described later with reference to FIG. 4.

The control panel 200 may include an input unit 220 including a plurality of buttons, and a display unit 230 for displaying a control screen and an operation state.

The display unit 230 displays information such as a control screen, an operation state, and a temperature inside the refrigerator. For example, the display unit 230 may display a service type of the dispenser (eg, ice, water, flake ice), a set temperature of the freezer compartment, and a set temperature of the refrigerator compartment.

The display unit 230 may be implemented in various ways, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), and the like. In addition, the display unit 230 may be implemented as a touch screen capable of performing the function of the input unit 220.

The input unit 220 may include a plurality of operation buttons. For example, the input unit 220 may include a dispenser setting button (not shown) for setting a service type of the dispenser (ice ice, water, crushed ice, etc.) and a freezer temperature setting button (not shown) for setting a freezer temperature. And, it may include a refrigerator compartment temperature setting button (not shown) for setting the freezer compartment temperature. The input unit 220 may be implemented as a touch screen that can also perform the function of the display unit 230.

Meanwhile, the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the double door type illustrated in the drawings, but the one door type, the sliding door type, and the curtain door type. Irrespective of its shape, such as a (Curtain Door Type), as described later, it is sufficient that the dispenser 160 is disposed on the entire surface of the freezing chamber door 120 or the entire surface of the refrigerator compartment door 140.

FIG. 2 is a view schematically illustrating the configuration of the refrigerator of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the refrigerator 1 includes a compressor 112, a condenser 116 for condensing the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 112, and a refrigerant condensed by the condenser 116 to be evaporated. The refrigerator compartment evaporator 122 and the freezer compartment evaporator 124 disposed in the refrigerating compartment (not shown) and the refrigerant condensed in the condenser 116 are stored in the refrigerator compartment evaporator 122 or the freezer compartment evaporator 124. A three-way valve 130 to supply to the refrigerator, a refrigerating chamber expansion valve 132 for expanding the refrigerant supplied to the refrigerating chamber evaporator 122, and a freezing chamber expansion valve 134 for expanding the refrigerant supplied to the freezing chamber evaporator 124; Include.

In addition, the refrigerator 1 may further include a gas-liquid separator (not shown) in which the refrigerant passing through the evaporators 122 and 124 is separated into a liquid and a gas.

In addition, the refrigerator 1 includes a refrigerator compartment fan 142 and a freezer compartment fan that suck cold air that has passed through the refrigerator compartment evaporator 122 and the freezer compartment evaporator 124 and blow it into a refrigerator compartment (not shown) and a freezer compartment (not shown), respectively. 144 may be further included.

In addition, the compressor driving unit 113 for driving the compressor 112, the refrigerator compartment fan 142 and the refrigerator compartment fan drive unit 143 and the freezer compartment fan drive unit 145 for driving the freezer compartment 144 may be further included.

3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the inside of the refrigerator illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the refrigerator of FIG. 3 includes a control unit 310, a dispenser height detecting unit 323, and a dispenser height adjusting unit 330. In addition, the refrigerator of FIG. 3 further includes a dispenser weight sensor 326. In addition, the refrigerator of FIG. 3 further includes an input unit 220, a display unit 230, and a temperature sensor 320. In addition, the refrigerator of FIG. 3 further includes a compressor driver 113, a refrigerator compartment fan 142, a refrigerator compartment fan driver 143, a freezer compartment fan 144, and a freezer compartment fan driver 145.

The compressor 112, the refrigerator compartment fan 142, the freezer compartment fan 144, the input unit 220, the display unit 230, and the like are described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The dispenser height detector 323 detects the height of the container inserted into the cavity of the dispenser. To this end, the dispenser height detector 323 is installed in the dispenser 160. The dispenser height detector 323 may be implemented in various forms such as an infrared sensor type and an ultrasonic sensor type. The detected height of the container is input to the controller 310.

The dispenser height adjusting unit 330 adjusts the height of the bottom of the dispenser. Preferably, the height of the bottom of the dispenser is automatically adjusted according to the height of the container sensed by the dispenser height detecting unit 323. To this end, the dispenser height adjusting unit 330 may include an electric motor.

