KR20190052535A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator. According to an aspect, a refrigerator comprises: a cabinet defining a storage chamber; a refrigerator door opening and closing the storage chamber; a detection apparatus installed in the cabinet, and provided with a sensor receiving a push force pressurizing the refrigerator door to detect input of an opening command of the refrigerator door; a pressurization apparatus provided in the refrigerator door, and transmitting the push force pressurizing the refrigerator door to the detection apparatus; and a door opening device provided with a push member operated to open the refrigerator door.

Description

Refrigerator {Refrigerator}

The present specification relates to a refrigerator.

A refrigerator is a household appliance that can store objects such as foods at a low temperature in a storage room provided in a cabinet. Since the storage chamber is surrounded by the heat insulating wall, the inside of the storage chamber can be maintained at a temperature lower than the external temperature.

The storage room may be divided into a refrigerator compartment or a freezer compartment according to a temperature zone of the storage compartment.

The user opens and closes the storage room using the door. The user opens the door to put the object into or out of the storage room. Generally, the door is rotatably installed in a cabinet, and a gasket is provided between the door and the cabinet.

Thus, in the closed state of the door, the gasket is brought into close contact with the door and the cabinet to prevent leakage of cold air in the storage compartment. As the adhesion of such a gasket is increased, the effect of preventing cold air leakage can be increased.

In order to increase the adhesion of the gasket, the gasket may be formed of a rubber magnet, and a magnet may be provided in the gasket. However, when the adhesion of the gasket increases, a large force is required to open the door.

Recently, a refrigerator in which an auto-closing function is implemented is provided. This auto closing function means a function of automatically closing the door of the refrigerator when the door of the refrigerator is slightly opened by using the adhesion force of the gasket, the magnetic force and the elastic force by the spring.

In addition, the auto-closing function means that the door of the refrigerator is not opened automatically even when the refrigerator is slightly inclined forward.

Therefore, the refrigerator provided recently requires a lot of force to open the door compared to the previous refrigerator. This is because, in order to open the door of the refrigerator, the user has to pull the door with a force greater than the elasticity of the gasket, the magnetic force and the spring.

In recent years, a door opening device for automatically opening a door has been proposed.

Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2011-0040030 (published on April 20, 2011), which is a prior art document, discloses a method of opening a refrigerator door.

In the case of the prior art, the refrigerator door is provided with a door handle, and the door handle is provided with an operating section. A door opening device is provided in the cabinet forming the storage space. When the user operates the operation unit, the push rod constituting the door opening device pushes the door to open the door.

However, according to the prior art, since the user must manually operate the operating portion to operate the operating portion, there is a problem that the user is troublesome and the operating portion is difficult to operate in a state in which both hands are not free, have.

An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator in which a user can easily input a door opening command for opening a door.

An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of inputting a door opening command even when both hands of a user are not free.

An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of detecting an input of a door opening command even if an assembly error occurs in the assembly process of the door.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator comprising: a sensing mechanism provided in a cabinet having a storage compartment; a sensing device having a sensor; and a refrigerator door provided in the refrigerator door for opening and closing the storage compartment, And a door opening device for opening the refrigerator door when it is detected that the door opening command is inputted by the detection mechanism.

In this embodiment, in a state in which the refrigerator door is closed, the pressure mechanism can be brought into contact with the sensing mechanism.

In the present embodiment, the door opening device is provided in the cabinet and includes a push member for pushing the door. When the door opening instruction is detected, the push member pushes the door or the hinge assembly by the control unit, Can be opened.

The pressing mechanism includes a pressing portion elastically supported by an elastic member, and the pressing portion can press the sensing mechanism.

The sensor is located inside the sensor cover, and the pressing portion presses the sensor cover, thereby preventing damage to the sensor.

The sensor is supported by a sensor supporter made of elastically deformable material so that damage of the sensor can be prevented in the process of transmitting the pushing force to the sensor at all times.

The sensor can receive elastic force from a sensor supporter supporting the sensor cover, and can maintain contact with the sensor cover.

According to the proposed invention, since the door opening command can be inputted by pushing the furniture long door or the refrigerator door, the user can easily enter the door open command in the line state in front of the refrigerator, Can be input.

In addition, since the door opening command can be inputted by pushing the furniture door or the refrigerator door, even when the user is not free of both hands, such as when the user is holding goods with both hands or holding goods with both hands, It becomes possible to easily input the door opening command by pushing the furniture entrance door to the body-like portion.

