WO2010100916A1

WO2010100916A1 - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: WO2010100916A1
Application number: PCT/JP2010/001455
Authority: WO
Inventors: 栗田潤一
Original assignee: パナソニック株式会社
Priority date: 2009-03-05
Filing date: 2010-03-03
Publication date: 2010-09-10
Also published as: CN102341663B; EP2405214A1; EP2405214A4; JP2010203742A; CN102341663A

Abstract

A refrigerator provided with an ice supply device which can, when the user pours ice into a cup, prevent the ice from spilling and dropping from the side of the cup. A refrigerator (100) provided with an ice supply device (200) for supplying ice, wherein the ice supply device (200) is provided with a discharge opening (250a) for discharging ice to the outside of the ice supply device (200) and also with a guide body (211) having a flat surface for guiding the ice to the discharge opening (250a).

Description

refrigerator

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to a refrigerator provided with an ice supply device for supplying ice.

In recent years, a refrigerator equipped with an ice supply device for supplying ice has appeared (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This ice supply device is provided with a supply pipe which is a supply path of ice. Then, the ice supply device supplies the ice generated by the ice making machine to the user through the supply path of the supply pipe.

Here, the cup into which the user puts the ice is generally provided with an opening that is open at the top. For this reason, conventionally, the cross-sectional shape of the supply pipe of the ice supply device is circular according to the shape of the opening of the cup.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-287550

However, the conventional refrigerator ice supply device has a problem that ice may fall off the side of the cup when the user puts the ice in the cup.

That is, since the cross-sectional shape of the supply pipe of the conventional ice supply device is circular, when the ice passes through the supply path of the supply pipe, the ice falls in a spiral shape in the supply pipe There is. In this case, when the ice is discharged from the supply pipe, the ice may fly out in the centrifugal direction by the centrifugal force and the ice may fall off the side of the cup.

Then, this invention is made in view of such a problem, and when a user puts ice in a cup, a refrigerator provided with the ice supply apparatus which can prevent ice falling from the side of a cup Intended to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, the refrigerator according to the present invention is a refrigerator equipped with an ice supply device for supplying ice, the ice supply device having an outlet for discharging ice to the outside of the ice supply device And a guide having a flat surface for guiding ice to the outlet.

According to this, the supplied ice slides down on the plane that the guide body has. For this reason, when ice is discharged from the outlet, the ice does not fly out due to centrifugal force or the like. Therefore, when the user puts the ice into the glass, the ice can be prevented from falling off the side of the glass.

Also preferably, the outlet is a circular opening.

According to this, the discharge port from which the ice is discharged is a circular opening. Therefore, since the discharge port has a circular shape that matches the shape of the opening of the cup, it is possible to prevent the ice from falling off the side of the cup when the user puts the ice into the cup.

In addition, preferably, the ice supply device further includes a suspended baffle plate disposed above the guide at a predetermined distance from the guide.

According to this, the baffle plate is disposed above the supply pipe. Therefore, even if the user inserts a hand into the supply pipe, the hand can be prevented from touching the device located above the supply pipe.

In addition, preferably, the ice supply device further includes a light emitting member which is formed of a light transmitting member and which forms the discharge port, and which illuminates the discharge port via the discharge part.

According to this, a light emitting device such as an LED is disposed, and the discharge port is illuminated by the light emitting device. This makes it easy for the user to confirm the outlet that is the outlet of the ice, so that when the user puts the ice into the cup, the ice can be prevented from falling off the side of the cup.

In addition, preferably, the ice supply device further includes a reflecting member which covers the discharge unit at a predetermined distance from the discharge unit and reflects light emitted by the light emitting device in the direction of the discharge unit.

According to this, since the light emitted from the light emitting device such as the LED is reflected by the reflection member, the reflected light illuminates the discharge port. For this reason, the outlet is brighter than the light emitting device directly illuminates the outlet. Therefore, since it becomes easier for the user to confirm the outlet that is the ice outlet, it is possible to prevent the ice from falling off the side of the cup when the user puts the ice in the cup.

The present invention can be realized not only as a refrigerator having such an ice supply device but also as an ice supply device.

