Refrigerator and door assembly

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator and a door assembly. The refrigerator includes a cabinet including an outer case forming an outer side surface of the cabinet and an inner case provided inside the outer case and internally forming a storage space; a machine chamber frame provided at a lower portion of the cabinet and internally having a machine chamber; a door assembly rotatably coupled to the cabinet and selectively shielding the storage space; a cover plate provided between the inner case and the machine chamber frame to cover the machine chamber and having a provided space recessed toward a direction of the storage space; an operation module provided at an upper portion of the door assembly and including an input device receiving an input of a signal for operating the door assembly; and a door opening device provided in the provided space, at least a portion of the door opening device being protruded toward a rear surface direction of the door assembly according to the input signal and pushing the door assembly toward a direction away from the cabinet.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of application number 2020112567850, entitled "Refrigerator", filed on November 11, 2020. Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to refrigerators, and more specifically, to refrigerators in which electronic components, such as touch buttons, are integrated into the door to enable the door to open automatically. Background Technology

[0003] Generally, a refrigerator is a household appliance that can store food at low temperatures in an interior storage space covered by a door. To do this, the refrigerator uses cold air generated by heat exchange with the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle to cool the interior of the storage space, thereby preserving the stored food in optimal condition.

[0004] Recently, built-in refrigerators have also been used, and these can also be applied to the increasingly popular kitchen islands. However, while island kitchen furniture is convenient because it is a worktop separate from the sink, its low overall height makes it inconvenient to hold and open the refrigerator door.

[0005] Of course, a device for automatically opening the door can be installed, but due to the low overall height of island kitchen furniture, there is a problem of not being able to ensure enough space to install sensors and actuators for automatically opening the door.

[0006] In particular, in the case of island refrigerators, only the front of the door is exposed. If electrical circuit components (such as LED lights, switches for automatic door opening and closing, etc.) are to be installed, the area of ​​the transparent section (viewable section) that allows a view of the refrigerator's storage compartment must be reduced. In this case, the space used to install the electrical circuit components occupies a portion of the limited front of the door, thus compromising the refrigerator's aesthetics.

[0007] On the other hand, recently, insulation performance in refrigerator doors has typically been achieved by filling the interior with a foaming agent such as polyurethane. However, a problem exists: compared to ordinary doors, the foaming space and flow path in refrigerator doors, which allow observation of the interior, are relatively small, making it difficult for the foaming agent to foam. This is because the foaming space is formed in the outer frame, avoiding the glass portion that allows visibility of the refrigerator's interior. The foaming space and flow path are confined to the portion of the door excluding the transparent section (i.e., the door frame).

[0008] Of course, the thickness of the door frame can be increased to ensure sufficient foaming space. However, in this case, the problem is that the portion of the refrigerator interior that can be seen through is relatively small, or the door frame is exposed through the viewing window, which detracts from the aesthetics. For example, Korean Patent Publication 10-2018-0078334 discloses a method to reduce foaming resistance during the foaming of the foaming agent when temporarily assembling the door, but in order to ensure foaming space and flow path, the door frame is relatively thick and the area of ​​the viewing window is relatively small.

[0009] Furthermore, if the foaming agent is filled into the door frame, it is difficult to ensure sufficient space for installing electrical circuit components such as touch buttons within the door frame. Although it is possible to place the electrical circuit components inside the foamed space and use the foaming agent to fix them, this results in the inability to maintain the electrical circuit components. Korean Patent Publication 10-2017-0006542 discloses a technology in which a viewing window can be formed only in a part of the frame to view the screen, while the remaining part can be filled with foaming agent to separate the screen portion. However, in this case, only the screen can be viewed, and the interior of the refrigerator cannot be observed in the remaining part due to the foaming agent filling.

[0010] Patent Document 1: Korean Patent Publication 10-2018-0078334

[0011] Patent Document 2: Korean Patent Publication 10-2017-0006542 Summary of the Invention

[0012] The present invention is intended to solve the problems of the prior art as described above. The purpose of the present invention is to enable users to easily open a built-in refrigerator with a low overall height and the exposed portion not exceeding the front of the door.

[0013] Another objective of this invention is to ensure sufficient space in the refrigerator door frame to accommodate operating modules such as sensors and touch buttons, and to allow for the removal of these operating modules for maintenance.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to increase the area through which the refrigerator can be seen by applying a transparent door panel to the refrigerator door, and by making the door frame surrounding the door panel thinner.

[0015] Another objective of the present invention is to ensure that the size of the refrigerator body or door does not increase even when a door opening device is installed.

[0016] According to the features of the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention includes: a housing having a storage space; and a door assembly rotatably coupled to the housing and concealing the storage space. Furthermore, an operation module is disposed on the upper part of the door assembly, and a detection device and an input device can be disposed on the operation module. The detection device detects the approach of a user, and the input device emits light when the user's approach is detected by the detection device to allow the input location to be identified. In this way, when the operation module is disposed on the upper part of the door assembly, user accessibility can be improved even when the operation module is applied to a small refrigerator.

[0017] Additionally, the door opening device can be configured at the bottom of the refrigerator body. Based on a signal input via the input device, at least a portion of the door opening device can protrude towards the rear of the door assembly, pushing the door assembly away from the refrigerator body. As described above, when the door opening device is located at the bottom of the refrigerator body, it enhances the refrigerator's aesthetics because it protrudes from a position farther from the user's field of vision. Furthermore, with the operation module and the door opening device respectively located at the top and bottom of the refrigerator, interference between components can be avoided even in small refrigerators.

[0018] Furthermore, the door opening device can be disposed at the lower center of the housing. Therefore, the door opening device can open the door assembly regardless of the hinge position of the door assembly.

[0019] Additionally, the door assembly may include a panel unit with a frame and a door frame. In this case, the operation module can be configured in a component storage slot, which is located between the surface of the door frame and the back of the frame. As described above, if the operation module is located in the frame, it is unnecessary to narrow the transparent portion, and the frame can be made semi-transparent or opaque so that the operation module is not exposed under normal circumstances, thereby enhancing the door's aesthetics.

[0020] Furthermore, the hook can protrude from the door frame toward the component storage slot, and the hook can make the operating module make close contact with the back of the frame.

[0021] Additionally, the operation module can be configured in a component storage slot formed at the same height on the back of the door assembly, and the detection device can be configured separately from the input device. This improves the ease of setting up and maintaining the operation module.

[0022] Furthermore, the detection device is positioned at the upper center of the door assembly, and the input device can be positioned on the opposite side of the hinged end of the upper part of the door assembly. In this configuration, the detection performance of the detection device is improved, and the user operating the input device can naturally stand on the open entrance side of the door assembly.

[0023] Furthermore, among the multi-layer door panels constituting the panel unit, the front door panel constituting the front of the panel unit has a larger area than the multiple door insulation panels, thereby allowing a frame portion to be formed at the edge of the front door panel.

[0024] Additionally, the door insert can be attached to the back side of the door frame on a similar side to the portion that joins with the side frame. The door insert can conceal the component storage slot.

[0025] Furthermore, the component storage slot can be formed between the top surface of the door panel, the back surface of the frame portion, and the bottom surface of the door frame.

[0026] Furthermore, the door opening device can be installed in a recessed space from the lower part of the cabinet towards the storage space. Therefore, even with the door opening device installed, the overall volume of the refrigerator, including the cabinet, can be maintained without increasing the volume.

[0027] Furthermore, the space can be formed on the cover plate constituting the bottom surface of the housing, and a mechanical room can be arranged in the lower part of the cover plate.

[0028] Furthermore, the front entrance of the installation space opens towards the rear of the door assembly, and the installation space can also open towards the machine room. Therefore, accessibility to the installation space can be improved.

[0029] Additionally, a cover plate can be positioned between the upper part of the machine room assembly and the lower part of the housing, covering the machine room. The door opening device can be positioned in a recessed space from the bottom of the cover plate into the lower part of the housing. In this case, the periphery of the cover plate surrounding the door opening device becomes a heat insulation part due to the filling with foaming agent. This heat insulation part can also be used as a sound insulation material to isolate the motor / gear operating noise generated in the door opening device.

[0030] The refrigerator of the present invention, as described above, has the following effects.

[0031] An operation module (such as a touch sensor) can be installed in the door of the invention, and an opening device (actuator) can be installed in the cabinet. As described above, when the operation module is installed in the door and the opening device is installed on the side of the cabinet, even a refrigerator door that is low in height and whose front is entirely composed of doors can be opened automatically.

[0032] In particular, (i) the operation module is located on the upper part of the door assembly, so even if the operation module is applied to a small refrigerator, it can improve the user's accessibility; (ii) the door opening device is located on the lower part of the cabinet, so the door opening device can protrude from a position far from the user's field of vision, thereby enhancing the aesthetics of the refrigerator.

[0033] In addition, the operating module and the door opening device are located at the top and bottom of the refrigerator, respectively, so even in a small refrigerator, interference between components can be avoided.

[0034] Furthermore, in the refrigerator of the present invention, when a detection device for detecting the approach of a user detects that a user has approached, the area around the input device can be brightened to facilitate identification of the input location. Therefore, devices such as the input device are not normally exposed, thereby enhancing the refrigerator's aesthetics and improving the ease of operation for automatic door opening.

[0035] Furthermore, in the door assembly, the door frame surrounds and supports the outer periphery of the panel unit, which is made of multi-layered glass. The door frame is formed by connecting multiple frames with corner brackets to create a single frame shape. That is, since the panel unit is supported only by the door frame without additional outer frames, the door's support structure can be made thinner, and the portion (viewable area) through the panel unit that allows visibility of the refrigerator's interior can be relatively large. Therefore, even without opening the door, the refrigerator's storage space and the location of food can be easily determined, thus improving ease of use.

[0036] Furthermore, by reducing the amount of filler foaming agent used in the manufacturing process of the door assembly, it also reduces the manufacturing time and cost of manufacturing the door assembly.

[0037] Furthermore, in this invention, the outer peripheral surface of the panel unit and the door frame are spaced apart from each other, and a component storage slot is provided in this space. Therefore, a sufficiently large space is provided along the edge of the door for installing operation modules such as detection sensors and touch sensors, so that various operation modules can be installed without obstructing the view of the door.

[0038] At this time, the component storage slot is located on the rear side of the frame portion of the front door panel exposed at the frontmost point in the panel unit. Therefore, if the frame portion is made semi-transparent, the aesthetics of the door assembly can be improved by covering assembly parts such as the door frame located on the rear side. Furthermore, since light emanating from touch buttons such as LED recognition parts located on the back of the frame portion can be transmitted through the frame portion, visibility can be improved. Since the frame portion can be used as part of the screen, it has the effect of increasing the utilization rate of the door.

[0039] Furthermore, in each frame that constitutes the door frame, the side frame supporting the panel unit is made of metal, thereby firmly supporting the panel unit. The upper and lower frames supporting the panel unit are made of synthetic resin, thereby reducing the overall weight and lightening the weight of the door assembly.

[0040] Furthermore, if the upper and lower frames of the supporting panel unit are made of synthetic resin material, more complex shapes can be achieved. Therefore, it is easier to implement a housing structure for various operating modules such as sensors and touch buttons within the door frame, allowing for the integration of more components into various locations within the door assembly and enabling the door assembly to perform a variety of functions.

[0041] Furthermore, in this invention, since no foaming agent is filled in the door assembly, the operation of multiple components such as sensors or touch buttons, as well as the separation of these components, can be easily performed. In particular, when the door insert is separated from the door assembly, the component storage slots that house the components are directly exposed to the outside, thereby improving accessibility and maintainability of the parts.