The dispenser weight detector 326 detects the weight of the container inserted into the bottom of the dispenser. The detected weight of the container is input to the controller 310.

The controller 310 controls the dispenser height adjusting unit 330 to adjust the height of the bottom of the dispenser according to the height of the container sensed by the dispenser height detecting unit 323. For example, if the height of the sensed container is large, the container may not be inserted into the dispenser cavity, so the bottom of the dispenser is lowered to prevent this. That is, the controller 310 controls the dispenser height adjusting unit 330 such that the bottom of the dispenser is lowered as the height of the detected container is increased.

Meanwhile, when the small container is inserted into the dispenser while the bottom of the dispenser is lowered, the controller 310 unnecessarily wastes the space of the dispenser, so that the bottom of the dispenser can be raised again to efficiently improve the dispenser. To control.

That is, when the height of the container detected by the dispenser height detection unit 323 is low while the dispenser weight detection unit 326 detects that the container is inserted into the bottom of the dispenser, the control unit 310 controls the bottom of the container. The dispenser height adjusting unit 330 is controlled to rise again.

A detailed description of the control operations of the dispenser height detector 323, the dispenser height adjuster 330, the dispenser weight detector 326, and the controller 310 will be described below with reference to FIG. 4.

On the other hand, the control unit 310 controls to drive the compressor 112 according to the signal for the freezer compartment target temperature or the freezer compartment target temperature from the input unit 220. The compressor 112 in operation compresses the refrigerant as described above, and performs heat exchange in the evaporators 122 and 124 via the condenser 116 and the expansion valves 132 and 134.

The controller 310 directly controls the compressor driver 113 and the fan driver 143 or 145, as shown in the figure, to control the on / off operation of the compressor 112 and the fan 142 or 144. By controlling, finally, the compressor 112 and the fan 142 or 144 can be controlled.

The compressor drive unit 113, the refrigerator compartment fan drive unit 143, and the freezer compartment fan drive unit 145 each use a compressor motor (not shown), a refrigerator compartment fan motor (not shown), and a freezer compartment fan motor (not shown), respectively. Each motor (not shown) is operated at a target rotational speed under the control of the controller 310. When such an electric motor is a three-phase electric motor, it may be controlled by a switching operation in an inverter (not shown), or may be controlled at a constant speed by using an AC power source as it is. Herein, each motor (not shown) may be any one of an induction motor, a BLDC (Blush less DC) motor, a synchronous reluctance motor (synRM) motor, and the like.

On the other hand, as described above, the controller 310 can control the overall operation of the refrigerant cycle in accordance with the set temperature from the input unit 220. For example, in addition to the compressor driver 113, the refrigerator compartment fan driver 143, and the freezer compartment fan driver 145, the three-way valve 130, the refrigerator compartment expansion valve 132, and the freezer compartment expansion valve 134 may be further controlled. Can be. In addition, the operation of the condenser 116 can also be controlled.

On the other hand, the temperature detector 320 detects the temperature in the refrigerator. For example, it is possible to detect the temperature of the freezer compartment, the temperature of the refrigerating compartment, and the like, and also the temperature of each of the rooms of the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment. Accordingly, a plurality of temperature sensing unit 320 may be disposed in the refrigerator. The sensed temperature is input to the controller 310 and used for the control operation for the target temperature operation.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, the evaporators 122 and 124 are used in the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment, respectively, and thus, the fans 142 and 144 and the driving units 143 and 145 are used. However, the evaporators common to the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment are described. It is also possible to use a common fan (not shown), a common driving unit (not shown), and a common defrost heater. In this case, a damper (not shown) may be installed between the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment, and the fan (not shown) may forcibly blow cold air generated by one evaporator to be supplied to the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment.

4 is a view illustrating the dispenser of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the dispenser 160 of FIG. 4 includes a dispenser cavity 405 into which a container 435 of various sizes and heights can be inserted into a space inside the dispenser, an outlet 415 through which cold water or ice flows, cold water or An operating lever 420 that operates to discharge ice, and a dispenser bottom 425 connected to the dispenser height adjusting unit 330 to adjust the height.