Further, there is an advantage that the detection mechanism can detect the input of the door opening command even if a manufacturing error occurs in the manufacturing process of the refrigerator door or an assembly error occurs in the process of assembling the refrigerator door.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a built-in refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
2 is a plan view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a view showing a state in which a sensing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed in a cabinet and a pressing part mechanism is installed in a door.
4 is a view showing the arrangement relationship of the pressure mechanism and the sensing mechanism in a state in which the door is closed;
5 is a perspective view of a sensing mechanism and a pressing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is an exploded perspective view of a sensing mechanism and a pressing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along AA of FIG. 5; FIG.
8 is an exploded perspective view of a door opening device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
9 is an exploded perspective view of an upper hinge assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
10 is a block diagram of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
11 to 13 are views showing the state of the hinge assembly when the refrigerator door is opened by the door opening device.
FIG. 14 is a view showing movement trajectories of lines formed by successively connecting the first hinge, the third hinge, the seventh hinge, and the sixth hinge in the hinge assembly of FIGS. 11 to 13; FIG.
15 is a view showing a state in which the opening of the refrigerator door is completed;

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to exemplary drawings. It should be noted that, in adding reference numerals to the constituent elements of the drawings, the same constituent elements are denoted by the same reference symbols as possible even if they are shown in different drawings. In the following description of the embodiments of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the difference that the embodiments of the present invention are not conclusive.

In describing the components of the embodiment of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used. These terms are intended to distinguish the constituent elements from other constituent elements, and the terms do not limit the nature, order or order of the constituent elements. When a component is described as being "connected", "coupled", or "connected" to another component, the component may be directly connected or connected to the other component, Quot; may be " connected, " " coupled, " or " connected. &Quot;

FIG. 1 is a view showing a built-in refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a view showing a state in which a sensing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed in a cabinet and a pressing part mechanism is installed in a door, FIG. 4 is a view showing a layout relationship between a pressing mechanism and a sensing mechanism FIG.

1 to 4, the refrigerator 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be built in kitchen furniture.

For example, the furniture shelf 1 may be installed in a kitchen, a specific space, or other space, and the refrigerator 10 may be accommodated in the furniture shelf 1. The furniture shelf (1) may include a furniture entrance door (2).

The refrigerator 10 may include a cabinet 11 having a storage compartment and a refrigerator door 13 for opening and closing the storage compartment.

The cabinet 11 is accommodated in the furniture shelf 1 and the refrigerator door 13 can be connected to the furniture shelf door 2.

The refrigerator door (13) connected to the furniture door (2) can be rotated together with the storage room when the furniture door (2) is rotated.

When the refrigerator door 13 closes the storage compartment, the furniture door 2 covers the refrigerator door 13 from the outside of the refrigerator door 13, As shown in Fig.

The refrigerator 10 includes a plurality of hinge assemblies (not shown) connected to the furniture door 2 or the refrigerator door 13 to allow the furniture door 2 and the refrigerator door 13 to rotate together 30).

One side of the plurality of hinge assemblies 30 may be connected to the furniture door 2 or the refrigerator door 13 and the other side thereof may be connected to the cabinet 11.

Each of the plurality of hinge assemblies 30 may be a multi-joint hinge assembly including a plurality of links.

Each of the plurality of hinge assemblies 30 includes a plurality of hinges, and each hinge may include a hinge axis for rotation of the hinge. In one example, the first hinge includes a first hinge axis and the second hinge may comprise a second hinge axis.

The plurality of hinge assemblies 30 may include an upper hinge assembly and a lower hinge assembly.

The refrigerator 10 may include a door opening device 12 for rotating the furniture door 2 and the refrigerator door 13 together by pushing the upper hinge assembly and operating the upper hinge assembly, (20).

The door opening device 20 may be installed on the upper surface of the cabinet 11 to operate the upper hinge assembly. The door opening device 20 may be located behind the upper hinge assembly with the refrigerator door 13 closed.

<Arrangement of Detecting Mechanism and Pressurizing Mechanism>

The refrigerator 10 may further include a sensing mechanism 40 for sensing an input of a door open command and a pressing mechanism 50 for pressing the sensing mechanism 40.

The detection mechanism 40 can detect the input of the door open command by receiving and sensing the force (pushing force) by which the user pushes the furniture long door 2.

The pushing mechanism 50 can press the sensing mechanism 40 by receiving a force (pushing force) by which the user pushes the furniture long door 2.

The sensing mechanism 40 may be installed in the cabinet 11 so that the sensing mechanism 40 senses the pushing force of the furniture door 2. The pressure mechanism 50 may be installed in the refrigerator door 13 to press the sensing mechanism 40. For example, the refrigerator door 13 may be provided with a bracket 13a, and the pressing mechanism 50 may be coupled to the bracket 13a.

The sensing device 40 may be installed directly in the cabinet 11 or may be installed in the cabinet 11 by means of a bracket.

The detection mechanism 40 may be installed on the upper surface or the lower surface of the cabinet 11. FIG. 3 shows that the sensing mechanism 40 is installed on the lower surface of the cabinet 11 as an example. The pressure mechanism 50 may be installed on the upper side or the lower side of the refrigerator door 11 so as to face the sensing device 40 when the refrigerator door 13 is closed. Alternatively, the pressing mechanism 50 may be installed on the rear surface of the furniture door 2 so as to face the sensing mechanism 40.

