Automatic door opening and closing device and refrigerator

Abstract

The application discloses an automatic door opening and closing device and a refrigerator, and relates to the technical field of the refrigerator, which comprises an upper door opening and closing device and a lower door opening and closing device, the upper door opening and closing device and the lower door opening and closing device are symmetrical along the direction perpendicular to the central axis of the door opening and closing device, and are fixedly connected through a connecting rod; the upper door opening and closing device comprises a framework, a large spring and a small spring are sleeved on the framework, the lower end of the framework is connected with a speed reducer motor through a transmission shaft, and the supporting plate of the speed reducer motor is fixed on the connecting rod. The application can realize automatic uniform-speed opening and closing of the door, has a large door opening angle, is convenient to use, saves time and effort, and has good user experience.

Description

An automatic door opening and closing device and a refrigerator Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of refrigerator technology, specifically to an automatic door opening and closing device and a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] As people's living standards improve, smart home appliances are increasingly favored and recognized by the market. Currently, users tend to use larger-capacity appliances, but these appliances also have stronger door seals. Due to the pressure difference between the inside and outside and the suction of the door seal, the door opening resistance is greater, requiring considerable force to open and close, which is not a pleasant experience for users. Therefore, an automatic door opening and closing device is needed to improve the user experience. In automatic door refrigerators, the motor needs to overcome the opening resistance to open the refrigerator door. Currently, most automatic door refrigerators use a assisted opening method, which results in a small opening angle, making it inconvenient for users to retrieve items. Furthermore, achieving a fully automatic door opening and closing action is quite difficult. In addition, automatic door opening and closing devices are mostly located on the top of the cabinet or the top of the hinge, resulting in a complex structure and poor appearance. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The first technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an automatic door opening and closing device and a refrigerator, which can realize automatic and uniform door opening and closing. The device can be hidden inside the door body, has a large opening angle, is convenient to use, saves time and effort, and provides a good user experience.

[0004] The present invention includes an upper door opening and closing device and a lower door opening and closing device. The upper door opening and closing device and the lower door opening and closing device have the same structure and are symmetrically arranged along a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the door opening and closing device. The upper door opening and closing device and the lower door opening and closing device are fixedly connected by a connecting rod. The upper door opening and closing device includes a frame, on which a large spring and a small spring are fitted. The lower end of the frame is connected to a reduction motor through a transmission shaft. The support plate of the reduction motor is fixed on the connecting rod.

[0005] With the above structure, when the door is closed, the small spring applies a certain force in the closing direction to the door, making the door completely closed and ensuring a tighter closure. When the automatic door opening and closing device receives an opening signal, the geared motor applies a certain force in the opening direction to the large spring. After overcoming the closing force of the small spring and frictional resistance, the door gradually opens. Once it reaches its maximum angle, the geared motor locks, and the door comes to a standstill. After the user retrieves the item, the geared motor applies a closing force to the large spring, causing the door to gradually close. This device can achieve automatic door opening and closing, with a large opening angle, is convenient to use, saves time and effort, and provides a good user experience.

[0006] Preferably, the drive shaft includes a shaft body, on which a key is provided for engaging with the output shaft of the geared motor, and a shaft disc is fixed at the upper end of the shaft body, with an annular groove on the shaft disc.

[0007] Preferably, the frame includes outer support columns and inner support columns. A columnar body formed by several outer support columns constitutes the outer frame of the frame, and a columnar body formed by several inner support columns constitutes the inner frame of the frame. A space for installing a large spring is formed between the inner and outer frames. An end cap is fixed at the upper end of the frame, and a base is fixed at the lower end of the frame.

[0008] Preferably, the end cap is provided with an arc-shaped groove that penetrates the end cap, and the arc-shaped groove is located above the large spring.

[0009] Preferably, the base is a ring structure, and the base is sleeved on the outside of the shaft disk, and a fixing ring is also fixed on the outside of the base.

[0010] Preferably, the large spring is sleeved on the outside of the inner frame formed by the inner support column, the upper end of the spiral of the large spring extends out and forms an extension section, the extension section extends out of the arc groove; the lower end of the large spring is fixed in the annular groove.

[0011] Preferably, the small spring is sleeved on the outer support column, the upper end of the small spring is fixed on the end cap, and the lower end of the small spring is fixed on the fixing ring.

[0012] Preferably, a support plate is also provided on the connecting rod between the upper and lower door opening and closing devices.

[0013] In summary, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0014] 1. The device is equipped with a large spring and a small spring. When the door is closed, the small spring applies a certain force to the door in the closing direction, making the door close more tightly and saving energy. When the door is opened, the geared motor drives the large spring to twist in the opening direction, thereby driving the door to rotate. The output torque of the geared motor is equal to the reverse torque and friction torque of the small spring, so that the opening and closing actions are carried out at a uniform speed.