Specifically, the dispenser 160 includes a dispenser cavity 405 formed as a concave space, and an outlet 415 through which the cold water or ice flows out at the upper end of the dispenser cavity 405. The outlet 415 may be divided into a cold water flow path and an ice flow path, respectively.

At the bottom of the outlet 415 in the dispenser cavity 405 is an actuating lever 420 that is used to drain cold water or ice. The actuating lever 420 may be implemented as a button type switch (not shown) or a pad type switch (not shown) instead of the actuating lever 420 to discharge cold water or ice, as shown in the figure. You can also distinguish between ice or cold water.

At the lower end of the dispenser cavity 405 is provided a bottom 425 on which a container 435 such as a cup is placed.

Meanwhile, the dispenser 160 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a dispenser height detecting unit 323 for detecting the height of the container 435 inserted into the dispenser cavity 405. The dispenser height detector 323 may be implemented in various forms, such as an infrared sensor type and an ultrasonic sensor type. Hereinafter, the description will be based on the infrared sensor type.

The dispenser height detector 323 may include an infrared transmitter 324 and an infrared receiver 325. In the drawing, the position of the height detecting unit 323 is located between the outlet 415 in the dispenser cavity 405 and the operation lever 420, but is not limited thereto, and the container inserted in the dispenser cavity 405 ( Any position may be possible if the height of 435 can be detected.

Meanwhile, the dispenser height adjusting unit 330 for adjusting the height of the bottom 425 of the dispenser is disposed below the dispenser 160. An example of the configuration of the dispenser height adjusting unit 330 will be described later with reference to FIG. 7.

The dispenser height adjusting unit 330 adjusts the height of the bottom 425 of the dispenser according to the height of the container 435 inserted into the dispenser cavity 405.

For example, as the height of the container 435 increases, the dispenser height adjusting unit 330 adjusts the bottom 425 to descend. In addition, the lower the height of the container 435, the dispenser height adjustment unit 330 adjusts so that the bottom 425 is raised.

In addition, the dispenser height adjusting unit 330 may adjust the height of the bottom 425 so that the end portion of the container 435 to be inserted is located at a set position in the cavity 405. Here, the setting position may be a position where the interval with the outlet 415 is a predetermined interval P.

The operation of the dispenser height adjusting unit 330 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

On the other hand, the dispenser 160 of the embodiment of the present invention may further include a dispenser weight detector 326 for detecting the weight of the container 435 inserted into the bottom 425 of the dispenser.

The weight of the container 435 detected by the weight detecting unit 326 is input to the control unit 310, and accordingly, the control unit 310 determines whether the container 435 is inserted into the bottom 425 of the dispenser. You can judge. The operation of the weight detector 326 will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

5 is a view referred to explain the operation of the height adjustment unit.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 5 illustrates a case where a large container 535 is inserted into the dispenser cavity.

When the detected height of the inserted container 535 is large, the container 535 is not easily inserted into the dispenser cavity. Accordingly, the dispenser height detection unit 323 controls the height of the detected container 535. Output 310. The controller 310 controls the dispenser height adjusting unit 330 such that the dispenser bottom 425 descends as the height of the container increases.

As the dispenser bottom 425 descends, the user can insert the container 535 into the dispenser cavity 405. At this time, when the end 537 of the container 535 reaches the position of the dispenser height detecting unit 323, the controller 310 adjusts the dispenser height adjusting unit 330 to stop the lowering operation of the dispenser bottom 425. Can be controlled. As the height of the dispenser bottom 425 is adjusted, the distance between the end 537 of the container 535 and the outlet 415 may be a predetermined interval P.

6 is a view referred to explain the operation of the height adjustment unit.

Referring to the drawings, it is assumed that the height of the bottom of the dispenser of FIG. 6 is adjusted to the large container 535 of FIG. 5.

In this situation, when the sensed height of the inserted container 635 is low, the space of the dispenser is wasted unnecessarily, so that the bottom 425 is controlled to be raised again in order to efficiently improve it.