At this time, the sensing mechanism (40) is provided on the upper surface or the lower surface of the cabinet (11) so that the sensing mechanism (40) can be pressed by the pressing mechanism (50) while the refrigerator door (13) Lt; / RTI &gt;

In this case, the pressing mechanism 50 can press the sensing mechanism 40 while reducing the size of the sensing mechanism 40 or the pressing mechanism 50.

As another example, the machine room 14 may be positioned below the cabinet 11, and the sensing mechanism 40 may be installed on the front surface of the machine room 14. In this case, the pressurizing mechanism 50 may be installed on the lower surface of the refrigerator door 13 or on the lower side of the rear surface of the furniture door 2.

Since the pressing mechanism 50 is installed in the refrigerator door 13 or the furniture door 2 in the process of foaming for the insulation of the refrigerator door 13, The detection mechanism 40 can sense the pushing force of the furniture door 2 through the pressing mechanism 50 even if a part of the furniture door 2 is deformed.

For example, the rear surface of the refrigerator door 13 is spaced apart from the front surface of the cabinet 11 by a gasket. Even if the refrigerator door 13 is pushed, the rear surface of the refrigerator door 13 and the front surface of the cabinet 11 are separated by a minimum distance by the gasket.

If the refrigerator door 13 is configured to press the sensing device 40 directly, the distance between the back surface of the refrigerator door 13 and the sensing device 40 may be designed to be smaller than the minimum distance.

The rear surface of the refrigerator door 13 may be deformed during the foaming process for heat insulation to increase the distance between the rear surface of the refrigerator door 13 and the front surface of the cabinet 11. [

The distance between the back surface of the refrigerator door 13 and the sensing device 40 becomes larger than the minimum distance even if the furniture door door 2 is pushed, There arises a problem that the mechanism 40 can not be pressed.

However, as in the present embodiment, after the refrigerator door 13 is completely foamed, the refrigerator door 13 or the furniture door 2 is provided with the pressing mechanism 50, It is possible to detect the input of the door open command even if a part of the rear surface of the refrigerator door 13 is deformed.

According to the present embodiment, since the door opening command can be inputted by pushing the furniture long-term door 2, the user can easily open the door with the hand in front of the refrigerator, It becomes possible to input a command.

In addition, since the door opening command can be inputted by pushing the furniture long door 2, even when the user is not free of both hands, such as when holding the goods with both hands or both hands, It is possible to easily input the door opening command by pushing the furniture entrance door.

When it is detected that the door opening command is inputted by the sensing mechanism 40, the refrigerator door 13 is automatically opened by driving the door opening device 20. [ Therefore, the force required for the user to open the refrigerator door 13 is not significantly reduced or no force is required.

1, the refrigerator 10 is used in a built-in state. However, even when the refrigerator 10 is used without being built-in, the door opening device 20, the hinge assembly 30, The detection mechanism 40, and the pressure mechanism 50 can be applied as they are. That is, the user can input the door opening command by pushing the refrigerator door 13 directly. However, the pressurizing mechanism 50 may be installed in the refrigerator door 13. [

<Detailed Structure of Detection Mechanism and Pressure Mechanism>

Hereinafter, the detection mechanism 40 will be described in detail.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a sensing mechanism and a pressing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a sensing mechanism and a pressing mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG.

4 to 7, the sensing mechanism 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a sensor 410, a sensor supporter 420 supporting the sensor 410, 410 and a sensor cover 440 covering the sensor cover 440.

The sensing mechanism 40 may further include a holder 430 for receiving the supporter 420 and a cover supporter 450 coupled to the sensor cover 440 and elastically deformable .

The sensor 410 can output a signal (e.g., a voltage) corresponding to the magnitude of a force (pushing force) externally applied. The sensor 410 may be, for example, a piezoelectric element.

The supporter 420 may be formed of an elastic material elastically deformed by an external force. For example, the supporter 420 may be formed of a rubber material.

The supporter 420 may include a base 421 and a plurality of support ribs 422 protruding from the base 421.

The plurality of support ribs 422 may be spaced apart. For example, the plurality of support ribs 422 may protrude from both ends of the base 421.

A force externally applied is transmitted to the first surface of the sensor 410 and a second surface opposite to the first surface of the sensor 410 is seated on the plurality of support ribs 422. [ Thus, the second surface of the sensor 410 is spaced apart from the base 421.

According to this embodiment, the sensor 410 can be stably supported even if the first surface of the sensor 410 is pressed by the plurality of support ribs 422, and the sensor 410 can be stably supported between the plurality of support ribs 422 So that the sensor 410 can be deformed.

If the sensor 410 is deformable, it is possible to prevent the sensor 410 from being damaged or damaged even when an excessive force is applied to the sensor 410.