[0042] Furthermore, in this invention, an opening device is provided at the lower part of the door assembly. This opening device can be connected to and controlled by an input device located at the upper part of the door assembly. That is, the user can automatically open the door assembly by operating the input device. Therefore, even if only the glass is exposed on the front of the door, the user can easily open the door, thus improving the ease of use of built-in refrigerators, especially those suitable for island kitchen furniture.

[0043] Furthermore, even when the user's hands are holding objects, the door can be automatically opened via the touch input device, thus improving ease of use. In particular, the door opening mechanism allows the door to open at least wide enough for the user's body (e.g., elbows) to fit inside, allowing a portion of the body other than the hands to be inserted into the opened gap to easily further open the door. Therefore, the door can be fully opened without using the hands, further enhancing ease of use.

[0044] In particular, in this invention, the detection device and the input device are located on the door. The detection device identifies the user's approach and uses an LED to notify the input device of its position. The user can operate the door opening device by touching a touch sensor near the LED. Therefore, the door opening device can be operated accurately even in dark environments, thereby improving ease of use.

[0045] Furthermore, the refrigerator of the present invention includes an automatic door opening device, which is located on the side of the cabinet rather than the door, particularly at the center of the lower part of the cabinet. Therefore, the door opening device can open the door even if the door hinge is located on either the left or right side of the cabinet. Thus, the door can be shared, and the manufacturing cost of the door can be reduced.

[0046] Furthermore, in this invention, the door opening device is located in the lower part of the cabinet adjacent to the machine compartment, and is housed in a recessed space extending from the cover plate covering the upper part of the machine compartment toward the insulation section. Therefore, even with the door opening device, the overall volume of the refrigerator, including the cabinet, is not increased, achieving the effect of a miniaturized refrigerator.

[0047] In particular, the perimeter of the cover plate surrounding the door opening mechanism is filled with foam to form a heat insulation layer. This heat insulation layer also serves as a sound insulation material to block the motor / gear noise generated in the door opening mechanism. Therefore, the noise generated during the operation of the door opening mechanism is reduced, thereby improving the quality of the refrigerator.

[0048] Furthermore, the cover plate itself serves as a cover for the door opening mechanism, with the front of the opening mechanism shielded by the front frame. Therefore, it is more effective to prevent the noise from the door opening mechanism from being transmitted to the outside.

[0049] Furthermore, in this invention, the door opening device is located near the machine compartment at the bottom of the refrigerator body, and the control module is also located in the machine compartment. Therefore, the door opening device and the control module used to control it are located close to each other, thereby shortening the wiring (wiring harness) used to connect them and simplifying the internal layout of the refrigerator. Attached Figure Description

[0050] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing the appearance of an embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

[0051] Figure 2 It is shown Figure 1 A 3D view showing the door in the open position.

[0052] Figure 3 A perspective view of the refrigerator components according to the present invention in an exploded state is shown.

[0053] Figure 4 This is a perspective view showing the components constituting the refrigerator body according to the present invention in an disassembled state.

[0054] Figure 5 It is along Figure 1 A sectional view taken along line I-I'.

[0055] Figure 6This is a perspective view showing the structure of an embodiment of the door assembly of the present invention.

[0056] Figure 7 From and Figure 6 The opposite perspective view shows an embodiment of the door assembly of the present invention with the door liner and gasket omitted.

[0057] Figure 8 This is an exploded perspective view showing the components constituting an embodiment of the door assembly of the present invention.

[0058] Figure 9 This is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a door frame constituting an embodiment of the door assembly of the present invention.

[0059] Figure 10 It is along Figure 7 A sectional view taken along line I-I'.

[0060] Figure 11 It is along Figure 7 A sectional view taken along line II-II'.

[0061] Figure 12 This is a perspective view showing the structure of the first corner assembly of a door frame, which constitutes an embodiment of the door assembly of the present invention.

[0062] Figure 13 This is a perspective view showing the structure of the first corner assembly of a door frame, which constitutes an embodiment of the door assembly of the present invention.

[0063] Figure 14 They are shown in magnified form. Figure 6 A 3D diagram of parts A and B.

[0064] Figure 15 This is a perspective view showing the operation module set up in the state constituting the door assembly from the rear side of the door assembly.

[0065] Figure 16 It constitutes Figure 15 An exploded perspective view of the operation module and the components of the door assembly.

[0066] Figure 17 This is a perspective view showing the structure of a line guide that constitutes an embodiment of the door assembly of the present invention.

[0067] Figure 18 This is an exploded perspective view showing the panel assembly, door frame, and heater frame among the components constituting an embodiment of the door assembly of the present invention.

[0068] Figure 19 This is a perspective view showing the door opening device and the cover plate separated in an embodiment of the refrigerator constituting the present invention.

[0069] Figure 20 This is a bottom view showing the door opening device of an embodiment of the refrigerator of the present invention being disposed on the cover.

[0070] Figure 21 This is a bottom view showing an enlarged view of the structure of the door opening device constituting an embodiment of the refrigerator of the present invention.

[0071] Figure 22A and Figure 22B This is an example diagram showing the state of a refrigerator door being opened by an opening device constituting an embodiment of the present invention.

[0072] Figure 23 This is a perspective view showing the state before the push rod protrudes from the door opening device constituting an embodiment of the present invention.

[0073] Figure 24 This is a perspective view showing the push rod protruding from the door opening device constituting an embodiment of the present invention.

[0074] Figure 25A and Figure 25B This is a flowchart showing, in sequence, the process of controlling the operation module and the door opening device constituting an embodiment of the present invention to open the door assembly and the standby operation.

[0075] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0076] 100: Cabinet; 110: Outer shell; 120: Inner shell; 121: Storage space; 130: Door assembly; 140: Panel unit; 142: Viewing section; 143: Frame section; 150: Door frame; 151: Side frame; 153: Upper frame; 155: Lower frame; 160: Corner bracket; 161: Main bracket; 163: Support frame; 170: Input device; 175: Detection device; 180: Heater frame; 1 90: Door liner; 195: Liner; 200: Machinery compartment frame; 212: Side panel; 213: Back panel; 220: Intake / exhaust grille; 225a: Intake port; 225b: Exhaust port; 300a~300d: Shelves; 400: Divider; 500a, 500b: Grille fan module; 600: Air conditioning module; 610: Compressor; 620: Main condenser; 630: Evaporator; 900: Door opening device. Detailed Implementation

[0077] Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the exemplary accompanying drawings. It should be noted that when assigning reference numerals to the constituent elements of the various drawings, the same numerals are used as much as possible for the same constituent elements, even though they are labeled in different drawings. Furthermore, in the process of describing the embodiments of the present invention, detailed descriptions of related well-known structures or functions are omitted if they are deemed to hinder understanding of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0078] An embodiment of the refrigerator of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. For reference, the following description uses an embedded refrigerator with a door assembly as an example; however, the door assembly of the present invention can be applied to various devices with storage space inside, such as ordinary refrigerators, wine refrigerators, kimchi refrigerators, beverage refrigerators, plant cultivation equipment, and clothing handling devices.

[0079] The refrigerator of the present invention mainly includes a cabinet 100, a door assembly 130, a mechanical compartment assembly, shelves 330a to 300d, a divider 400, and grille fan modules 500a and 500b. The shelves 330a to 300d, the divider 400, and the grille fan modules 500a and 500b are disposed inside the cabinet 100, and the door assembly 130 is assembled to the front of the cabinet 100. Furthermore, the mechanical compartment assembly is assembled to the lower part of the cabinet 100.

[0080] Reference Figure 1 The cabinet 100 forms the exterior of the refrigerator, as shown in the figure, and its overall height is relatively low. The refrigerator in this embodiment is a built-in refrigerator installed inside a space such as an island dining table, and its height is lower than that of a typical refrigerator. Therefore, not only is the internal capacity small, but the space available for installing various components is also limited. Consequently, the size of the door assembly 130 is also smaller, leaving little space for filling the door assembly 130 with foam or for installing the operating module. This aspect will be explained again below.

[0081] The housing 100 is formed as a cylindrical body that opens forward. The housing 100 is composed of multiple components, mainly including: an outer shell 110 forming the outer wall surface; and an inner shell 120 forming the inner wall surface. For example... Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the front of the housing 100 is selectively covered by the door assembly 130 when it is open. If the door assembly 130 is opened, the storage space 121 is opened to the front.

[0082] exist Figure 4The figure shows multiple components constituting the housing 100 in a disassembled state. As shown, the outer shell 110 has a generally hexahedral shape that opens to the front, rear, and downward sides, and the inner shell 120 is disposed inside the outer shell 110 and spaced apart from the outer shell 110. Furthermore, the rear plate 115 is assembled to the back of the outer shell 110, the front frame 118 is assembled to the front, and the cover plate 250 is assembled to the bottom.

[0083] With the inner shell 120 located inside the outer shell 110, and the rear plate 115, front frame 118, and cover plate 250 all assembled into the outer shell 110, foamed thermal insulation material (not shown) is filled into the space between the inner shell 120 and the outer shell 110 to serve as an insulation space. At this time, the filling hole 116 penetrates the rear plate 115, and the foamed thermal insulation material can be injected through the filling hole 116.

[0084] For reference, in this embodiment, the cover plate 250 may be the bottom surface of the outer casing 110. Furthermore, the setting space 253, described later, may be formed by a portion of the cover plate 250 being recessed towards the heat insulation space.

[0085] The inner shell 120 has a storage space 121 inside. The storage space 121 is a space for storing food, and the storage space 121 can be divided into multiple compartments by shelves 330a to 300d. Guide rails 122 are provided on the inner wall of the storage space 121, and the shelves 330a to 300d can move back and forth under the guidance of the guide rails 122, and can be configured to be removed from the storage space 121 in the form of drawers.

[0086] The storage space 121 has an avoidance portion 123 on its bottom surface. The avoidance portion 123 is a portion that protrudes upward from the bottom surface of the storage space 121, and the avoidance portion 123 is to prevent interference between the wall surface and the compressor 610 of the machine room assembly described later. Due to the avoidance portion 123, a portion of the bottom side of the storage space 121 has a stepped space.

[0087] A door assembly 130 is provided on the front of the housing 100. This door assembly 130 is used to open and close the storage space 121 of the housing 100. In this embodiment, the door assembly 130 is a structure that opens and closes by rotation. More specifically, the door assembly 130 is close to the front frame 118 of the housing 100 to cover the storage space 121, or it can be rotated away from the front frame 118 to open the storage space 121.

[0088] That is, the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention forms a sealed storage space 121 by means of the door assembly 130. In particular, the sealed storage space 121 can maintain a constant temperature and store food without loss of cold air by utilizing the grille fan modules 500a, 500b and the air conditioning module 600. In this embodiment, at least a portion of the door assembly 130 is made of a transparent viewing portion 142 structure, so the storage space 121 can be viewed from the outside.

[0089] Figures 6 to 17 The structure of the door assembly 130 is shown in detail. The structure of the door assembly 130 will be described with reference to these figures. First, the door assembly 130 has a generally rectangular plate structure and is constructed by assembling multiple components. In this embodiment, the door assembly 130 can be automatically opened and closed by an opening device 900. Sensors and buttons for operating this opening device 900 are provided on the edge portion 143 of the front door panel 141 of the door assembly 130. For reference, in Figure 6 The A and B sections are respectively equipped with an input device 170 and a detection device 175, which will be described again below.

[0090] Reference Figure 6 Hinges 168 are provided on one side of the door assembly 130, more specifically on the upper and lower sides. The hinges 168 are used to rotatably connect the door assembly 130 to the housing 100 and to the door frame 150 described later. In this embodiment, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the hinges 168 are located on the right side of the door assembly 130, but they could also be located on the left side, or at a mid-height position, instead of the upper and lower sides.

