KR20170116871A - Refrigerator and cool air flow module thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A cold flow module of a refrigerator and a refrigerator is disclosed.
The cold air flow module of the refrigerator may include a cold air flow path for guiding the cold air generated in the cold air generating portion of the refrigerator to the vegetable box and an opening and closing means for selectively discharging the cold air in the vegetable box.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator,

The present invention relates to a cold air flow module of a refrigerator and a refrigerator.

A refrigerator is a device intended for low-temperature storage of food. Depending on the type of food to be stored, the refrigerator can be frozen or refrigerated.

The interior of the refrigerator is cooled by the continuously supplied cold air, and the cold air is continuously generated by the heat exchange action of the refrigerant by the refrigeration cycle through compression-condensation-expansion-evaporation process. The cold air supplied to the inside of the refrigerator is uniformly transferred to the inside of the refrigerator by the convection so that the food inside the refrigerator can be stored at a desired temperature.

The main body of the refrigerator is in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped having an opened front face, and a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment can be provided inside the body. In addition, a refrigerator compartment door and a freezer compartment door for selectively shielding openings may be provided on the front surface of the main body, and a plurality of drawers, a shelf, and a vegetable compartment for storing various foods in an optimal state may be provided in a storage space inside the refrigerator. .

In general, a top-mount type refrigerator in which a freezing chamber is located on the upper side and a refrigerating chamber is located on the lower side is the mainstream. In recent years, however, a bottom freeze type refrigerator Also available.

However, in the case of the conventional top-mounted type refrigerator, the temperature and humidity in the vegetable compartment are adjusted to the temperature and humidity level of the refrigerating compartment, so that the conditions for maintaining the freshness of the vegetables stored in the vegetable compartment for a long time are not satisfied. It is difficult to maintain the optimum state. Especially, when the temperature changes in the vegetable room due to frequent opening and closing of the refrigerator door, it becomes more difficult to keep the vegetables in the vegetable room fresh.

Accordingly, there is a demand for a method of maintaining the temperature and humidity in the fresh room in a fresh state without a separate temperature / humidity device for maintaining the temperature and humidity in the room.

Patent Publication No. 10-2003-0041592 (published on May 27, 2003)

Embodiments of the present invention are intended to provide a refrigerator and a cold air flow module of a refrigerator that can maintain a constant temperature and humidity in a vegetable box.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator comprising: a refrigerator body constituting an outer shape of a refrigerator; A cool air generating unit for generating cool air required inside the refrigerator body; A vegetable compartment for storing a vegetable box; And a cool air flow module for providing cool air to the vegetable box, wherein the cool air flow module includes a cool air channel for guiding the cool air of the cool air generator to the vegetable box; And opening / closing means for selectively discharging cool air in the vegetable box.

At this time, the opening / closing means includes a discharge port formed with a plurality of discharge holes spaced apart from the front side of the vegetable storage portion. And a knob that is slidably mounted on the discharge port and adjusts an amount of cool air discharged through the discharge hole.

Further, the cold air flow path includes a main flow path for guiding the cool air of the cold air generating portion to the vegetable box; A first sub-flow path branched from the main flow path so that the cool air is drawn into the vegetable box, and the flow of the cool air is selectively blocked by the opening / closing means; And a second sub flow path branched from the main flow path such that the cool air flows around the outer peripheral surface of the vegetable box.

In addition, the vegetable storage unit may include a guide shelf installed in the refrigerator main body; A storage space which is closed by the guide shelf and which provides an inclined surface inclined downward in a direction in which the vegetable box is drawn in; And a packing member provided on a front side of the guide shelf for watertightness with the vegetable box when the vegetable box is stored.

Further, the cold air flow module may include a sensor for measuring temperature and humidity in the vegetable box; A controller for calculating an operating range of the opening and closing means so that the temperature and humidity measured by the detecting sensor reach a preset temperature and humidity; And a display for indicating an operating range of the opening and closing means.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator comprising: a refrigerator body constituting an outer shape of a refrigerator; A cool air generating unit for generating cool air required inside the refrigerator body; A vegetable compartment for storing a vegetable box; And a cold air flow module for providing cold air to the vegetable box, wherein the cold air flow module includes opening / closing means for selectively discharging cool air in the vegetable box, and the opening / A plurality of discharge holes spaced apart from each other; And a knob that is slidably mounted on the discharge port and adjusts an amount of cool air discharged through the discharge hole.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cold air flow module for a refrigerator, comprising: a cold air flow path for guiding cool air generated in a cold air generator of a refrigerator to a vegetable box; And opening / closing means for selectively discharging cool air in the vegetable box.