The sensor cover 420 protects the sensor 410 and prevents the pressing mechanism 50 from contacting the sensor 410 directly.

The sensor cover 440 includes a holder accommodating portion 441 for accommodating the holder 430 and a sensor accommodating portion 442 protruding from the holder accommodating portion 441 and accommodating the sensor 410 can do.

The holder receiving portion 441 may be formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, for example. Also, the holder 430 may be formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

The sensor 410 may be formed in a thin disc shape, for example, and the sensor receiving portion 442 may be formed in a cylindrical shape, for example.

The sensor cover 440 may further include a supporter coupling portion 444 for coupling with the cover supporter 450. For example, a plurality of supporter engaging portions 444 may be formed in the holder accommodating portion 441.

The holder 430 may include an opening 432 for receiving the sensor supporter 420. A portion of the sensor supporter 420 can protrude to the outside of the holder 430 while the sensor supporter 420 is received in the holder 430 through the opening 432. [

For example, the base 421 may be positioned within the holder 430, and a portion of the plurality of support ribs 422 may protrude out of the holder 430.

The sensor 410 can be separated from the holder 430 in a state where the sensor 410 is in contact with the plurality of support ribs 422 so that the sensor 410 can be separated from the holder 430 Direct contact can be prevented.

The holder 430 may be received in the holder receiving portion 441 while the sensor supporter 420 is received in the holder 430. [

The cover supporter 450 is coupled to the sensor cover 440 while the sensor 410 and the holder 430 are accommodated in the sensor cover 440.

The cover supporter 450 may include a supporter body 452 and an elastic supporter 454 extending elastically deformable in the supporter body 452.

An opening 453 is formed in the supporter body 452 and the elastic supporting portion 454 can connect two points of the opening 453. [

The cover supporter 450 can support the holder 430 with the elastic supporting portion 454 accumulating elastic restoring force. The cover supporter 450 presses the holder 430 by the resilient restoring force of the elastic supporter 454 and the sensor supporter 420 installed in the holder 430 presses the sensor 410 against the sensor cover 440).

Accordingly, the sensor 410 can be kept in contact with the sensor cover 440.

The force exerted from the outside is transmitted to the sensor 410 through the sensor cover 440. When the sensor 410 is kept in contact with the sensor cover 440, The applied force can be accurately transmitted to the sensor 410 so that the sensing accuracy of the sensor 410 can be improved.

The cover supporter 450 may further include a cover engaging portion 456 for engaging with the sensor cover 440. The cover cover 456 may be provided with a protrusion 457 to be fitted into the supporter coupling portion 444 of the sensor cover 440.

Conversely, protrusions may be formed in the supporter engaging portion 444, and holes may be formed in the cover engaging portion 456 to insert the projections.

The sensing mechanism 40 may further include a sensor housing that accommodates the sensor cover 440 and the cover supporter 450 in a state where the sensor cover 440 and the cover supporter 450 are coupled to each other .

The sensor housing may include a first housing 460 and a second housing 470 coupled to the first housing 460.

The second housing 470 may be coupled to the lower portion of the first housing 460, for example.

The first housing 460 may be formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape having a lower opening 462. The second housing 470 may cover the lower opening 462.

A slot 463 for positioning the sensor cover 440 may be formed on the front wall 461 of the first housing 460.

The slot 463 may include a round portion for receiving the sensor receiving portion 442 of the sensor cover 440.

For example, the sensor receiving portion 442 of the sensor cover 440 may be located in the slot 463, and the holder receiving portion 442 may be located inside the first housing 460.

The front surface of the sensor accommodating portion 442 faces the pressing mechanism 50 from the front wall 461 of the first housing 460 with the sensor accommodating portion 442 positioned in the slot 463. [ Can be protruded. This is to facilitate contact between the pressing mechanism 50 and the sensor accommodating portion 442.

The first housing 460 may have a seating groove 465 for receiving the elastic supporting portion 454 of the cover supporter 450.

The elastic supporting portion 454 can be seated while the elastic supporting portion 454 is pressed to have an elastic restoring force.

The first housing 460 may have a hole 464 through which a wire (not shown) connected to the sensor 410 passes.

The second housing 470 includes a first support portion 472 inserted into the first housing 460 and supporting the holder receiving portion 441 of the sensor cover 440, And a second support portion 474 for supporting the sensor receiving portion 442.

The second support portion 474 may include a rounded groove so that the second support portion 474 supports the sensor receiving portion 442.

The pressing mechanism 50 includes a pressing portion 520 capable of pressing the sensor cover 440, a frame receiving the pressing portion 520, and a pressing portion 520 in the frame. And an elastic member 550 for elastically supporting the elastic member 550.

The frame may include a frame body 510 defining a receiving space 512 and a frame cover 540 covering the receiving space 512 of the frame body 510.