[0091] Figure 7 The rear structure of the door assembly 130 is shown. Figure 7 This refers to the state where the door element 190 and the gasket 195 described later are omitted; that is, the door element 190 is eliminated, resulting in the state as shown below. Figure 7 The door frame 150 that constitutes the door assembly 130 is shown. Furthermore, the component storage slot S1 for housing the operation module in the door assembly 130 is also exposed at the rear of the door assembly 130.

[0092] Figure 8 The figure shows multiple components constituting the door assembly 130 in an disassembled state. As shown, the door assembly 130 mainly includes a panel unit 140, a door frame 150, a heater frame 180, a door insert 190, and a gasket 195. The door frame 150 forms a basic frame for supporting the door assembly 130 and for connecting the remaining components to the housing 100.

[0093] The panel unit 140 is composed of multiple panels. More precisely, multiple transparent panels are stacked on the panel unit 140 with spacing between them, and the interior of the refrigerator can be selectively viewed through the panel unit 140. In this embodiment, the panel unit 140 is configured with multiple glass panels spaced apart to form a heat insulation layer, but it is not limited to glass and can be made of various transparent materials.

[0094] Furthermore, among the plurality of panel layers, the front door panel 141 forming the front of the panel unit 140 is formed of a semi-glass material so that the interior of the refrigerator can be selectively viewed, or it can be coated with a film to become semi-transparent.

[0095] Reference Figure 8 and as a sectional view Figure 10 and Figure 11 The panel unit 140 is composed of a front door panel 141 forming the front of the panel unit 140 and door insulation panels 145 and 147 stacked on the back of the front door panel 141. The door insulation panels 145 and 147 are stacked behind the front door panel 141. In this embodiment, there are two door insulation panels 145 and 147, but there may be only one, or there may be more than three.

[0096] The structure of the insulated door panels 145 and 147 will be described below. The insulated door panels 145 and 147 include: a back door panel 147, which forms the back of the panel unit 140; and an inner door panel 145, located between the front door panel 141 and the back door panel 147. That is, in this embodiment, the panel unit 140 is composed of three layers of glass.

[0097] The front door panel 141, the inner door panel 145, and the back door panel 147 are made of glass or a material that allows the interior to be seen, thereby enabling selective visibility of the storage space 121. Furthermore, the front door panel 141, the inner door panel 145, and the back door panel 147 are made of heat-insulating material or have a heat-insulating structure, thereby preventing cold air from escaping from the inside of the refrigerator.

[0098] On the other hand, the dimensions of the door insulation panels 145 and 147 are smaller than those of the front door panel 141. More precisely, the area of ​​the front door panel 141 is larger than the area of ​​the door insulation panels 145 and 147. Consequently, the edge of the front door panel 141 protrudes more than the edges (i.e., the outer peripheral surfaces) of the door insulation panels 145 and 147. Figure 8 , Figure 10 as well as Figure 11 This shape was confirmed in the middle.

[0099] In this way, the further protruding portion of the front door panel 141 is called the frame portion 143, and the portion located inside the frame portion 143 is called the transparent portion 142. The transparent portion 142 is a transparent portion so that the interior of the storage space 121 can be seen through the panel unit 140. The frame portion 143 is not necessarily transparent. In this embodiment, the frame portion 143 exists only in the front door panel 141, and the transparent portion 142 exists not only in the front door panel 141, but also in the door insulation panels 145 and 147.

[0100] The viewing section 142 is a transparent portion that allows observation of the storage space 121 through the panel unit 140, and can be considered as presenting the central portion of the front door panel 141, the inner door panel 145, and the entire rear door panel 147. (Refer to...) Figure 6 The perspective section 142 is formed in a shape enclosed by the frame section 143. A door frame 150, which will be described later, is provided on the back of this frame section 143, and an operation module is also provided thereon. This structure will be described again below.

[0101] Furthermore, a spacer strip 149 is inserted between each glass pane. The spacer strip 149 is used to maintain the spacing between each glass pane. Each glass pane and multiple spacer strips 149 can be glued together with adhesive and can also be coated with sealant to maintain an airtight state between the front door panel 141, the inner door panel 145, and the back door panel 147.

[0102] A low-emissivity coating can be formed on the back of the built-in door panel 145 to reduce heat transfer to the storage compartment via radiation. Glass with the low-emissivity coating is referred to as low-emissivity glass, and typically, the coating is formed on the back of the glass surface by sputtering, or similar methods. Furthermore, the sealed space between the front door panel 141, the built-in door panel 145, and the back door panel 147, formed by the spacer strip 149, can be created as a vacuum to achieve thermal insulation.

[0103] If necessary, the sealed space between the front door panel 141, the inner door panel 145, and the rear door panel 147 can be filled with an inert gas, such as argon, for insulation. Inert gases have superior insulation properties compared to ordinary air.

[0104] Next, we will refer to Figures 9 to 13 The construction of the door frame 150 is described below. The door frame 150 is part of the skeleton forming the door assembly 130 and has a generally rectangular frame shape. The door frame 150 is assembled from multiple components to form a single frame shape, such as... Figure 9 As shown, the four frames are connected using corner brackets 160A to 160D.

[0105] When the door frame 150 is assembled to the panel unit 140, an edge surface of the door frame 150 may form a continuous surface with an edge surface of the front door panel 141 constituting the panel unit 140. That is, since the degree to which the edge surface of the door frame 150 protrudes is the same as the degree to which the edge surface of the front door panel 141 protrudes, the edge surfaces of the door frame 150 and the front door panel 141 are formed as a continuous surface. With this structure, the appearance of the door assembly 130 can be made more uniform.

[0106] The door frame 150 is mainly composed of four frames. First, the door frame 150 is composed of a pair of side frames 151 surrounding two sides of the panel unit 140, an upper frame 153 surrounding the top surface of the panel unit 140, and a lower frame 155 surrounding the bottom surface of the panel unit 140. Each of these frames has a bar shape that extends substantially in one direction.

[0107] More precisely, the door frame 150 is assembled to the back surface of the frame portion 143, the side frames 151 respectively wrap two sides of the perspective portion 142, the upper frame 153 connects the upper sides of the pair of side frames 151 and wraps the top surface of the perspective portion 142, and the lower frame 155 connects the lower sides of the pair of side frames 151 and wraps the bottom surface of the perspective portion 142.

[0108] Moreover, corner brackets 160A to 160D are provided at the four corners of the door frame 150 to connect the respective frames. The corner brackets 160A to 160D are respectively provided at the four corners and are divided into a first corner bracket 160A, a second corner bracket 160B, a third corner bracket 160C, and a fourth corner bracket 160D for ease of explanation. The corner brackets 160A to 160D may each have a different structure. For example, the main bracket 161 constituting the first corner bracket 160A has a cross-section in the shape of a "匚", while the main bracket 162 constituting the second corner bracket 160B has a cross-section in a simple linear shape.

[0109] The structure of the side frame 151 will be described in detail. At this time, since the pair of side frames 151 have the same structure, the side frame 151 located on Figure 9 the right side will be mainly described. The side frame 151 extends in one direction and is made of a metal material. The side frame 151 supports the long side (i.e., the side surface) in the panel unit 140, so it is preferably made of a strong material. In this embodiment, it is manufactured by compressing an aluminum material.

[0110] The side frame 151 is not simply extended in one direction, but has an opening on the inner side of the side facing the view portion 142 of the panel unit 140, providing a connecting space 152 for at least a portion of the first corner bracket 160A and the fourth corner bracket 160D (described later) to be inserted into the connecting space 152. The connecting space 152 secures the connection between the side frame 151, the first corner bracket 160A, and the fourth corner bracket 160D, and also serves to prevent the first corner bracket 160A and the fourth corner bracket 160D from being exposed to the outside or to prevent the overall thickness of the door frame 150 from increasing.

[0111] Reference Figure 11 The side frame 151 has a joining space 152, which is composed of a first joining space 152a and a second joining space 152b. More precisely, the side frame 151 has a plurality of side joining plates 151a to 151c, with the first joining space 152a formed between the side joining plates 151a and 151b, and the second joining space 152b formed between the side joining plates 151b and 151c.

[0112] At this time, a portion of the main support 161 and the support frame 163 constituting the first corner bracket 160A are inserted into the first connecting space 152a and the second connecting space 152b, respectively. Furthermore, the remaining portions of the main support 161 and the support frame 163 constituting the first corner bracket 160A are inserted into the assembly space 153S of the assembly connecting plates 153a1 to 153a3, which will be described later. Thus, the side frame 151 and the upper frame 153 can be connected to each other.

[0113] In the side frame 151, the side connecting plates 151a to 151c face the side of the perspective portion 142 of the panel unit 140 (to... Figure 11 The side panels 151a to 151c protrude from the sides of the base door panel 145 and the rear door panel 147. These side panels are composed of a first side panel 151a, a second side panel 151b, and a third side panel 151c. The first side panel 151a, the second side panel 151b, and the third side panel 151c extend parallel to each other to generally form an "E" shape, but the lengths of the protrusions can be different. In this embodiment, the first side panel 151a is the longest, and the third side panel 151c is the shortest.

[0114] The first side bonding plate 151a is in close contact with the back of the front door panel 141 that constitutes the front of the panel unit 140. For example... Figure 11As shown, the front surface of the first side joining plate 151a is in close contact with the back surface of the front door panel 141. More specifically, the back surfaces of the frame portion 143 are in close contact with each other, and an adhesive surface G is formed between these surfaces. As described above, the front surface of the first side joining plate 151a is joined with the back surface of the frame portion 143. Therefore, for a stable joint, the area of ​​the first side joining plate 151a is formed to be larger than that of the second side joining plate 151b and the third side joining plate 151c.

[0115] The adhesive surface G is the portion used to bond the back of the frame portion 143 and the front of the first side bonding plate 151a. In this embodiment, double-sided tape is adhered to the adhesive surface G. In this case, adhesive may be present on the adhesive surface G instead of double-sided tape. Alternatively, the front door panel 141 and the frame portion 143 may be connected using separate connectors such as bolts.

[0116] The second side connecting plate 151b is spaced apart from the first side connecting plate 151a, and a first connecting space 152a is formed between the second side connecting plate 151b and the first side connecting plate 151a, for the first support body 161a of the main support 161 to be inserted into the first connecting space 152a. The width of the first connecting space 152a may be equal to or greater than the thickness of the first support body 161a, preferably equal to the thickness of the first support body 161a, so that the two sides of the first support body 161a can respectively connect with the first side connecting plate 151a and the second side connecting plate 151b.

[0117] The third side connecting plate 151c is disposed on the opposite side of the first side connecting plate 151a, separated from the second side connecting plate 151b. A second connecting space 152b is formed between the third side connecting plate 151c and the second side connecting plate 151b, and the support frame 163 is inserted into the second connecting space 152b. The third side connecting plate 151c extends to a relatively shorter length than the second side connecting plate 151b, and the door liner 190, described later, hooks and is fixed to the end of the third side connecting plate 151c.

[0118] like Figure 11As shown, the support frame 163 constituting the first corner bracket 160A is inserted into the second connecting space 152b, and one side surface of the first support body 163a of the support frame 163 is in close contact with the second side connecting plate 151b. Since the thickness of the support frame 163 is less than the width of the second connecting space 152b, a gap is formed between the opposite side surface of the support frame 163 and the third side connecting plate 151c. In this case, both sides of the second side connecting plate 151b are in close contact with one side surface of the first bracket body 161a and the support frame 163, respectively, and can be connected by a single connector. For this purpose, the first connecting hole 151b' penetrates the second side connecting plate 151b.