Since the present invention can provide a refrigerator provided with an ice supply device capable of preventing ice from falling off the side of the cup when the user puts the ice in the cup, the practical value of the present invention is: Extremely expensive.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a refrigerator. FIG. 2: is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the refrigerator in which the 3rd door and the 4th door were opened. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the refrigerator in which the first door and the second door are opened. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the ice supply device in the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the structure of the ice supply device in the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the structure of the ice supply device in the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the structure of the discharge part and the reflection member in the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the structure of the discharge part and the reflection member in the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the ice supply device in the second embodiment.

Embodiment 1
Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the refrigerator according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a refrigerator.

FIG. 2: is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the refrigerator in which the 3rd door and the 4th door were opened.

As shown in these figures, the refrigerator 100 includes a heat insulation box 150, a first door 111, a second door 121, a third door 112, a through hole 113, a fourth door 122, and a receiving space 123. And have.

The heat insulating box 150 is a box whose front face is open, and has a heat insulating function of blocking heat inflow and outflow between the inside and the outside of the refrigerator 100.

The first door 111 is a door that freely opens and closes an opening on the right side toward the heat insulating box 150. In the case of the present embodiment, the first door 111 is hinged (not shown) by a hinge (not shown) so that it pivots about a pivot axis extending in the vertical direction forward of the right side wall of the heat insulating box 150. It is attached to 150. The first door 111 is rectangular when viewed from the front, and the pivot shaft passes through the right end edge of the first door 111.

The second door 121 is a door that freely opens and closes an opening on the left side toward the heat insulating box 150. In the case of the present embodiment, the second door 121 is hinged by a hinge (not shown) so that the second door 121 pivots about a pivot axis extending in the vertical direction forward of the left side wall of the heat insulating box 150. It is attached to 150. The second door 121 is rectangular when viewed from the front, and the pivot shaft passes through the left end edge of the second door 121.

The through hole 113 is a hole that penetrates the first door 111 in the thickness direction. The through hole 113 is for taking out the storage stored at the rear of the first door 111 without opening the first door 111 and inserting the storage for storing at the rear of the first door 111. It is a hole.

The third door 112 is a door that closes the through hole 113 freely. In the case of the present embodiment, the third door 112 is attached to the first door 111 by a hinge (not shown) so as to pivot about a pivot shaft extending in the left and right direction at the lower end edge of the through hole 113 ing. Further, the third door 112 is substantially square (corners are rounded) when viewed from the front, and the pivot shaft passes through the lower end edge of the third door 112.

The receiving space 123 is provided inward of the second door 121, and is a space for the user to receive ice supplied from an ice supply device (not shown) disposed inward of the second door 121. is there. In the front surface portion of the receiving space 123, the front surface portion of the second door 121 is penetrated in the thickness direction to form an opening.

That is, the fourth door 122 is a door that closes the front surface of the receiving space 123 so as to open and close. In the case of the present embodiment, the fourth door 122 is hinged (not shown) by a hinge (not shown) so that the fourth door 122 pivots about a pivot axis extending in the left and right direction to the lower end edge of the front surface of the receiving space 123. Is attached to Further, the fourth door 122 is substantially square (corners are rounded) when viewed from the front, and the pivot shaft passes through the lower end edge of the fourth door 122.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the refrigerator in which the first door and the second door are opened.

As shown to the same figure, the refrigerator 100 is provided with the section wall 153. As shown in FIG.

The partition wall 153 is a wall which partitions the inside of the heat insulation box 150 left and right. In the case of the present embodiment, the right side of the partition wall 153 inside the heat insulation box 150 is the first storage room 151, which is a cold storage room. On the other hand, on the inner side of the heat insulation box 150, the left side of the dividing wall 153 is a second storage room 152, which is a freezing room. The division wall 153 is a wall which divides a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment, and is provided with the heat insulation performance.

And the ice supply device which supplies the user with the generated ice to the inside of the second door 121 (part A shown in the same figure) which closes openably the opening part of the second storage room 152 which is the freezing room. It is arranged.