The frame body 510 may be formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and a bracket coupling portion 516 for coupling with the bracket 13a of the refrigerator door 13 may be provided on the upper surface thereof. A coupling hole 517 may be formed in the bracket coupling portion 516.

The fastening member such as a screw may be fastened to the fastening hole 517 in a state where the bracket 13a and the bracket fastening portion 516 are in contact with each other. The bracket 13a and the bracket engaging portion 516 can be fastened by the fastening member in a state where the bracket 13a is inserted into the space formed by the bracket engaging portion 516. [ In this case, the detection mechanism 50 can be prevented from rotating with respect to the bracket 13a.

The frame body 510 may include an opening 515 through which the pressing portion 520 penetrates.

The pressing portion 520 may protrude to the outside of the frame body 510 through the opening 515. For example, the pressing portion 520 may protrude from the frame body 510 toward the sensing mechanism 40.

The frame cover 540 is formed with a fastening hook 542 to be coupled to the frame body 510 and a hook engaging slot 514 for fastening the fastening hook 542 to the frame cover 540 .

One end of the elastic member 550 may be supported on the frame cover 540 and a supporting rib 544 may be provided on the frame cover 540 to stably support the elastic member 550. have.

For example, the elastic member 550 is disposed to extend in a first direction as a coil spring, and the support ribs 544 may be formed to extend in a direction intersecting the first direction of the elastic member 550 contacting the frame cover 540 The movement in the second direction can be prevented.

The other end of the elastic member 550 may be in contact with the pressing portion 520.

The elastic member 550 provides an elastic force to the pressing portion 520 in a direction in which the pressing portion 520 presses the sensing mechanism 40.

The pressing portion 520 may include a pressing portion body 521 and a contact portion 530 coupled to the pressing portion 521.

The pressing part body 521 is not limited but may be formed in a cylindrical shape and a supporting wall 522 on which the elastic member 550 is supported may be provided on the inner circumferential surface.

The pressing portion body 521 may be provided with a separation preventing portion 526 for preventing the pressing portion body 521 from falling out of the frame. The separation preventing portion 526 may protrude in the radial direction from the pressing portion body 521.

At this time, the radius of the portion of the pressing body 521 excluding the detachment preventing portion 526 may be equal to or smaller than the radius of the slot 515 of the frame body 510.

The radius of the detachment preventing portion 526 or the distance from the center of the pressing body 521 to the detachment preventing portion 526 in the pressing body 521 may be greater than a distance 515).

The contact portion 530 may be formed of a material that can be elastically deformed. For example, the contact portion 530 may be formed of a rubber material.

The contact portion 530 may be fitted to the pressing portion body 521. For example, the supporting wall 522 may have a fitting hole 524, and the contacting portion 530 may penetrate the fitting hole 524.

The contact portion 530 includes a first portion 531, a second portion 532 having a smaller diameter than the first portion 531 and a third portion 533 having a diameter larger than that of the second portion 532 ).

The diameter of the fitting hole 524 may be equal to or smaller than the diameter of the second portion 532.

Therefore, when the third portion 533 is pressed to force the insertion hole 524 in a state where the diameter is reduced, the second portion 532 is held in the insertion hole 524 And the first portion 531 may be in contact with the support wall 522.

At this time, the first portion 532 may protrude from the pressing portion body 521 toward the sensing mechanism 40 in a state where the contact portion 530 is coupled to the pressing portion body 521.

The diameter of the third portion 533 may be smaller than the inner diameter of the pressing portion body 521. Therefore, the elastic member 550 can be supported on the support wall 522 without interference with the contact portion 530 in a state where the elastic member 550 is inserted into the pressing portion body 521.

In the above description, the contact portion 520 is formed of an elastically deformable material in the pressing portion 520. Alternatively, the pressing portion 520 may be formed of an elastically deformable material as a whole.

Alternatively, at least the protruding portion of the pressing portion 520 outwardly of the frame 520 may be formed of an elastically deformable material.

When the pressing mechanism 50 is assembled, the elastic member 550 presses the pressing portion 520 in a state where the elastic restoring force is accumulated.

For example, in a state where the refrigerator door 13 is closed, the pressing portion 520 not only contacts the sensor cover 440 by the elastic member 550, but also presses the sensor cover 440 have.

According to the present embodiment, since the pressing portion 520 presses the sensor cover 440 while the refrigerator door 13 is closed, the refrigerator door 13 coupled to the furniture door 2 Even when an assembly error occurs in the process of connecting the sensor cover 440 to the cabinet 11, the pressing portion 520 can be kept in contact with the sensor cover 440.

According to the present embodiment, since at least a part of the pressing portion 520 is formed of an elastically deformable material, when the refrigerator door 13 is closed, the pressing mechanism 50, So that the noise caused by the collision of the vehicle can be reduced.

<Structure of door opening device>

8 is an exploded perspective view of a door opening device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, the door opening device 20 may include a driving unit and a door opening unit 240 receiving power from the driving unit.