[0119] Next, the upper frame 153 and the lower frame 155 will be described, which are located on opposite sides of each other across the pair of side frames 151. The upper frame 153 and the lower frame 155 respectively constitute the upper and lower parts of the door frame 150 and have a symmetrical structure. Hinges 168 are assembled on both the upper frame 153 and the lower frame 155 to allow the door assembly 13 to rotate.

[0120] In this embodiment, both the upper frame 153 and the lower frame 155 are made of synthetic resin material. Since the upper frame 153 and the lower frame 155 do not directly support the hinge 168, they are not subjected to large loads, and therefore can be made of a material with relatively lower strength than the side frame 151. When both the upper frame 153 and the lower frame 155 are made of synthetic resin material, the overall weight of the door assembly 130 can be reduced, and more complex shapes can be achieved. Therefore, the structure of the component storage groove S1, described later, can be more easily implemented in the door frame 150.

[0121] On the other hand, since the upper frame 153 and the lower frame 155 are symmetrical structures, the upper frame 153 will be mainly described below. Figure 9 As shown, the upper frame 153 is generally L-shaped and forms a mounting space 154, so that the hinge 168 can be mounted above the upper frame 153. The hinge 168 is fixed to the upper frame 153 to allow the door assembly 130 to rotate relative to the housing 100. Reference numeral 169 indicates a hinge cover for concealing the hinge 168, and is composed of a first cover 169A and a second cover 169B. The hinge cover 168 may be omitted, or may be composed of only one component.

[0122] exist Figure 10The upper frame 153 is shown in cross-section in the figure. The upper frame 153 has a contact plate 153b that stands vertically in the vertical direction. The surface of the contact plate 153b is configured to be in close contact with the back of the front door panel 141 that constitutes the front of the panel unit 140, and more specifically, to be in close contact with the back of the frame portion 143.

[0123] Furthermore, an adhesive surface G is provided between the surface of the contact plate 153b and the back surface of the frame portion 143. The adhesive surface G is used to bond the back surface of the frame portion 143 and the surface of the contact plate 153b together. In this embodiment, double-sided tape is adhered to the adhesive surface G. The adhesive surface G extends along a direction orthogonal to the adhesive surface G between the back surface of the frame portion 143 and the front surface of the first side connecting plate 151a, and connects at the corner of the door frame 150. In this case, adhesive may be present on the adhesive surface G instead of double-sided tape. Alternatively, the front door panel 141 and the frame portion 143 may be connected using a separate connector such as bolts.

[0124] Reference Figure 10 The upper frame 153, similar to the side frame 151, has a structure protruding toward the panel unit 140. In this embodiment, the upper frame 153 has a plurality of assembly plates 153a1 to 153a3. The assembly plates 153a1 to 153a3 protrude toward the edge direction of the panel unit 140, which is opposite to the direction in which the contact plate 153b protrudes, and include a plurality of assembly plates 153a1 to 153a3, thereby combining with the main support 161 and the support frame 163 constituting the first corner bracket 160A.

[0125] The upper frame 153 has an assembly space 153S, which is composed of a first assembly space 153S1 and a second assembly space 153S2. More precisely, the upper frame 153 includes a plurality of assembly connecting plates 153a1 to 153a3, with the second assembly space 153S1 formed between the assembly connecting plates 153a1 and 153a2, and the second assembly space 153S2 formed between the assembly connecting plates 153a2 and 153a3. Furthermore, a portion of the main support 161 and the support frame 163 constituting the first corner bracket 160A respectively forms these first assembly spaces 153S1.

[0126] In this embodiment, the assembly bonding plates 153a1 to 153a3 are composed of a first assembly bonding plate 153a1, a second assembly bonding plate 153a2, and a third assembly bonding plate 153a3. Among them, the first assembly bonding plate 153a1 is in close contact with the back surface of the front door panel 141 that constitutes the front surface of the panel unit 140. Referring to Figure 10 , it can be seen that the first assembly bonding plate 153a1 continues downward to the contact plate 153b. Therefore, a part of the bonding surface G is also formed on the front surface of the first assembly bonding plate 153a1.

[0127] In the side frame 151, the assembly bonding plates 153a1 to 153a3 protrude toward the top surface of the perspective part 142 of the panel unit 140 (referring to Figure 10 , the top surfaces of the built-in door panel 145 and the back door panel 147). The assembly bonding plates 153a1 to 153a3 are composed of a first assembly bonding plate 153a1, a second assembly bonding plate 153a2, and a third assembly bonding plate 153a3. These first assembly bonding plate 153a1, second assembly bonding plate 153a2, and third assembly bonding plate 153a3 extend in parallel to roughly form an "E", but the protruding lengths can be different. In this embodiment, the first assembly bonding plate 153a1 is the longest and the third assembly bonding plate 153a3 is the shortest.

[0128] Moreover, one side of the second bracket body 161b of the main bracket 161 is supported by the first assembly bonding plate 153a1. The second bracket body 161b of the main bracket 161 also has a "匚"-shaped cross-section similar to the first bracket body 161a, and one side of the second bracket body 161b is in close contact with the first assembly bonding plate 153a1.

[0129] The second assembly bonding plate 153a2 is spaced apart from the first assembly bonding plate 153a1, and a first assembly space 153S1 is formed between the second assembly bonding plate 153a2 and the first assembly bonding plate 153a1. The second bracket body 161b of the main bracket 161 is inserted into the first assembly space 153S1. The width of the first assembly space 153S1 can be equal to or greater than the thickness of the second bracket body 161b, but it is preferably equal to the thickness of the second bracket body 161b so that the two side surfaces of the second bracket body 161b are respectively in contact with the first assembly bonding plate 153a1 and the second assembly bonding plate 153a2.

[0130] The third assembly plate 153a3 is disposed on the opposite side of the first assembly plate 153a1, separated from the second assembly plate 153a2. A second assembly space 153S2 is formed between the third assembly plate 153a3 and the second assembly plate 153a2, and the support frame 163 is inserted into the second assembly space 153S2. The third assembly plate 153a3 extends to a relatively shorter length than the second assembly plate 153a2, and the door liner 190 (described later) hooks and is fixed to the end of the third assembly plate 153a3.

[0131] The support frame 163 constituting the main bracket 161 is inserted into the second assembly space 153S2, with one side surface of the support frame 163 in close contact with the second assembly connecting plate 153a2. Since the thickness of the support frame 163 is less than the width of the second assembly space 153S2, an empty space is formed between the opposite surface of the support frame 163 and the third assembly connecting plate 153a3. In this case, both sides of the second assembly connecting plate 153a2 are in close contact with one side surface of the second bracket body 161b and the support frame 163, respectively, and can be connected by a single connector. Therefore, the second connecting hole 153a2' penetrates the second assembly connecting plate 153a2.

[0132] On the other hand, the assembly space 153S is connected to the aforementioned connecting space 152. The assembly space 153S and the connecting space 152 are orthogonally connected to each other in a generally "U" shape, which corresponds to the shape of the main support 161 and the support frame 163 constituting the first corner bracket 160A. More precisely, (i) the first assembly space 153S1 between the first assembly connecting plate 153a1 and the second assembly connecting plate 153a2 is connected to the first connecting space 152a between the first side connecting plate 151a and the second side connecting plate 151b, and (ii) the second assembly space 153S2 between the second assembly connecting plate 153a2 and the third assembly connecting plate 153a3 is connected to the second connecting space 152b between the second side connecting plate 151b and the third side connecting plate 151c. Therefore, the main support 161 can be clamped between the first assembly space 153S1 and the first connecting space 152a, and the support frame 163 can be clamped between the second assembly space 153S2 and the second connecting space 152b.

[0133] Additionally, the side bonding plates 151a to 151c and the assembly bonding plates 153a1 to 153a3 are connected to each other to have a continuous surface, as shown in the reference. Figure 12 and Figure 13It can be seen that the second side connecting plate 151b and the second assembly connecting plate 153a2 are connected to each other continuously, and the support frame 163 constituting the corner brackets 160A to 160D is attached to this continuous surface. (Reference) Figure 12 It shows Figure 7 The first corner bracket 160A, marked with D in the middle, Figure 13 It shows Figure 7 The second corner bracket 160B is marked with E in the middle.

[0134] Next, the corner brackets 160A to 160D will be described. As mentioned above, the corner brackets 160A to 160D include first corner brackets 160A to fourth corner brackets 160D, wherein both the first corner bracket 160A and the second corner bracket 160B are composed of a main bracket 161 and a support frame 163. Since the first corner bracket 160A and the second corner bracket 160B have the same structure, the first corner bracket 160A will be mainly described.

[0135] The main support 161 constituting the first corner bracket 160A has a generally U-shaped overall shape, and the first support body 161a and the second support body 161b are orthogonally connected to each other. The first support body 161a is located in the first joining space 152a of the aforementioned side frame 151, and the second support body 161b is located in the first assembly space 153S1 of the upper frame 153. Figure 11 As shown, the first bracket hole 161a' passes through the first bracket body 161a to connect with the first connecting hole 151b' of the second side connecting plate 151b.

[0136] Furthermore, the second support body 161b is located in the first assembly space 153S1 of the upper frame 153, referring to... Figure 10 The second bracket body 161b has a second bracket hole 161b'', which is connected to the second connecting hole 153a2' of the second assembly plate 153a2.

[0137] The main support 161 has a U-shaped cross-section. The main support 161 is directly connected to the hinge 168 and becomes the rotation center of the door assembly 130. Since a large load is applied during the rotation of the door assembly 130, this shape can be used to enhance its strength. (Refer to...) Figure 9 It can be seen that the hinge connection hole 161b' penetrates the second bracket body 161b of the main bracket 161, as shown in the reference. Figure 10An upper frame 153 is stacked on the second support body 161b, and the upper frame 153 has a hinge connection hole 154a. Since the hinge connection hole 154a is connected to the hinge connection hole 161b', when the connecting member passes through the hinge connection hole 154a and connects to the hinge connection hole 161b', the hinge 168 placed in the placement space 154 of the upper frame 153 can be fixed to the door frame 150.

[0138] On the other hand, the support frame 163 is similar to the main support 161 and has a "ㄱ" shape, referring to... Figure 12 The support frame 163 is composed of a first support body 163a and a second support body 163b. Here, the first support body 163a is located in the second joining space 152b of the side frame 151, and the second support body 163b is located in the second assembly space 153S2 of the upper frame 153. The main bracket 161 connects the upper frame 153 and the side frame 151 to each other; therefore, the support frame 163 can be omitted, but it can more firmly maintain the assembled structure when assembled to the main bracket 161.

[0139] like Figure 9 The support frame 163 includes a first support hole 163a' and a second support hole 163b'. The first support hole 163a' and the second support hole 163b' correspond respectively to the first support hole 161a' and the second support hole 161b'' of the main bracket 161. (Refer to...) Figure 11 The first support hole 163a' of the support frame 163 is connected to the first bracket hole 161a' through the first connecting hole 151b' of the second side connecting plate 151b. Therefore, when a connector passes through these holes, the main bracket 161, the second side connecting plate 151b, and the support frame 163 can be connected to each other. This shape is... Figure 12 As shown in the image.

[0140] Reference Figure 10 The second support hole 163b' of the support frame 163 is connected to the second bracket hole 161b'' through the second connecting hole 153a2' of the second assembly plate 153a2. Therefore, when a connector passes through these holes, the main bracket 161, the second assembly plate 153a2, and the support frame 163 can be connected to each other. That is, ultimately, the support frame 163 also serves to connect the side frame 151 and the lower frame 155 to each other.