At this time, the opening / closing means includes a discharge port formed with a plurality of discharge holes spaced apart from the front side of the vegetable storage portion in which the vegetable box is stored. And a knob that is slidably mounted on the discharge port and adjusts an amount of cool air discharged through the discharge hole.

Further, the cold air flow path includes a main flow path for guiding the cool air of the cold air generating portion to the vegetable box; A first sub-flow path branched from the main flow path so that the cool air is drawn into the vegetable box, and the flow of the cool air is selectively blocked by the opening / closing means; And a second sub flow path branched from the main flow path such that the cool air flows around the outer peripheral surface of the vegetable box.

The embodiments of the present invention have an advantage in that the freshness of the vegetables stored in the vegetable box can be maintained in an optimal state by selectively controlling the flow of cold air so that the temperature and humidity in the vegetable box are kept constant.

1 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a cold air flow module of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a safety box of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the "A" portion of FIG. 2 on an enlarged scale.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing the "A" portion of Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale.
6 is a block diagram illustrating a sensing sensor, a controller, and a display of a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, configurations and operations according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The following description is one of many aspects of the claimed invention and the following description may form part of the detailed description of the invention. However, the detailed description of known configurations or functions in describing the present invention may be omitted for clarity.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and its various embodiments, it is intended to illustrate the specific embodiments and the detailed description. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments, but includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

And terms including ordinals such as first, second, etc. may be used to describe various elements, but the constituent elements are not limited by such terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one component from another. It is to be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another element, it may be directly connected or connected to the other element, . The terminology used in this application is used only to describe a specific embodiment and is not intended to limit the invention. The singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a cold airflow module of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the "A" portion of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the "A" portion of Fig.

1 to 5, a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a refrigerator body 10 forming an outer shape of a refrigerator, a door (not shown) for opening and closing an inner space of the refrigerator body 10, A cooler generating module 30 for generating cold air, a vegetable storage compartment 40 for storing the vegetable box 50 and a cool air flow module 100 for selectively circulating cool air to the vegetable box 50 .

Here, the refrigerator is a top mount-type refrigerator in which the freezing chamber 11 and the refrigerating chamber 12 are divided into upper and lower portions. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the present invention can be applied to various types of refrigerators Of course.

Specifically, the refrigerator main body 10 is a housing constituting the external shape of the refrigerator, and can be partitioned into a freezing chamber 11 and a refrigerating chamber 12 by a barrier 13. [ For example, the freezer compartment 11 may be provided at an upper portion of the refrigerator body 10, and the refrigerating compartment 12 may be provided at a lower portion of the refrigerator body 10. The freezing chamber (11) and the refrigerating chamber (12) can be opened or closed by a door.

The door may comprise a refrigerator door and a freezer door. The door of the freezing compartment 12 seals the upper front edge of the refrigerator body 10 and shields the freezing compartment 12 by sealing the lower front edge of the refrigerator body 10 by the freezing compartment door 10 .

The cool air generating unit 30 can generate cool air for cooling the freezing chamber 11 and the refrigerating chamber 12. [ For this purpose, the cold generator 30 may be composed of refrigeration cycle devices for generating cold air. For example, the refrigeration cycle apparatus can be composed of a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator that form a refrigeration cycle. In these compressors, condensers, expansion valves, and evaporation coils, the refrigerant is heat-exchanged by the refrigeration cycle through the process of compression-condensation-expansion-evaporation, so that the air in the refrigerator can be cooled by the cooling air have.

The vegetable storage section 40 is provided with a guide shelf 41 installed on the lower side of the refrigerator body 10 and more specifically the refrigerator compartment 12 and a guide shelf 41 for storing the vegetable box 50, And a packing member 43 provided at the front edge of the guide shelf 41. The packing member 43 may be formed of a synthetic resin.