The door opening part 240 receives the driving force of the driving part and pushes the upper hinge assembly while moving.

The door opening device 20 may further include a case for installing the driving part and the door opening part 240.

The case may include a lower case 220 installed on the upper surface of the cabinet 11 and an upper case 210 coupled to the lower case 220.

The driving unit and the door opening unit 240 may be mounted on the lower case 220 and the upper case 210 may cover the upper side of the driving unit and the door opening unit 240.

The driving unit may include a driving motor 251 and a power transmission unit 252 for transmitting the power of the driving motor 251 to the door opening unit 240.

The driving motor 251 may be a motor capable of rotating in both directions. The driving motor 251 may be mounted to the lower case 220 from below the lower case 220 to upward. The power transmitting portion 252 may be mounted to the lower case 220 from above to below the lower case 220.

The power transmission portion 252 may include a plurality of gears 253. The plurality of gears 253 is a reduction gear that transmits a force for driving the door opening unit 240 to the door opening unit 240 by reducing the rotational speed of the driving motor 251.

The plurality of gears 253 may include a connection gear 255 directly connected to the door opening 240.

The door opening device 20 may include a PCB 290 for controlling the driving motor 251. Although not limited thereto, the PCB 290 may be installed in the lower case 220.

The driving motor 251 is mounted to the lower case 220 from below the lower case 220 so that the PC 290 and the driving motor 251 can be easily connected to each other. May be installed on the lower surface of the lower case 220. [ A hall sensor 292 used to sense the position of the door opening 240 may be installed in the PCB 290.

The hall sensor 292 may sense the position of the door opening 240 located in the case. For this purpose, the hall sensor 292 may be positioned in the case through the lower side of the lower case 220.

The lower case 220 may include a slot 221 through which a part of the door opening 240 passes. A part of the door opening part 240 is located in the case and the other part is protruded out of the case through the slot 221.

In the present invention, it is assumed that the direction in which the door opening unit 240 moves to open the refrigerator door 13 is the front-rear direction, and the direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction is the left-right direction.

The upper case 210 may cover the power transmission part 252 and the door opening part 240 that are coupled to the lower case 220 and are seated in the lower case 220.

The door opening unit 240 may include a push member 241 that receives the power of the driving motor 251 and moves in the forward and backward directions.

The push member 241 may further include a roller 245. The roller 245 may be rotatably connected to a front portion of the push member 241. [

A portion of the roller 245 may be protruded forward from the front end 243a of the push member 241 so that the push member 241 is prevented from being in direct contact with the upper hinge assembly.

Therefore, according to the present invention, since the roller 245 contacts the upper hinge assembly during the movement of the door opening 240 to open the door, the push member 241 is in direct contact with the upper hinge assembly The friction noise can be reduced and the door opening portion 240 can be prevented from being damaged.

The front end portion 243a of the push member 241 is prevented from being in direct contact with the upper hinge assembly when the door opening portion 240 pushes the upper hinge assembly. 243a may be rounded.

<Hinge assembly>

In the present invention, the upper hinge assembly and the lower hinge assembly have the same structure, and therefore, the upper hinge assembly will be described below, and the reference numeral 30 will be used.

9 is an exploded perspective view of an upper hinge assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 and 9, the upper hinge assembly 30 includes a first hinge frame 310 installed in the cabinet 11 and a second hinge frame 310 installed in the furniture door 2 or the refrigerator door 13 And a link unit 330 connected to the first hinge frame 310 and the second hinge frame 320. The first hinge frame 320 and the second hinge frame 320 may be fixed to each other.

The second hinge frame 320 includes a door fixing part 322 fixed to the refrigerator door 13 and a second fixing part 322 located on the door fixing part 322 and connected to the link unit 330. [ And may include a connection portion 324.

The door opening part 240 pushes the link unit 330 to open the refrigerator door 13.

The link unit 330 receives a pushing force from the door opening unit 240 to open the storage chamber while the refrigerator door 13 rotates about the rotation center, (340), (350), (360), respectively.

The link unit 330 may include a first link 332 connected to the first hinge frame 310 by a first hinge 314.

The link unit 330 may further include a second link 340 connected to the first link 332 at a position spaced apart from the first hinge 314. The second link 340 may be rotatably connected to the first link 332 by a second hinge 342.

At this time, a plurality of members of the second link 340 may be a multi-joint link rotatably connected. In this case, the second hinge 342 may be formed on one member of the plurality of members, and the sixth hinge 344 may be formed on another member among the plurality of members.

The link unit 330 may further include a third link 350 rotatably connected to the first link 332 in a region between the first hinge 314 and the second hinge 342 have.

The third link 350 may be rotatably connected to the first link 332 by a third hinge 352.

The link unit 330 may further include a fourth link 360 rotatably connected to the third link 350 and the first hinge frame 310.