[0141] Reference Figure 9The first corner bracket 160A and the fourth corner bracket 160D are both composed of a main bracket 161 and a support frame 163. However, the third corner bracket 160C is composed of only one bracket, while the second corner bracket 160B, although composed of two brackets, does not have the same structure as the main bracket 161 of the first corner bracket 160A and the fourth corner bracket 160D, but is composed of only a flat bracket. As described above, the part joined by the hinge 168 is composed of a main bracket 161 and a support frame 163 to enhance strength, but other structures can be used for the part without the hinge 168.

[0142] On the other hand, an operation module is provided on the door frame 150. Here, the operation module is a general term for electrically operated devices, such as input device 170, detection device 175, or screen, etc. In this embodiment, input device 170 and detection device 175 are provided on the door frame 150.

[0143] Reference Figure 6 An operation module is provided on the upper part (i.e., the frame portion 143) of the front door panel 141 constituting the door assembly 130. In this embodiment, an input device 170 is provided in portion A, and a detection device 175 is provided in portion B. When a user is detected in front of portion B, a light-emitting portion 172 for notifying the position of the touch sensor 173 emits light around the input device 170 in portion A. The user can touch the touch sensor 173 to activate the door opening device 900, thereby opening the door assembly 130. In particular, the detection device 175 for detecting the approach of the user is preferably provided in the center of the upper part of the front door panel 141. Here, the light-emitting portion 172 can be an LED light 172.

[0144] Figure 14 Input device 170 and detection device 175 are shown respectively. These operation modules are disposed on the back of the frame portion 143 of the panel unit 140. More specifically, the door frame 150 is spaced apart from the outer peripheral surfaces of the door panels 145 and 147. A component storage groove S1 is formed between the door frame 150 and the outer peripheral surfaces, and an operation module is disposed in the component storage groove S1.

[0145] More specifically, the door frame 150 is spaced apart from the outer peripheral surfaces of the door insulation panels 145 and 147, and a component storage groove S1 is provided between them. An operation module can be disposed inside the component storage groove S1, with a portion of the operation module passing through the frame portion 143 and positioned facing the front of the panel unit 140. This is because, as... Figure 14 As shown, the component storage slot S1 is formed on the back side of the frame portion 143, so the operation module set here will naturally face the front of the frame portion 143.

[0146] In summary, in this embodiment, the component storage slot S1 can be regarded as an empty space between the top surface of the outer peripheral surface of the door insulation panels 145 and 147, the back surface of the frame portion 143, and the bottom surface of the door frame 150.

[0147] Such component storage slots S1 can be continuously formed along at least two or more of the outer peripheral surfaces of the door frame 150 and the door insulation panels 145, 147. In this embodiment, the component storage slots S1 are formed along all four outer peripheral surfaces of the door insulation panels 145, 147, so that wires connected from the operating module can be stored using such component storage slots S1.

[0148] Furthermore, the frame portion 143 is made of a transparent or translucent material, allowing the operation module disposed inside the component storage slot S1 to be identified from the outside. In this embodiment, the frame portion 143 is coated with a translucent film, so the operation module cannot be immediately identified; however, it can be identified when illuminated by the LED light 172 disposed on the input device 170. Thus, the user can perceive the position of the input device 170 and accurately touch the touch sensor 173.

[0149] Reference Figure 15 and Figure 16 Fixed flanges 154d and 154e protrude from the door frame 150 toward the component receiving groove S1. More precisely, the fixed flanges 154d and 154e protrude from the upper frame 153 and are used to fix the input device 170. As shown in the figure, the fixed flanges 154d and 154e are arranged in pairs on both sides. Referring to the figure, the first fixed flange 154d is arranged on the left side and the second fixed flange 154e is arranged on the right side. The input device 170 is located between them.

[0150] The first fixing flange 154d and the second fixing flange 154e do not need to have the same structure and can be made into various shapes. In particular, in this embodiment, the upper frame 153 is made of synthetic resin material, so the fixing flanges 154d and 154e can be freely made into various shapes.

[0151] The first fixing flange 154d has a first fixing hole 154d', and the second fixing flange 154e has a second fixing hole 154e'. The first fixing hole 154d' corresponds to the first fixing hole 174a' of the first mounting bracket 174a and 174b connected to the input device 170, and is a part connected by a bolt B or the like.

[0152] Furthermore, the second fixing hole 154e' corresponds to the second fixing hole 174b' of the second mounting bracket 174b in the mounting brackets 174a and 174b of the input device 170. In this case, the second fixing hole 154e' not only assembles with the second mounting hole 174b', but also connects the main bracket 162 and the support frame 163 constituting the second corner bracket 160B. That is, connecting elements such as bolts B are connected in the following order: (i) the second support hole 163b' of the support frame 163, (ii) the second fixing hole 154e' of the second fixing flange 154e, (iii) the second main connecting hole 162b of the main bracket 162, and (iv) the second mounting hole 174b' of the second mounting bracket 174b. In this case, the input device 170 can be more securely mounted on the door frame 150. Reference numeral 162a is a first main connecting hole for assembling the main bracket 162 and the second side connecting plate 151b together.

[0153] like Figure 15 As shown, when viewed from the rear of the door assembly 130, the first mounting bracket 174a is stacked above the first fixing flange 154d, and not only is the second mounting bracket 174b stacked below the second fixing flange 154e, but the main bracket 162 and the support frame 163 are also stacked above the second mounting bracket 174b. Therefore, the input device 170 can not only be securely fixed, but the connection stability can also be improved, thus preventing the user from arbitrarily separating the input device 170.

[0154] Furthermore, since the mounting brackets 174a and 174b are connected to the fixing flanges 154d and 154e using connectors while the operating module is connected, the operating module is detachably fixed to the component storage slot S1. Of course, either the first fixing flange 154d or the second fixing flange 154e can be omitted.

[0155] On the other hand, although not shown in the figure, in the door frame 150, the hook protrudes towards the component storage groove S1, and the operation module can also be locked onto the hook, thus allowing for a detachable connection. That is, when the operation module inserts the hook S1 after elastic deformation and the hook returns to its original position, the operation module is fixed to the component storage groove S1. At this time, the hook protrudes towards the component storage groove S1, allowing the operation module to make close contact with the back of the frame portion 143.

[0156] For example, in Figure 14In (b), the detection device 175 includes a housing 177, on which a locking body 176 is provided, so that the locking body 176 can also be locked to the hook and fixed. Of course, the detection device 175 can also be fixed to the component storage slot S1 with the same structure as the input device 170.

[0157] Reference Figure 14 When the operation module is positioned in the component storage slot S1, the front of the operation module protrudes closer to the back of the frame portion 143 than the fixing flanges 154d and 154e. As a result, components such as the fixing flanges 154d and 154e and the mounting brackets 174a and 174b are positioned relatively inwards, making them less conspicuous at the front of the door assembly 130 and thus preserving its aesthetic appeal. Furthermore, because the operation module is positioned close to the front of the door assembly 130, the user can better see the light from the LED light 172 or the screen (not shown) located on the frame portion 143.

[0158] The operation module will be described below. Figure 14 The input device 170 shown in (a) includes an LED light 172 and a touch sensor 173. The LED light 172 is used to illuminate to indicate the position of the input device 170, and the touch sensor 173 is capacitively actuated, meaning that when a user touches the touch sensor 173, it can actuate the door opening device 900 to open the door assembly 130.

[0159] The input device 170 may also include a separate input substrate 171 to control the touch sensor 173 and the LED 172. The input substrate 171, used to control the input device 170, may be constructed from a printed circuit board. The input substrate 171 may include components such as the LED 172 and the touch sensor 173. Figure 15 As shown, the input connector 170a may be disposed on the back side of the input substrate 171. The input connector 170a is used to connect the input substrate 171 to the control module 700, and a counterpart connector (not shown) and a portion of the wiring harness are connected to the input connector 170a.

[0160] In the input device 170, the LED light 172 may be omitted, and the touch sensor 173 may be replaced by various proximity sensors instead of a capacitive one. Alternatively, instead of the touch sensor 173, the input device 170 may include a microphone for detecting sound waves caused by vibrations, thus constituting a tap detection device for recognizing user tapping operations. Furthermore, a camera (not shown) may be installed in the input device 170 to recognize specific user actions as door opening signals, thereby operating the door opening device 900.

[0161] Figure 14 (b) shows a detection device 175. The detection device 175 is used to identify when a user is located in front of the door assembly 130. More precisely, a position sensing device can be used in the detection device 175. That is, the detection device 175 is configured to identify the user's position by measuring the angle of the reflected infrared light emitted by the light-emitting unit. The proximity distance that the position sensor can detect can be set; for example, the detection distance can be set to within 1 meter, and if the user is within 1 meter of the front of the refrigerator, it can be identified that the user is located in front of the refrigerator for operation. Reference numeral 177 refers to the housing of the detection device 175.

[0162] In this embodiment, multiple operation modules are disposed on the upper part of the back side of the frame portion 143 of the panel unit 140. This is because when the door assembly 130 is small, for example, when the door assembly 130 is applied to a low-height product such as a wine refrigerator, the user cannot recognize the input device 170 or has difficulty operating the touch sensor 173 of the input device 170. Of course, in contrast, multiple operation modules can also be disposed on the lower part, left side, or right side of the frame portion 143. In this embodiment, the component storage groove S1 is formed along the outer peripheral surface of the door insulation panels 145, 147 on all four sides, so the placement position of the multiple operation modules can be freely set.

[0163] In particular, in this embodiment, the detection device 175 is disposed at the upper center of the upper back of the frame portion 143. The detection device 175, disposed at the center without being biased to either side, can better detect the approach of a user.

[0164] In this embodiment, the detection device 175 and the input device 170 are spaced apart at the same height inside the component storage slot S1. That is, both the detection device 175 and the input device 170 are located on the upper frame 153, and as described above, the same height improves the setup and maintainability of the operation module.

[0165] Furthermore, the detection device 175 is located at the upper center of the component storage slot S1, while the input device 170 is located on the opposite side of the upper part of the component storage slot S1 where the hinge 168 is located. Therefore, a user operating the input device 170 can naturally stand on the open entrance side of the door assembly 130.

[0166] On the other hand, the component storage slot S1 is concealed by the door insert 190, which will be described later. One side of the component storage slot S1 faces the back of the frame portion 143, while the opposite side faces the door insert 190. When the door insert 190 is separated from the door frame 150, the component storage slot S1 is exposed in the opposite direction. Therefore, the operator can maintain the operating module by separating the door insert 190.

[0167] A heater frame 180 is provided at the edge of the door frame 150. The heater frame 180 can be inserted into the space (i.e., component storage groove S1) between the outer peripheral surfaces of the door frame 150 and the door insulation panels 145, 147. The heater frame 180 is used to prevent condensation from forming in the panel unit 140 and has built-in heating wires (not shown). Condensation may occur on the front of the cabinet 100 near the part in contact with the door assembly 130 due to the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the refrigerator, or due to heat transfer at the joint between the multiple layers of glass constituting the panel unit 140. The heating wires prevent the above situations from occurring.

[0168] like Figure 8 As shown, the heater frame 180 has a generally rectangular frame shape, and the heater frame 180 is larger than the inner door panel 145 and the back door panel 147 that constitute the viewing section 142, but smaller than the door frame 150. Figure 10 and Figure 11 The image shows a heater frame 180 in which heating grooves 182, into which heating wires are inserted, are formed along the heater frame 180. The heating grooves 182 are formed continuously around the entire heater frame 180, or they may be formed only in a portion of the frame.