According to the weight of the container 635 detected by the dispenser weight sensor 326, the controller 310 determines that the container 635 is inserted into the dispenser. At this time, when the height of the container 635 detected by the dispenser height detecting unit 323 is low, the controller 310 controls the dispenser height adjusting unit 330 to raise the dispenser bottom 425.

If the bottom of the dispenser is continuously raised, and the end 637 of the container 635 reaches the position of the dispenser height detecting unit 323, the controller 310 adjusts the dispenser height to stop the raising operation of the dispenser bottom 425. The unit 330 may be controlled. As the height of the dispenser bottom 425 is adjusted, the distance between the end 637 of the container 635 and the outlet 415 may be a predetermined interval P.

On the other hand, Figure 5 and Figure 6 is the height of the height adjustment unit 330 is adjusted according to the height of the container (535,636), the height is shown to be variable, but is not limited to this, the height of the height adjustment unit 330 Is constant, it is also possible to raise or lower the dispenser bottom 425.

7 is a view showing the height adjustment unit of FIG.

Referring to the drawings, the height adjustment unit 330 includes a pedestal 710, the electric motor 720, and the rod 730.

The pedestal 710 may be a flat panel type installed to be movable up and down.

The electric motor 710 is provided below the pedestal 710 to generate rotational force. The electric motor 710 may be a stepping motor.

The rod 730 is coupled to the electric motor 710 to move the pedestal 710 up and down according to the rotation angle of the electric motor 710. In the rod 730, the roller 740 may be rotatably coupled to the end supporting the pedestal 710 so as to minimize friction with the pedestal 710.

Meanwhile, both ends of the pedestal 710 may be provided with a pair of guides 733 and 736 for supporting the pedestal 710 and guiding vertical movement of the pedestal 710.

In response to the height adjustment signal from the controller 310, the electric motor 710 generates a predetermined angle of rotation force, and as the motor 710 rotates, the pedestal 710 moves up and down along the pair of guides 733 and 736. Is moved.

The controller 310 controls the electric motor 710 to rotate to the left when the dispenser bottom 425 is raised, and controls the motor 710 to rotate to the right when the dispenser bottom 425 is lowered.

On the other hand, the height adjustment unit 330 can be implemented in various forms in addition to the bar shown in the figure.

While the above has been shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, it is usually in the technical field to which the invention belongs without departing from the spirit of the invention claimed in the claims. Various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art, and these modifications should not be individually understood from the technical spirit or the prospect of the present invention.

4 is a view illustrating the dispenser of FIG. 1.

5 is a view referred to explain the operation of the height adjustment unit.

6 is a view referred to explain the operation of the height adjustment unit.

7 is a view showing the height adjustment unit of FIG.

1 ....... Refrigerator 160 ..... Dispenser

220 ..... Input 230 ..... Display

310 ..... Control part 320 ..... Temperature sensing part

323 ..... dispenser height detector 326 ..... dispenser weight detector

330 ..... dispenser height adjustment 405 ..... dispenser cavity

420 ..... operating lever 425 ..... bottom

710 ..... pedestal 720 ..... electric motor

730 ..... loaded

Claims

A height sensing unit sensing a height of a container inserted into the cavity of the dispenser;

A height adjustment unit for adjusting the height of the bottom of the dispenser; And

And a controller for controlling the height adjusting unit based on the sensed height.

The method of claim 1,

The control unit,

The height of the container, the refrigerator, characterized in that the control to lower the floor.

The method of claim 1,

The control unit,

And the height adjusting part is controlled such that an end of the container is positioned at a set position in the cavity.

The method of claim 3,

The setting position is a refrigerator, characterized in that the position where the height detection unit is disposed.

The method of claim 1,

And a weight sensor configured to detect the weight of the container inserted into the bottom of the dispenser.

The control unit,

And the height adjusting part is controlled to raise the bottom when the detected height of the container is less than a set height in a state where the weight of the container is sensed at the bottom of the dispenser.

The method of claim 1,

The height adjustment unit,

A pedestal installed to be movable up and down;

An electric motor located below the pedestal; And

And a rod coupled to the electric motor to move the pedestal up and down according to the rotation angle of the electric motor.

The method of claim 6,

And the motor is a stepping motor.