[0015] 2. Enables fully automatic door opening and closing, eliminating the need for manual operation, making door opening and closing more effortless and providing a better user experience;

[0016] 3. The geared motor drives the large spring to rotate at a certain angle, which enables the door to open wide, making it convenient to take items out of the refrigerator.

[0017] The second technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a refrigerator equipped with an automatic door opening and closing device as described above, which can realize automatic and uniform door opening and closing, tight door closure, and the door opening and closing device is hidden inside the door, with low noise and an attractive appearance.

[0018] The present invention includes a refrigerator body and a door body. An automatic door opening and closing device as described above is installed inside the door body. The automatic door opening and closing device is fixedly installed inside the door body and is fixedly connected to the door body.

[0019] By adopting the above structure, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0020] 1. The opening and closing times can be set to meet the personalized needs of users;

[0021] 2. The door can automatically close after opening, which can prevent forgetting to close the door and thus avoid wasting electricity;

[0022] 3. The device is hidden inside the door, the sound is isolated, the noise is low, and the concealed design makes it more aesthetically pleasing. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of an automatic door opening and closing device according to the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 is a partial enlarged sectional view of Figure 1;

[0025] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the skeleton;

[0026] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the drive shaft;

[0027] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the support plate structure;

[0028] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the installation of a refrigerator equipped with an automatic door opening and closing device;

[0029] Figure 7 is a partial enlarged sectional view of Figure 6;

[0030] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the connecting plate;

[0031] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the connection between the hinge and the automatic door opening and closing device. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] The orientations mentioned in this specification are based on the orientation of the automatic door opening and closing device and the refrigerator under normal operation of the present invention. They do not limit the orientation during storage and transportation, but only represent relative positional relationships, not absolute positional relationships.

[0034] As shown in Figures 1 to 5, an automatic door opening and closing device includes an upper door opening and closing device and a lower door opening and closing device. The upper door opening and closing device and the lower door opening and closing device have the same structure and are symmetrically arranged along a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the door opening and closing device. The upper door opening and closing device and the lower door opening and closing device are fixedly connected by a connecting rod 11. The upper door opening and closing device includes a frame 1, on which a large spring 2 and a small spring 3 are sleeved. The lower end of the frame 1 is connected to a reduction motor 8 through a transmission shaft 7. The bottom of the reduction motor 8 is fixed on a support plate 10, and the support plate 10 is fixed on the connecting rod 11.

[0035] The support plate 10 has through holes around its perimeter, the number of which corresponds to the number of connecting rods 11. Each connecting rod 11 passes through the through holes to fix the support plate 10. The support plate 10 has several threaded holes on its surface. The support plate 10 and the geared motor 8 are fixedly connected by bolts. A rubber pad 9 is also provided between the support plate 10 and the geared motor 8 to make the connection between the support plate 10 and the geared motor 8 more secure.

[0036] The drive shaft 7 includes a shaft body 17, on which a key 18 is provided for engaging with the output shaft of the geared motor 8. The key 18 is used to prevent relative rotation between the drive shaft 7 and the output shaft of the geared motor 8. A shaft disc 19 is fixed at the upper end of the shaft body 17, and an annular groove 20 is provided on the shaft disc 19.

[0037] The frame 1 includes outer support columns 13 and inner support columns 15. A columnar body formed by several outer support columns 13 constitutes the outer frame of the frame 1, and a columnar body formed by several inner support columns 15 constitutes the inner frame of the frame 1. A gap is formed between the inner and outer frames for installing the large spring 2. An end cap 12 is fixed to the upper end of the frame 1. An extension shaft 26 for fixing the frame 1 is located at the center of the end cap 12. An arc-shaped groove 16 penetrates the end cap 12 and is located above the large spring 2. The extension section 4 extends out from the arc groove 16; the lower end of the frame 1 is fixedly provided with a base support 14, which is a ring structure. The bottom of the base support 14 is provided with a number of fixing holes for fixing the connecting rods 11 at intervals, and the number of fixing holes corresponds to the number of connecting rods 11; the base support 14 is sleeved on the outside of the shaft disk 19, and a bearing 6 is provided between the base support 14 and the shaft disk 19; a fixing ring 5 is also fixed on the outside of the base support 14, which is used to fix the middle position of the automatic door opening and closing device to the door body to be opened and closed.