[0169] The heating groove 182 has a shape in which a portion of the multilayer glass constituting the panel unit 140 opens toward the back of the front door panel 141 constituting the front. Therefore, the heat generated by the heating wires built into the heating groove 182 can be directly transferred to the back of the front door panel 141, and the formation of condensation can be prevented more effectively.

[0170] The door insert 190 is assembled behind the heater frame 180. The door insert 190 is assembled to the door frame 150 across the heater frame 180 and has a rectangular frame. The door insert 190 is assembled to the door frame 150 to conceal the component storage slot S1. One side of the component storage slot S1 faces the back of the side frame portion 143, while the opposite side faces the door insert 190. When the door insert 190 is separated from the door frame 150, the component storage slot S1 is exposed in the opposite direction. Therefore, the operator can maintain the operating module by separating the door insert 190.

[0171] As described above, when the door insert 190 is assembled to the door frame 150, the component storage slot S1 is concealed, thereby making the assembly parts of each frame and each bracket constituting the door frame 150, as well as the wires, invisible, which can enhance the aesthetics.

[0172] The edge of the door liner 190 is engaged with the second assembly plate 153a2 (see reference). Figure 10 ) and the second side joint plate 151b (refer to) Figure 11 The door liner 190 is fixed at its end. Made of synthetic resin material and possessing a certain degree of elasticity, it can be elastically deformed to assemble with the second assembly plate 153a2 and the second side assembly plate 151b during assembly to the door frame 150. That is, the door liner 190 can be assembled to the door frame 150 without a separate connector. Alternatively, the door liner 190 can be securely fixed to the door frame 150 using a separate connector.

[0173] The door insert 190 includes a support rib 193. The support rib 193 protrudes from the front of the door insert 190 and towards the heater frame 180. The support rib 193 supports the heater frame 180 towards the back of the front door panel 141 that forms the front of the multi-layered glass, thereby helping the heating wire to make close contact with the front door panel 141. Although not shown in the figures, a separate lighting device for illuminating the interior of the door assembly 130 may also be added to the door insert 190.

[0174] A gasket 195 is attached to the back of the door liner 190. The gasket 195 is in close contact with the outer periphery of the housing 100 to prevent cold air inside the storage space 121 from leaking between the door assembly 130 and the housing 100.

[0175] Finally, the wire guide 197 is assembled to the door frame 150. The wire guide 197 is located at the corner, where the side frame 151 constituting the door frame 150 is connected to the lower frame 155. The wire guide 197 is used to guide the power cord or heating wire of the operating module into the interior of the housing 100.

[0176] Reference Figure 17The diagram illustrates the construction of the wire guide 197. The wire guide 197 is mainly composed of a first guide 198 and a second guide 199, and the first guide 198 and the second guide 199 have a structure capable of rotating relative to each other. Firstly, in this embodiment, the first guide 198 is assembled along the bottom surface of the lower frame 155. A first guide channel 198b is provided inside the first guide 198, which is the space through which the power supply wire passes. Furthermore, multiple locking protrusions 198' are provided to block this first guide channel 198b, thereby preventing the wire from detaching.

[0177] One end of the first guide 198 is open to form an insertion groove 198a. The insertion groove 198a corresponds to the inlet for wire insertion. If the first guide 198 is made of synthetic resin material, the wire can be easily inserted into it when the first guide 198 is open to the left and right.

[0178] A second guide 199 is connected to the first guide 198. The second guide 199 is rotatable relative to the first guide 198, and a wire connection groove 199a is recessed in the portion assembled with the first guide 198. That is, a wire connection groove 199a is provided at the rotation center rotatably connected to the first guide 198, and the wire connection groove 199a is connected to the first guide channel 198b.

[0179] Furthermore, the second guide body 199 includes a second guide channel 199b inside, through which the wire is inserted and guided. The second guide body 199 also includes a locking protrusion 199' that blocks the second guide channel 199b to prevent the wire from disengaging. The outlet side of the second guide channel 199b is open, allowing the wire to exit through this outlet. This second guide body 199 is inserted into the interior of the housing 100, and the wire guided to the second guide body 199 can be connected to a control module inside the housing 100.

[0180] Next, the assembly process of the door assembly 130 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, the door frame 150 is assembled. The pair of side frames 151 constituting the door frame 150, the upper frame 153 connecting the upper and lower parts of the pair of side frames 151, and the lower frame 155 are arranged in a rectangular shape, and then the pair of side frames 151, the upper frame 153, and the lower frame 155 are connected by corner brackets 160A to 160D.

[0181] More specifically, the first corner brackets 160A to the fourth corner brackets 160D are assembled at the four corners to complete the rectangular door frame 150. At this time, both the first corner brackets 160A and the fourth corner brackets 160D are composed of a main bracket 161 and a support frame 163. The first bracket body 161a of the main bracket 161 is inserted into the first joining space 152a, and the second bracket body 161b, which is orthogonal to the first bracket body 161a, is inserted into the first assembly space 153S1.

[0182] In this state, the support frame 163 is connected to the main support 161 via the second side connecting plate 151b and the second assembly connecting plate 153a2, and these can be assembled using connectors. Therefore, the door frame 150 can remain in a secure assembled state.

[0183] In this configuration, the door frame 150 is assembled in one step. That is, in this invention, no foaming agent is filled into the door frame 150. Therefore, the operations of attaching the operating module to the door assembly 130 and separating the operating module can be easily performed. In particular, when the door insert 190 is separated from the door assembly 130, the component storage groove S1 that houses the components is immediately exposed to the outside, thus facilitating component maintenance.

[0184] Next, the panel unit 140 is assembled to the door frame 150. The panel unit 140 is already in a multi-layered state. In this embodiment, the panel unit 140 is a combination of the front door panel 141, the inner door panel 145, and the back door panel 147 stacked in sequence. Because the front door panel 141 of this panel unit 140 is larger than the other glass panels, it forms a stepped portion, which is a frame portion 143, and the door frame 150 is attached to the frame portion 143.

[0185] More specifically, the door frame 150 is disposed on the back side of the frame portion 143, and an adhesive material such as double-sided tape is placed between them. In this state, when the panel unit 140 and the door frame 150 are forcefully pressed and compressed using separate clamps or devices, the back side of the frame portion 143 and the front side of the door frame 150 can be brought into contact with each other. Figure 18 In the image, the assembled door frame 150 can be seen positioned behind the panel unit 140.

[0186] In this configuration, an empty space is formed between the outer periphery of the door panels 145 and 147 of the panel unit 140 and the door frame 150. This empty space serves as a component storage slot S1. An input device 170 and a detection device 175, acting as an operation module, are installed in this component storage slot S1. The operation module is located in the portion corresponding to the back of the frame portion 143 and is fixed by a component bracket, allowing for further separation.

[0187] Then, the heater frame 180 is inserted into the component storage slot S1 between the outer peripheral surfaces of the door insulation panels 145, 147 of the panel unit 140 and the door frame 150. Heating wires have already been inserted into the heating slots 182 of the heater frame 180, and in this state, the heater frame 180 is inserted into the component storage slot S1. Figure 18 The image shows the heater frame 180 and the door frame 150 being spaced apart.

[0188] Then, the heating wires and the wiring harness exiting the operation module are organized, and the wiring harness can be organized by the component storage slot S1. Then, the wiring harness is inserted into the wire guide 197 assembled on the door frame 150.

[0189] Next, the door insert 190 is assembled to the door frame 150. The door insert 190 is assembled to the back of the door frame 150 to conceal the component storage slot S1. That is, the door insert 190 makes the assembly parts of each frame and each bracket constituting the door frame 150, as well as the various wires, invisible, thereby enhancing the aesthetics.

[0190] Meanwhile, the support rib 193 of the door shell 190 presses the heater frame 180 toward the front door panel 141 to firmly fix the heater frame 180, so that the heating wire can transfer heat to the front door panel 141 well.

[0191] Then, the liner 195 is assembled to the back of the door core 190, and finally, the hinge 168 is assembled to the door frame 150. One hinge 168 is assembled to the mounting space 154 of the upper frame 153 and the mounting space 154 of the lower frame 155. At this time, the hinge 168 is mounted on the upper frame 153 and the lower frame 155, but it is actually connected and supported by the main support 161 assembled inside the hinge.

[0192] The door assembly 130, completed in this manner, can be assembled into the housing 100. When one side of the hinge 168 is assembled to the edge of the housing 100, the door assembly 130 can rotate relative to the housing 100.

[0193] Next, the mechanical compartment frame 200 constituting the mechanical compartment assembly will be described. The mechanical compartment frame 200 is provided to form the lower structure of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. An air conditioning module 600, which will be described later, is provided in the mechanical compartment frame 200, and the aforementioned cabinet 100 is attached to the upper part of the mechanical compartment frame 200.

[0194] like Figure 1 As shown, this machine room frame 200 is disposed at the lower part of the housing 110, and as... Figure 3 As shown, it has a generally rectangular frame shape. In this embodiment, the upper part of the machine room frame 200 is open, and a machine room is provided inside, so that at least a portion of the air conditioning module 600 can be installed.

[0195] Although not shown, the inner shell 120 and the machine room frame 200 may be formed from a single component, in which case a separate partition wall is provided between the storage space 121 and the machine room so that the storage space 121 and the machine room can be separated from each other.

[0196] An intake / exhaust grille 220 is provided on the open front of the machine room frame 200 in front of the machine room. The intake / exhaust grille 220 guides the flow of air drawn into the machine room from the outside or expelled from the machine room to the outside, while also shielding the open front of the machine room.

[0197] Meanwhile, an intake port 225a and an exhaust port 225b are formed in the intake / exhaust grille 220. At this time, the intake port 225a and the exhaust port 225b are separately arranged at the position separated by the partition wall 230 described later. In the embodiment of the present invention, when viewed from the front, the left side is the intake port 225a and the right side is the exhaust port 225b, but it can be the opposite.

[0198] On the other hand, refer to Figure 3 The rear portion of the cover plate 250 forming the top surface of the machine room frame 200 protrudes upwards compared to other portions, and the rear portion inside the machine room is formed to be higher than other portions. That is, taking into account the protrusion height of the cooling fan 611 and the compressor 610 installed in the machine room, the rear portion is formed to be higher than other portions. In particular, in this embodiment, since the compressor 610 is the tallest, a protrusion 255 is formed in the cover plate 250 to correspond to the height of the compressor 610.

[0199] An automatic door mounting portion 253 is provided on the cover plate 250, and an opening device 900 is provided on the automatic door mounting portion 253. The automatic door mounting portion 253 is located at the front of the cover plate 250, that is, facing the front side of the door assembly 130, protruding upward to ensure space on the lower side, and opening downward. Similar to the upward protrusion of the rear part of the cover plate 250, the automatic door mounting portion 253 also protrudes upward, but in this embodiment, the degree of protrusion of the automatic door mounting portion 253 is less than the degree of upward protrusion of the rear part of the cover plate 250.

[0200] For reference, Figure 2 The diagram shows the push rod 950 constituting the door opening device 900 in a protruding state, protruding from the door opening device 900 and pushing the contact portion B located on the inner surface of the door assembly 130. The door opening device 900 can be operated by the input device 170 in the aforementioned operation module.

[0201] A connector housing 257 is provided on the cover plate 250. The connector housing 257 is a portion that houses the wire harness extending from the control module (not shown), which will be described later, and is used to guide the extension direction of the wire harness. Specifically, the connector housing 257 guides the wire harness extending rearward from the control module on the lower side to the rear side, that is, towards the back panel 213.