Below, the detail of this ice supply apparatus is demonstrated.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the ice supply device 200 in the first embodiment. Specifically, the figure is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross section of the A portion of the second door 121 shown in FIG. In addition, in the same figure, the 4th door 122 is abbreviate | omitted and shown in figure for the facilities of description.

As shown in the figure, the ice supply apparatus 200 is an apparatus for supplying the generated ice, and the supply pipe 210, the lid 220, the lever 240, the discharge unit 250, the switch 280, the light emitting device 290, Is equipped.

The supply pipe 210 is a pipe having a rectangular cross section, which forms a supply path for supplying ice generated by an ice maker (not shown) disposed above to a user. The supply pipe 210 includes a guide body 211 and a baffle plate 212.

The guide body 211 is a member having a flat surface for guiding the generated ice to the discharge unit 250. Specifically, the guide body 211 is a flat member which is a part of the supply pipe 210 and which forms the bottom of the supply path. That is, ice generated by the ice making machine is supplied to the discharge unit 250 by sliding down on the plane of the upper surface of the guide body 211.

The baffle plate 212 is a hanging member disposed above the guide body 211 at a predetermined distance from the guide body 211. Specifically, the baffle plate 212 is a flat plate-like member, and is disposed so as to partition the upper half of the supply path in the supply pipe 210. The ice produced by the ice making machine is supplied to the discharge unit 250 by sliding down in the space between the baffle plate 212 and the guide body 211 below the baffle plate 212.

The lid 220 is a lid that closes the outlet of the supply pipe 210. Specifically, the lid 220 opens and closes the outlet of the supply pipe 210 by pivoting the upper shaft. The lid 220 has a rectangular shape in accordance with the rectangular shape which is the shape of the outlet of the supply pipe 210.

The lever 240 is a part for pivoting the shaft of the lid 220 to cause the lid 220 to open and close the outlet of the supply pipe 210. Specifically, when the user wants to supply ice into the cup P, the cup P is inserted into the receiving space 123 and the cup P presses the lever 240 in the X direction. In this case, since the lower end of the lever 240 is pressed in the X direction, the lever 240 pivots in the X direction about the upper end. Then, when the lever 240 pivots to a predetermined angle, the outlet of the supply pipe 210 is opened in the lid 220.

Also, when ice is supplied into the cup P and the user receives the cup P and takes it out of the space 123, the lever 240 is returned to the original position. Then, when the lever 240 returns to the original position, the lid 240 closes the outlet of the supply pipe 210 by releasing the lever 240 from the position of the predetermined angle.

The discharge unit 250 is a part that discharges the ice supplied from the supply pipe 210. The ice discharged from the discharge unit 250 is supplied into the cup P of the user. The discharge unit 250 includes a discharge port 250a.

The outlet 250 a is an outlet of the outlet 250. That is, the outlet 250 a is an ice outlet for discharging the ice to the outside of the ice supply device 200. The discharge port 250a is a circular opening. Specifically, the ice passes through the supply path in the supply pipe 210 by the guide body 211, and guides the ice to the outlet 250a.

The light emitting device 290 is a device that directly illuminates the outlet 250 a from above. The light emitting device 290 is disposed above the outlet 250 a on the front top of the receiving space 123. The light emitting device 290 is, for example, an LED. Specifically, when the user wants to supply ice into the glass P, the light emission device 290 illuminates the discharge port 250a.

The switch 280 is a switch for operating the ice supply device 200. The switch 280 is disposed on the front surface of the receiving space 123 so as to be easily operated by the user. Specifically, the switch 280 includes a plurality of switches, such as a switch that causes the light emitting device 290 to emit light and a switch that switches whether to supply ice or water.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the structure of the ice supply device 200 in the first embodiment. In addition, in the same figure, the cover 300 which covers lid 220 grade | etc., Is made transparent, and is shown with the dotted line for the facilities of description.

As shown in the figure, the ice supply device 200 further includes a drive unit 260.

The drive unit 260 is a drive mechanism for opening and closing the lid 220. That is, by rotating the shaft of the lid 220, the drive unit 260 rotates the lid 220 about the shaft to open and close the lid 220 with respect to the outlet of the supply pipe 210.