The fourth link 360 may be rotatably connected to the third link 350 by a fourth hinge 362 and may be rotatably coupled to the first hinge frame 310 by a fifth hinge 364. [ Lt; / RTI &gt;

At this time, the fourth hinge 362 is located closer to the refrigerator door than the first hinge 314.

The second link 340 may be rotatably connected to the second hinge frame 320 by a sixth hinge 344 and the third link 350 may be connected to the seventh hinge 354, The second hinge frame 320 can be rotated.

The distance between the sixth hinge 344 and the seventh hinge 354 is shorter than the distance between the third hinge 352 and the second hinge 342.

The length of the fourth link 360 is shorter than the length of the first link 332.

&Lt; Description of Operation of Door Opening Device and Explanation of Operation of Hinge Assembly >

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 11 to 13 illustrate a state of a hinge assembly when a door of a refrigerator is opened by a door opening device. Fig. 11 shows a state in which the refrigerator door is closed.

FIG. 14 is a view showing movement trajectories of a line sequentially connecting the first hinge, the third hinge, the seventh hinge and the sixth hinge in the hinge assemblies of FIGS. 11 to 13, and FIG. Fig.

10, the refrigerator of the present embodiment includes a sensor 410 for detecting an input of a door open command of a user, and a controller 410 for determining whether a door open command is input based on a signal of the sensor 410 And a control unit 15 for operating a driving motor 251 that operates to open the door. The control unit 15 may transmit the control signal of the driving motor 251 to the PC 290, for example.

Next, referring to FIGS. 4 and 11 to 15, when the refrigerator 10 is turned on, the refrigerator 10 waits for input of a door open command.

While waiting for the door open command, the controller 15 may determine whether a door open command has been input.

For example, the user may push the furniture door 2 to open the refrigerator door 13. [ When the user pushes the furniture entrance door 2, the force (pushing force) pushing the furniture entrance door 2 is transmitted to the detection mechanism 40 by the refrigerator door 13 and the pushing mechanism 50 .

The sensor cover 440 is pressed by the pushing force transmitted by the pressing mechanism 50 and the sensor cover 440 presses the sensor 410 so that the signal from the sensor 410 .

The controller 15 may determine that a door open command is input when the sensor 410 outputs a signal of a predetermined size or more for a reference time or more.

This is because the user does not push the furniture entrance door 2 with the intention of opening the door and temporarily hits the furniture entrance door by the user or the article other than the user collides with the furniture entrance door 2 So as to prevent the refrigerator door (13) from being opened when an external force is unintentionally applied to the furniture entrance door (2).

Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the controller 15 determines that the door open command is input only when the sensor 410 outputs a signal of a predetermined size or more for a reference time or more. At this time, the reference time may be changed.

If it is determined that the door open command has been input, the controller 15 may operate the door opening device 20 to open the refrigerator door 13.

For example, when the controller 15 determines that the door open command has been input, the controller 15 controls the drive motor 251 to rotate in the first direction Lt; / RTI &gt;

Then, the driving motor 251 can be rotated in the first direction by the control of the PCB 290. The door opening part 240 receiving the rotational force from the power transmission part 252 pushes the first link 332. That is, the door opening part 240 moves forward at the initial position and pushes the first link 332.

Specifically, the door opening part 240 pushes the area between the third hinge 352 and the second hinge 342 on the first link 332.

12, the first link 332 is rotated in the clockwise direction about the first hinge 314 as a rotation center. Further, the fourth link 360 is rotated clockwise about the fifth hinge 364 as a rotation center.

The refrigerator door 13 is rotated away from the cabinet 11 by the clockwise rotation of the first link 332 and the fourth link 360.

Since the length of the fourth link 360 is shorter than the length of the first link 332, the angle of rotation of the first link 332 is smaller than the angle of rotation of the first link 332 when the first link 332 rotates, (360) is large. Therefore, the fourth link 360 serves to amplify the rotation angle of the refrigerator door 13 when the first link 332 rotates.

Thus, the refrigerator door 13 can be rotated at an angle that is actually larger than the angle of rotation of the first link 332.

14, a hypothetical connection line L connecting the sixth hinge 344 and the seventh hinge 354 is located on the refrigerator door 13 and moves together with the refrigerator door 13 do.

As shown in FIG. 14, as the moving distance of the door opening unit 240 increases, the connecting line L moves away from the cabinet 11 and rotates until it reaches a predetermined angle. The predetermined angle is the same as the opening angle of the refrigerator door (13).

At this time, the connection line L rotates and horizontally moves in a direction away from the cabinet 11. [

The sixth hinge 344 and the seventh hinge 354 are parallel to the front surface of the cabinet 11 and extend along the horizontal line passing through the center of the fifth hinge 364, Or positioned in a plane or closer to the cabinet than the horizontal line or plane.