[0202] Next, shelves 330a to 300d are described, which are disposed in storage space 121 and divide storage space 121 into multiple layers. However, instead of dividing the multiple layers of storage space 121 into completely independent spaces, shelves 330a to 300d allow each layer to communicate with the others. Therefore, in this embodiment, shelves 330a to 300d have gaps with openings in the vertical direction.

[0203] These shelves 330a to 300d are formed as flat panels or tray structures with outer peripheral walls, allowing food to be placed from their top surface. Furthermore, guide rails 122 are provided on the two side walls of the storage space 121 (the two side walls of the inner shell 120) (see reference). Figure 3 The two sides of the shelves 330a to 300d can move back and forth under the guidance of the guide rail 122 and can be configured to be removed from the storage space 121 in the form of a drawer. Various other structures not shown in the figures can also be configured to achieve the drawer-like removal of the shelves 330a to 300d.

[0204] The shelves 330a to 300d are composed of multiple units, with a partition 400 provided in the middle. The partition 400 spans the storage space 121 and is arranged parallel to the shelves 330a to 300d, dividing the storage space 121. Unlike the shelves 330a to 300d, the partition 400 divides the storage space 121 into independent spaces, thereby forming different spaces above and below the partition 400. Therefore, the upper and lower spaces of the partition 400 can be independently controlled to have different temperatures.

[0205] A screen module 800 is provided on the front 430 of the partition 400. The screen module 800 is designed to display various states of the refrigerator and perform various controls. The various states displayed by the screen module 800 may include, for example, the temperature within the storage space 121 and the operating mode display.

[0206] The screen module 800 can be configured to perform touch operation, or it can be configured to perform button or switch operation. In this case, the screen module 800 can be disposed in the housing 100 or the door assembly 130. However, if the screen module 800 is disposed in the door assembly 130, the structure will inevitably become complex due to the connection structure of various signal lines or power lines. Considering this, it is more preferable that the screen module 800 is disposed in the housing 100.

[0207] Furthermore, considering that the transparent portion 142 constituting the inner part of the door assembly 130 is made of glass that allows the interior to be seen, it is most preferable that the screen module 800 is positioned in front of the partition 400 at the middle height of the storage space 121.

[0208] Next, grille fan modules 500a and 500b are described, which are provided to circulate air within the storage space 121. These grille fan modules 500a and 500b are positioned in front of the rear sidewall forming the inner shell 120 and configured to draw in air from the lower side within the respective storage space 121 and then expel air from the upper side within the respective storage space 121. The upper and lower sides within the storage space 121 are determined based on the height of the middle side of the respective storage space 121.

[0209] like Figure 5 As shown, in an embodiment of the present invention, an example is that each storage space 121 is provided with one of the grille fan modules 500a and 500b. That is, the grille fan module 500a is provided in the lower storage space 121a, which is divided based on the separator 400, and the grille fan module 500b is provided in the upper storage space 121b.

[0210] Next, an air conditioning module 600 will be described, which is a structure for regulating the temperature within the storage space 121 of the inner casing 120. This air conditioning module 600 can be composed of an air conditioning unit including a compressor 610, a main condenser 620, and evaporators 630a and 630b. That is, the air conditioning unit can be used to regulate the temperature of the air circulating in the storage space 121.

[0211] The compressor 610 and the main condenser 620 are disposed in the machine compartment within the machine compartment frame 200. Here, the main condenser 620 is located on the side where air flows in, between the two sides divided by the partition wall 230 in the machine compartment frame 200, and the compressor 610 is located at the point through which the air passing through the main condenser 620 passes. In particular, the compressor 610 is located on the side where air is discharged.

[0212] In addition, a cooling fan 611 is provided on the air inlet side of the compressor 610 to draw air into the machine chamber and exhaust it from the machine chamber, thereby dissipating heat from the compressor 610. This cooling fan 611 effectively isolates the compressor 610 from the air inlet side where the main condenser 620 is located, thereby reducing the impact of the high-temperature hot air from the compressor 610 on the main condenser 620.

[0213] Next, a door opening device 900 is described. The door opening device 900 is disposed at the lower center of the housing 100, and at least a portion of the door opening device 900 selectively protrudes towards the rear of the door assembly, serving to push the door assembly away from the housing 100. Thus, when the door opening device 900 is activated, the door assembly 130 can be automatically opened.

[0214] In this embodiment, the door opening device 900 is disposed at the upper center of the mechanical chamber in the lower part of the cabinet 100. That is, the door opening device 900 is located on the upper part of multiple components in the mechanical chamber, separated from the bottom surface of the refrigerator by a certain degree, and pushes the center of the back of the door assembly 130 at its center. Figure 2 In the accompanying drawings, reference numeral S indicates the location of the door opening device 900. Therefore, regardless of whether the hinge of the door assembly 130 is on the right or left side of the housing 100, the door assembly 130 can be accurately pushed. For reference, in Figure 20 and Figure 22A , Figure 22B In the attached drawing, reference numeral H indicates a hinge mounting part provided with hinge 168.

[0215] Reference Figure 20Referring to the attached diagram, with the hinge mounting part H located on the right side, when the push rod 950 pushes the door assembly 130, the direction of rotation (clockwise) of the door assembly 130 is the same as the direction of rotation (clockwise) when the push rod 950 protrudes. Therefore, even when the door assembly 130 rotates, the push rod cover 952 of the push rod 950 can be kept in close contact with the contact protrusion B.

[0216] According to this embodiment, the door opening device 900 is disposed at the center of the cover plate 250, and the push rod cover 952 operates in a state of stable contact with the contact protrusion B. Therefore, regardless of the position of the hinge mounting part H, the door opening device 900 can accurately push the door assembly 130.

[0217] More precisely, the opening device 900 is disposed in a recessed space 253 extending from the lower part of the housing 100 toward the storage space 121. Here, the recessed space 253 has a shape that partially recesses the lower part of the housing 100; in this embodiment, the recessed space 253 is formed within the cover plate 250. That is, a cover plate 250 is disposed between the upper part of the machine room frame and the lower part of the housing 100 to cover the machine room, and the opening device 900 is housed in the recessed space 253 extending from the bottom surface 251 of the cover plate 250 toward the lower part of the housing 100.

[0218] At this time, since the cover plate 250 is spaced apart from the inner shell 120 to form a foaming space between them, a heat insulation portion is formed by filling it with foaming agent from above. Thus, the space 253 is recessed towards the space of the heat insulation portion, and it is impossible for it to interfere with other components. Furthermore, the periphery of the cover plate 250 surrounding the door opening device 900 is filled with heat insulation material, which also serves as sound insulation material to isolate the motor / gear operating noise generated in the door opening device 900.

[0219] Reference Figure 19 and Figure 20 The mounting space 253 is formed on the inner side of the recessed portion that extends from the cover plate 250 toward the bottom side of the inner shell 120. The mounting space 253 is located at the center of the cover plate 250, and is open to the bottom surface facing the machine room and to the front surface facing the door assembly 130.

[0220] That is, the setting space 253 can be regarded as a space connected to the machine room. Therefore, when the machine room assembly is separated from the refrigerator, the setting space 253 and the door opening device 900 set in the setting space 253 are exposed to the outside, so that maintenance can be easily carried out. Figure 20The bottom side of the refrigerator is shown with the mechanical compartment assembly removed, thus showing the shape of the installation space 253 and the door opening device 900 provided in the installation space 253.

[0221] Furthermore, the front of the space 253 facing the door assembly 130 is also open, as shown in the reference. Figure 19 The front entrance 253' of the setting space 253 is exposed. At this time, the front of the setting space 253 is covered by the front frame 118 that constitutes the box body 100. The front frame 118 is provided with a push rod inlet and outlet 119 of the push rod 950 protruding from the door opening device 900.

[0222] Therefore, the front of the setting space 253 is shielded by the front frame 118, and only the portion for the push rod 950 to enter and exit is drilled into the form of holes (push rod inlet / outlet 119 (see reference)). Figure 4 Therefore, when the push rod 950 of the door opening device 900 has not yet protruded, the push rod cover 952 of the push rod 950 covers the push rod inlet and outlet 119 to prevent foreign objects from entering the inside.

[0223] Now refer to Figures 19 to 24 The structure of the door opening device 900 is described below. The door opening device 900 is disposed in a device housing 901 that forms the external shape. The width of the device housing 901 is narrower in the portion near the door assembly 130, but the width of the inner portion of the cover plate 250 is relatively wider. This depends on the configuration of the drive motor 910 and gear assembly 920 disposed in the device housing 901, which will be explained again below.

[0224] The device housing 901 is located at the center of the cover plate 250, and more specifically, the push rod inlet / outlet 119 protruding from the push rod 950 is preferably located on the center line of the cover plate 250. Figure 20 In the diagram, A represents the center line of cover plate 250.

[0225] Reference Figure 19 The device housing 901 has a height corresponding to the installation space 253 and has a thin, wide plate-like structure. The device housing 901 can be composed of multiple components; for example, an upper housing (not shown) and a lower housing respectively form the upper and lower shapes of the door opening device 900. Furthermore, the upper and lower housings combine to provide space for the internal arrangement of the drive motor 910 and gear assembly 920. In the figures, the upper housing is omitted to expose the drive motor 910 and gear assembly 920. Of course, the upper housing can also be omitted, and the device housing 901 can be composed only of the lower housing.

[0226] The outer side of the device housing 901 includes a plurality of mounting rings 905. The mounting rings 905 are inserted into ring mounting grooves 904 recessed at the edge of the device housing 901. The mounting rings 905 support the lower housing within the ring mounting grooves 904 of the device housing 901 and may be made of silicon material. Therefore, vibrations generated when the door opening device 900 is driven can be reduced, and a structure capable of preventing noise caused by this can be provided.

[0227] The mounting ring 905 is penetrated and fixed to the upper housing by the separate connecting member. In this embodiment, the mounting ring 905 does not form a completely closed curve, but rather has a shape with a hole drilled on one side. Due to this shape, the amount of elastic deformation may be larger. With the mounting ring 905 press-fitted into the ring mounting groove 904 via an interference fit, the connecting member passes through the mounting ring 905, thereby further enhancing the connection force.

[0228] A drive motor 910 is provided in the device housing 901. The drive motor 910 is mounted on the bottom surface of the device housing 901. The drive motor 910 can be a BLD type motor capable of rotating in both forward and reverse directions. Since the drive motor 910 is a BLDC type motor, the speed of the drive motor 910 can be variably controlled by counting the frequency generating (FG) signal.

[0229] Therefore, during the operation of the door opening device 900, the impact of the door assembly 130 opening and closing can be reduced by adjusting the speed. Additionally, the push rod 950 can be automatically returned in an emergency. The drive motor 910 is mounted on the bottom surface of the lower housing, and the rotation shaft of the drive motor 910 can extend through to the inside of the lower housing.

[0230] A drive motor 910 is provided in the device housing 901. A pinion 911 of the drive motor 910 protrudes to allow rotation of the drive motor 910. The pinion 911 meshes with a gear assembly 920 to rotate the gear assembly 920. Specifically, in the device housing 901, a plurality of gears are configured to mesh with each other, including reduction gears 921 and 923 and space gears 925 and 927. Here, reduction gears 921 and 923 reduce the rotational speed of the drive motor 910 through a gear ratio. Space gears 925 and 927 connect to and mesh with reduction gears 921 and 923, and fill the empty space between the push rod 950 and the reduction gears 921 and 923.