Specifically, the drive unit 260 drives the lid 220 to open the outlet of the supply pipe 210 when the lever 240 pivots to a predetermined angle. Then, the ice generated by the ice making machine is supplied to the discharge unit 250 from the outlet of the supply pipe 210 by sliding down on the guide body 211. The ice supplied to the discharge unit 250 is discharged from the discharge port 250 a and supplied into the cup P of the user.

In addition, when the lever 240 is released from the position of the predetermined angle, the drive unit 260 drives the lid 220 to close the outlet of the supply pipe 210. Thereby, the ice is stopped from sliding down on the guide body 211, and the discharge of the ice from the discharge port 250a to the cup P is stopped.

According to the above, since the guide body 211 which is the bottom of the supply pipe 210 has a flat plate whose upper surface is a flat surface, the supplied ice slides down on the flat surface of the flat guide body 211. For this reason, when ice is discharged from the supply pipe 210, the ice does not fly out due to centrifugal force or the like. Therefore, when the user puts the ice into the glass, the ice can be prevented from falling off the side of the glass.

Moreover, the discharge port 250a which is an outlet from which ice is discharged is a circular opening. For this reason, since the discharge port 250a has a circular shape that matches the shape of the opening of the cup, it is possible to prevent the ice from falling off the side of the cup when the user puts the ice into the cup.

In addition, since the light emitting device 290 illuminates the discharge port 250a from above, it is possible to prevent ice from falling off the side of the cup when the user puts the ice in the cup.

In addition, a baffle plate 212 is disposed on the top of the supply pipe 210. Therefore, even if the user inserts a hand into the supply pipe 210 or the like, the hand can be prevented from touching the device located above the supply pipe 210.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment of the refrigerator according to the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the light emitting device 290 is disposed above the outlet 250 a on the front upper surface of the receiving space 123 and directly illuminates the outlet 250 a from above. However, in the second embodiment, the light emitting device 290 illuminates the discharge port 250 a via the discharge unit 250.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the structure of the ice supply device 200 in the second embodiment.

As shown in the figure, the ice supply device 200 includes a reflection member 270 in addition to the discharge part 250 and the switch 280 shown in FIG. Here, the configuration different from the ice supply device 200 according to the first embodiment is that the ice supply device 200 according to the second embodiment does not include the lever 240, the reflection member 270 is provided, and the light emitting device The position where 290 is arrange | positioned is different.

In the ice supply apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment, the lid 220 opens the outlet of the supply pipe 210 by pressing the switch 280 without the lever 240. However, the ice supply according to the first embodiment Similar to the device 200, the lever 240 may be provided so that the lid 220 opens the outlet of the supply tube 210.

Moreover, in the ice supply device 200 in the second embodiment, the discharge unit 250 is configured of a light transmitting member. For example, the discharge unit 250 is a member made of a transparent or translucent resin. In addition, the discharge part 250 should just be a member which permeate | transmits light, and a material is not limited. Here, light is light emitted by the light emitting device 290.

The reflective member 270 is a member that covers the discharge unit 250 at a predetermined distance from the discharge unit 250 and reflects light emitted by the light emitting device 290 in the direction of the discharge unit 250. For example, the reflecting member 270 is a member made of metal or resin that reflects light. The reflecting member 270 may be a member that reflects light, and the material is not limited.

The structures of the discharge unit 250 and the reflection member 270 will be described in detail below.

7 and 8 are perspective views showing the structure of the discharge portion 250 and the reflection member 270 in the second embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the discharge unit 250 and the reflection member 270 as viewed from below, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the discharge unit 250 and the reflection member 270 as viewed from above.

As shown in these figures, the reflecting member 270 is a member having an elliptical cross section and covering the discharge unit 250 at a predetermined distance from the discharge unit 250. In addition, the reflecting member 270 is configured by a member whose inner surface reflects light. Here, light is light emitted by the light emitting device 290.

Moreover, although the cross section of the discharge part 250 lower part of the discharge part 250 is circular shape, the cross section of the upper part is square shape. That is, the discharge port 250a of the discharge part 250 is circular, and the discharge part inlet 250b is rectangular.