For example, when the refrigerator door 13 is closed, the fifth hinge 364, the sixth hinge 344, and the seventh hinge 354 are placed on a common plane parallel to the front surface of the cabinet 11 Or the sixth hinge 344 and the seventh hinge 354 may be positioned in front of the fifth hinge 364. [

When the refrigerator door 13 is opened, the sixth hinge 344 and the seventh hinge 354 are positioned farther away from the cabinet 11 than a horizontal line passing through the center of the fifth hinge 354, do. For example, the sixth hinge 344 and the seventh hinge 354 are positioned forward of a horizontal line passing through the center of the fifth hinge 364. [

As shown in FIG. 15, the position of the door opening unit 240 in a state where the opening of the refrigerator door 13 is completed may be referred to as a door opening position.

In a state in which the door opening part 240 is moved to the door opening position, all of the door opening part 240 is overlapped with the cabinet 11 in the vertical direction. That is, the door opening part 240 may be positioned behind the front surface of the cabinet 11 in a state where the door opening part 240 is moved to the door opening position.

Therefore, even if the door opening part 240 moves to the door opening position, the door opening part 240 does not protrude forward of the cabinet 11, And remains in contact with the link 332.

When the door opening part 240 is moved to the door opening position, the driving motor 251 is stopped. When the set time elapses after the drive motor 251 is stopped, the drive motor 251 is rotated in the second direction opposite to the first direction, And returns to the initial position.

As the door opening part 240 pushes the upper hinge assembly 30 to open the refrigerator door 13, the door opening part 240 for opening the refrigerator door 13 is moved The distance can be reduced.

If the moving distance of the door opening part 240 is reduced, the length of the door opening part 240 can be reduced. Also, even if the length and movement distance of the door opening part 240 are reduced, the opening angle of the refrigerator door 13 can be increased by the hinge assembly 30.

Since the door opening part 240 is positioned behind the hinge assembly 30 when the refrigerator door 13 is completely opened, the door opening part 240 can be prevented from being exposed to the outside have.

In the above embodiment, the door opening device has been described as pushing the hinge assembly, for example, the upper hinge assembly. Alternatively, the door opening device pushes the refrigerator door 13 or the furniture door 2 directly It is possible to do that.

10: Refrigerator 11: Cabinet
13: refrigerator door 20: door opening device
30: Hinge assembly
40:
410: sensor 420: sensor supporter
430: Hole 440: Sensor cover
450: Cover supporter 460: First housing
470: second housing
50: Pressurizing device
510: frame body 520:
521: Pressurizing body 530:
540: frame cover 550: elastic member

Claims (10)

A cabinet defining a storage compartment;
A refrigerator door for opening / closing the storage room;
A sensor installed in the cabinet for sensing an input of an open command of the refrigerator door in response to a pushing force for pressing the refrigerator door;
A pressing mechanism provided on the refrigerator door for transmitting a pushing force for pressing the refrigerator door to the sensing mechanism; And
And a pusher member operative to open the refrigerator door. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the sensing mechanism is in contact with the pressurizing mechanism while the refrigerator door is closed. The method according to claim 1,
The pressing mechanism includes:
A pressing portion for pressing the sensing mechanism,
A frame accommodating the pressing portion,
And an elastic member that provides an elastic force to the pressing portion in a direction in which the pressing portion presses the sensing mechanism within the frame. The method of claim 3,
A part of the pressing portion is protruded to the outside of the frame through the opening of the frame,
Wherein at least a portion of an outwardly projecting portion of the frame is formed of an elastically changeable material. 5. The method of claim 4,
The pressing portion includes a pressing portion body,
And a contact portion which is fitted to the pressing portion body and is formed of an elastically deformable material,
And the contact portion is in contact with the sensing mechanism. 6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The sensing mechanism includes:
A sensor cover for accommodating the sensor,
Further comprising a sensor supporter for supporting the sensor,
Wherein the pressing mechanism is in contact with the sensor cover. The method according to claim 6,
Wherein the sensor supporter comprises a base and a plurality of support ribs projecting from the base and contacting the sensor,
Wherein the sensor supporter is formed of an elastically deformable material. The method according to claim 6,
A holder for receiving the sensor supporter,
And a cover supporter coupled with the sensor supporter while the holder and the sensor are housed in the sensor cover. 9. The method of claim 8,
The cover supporter includes a supporter body for supporting the holder,
And an elastic support portion extending from the supporter body and being elastically deformable,
Wherein the cover supporter presses the holder toward the sensor in a state in which the elastic force is accumulated. 9. The method of claim 8,
The sensing mechanism includes:
Further comprising a sensor housing for receiving the sensor cover and the cover supporter in a state where the sensor cover and the cover supporter are engaged,
Wherein the sensor housing is provided with a slot through which the sensor cover is positioned,
Wherein the sensor cover protrudes from the sensor housing toward the pressing mechanism in a state where the sensor cover is positioned in the slot.

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