The cool air generated by the cool air generating unit 30 is guided to the guide shelf 41 and the rear end of the vegetable box 50 by a gap formed between the rear end of the guide shelf 41 and the rear end of the vegetable box 50, And may be introduced into the vegetable box 50 through the spacing space of the vegetable box 50.

The bottom of the storage space provides the inclined surface 41a inclined downward in the direction in which the vegetable box 50 is drawn so that the user can store the vegetable box 50 in the storage space of the vegetable storage portion 40 with a small force can do. For example, when the user stores the vegetable box 50 in the storage space of the vegetable storage unit 40, the weight of the vegetable box 50 is added to the pushing force of the user, Can be quickly stored in the storage space.

Particularly, since the weight of the vegetable box 50 is continuously applied in the direction in which the vegetable box 50 is drawn by the inclined surface 41a of the storage space, even after the storage of the vegetable box 50, Tight watertightness between the members 43 can be achieved.

The cold air flow module 100 includes a cold air flow path 110 and an opening / closing means 120, and can selectively discharge cold air in the vegetable box 50.

The cool air channel 110 includes a main channel 111 for guiding the cool air of the cool air generating unit 30 to the vegetable storage unit 40 and a cool air channel for transmitting the cool air received from the main channel 111 to the inside of the vegetable box 50 And a second sub flow path 113 for guiding the cool air transferred from the main flow path 111 to flow around the outer circumferential surface of the vegetable box 50.

The cool air generated by the cool air generating unit 30 is transferred to the first sub flow path 112 and the second sub flow path 113 along the main flow path 111. At this time, The cold air branched can be circulated to the cold air generating unit 30 through the inside of the vegetable box 50 and the cold air branched to the second sub channel 113 can be moved along the outer peripheral surface of the vegetable box 50 And then circulated to the cool air generating unit 30. However, the cold air branched to the first sub-flow path 112 can be selectively shut off by the opening / closing means 120 in the vegetable box 50. [

The opening and closing means 120 is configured to selectively discharge cold air in the vegetable box 50. The opening and closing means 120 includes a discharge port 121 in which a plurality of discharge holes 121a are formed at the front side of the vegetable storage portion 40, And a knob 122 slidably mounted on the discharge port 121 to adjust the amount of the discharge gas.

That is, when it is desired to maintain the temperature and humidity in the vegetable box 50 at a temperature and humidity (for example, a humidity of 87%, a temperature of 2.5 ° C to 3 ° C) for keeping vegetables fresh, The temperature and humidity in the vegetable box 50 can be maintained at an appropriate level by adjusting the amount of cool air discharged from the discharge port 121 through the adjustment of the temperature and humidity.

For example, if it is determined that the temperature in the vegetable box 50 is lower than the proper level, the user may adjust the knob 122 to open the outlet 121 to increase the amount of cool air discharged through the outlet 121 . On the other hand, if it is determined that the temperature in the vegetable box 50 is higher than the proper level, the user can reduce the amount of cool air discharged through the outlet 121 by adjusting the knob 122 such that the outlet 121 is at least partially closed Or block. At this time, the amount of cool air discharged through the discharge port 121 is appropriately adjusted in consideration of the temperature in the vegetable box 50 and the humidity.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a sensing sensor 200, a controller, and a display of a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention.

6, the refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a refrigerator body 10, a door (not shown), a cold air generator 30, a cold air flow module 100, a sensing sensor 200, A controller 300, and a display 400. [

The configuration of the refrigerator body 10, the door, the cold generator 30, and the cold airflow module 100 except for the sensing sensor 200, the controller 300, and the display 400, The door, the cold air generating unit 30, and the cold air flow module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The sensing sensor 200 may include a temperature sensor 210 for measuring the temperature in the vegetable box 50 and a humidity sensor 220 for measuring the humidity. The temperature sensor 210 and the humidity sensor 220 may measure temperature and humidity in the vegetable box 50 and then apply the measured temperature and humidity values to the controller 300.

The controller 300 receives the measurement values of the temperature and humidity measured by the sensing sensor 200 and calculates the operating range of the opening and closing means 120 for allowing the measured value to reach the predetermined temperature and humidity set values can do. The controller 300 may provide the display 400 with information on the operating range of the opening and closing means 120, together with the measured values of temperature and humidity.