For this reason, the cross section of the upper part of the discharge part 250 can play a role of the guide body 211 in this Embodiment 1 with the square-shaped part. That is, when the supplied ice is discharged from the discharge unit 250, it is possible to prevent the ice from jumping out by centrifugal force or the like.

Next, the position where the light emitting device 290 is disposed will be described.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the ice supply device 200 in the second embodiment. Specifically, the figure illustrates a cross-sectional view of the lower portion of the ice supply device 200 shown in FIG. 6 to indicate the position where the light emitting device 290 is disposed.

As shown in the figure, the light emitting device 290 is disposed between the discharge unit 250 and the reflecting member 270. The light emitting device 290 is, for example, an LED. Then, the light emitting device 290 illuminates the discharge port 250 a through the discharge unit 250.

Specifically, of the switches 280, the switch for causing the light emitting device 290 to emit light is pressed by the user, and the light emitting device 290 emits light. Then, when the light emitting device 290 emits light, the emitted light is reflected by the reflecting member 270. Then, the reflected light passes through the discharge portion 250 which is a light transmitting member, and illuminates the discharge port 250a.

According to the above, the light emitting device 290 such as an LED is disposed, and the light emitting device 290 illuminates the discharge port 250 a. Specifically, the light emitting device 290 is disposed between the discharge unit 250 and the reflecting member 270 and emits light. Then, since the light emitted by the light emitting device 290 is reflected by the reflecting member 270, the outlet 250a is illuminated brighter than the light emitting device 290 directly illuminates the outlet 250a. Therefore, since it becomes easier for the user to check the outlet 250a which is the ice outlet, it is possible to prevent the ice from falling off the side of the cup when the user puts the ice into the cup.

As mentioned above, although the refrigerator concerning the present invention was explained using the above-mentioned embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this.

That is, it should be understood that the embodiment disclosed herein is illustrative and non-restrictive in every respect. The scope of the present invention is indicated not by the above description but by claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to claims.

For example, in the present embodiment, the supply pipe 210 is a pipe having a square cross section. However, the cross-sectional shape of the supply pipe 210 is not limited to the rectangular shape, and if the guide body 211 has a flat surface for guiding ice to the outlet 250 a, the cross-sectional shape of the supply pipe 210 is It may be of any shape.

Further, in the present embodiment, the discharge port 250a is a circular opening. However, the outlet 250a is not limited to a circular shape, and may be a square shape or the like.

Further, in the present embodiment, the ice supply device 200 includes the reflective member 270, and the light emitted by the light emitting device 290 is reflected by the reflective member 270 to illuminate the discharge port 250a. However, the ice supply device 200 does not have to include the reflective member 270, and the light emitting device 290 may transmit the discharge portion 250, which is a light transmitting member, to directly illuminate the discharge port 250a.

The present invention is applicable to a refrigerator.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 refrigerator 111 1st door 112 3rd door 113 through-hole 121 2nd door 122 4th door 123 receiving space 150 heat insulation box 151 1st storage room 152 2nd storage room 153 division wall 200 ice supply apparatus 210 supply pipe 211 guidance Body 212 Baffle 220 Lid 240 Lever 250 Ejection part 250a Ejection port 260 Drive part 270 Reflecting member 280 Switch 290 Emitting device 300 Cover

Claims

A refrigerator comprising an ice supply device for supplying ice, the refrigerator comprising:
The ice supply device
An outlet for discharging ice to the outside of the ice supply device;
And a guiding body having a flat surface for guiding ice to the outlet.
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the discharge port is a circular opening.
The ice supply device further comprises
The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a suspended baffle plate disposed above the guide body at a predetermined distance from the guide body.
The ice supply device further comprises
A discharge unit which is made of a light transmitting member and which forms the discharge port;
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a light emitting device that illuminates the discharge port via the discharge unit.
The ice supply device further comprises
The refrigerator according to claim 4, further comprising: a reflective member covering the discharge unit at a predetermined distance from the discharge unit and reflecting light emitted by the light emitting device in the direction of the discharge unit.
An ice supply device for supplying ice,
An outlet for discharging ice to the outside of the ice supply device;
And a guide having a flat surface for guiding ice to the outlet.