[0038] The large spring 2 is sleeved on the outside of the inner frame formed by the inner support column 15. The upper end of the spiral of the large spring 2 extends out and forms an extension section 4. The extension section 4 extends out of the arc groove 16. The extension section 4 is used to fix the upper end of the automatic door opening and closing device to the door body to be opened and closed. The lower end of the large spring 2 is fixed in the annular groove 20 at the upper end of the shaft disk 19.

[0039] The small spring 3 is sleeved on the outer support column 13. The upper end of the small spring 3 is fixed to the bottom of the end cap 12, and the lower end of the small spring 3 is fixed to the fixing ring 5.

[0040] Multiple connecting rods 11 are provided, spaced apart and arranged around the upper and lower door opening and closing devices. The upper end of the connecting rod 11 is fixed in the through holes around the base 14 of the upper door opening and closing device, and passes through the through holes around the support plate 10 used to fix the geared motor 8. It extends downward and passes through the through holes around the support plate 10 used to fix the geared motor 8 on the lower door opening and closing device. The lower end is fixed in the through holes around the base 14 of the lower door opening and closing device, connecting the upper and lower door opening and closing devices into a whole. In order to prevent the middle part of the connecting rod 11 from deforming, a separate support plate 10 is also provided on the connecting rod 11 between the upper and lower door opening and closing devices to increase the strength of the middle part of the connecting rod 11. The frame 1, the large spring 2, the geared motor 8, and the transmission shaft 7 are arranged coaxially.

[0041] As shown in Figures 6 to 9, a refrigerator includes a refrigerator body 21. A door 22 is provided at the front opening of the refrigerator body 21. Hinges 24 are provided on the upper and lower parts of one side of the door 22. An automatic door opening and closing device as described above is installed inside the door 22 near the hinges 24. A hinge connecting rod 25 extending outward is connected to the hinges 24. The extension shaft 26 of the automatic door opening and closing device is fixedly connected to the hinge connecting rod 25. Connecting plates 23 are provided at the upper and lower ends inside the door 22. Connecting holes are provided on the connecting plates 23. The extension section 4 of the automatic door opening and closing device is fixed in the connecting holes.

[0042] As one embodiment, the door opening and closing steps using this automatic door opening and closing device are as follows:

[0043] The standard opening force of the door 22 is 60N. The minimum torque required to open the door 22 is ≥30NM. The torque caused by friction during the uniform rotation of the door is 3NM. It is specified that the torque applied in the closing direction is negative and the torque applied in the opening direction is positive. When the door is closed, the small spring 3 is under torsion. The torque applied to the door 22 in the closing direction is -8NM to ensure that the door 22 is in a tightly closed state.

[0044] Different door opening and closing times can be set via the adjustment window on the refrigerator body 21 or via the Internet mobile phone WIFI terminal. Under the precise control of the torque output of the geared motor 8, the control system transmits the torque to complete the door opening and closing action at the corresponding time. The following design shows that the door opening time is 2.5 seconds and the door closing time is 3.1 seconds.

[0045] 1. Door opening process:

[0046] 1) When the refrigerator receives a signal that it needs to open the door, the geared motor 8 rotates rapidly within 0.1 seconds, driving the large spring 2 on the transmission shaft 7 to rotate. The resultant torque of the upper and lower large springs 2 applied to the door body 22 is 40 NM. During this 0-0.5 second period, the door body 22 shows a tendency to open, but remains stationary. The resultant torque of the upper and lower large springs 2 applied to the door body 22 remains at 40 NM, and the torque of the small spring 3 is maintained at -8 NM.

[0047] 2) At approximately 0.5 seconds, the moment the door 22 opens, the reduction motor 8 rotates rapidly in the reverse direction, causing the combined torque applied to the door 22 by the upper and lower large springs 2 to become 11 NM. At this instant, the small spring 3 still maintains a torque of -8 NM, the frictional resistance is -3 NM, and the door 22 maintains a uniform rotation.

[0048] 3) From 0.5 seconds to 2.5 seconds, the door 22 rotates from closed to open to its maximum angle. During this process, the door 22 rotates at a constant speed. The torque of the small spring 3 increases at a constant speed during the uniform rotation of the door 22. Under the active uniform output power of the reduction motor 8, the combined torque of the upper and lower large springs 2 applied to the door 22 increases from 11 NM to 33 NM. The torque of the small spring 3 increases from -8 NM to -30 NM. During this process, the combined torque of the small spring 3, the large spring 2, and the frictional resistance torque is 0 NM.

[0049] 4) From 2.5 seconds onwards, the door 22 is opened to its maximum angle due to the limitation of the limit block. Since the door 22 is stationary, the torque of the small spring 3 remains unchanged. After the reduction motor 8 outputs power at a constant speed for 0.5 seconds, the torque applied to the door 22 by the large spring 2 increases to 38.5 NM. After the door is open for 3 seconds, the reduction motor 8 self-locks, and the torque of the large spring 2 remains at 38.5 NM. The door 22 remains in the open state, making it convenient to retrieve items.