Here, the operating range of the opening / closing means 120 can be indicated by a moving scale on which the knob 122 moves the discharge port 121. [ That is, since the movement scale indicating the movement position of the knob 122 is displayed on the discharge port 121, the user moves the knob 122 by the operating range (for example, the movement scale) provided by the controller 300, The amount of cool air discharged from the heat exchanger 121 can be appropriately adjusted.

The display 400 displays the information received from the controller 300 on the screen and displays information on the measured values of temperature and humidity supplied from the controller 300 and the operating range of the opening / Can be displayed.

As described above, the present invention is advantageous in that the freshness of vegetables in the vegetable box can be maintained in an optimum state by selectively controlling the flow of cool air so that the temperature and humidity in the vegetable box are kept constant.

It is to be understood that the embodiments described above are merely illustrative of some examples of the technical idea and the scope of the technical idea is not limited to the described embodiments, It will be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

10: refrigerator body 30: cold air generator
40: Vegetable storage part 100: Cold flow module
110: cold air flow path 111: main flow path
112: first sub-channel 113: second sub-
120: opening / closing means 121:
122: knob

Claims (9)

1. A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerator body constituting an outer shape of a refrigerator;
A cool air generating unit for generating cool air required inside the refrigerator body;
A vegetable compartment for storing a vegetable box; And
A cool air flow module for providing cool air to the vegetable box,
The cold air flow module
A cool air passage for guiding cool air of the cool air generating portion to the vegetable box; And
And opening / closing means for selectively discharging cool air in the vegetable box. The method according to claim 1,
The opening /
A plurality of discharge holes formed at a front side of the vegetable compartment; And
And a knob which is slidably mounted on the discharge port and adjusts the amount of cool air discharged through the discharge hole. The method according to claim 1,
The cold air flow path
A main flow path for guiding cool air of the cool air generating portion to the vegetable box;
A first sub-flow path branched from the main flow path so that the cool air is drawn into the vegetable box, and the flow of the cool air is selectively blocked by the opening / closing means; And
And a second sub flow path branched from the main flow path such that the cool air flows around the outer peripheral surface of the vegetable box. The method according to claim 1,
The vegetable storage part
A guide shelf installed in the refrigerator main body;
A storage space which is closed by the guide shelf and which provides an inclined surface inclined downward in a direction in which the vegetable box is drawn in; And
And a packing member provided on a front side of the guide shelf for watertightness with the vegetable box when storing the vegetable box. The method according to claim 1,
The cold air flow module
A sensor for measuring temperature and humidity in the vegetable box;
A controller for calculating an operating range of the opening and closing means so that the temperature and humidity measured by the detecting sensor reach a preset temperature and humidity; And
And a display for indicating an operating range of the opening / closing means. 1. A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerator body constituting an outer shape of a refrigerator;
A cool air generating unit for generating cool air required inside the refrigerator body;
A vegetable compartment for storing a vegetable box; And
A cool air flow module for providing cool air to the vegetable box,
The cold air flow module
And opening / closing means for selectively discharging cold air in the vegetable box,
The opening /
A plurality of discharge holes formed at a front side of the vegetable compartment; And
And a knob which is slidably mounted on the discharge port and adjusts the amount of cool air discharged through the discharge hole. A cold air flow path for guiding the cold air generated in the cold air generating portion of the refrigerator to the vegetable box; And
And opening / closing means for selectively discharging cold air in the vegetable box. 8. The method of claim 7,
The opening /
A plurality of discharge holes formed at a front side of the vegetable compartment in which the vegetable boxes are stored; And
And a knob that is slidably mounted on the discharge port to adjust an amount of cool air discharged through the discharge hole. 8. The method of claim 7,
The cold air flow path
A main flow path for guiding cool air of the cool air generating portion to the vegetable box;
A first sub-flow path branched from the main flow path so that the cool air is drawn into the vegetable box, and the flow of the cool air is selectively blocked by the opening / closing means; And
And a second sub flow path branched from the main flow path such that the cool air flows around the outer peripheral surface of the vegetable box.

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