[0050] 2. Door closing process:

[0051] 1) When the refrigerator receives an electrical signal to close the door, within 0-1.1 seconds, the output torque of the large spring 2 continuously decreases from 38.5 NM to 27 NM. The door 22, constrained by torque and frictional resistance, does not rotate. Therefore, the output torque of the small spring 3 remains consistently at -30 NM.

[0052] 2) When the torque of the small spring 3 is greater than or equal to the combined torque of the large spring 2 and the frictional resistance from 1.05 seconds onwards, the door 22 begins to move.

[0053] 3) Within 1.1-3.1 seconds, the door 22 rotates at a constant speed from its maximum opening angle to its closing angle. During the constant speed rotation of the door 22, the torque of the small spring 3 decreases at a constant speed. Under the active constant speed output of the reduction motor 8, the combined torque of the upper and lower large springs 2 applied to the door 22 decreases from 27 NM to 5 NM, and the torque of the small spring 3 decreases from -30 NM to -8 NM. During this process, the combined torque of the small spring 3, the large spring 2, and the frictional resistance torque is 0 NM.

[0054] 4) After 3.1 seconds, the door 22 closes. Because the door 22 is stationary, the torque of the small spring 3 remains constant at -8 NM. After the large spring 2 is output at a constant speed by the reduction motor 8 for 0.4 seconds, the torque applied to the door 22 by the large spring 2 becomes 0 NM. The small spring 3 applies a torque of -8 NM to the door 22, and the door 22 remains in the closed state, which can prevent the door from not closing tightly.

[0055] Of course, the above description is not intended to limit the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the examples given above. Any changes, modifications, additions or substitutions made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention should also fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automatic door opening and closing device, characterized in that: The device includes an upper door opening and closing device and a lower door opening and closing device. The upper door opening and closing device and the lower door opening and closing device have the same structure and are symmetrically arranged along a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the door opening and closing device. The upper door opening and closing device and the lower door opening and closing device are fixedly connected by a connecting rod (11). The upper door opening and closing device includes a frame (1). A large spring (2) and a small spring (3) are sleeved on the frame (1). The lower end of the frame (1) is connected to a reduction motor (8) through a transmission shaft (7). The reduction motor (8) is fixed on a support plate (10). The frame (1) is fixed on the connecting rod (11); the frame (1) includes an outer support column (13) and an inner support column (15). The columnar body formed by several outer support columns (13) constitutes the outer frame of the frame (1), and the columnar body formed by several inner support columns (15) constitutes the inner frame of the frame (1). A space for installing the large spring (2) is formed between the inner and outer frames; the large spring (2) is sleeved on the outside of the inner frame formed by the inner support columns (15); the small spring (3) is sleeved on the outer support column (13).

2. The automatic door opening and closing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The transmission shaft (7) includes a shaft body (17), on which a key (18) is provided for engaging into the output shaft of the geared motor (8), and a shaft disc (19) is fixed at the upper end of the shaft body (17), and an annular groove (20) is provided on the shaft disc (19).

3. An automatic door opening and closing device as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The upper end of the frame (1) is fixed with an end cap (12), and the lower end of the frame (1) is fixed with a base support (14).

4. An automatic door opening and closing device as described in claim 3, characterized in that: The end cap (12) is provided with an arc-shaped groove (16) that penetrates the end cap (12), and the arc-shaped groove (16) is located above the large spring (2).

5. An automatic door opening and closing device as described in claim 3, characterized in that: The base (14) is a ring structure. The base (14) is sleeved on the outside of the shaft disk (19). A fixing ring (5) is also fixed on the outside of the base (14).

6. An automatic door opening and closing device as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The upper end of the spiral of the large spring (2) extends out and forms an extension section (4), which extends out of the arc groove (16); the lower end of the large spring (2) is fixed in the annular groove (20).

7. An automatic door opening and closing device as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The upper end of the small spring (3) is fixed on the end cap (12), and the lower end of the small spring (3) is fixed on the fixing ring (5).

8. An automatic door opening and closing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: A support plate (10) is also provided on the connecting rod (11) between the upper and lower door opening and closing devices.

9. A refrigerator, characterized in that: The refrigerator is equipped with an automatic door opening and closing device as described in any one of claims 1-8, including a refrigerator body (21) and a door (22), wherein the automatic door opening and closing device is fixedly disposed inside the door (22) and is fixedly connected to the door (22).

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