[0231] That is, the reduction gears 921 and 923 can reduce the rotational speed to transmit the force used to drive the push rod 950. Furthermore, the space gears 925 and 927 are used to ensure the extension distance of the push rod 950, and the position of the contact point with the push rod 950 can be moved by combining the space gears 925 and 927. Of course, without this distinction, the space gears 925 and 927 can also be configured as part of the reduction gears 921 and 923 responsible for the deceleration function.

[0232] When viewed sequentially, the pinion 911 of the drive motor 910 meshes with the first reduction gear 921. The first reduction gear 921 is the gear that engages with the pinion 911, which has the highest rotational speed, and therefore has the highest potential for generating noise. Therefore, the pinion 911 and the first reduction gear 921 can be made of an elastomer material with excellent mechanical strength, elastic recovery, and high heat resistance. Thus, the noise between the pinion 911 and the first reduction gear 921 can be reduced while meeting the required mechanical strength. The remaining gears can be made of engineering plastic (POM) material. Of course, all gears can be made of the same material, or they can be made of materials other than those described above.

[0233] The first reduction gear 921 is connected to the second reduction gear 923, and the second reduction gear 923 is connected to the space gears 925 and 927. The reduction gears 921 and 923 have the same structure as ordinary reduction gears 921 and 923, that is, the input side and the output side are configured as two levels, and the input side and the output side are configured to be able to connect with adjacent gears to reduce speed.

[0234] These multiple reduction gears 921 and 923 can be combined to adjust the rotational speed, and the force transmitted to the push rod 950 can be adjusted by adjusting the rotational speed. Of course, the number of reduction gears 921 and 923 can also be adjusted as needed. In this embodiment, there are two reduction gears 921 and 923, but there can be three or more. Reference numerals 921' and 923' respectively represent the rotational axis of the first reduction gear 921 and the rotational axis of the second reduction gear 923.

[0235] The second reduction gear 923 is equipped with a first space gear 925, and the first space gear 925 and the push rod 950 can be connected by a second space gear 927. The space gears 925 and 927 have a general spur gear shape and transmit the force of the second reduction gear 923 only to the push rod 950 to adjust the contact distance with the push rod 950, thereby ensuring the maximum extension distance of the push rod 950. For this purpose, the space gears 925 and 927 can be composed of multiple gears of different sizes.

[0236] Furthermore, the contact point between the space gears 925 and 927 used to transmit power to the push rod 950 and the push rod 950 is preferably configured along the direction in which the push rod 950 extends as far as possible, and should be located near the back of the door assembly 130. For this purpose, space gears 925 and 927 are arranged between the second reduction gear 923 and the push rod 950. Reference numerals 925' and 927' respectively denote the rotation axis of the first space gear 925 and the rotation axis of the second space gear 927.

[0237] Specifically, the reduction gears 921 and 923 and the space gears 925 and 927 of the gear assembly 920 constituting the door opening device 900 are arranged in different directions. (Refer to...) Figure 19 The direction X of the multiple reduction gears 921, 923 extending from the drive motor 910 of the door opening device 900 is different from the direction Y of the multiple space gears 925, 927 extending from the reduction gears 921, 923.

[0238] In this embodiment, the multiple reduction gears 921, 923 of the gear assembly 920 constituting the door opening device 900 extend from the drive motor 910 of the door opening device in a direction X that is approximately orthogonal to the in / out direction of the push rod 950 of the door opening device, and the multiple space gears 925, 927 extend from the reduction gears 921, 923 in a direction Y that is approximately parallel to the in / out direction of the push rod 950.

[0239] As described above, if the direction Y of the extension of the space gears 925 and 927 is parallel to the direction of the push rod 950's in / out movement, the contact point where the second space gear 927 meshes with the push rod 950 can be brought as close as possible to the push rod inlet / outlet 119, thereby ensuring the maximum extension distance of the push rod 950. Simultaneously, by differentiating the configuration directions of the reduction gears 921 and 923 from those of the space gears 925 and 927, it is also possible to prevent the gear assembly 920 from elongating in only one direction and to prevent an excessive increase in the total length of the door opening device 900.

[0240] The push rod 950 can push the back of the door assembly 130 to open the door assembly 130. Furthermore, the push rod 950 is mounted on the inner side of the device housing 901 and has a rack and pinion formed on its outer side for meshing with the second space gear 927. Therefore, the rack and pinion can protrude through the push rod inlet / outlet 119 by the rotation of the space gears 925 and 927. Due to the position of the second space gear 927, when the push rod 950 is driven by the second space gear 927, at least half of the rack and pinion can extend outward from the device housing 901.

[0241] In this embodiment, the push rod 950 is formed as an arc with a predetermined curvature. Therefore, even when the door assembly 130 rotates, the push rod 950 can maintain a predetermined point of contact with the back of the door assembly 130, more specifically, maintain contact with the contact protrusion B. Thus, even when the door assembly 130 rotates, the push rod 950 will not slide and can push the door assembly 130 to open it.

[0242] Here, the rotation direction of the push rod 950 is the same as the rotation direction of the door assembly 130. (Refer to...) Figure 20 Referring to the attached diagram, the hinge is located on the right side of the cover plate 250, causing the door assembly 130 to rotate counterclockwise. Furthermore, the push rod 950 also rotates counterclockwise during its protrusion. At this time, the rotation direction of the door assembly 130 (arrow ①) is the same as the rotation direction of the push rod 950 during its protrusion. Therefore, even when the door assembly 130 rotates, the push rod cover 952 of the push rod 950 can remain in close contact with the contact protrusion B.

[0243] A push rod cover 952 is provided at the front end of the push rod 950. The push rod cover 952 may be made of an elastic material such as silicone or rubber, and it contacts the door assembly 130 to prevent noise when the push rod 950 contacts the door assembly 130 and to improve the clamping force, thereby effectively transmitting the pushing force of the push rod 950 to the door assembly 130.

[0244] In this embodiment, the front of the push rod cover 952 facing the back of the door assembly 130 is wider than the end of the push rod 950, thus allowing for more stable pushing of the surface B' of the contact protrusion B. The push rod cover 952 has a generally rectangular front.

[0245] On the other hand, although not shown in the figure, a switching magnet may be disposed inside the push rod cover 952. The switching magnet is used to detect the opening degree of the door assembly 130 and to activate a reed switch (not shown) disposed inside the contact protrusion B. That is, the reed switch is disposed inside the contact protrusion B of the door assembly 130 and remains in a fixed position even when the door assembly 130 rotates. Furthermore, the switching magnet rotates together with the door assembly 130 in a contact state as the door assembly 130 rotates.

[0246] Therefore, when the door assembly 130 is pushed by the push rod 950, that is, when the push rod cover 952 contacts the contact protrusion B, the reed switch is kept in the ON state by the switch magnet. For example, from the closed state of the door assembly 130 to the state where the door assembly 130 is pushed by the push rod 950 and automatically opened to a predetermined angle, the reed switch remains in the ON state.

[0247] Furthermore, when the door assembly 130 is automatically opened to a predetermined angle, and the user further rotates and opens the door assembly 130, the switching magnet of the push rod cover 952 disengages from the switching magnet of the contact protrusion B built into the door assembly 130, and the switching magnet is in an OFF state. In this case, the control module 700 detects that the user has further opened the door assembly 130 and can control the door opening device 900 to start, causing the push rod 950 to return to its original position. Conversely, when the push rod cover 952 is in contact with the contact protrusion B, it is in an OFF state, and when it is separated, it is in an ON state.

[0248] On the other hand, when the control module 700 detects that the user has further opened the door assembly 130, it activates the door opening device 900 to return the push rod 950 to its original position. Simultaneously, when the control module 700 detects that the door assembly 130 has been opened by the user, it can control the internal lighting to be turned on so that the storage space 121 is clearly visible. For reference, in Figure 22A The image shows the door assembly 130 being opened by the push rod 950 of the door opening device 900. Figure 22B The image shows the state where the user further opens the door assembly 130.

[0249] In this embodiment, the push rod 950 of the door opening device 900 pushes the door assembly to rotate, so that the door assembly 130 forms an angle between 5° and 15° with the front of the cabinet 100. In this case, it prevents the refrigerator door assembly 130 from being opened excessively, which could cause an infant or child to be accidentally trapped and injured. Furthermore, when the door assembly 130 rotates beyond this set angle, the reed switch is disengaged, and the control module 700 can rotate the drive motor 910 of the door opening device 900 in the opposite direction, thereby returning the push rod 950 to its original position.

[0250] Reference Figure 25A and Figure 25B The process of controlling the door opening device 900 is described firstly, in Figure 25A The image shows the sequence of actions involved in opening the door normally.

[0251] As shown in the figure, the detection device 175 can detect when a user stands in front of the door assembly 130. The user's position is identified by measuring the angle of the reflected light emitted from the light-emitting part of the detection device 175 and the light receiving part.

[0252] At this point, if the detection device 175 detects that the user's time is above the set time, it assumes that the user intends to use the refrigerator (S100). Here, the set time can be 2 to 8 seconds. If the user leaves the front of the door assembly 130 before the set time, the detection device 175 detects this situation and returns to the initial state without proceeding to the next step.

[0253] If the detection device 175 detects that the user's time is above a set time, the LED 172 of the input device 170 is turned on (S110). At this time, since the LED 172 is located directly above the touch sensor 173 constituting the input device 170, the user can accurately press the touch sensor 173 by observing the position of the LED 172.

[0254] If the user operates the touch sensor 173 within the set time (S120), the door opening device 900 activates (S140). If the user does not operate the touch sensor 173 within the set time, the LED light 172 is turned off and returns to its initial state (S130). Of course, if user movement is detected during this period, the LED light 172 can be turned on again. Here, unlike the previous one, the set time can be set to a relatively long time; for example, a set time between 5 and 15 seconds can be pre-entered.

[0255] Finally, after the door assembly 130 is opened, the LED light 172 is turned off. At this time, the door assembly 130 is automatically opened to a predetermined angle by the door opening device 900, such as... Figure 22B As shown, when the user further rotates and opens the door assembly 130 (S200), the switching magnet of the push rod cover 952 and the switching magnet of the contact protrusion B built into the door assembly 130 separate, and the switching magnet becomes in an OFF state.

[0256] In this situation, the control module 700 detects that the user has further opened the door assembly 130 and can control the door opening device 900 to start, so that the push rod 950 returns to its original position (S210). Of course, conversely, the state when the push rod cover 952 is in contact with the contact protrusion B is OFF, and when it is separated is ON.

[0257] Furthermore, if the control module 700 detects that the user has further opened the door assembly 130 and activates the door opening device 900 to return the push rod 950 to its original position, and at the same time detects that the door assembly 130 has been opened by the user, it can control the internal lighting to be turned on so that the storage space 121 is clearly visible.

[0258] If the door assembly 130 is automatically opened to a predetermined angle by the door opening device 900, and the user does not open the door assembly 130 for a set period of time after further rotating it, the door assembly 130 closes again and enters a standby state (S220). When the drive motor 910 of the door opening device 900 rotates in the opposite direction, the push rod 950 returns, and the door assembly 130 closes. At this time, the door assembly 130 can be closed by means of the tension of the hinge 168.

[0259] The above description is merely an example of the technical concept of the present invention, and those skilled in the art will be able to make various modifications and variations without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in this invention are not intended to limit the technical concept of the invention, but rather to explain it, and the scope of the technical concept of the invention is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of this invention should be interpreted by the appended claims, and all technical concepts within the equivalent scope should be interpreted as including within the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, installed in an island kitchen unit, wherein, The enclosure includes an outer shell and an inner shell, the outer shell forming the outer wall of the enclosure, and the inner shell disposed inside the outer shell, forming a storage space inside the inner shell; A machine room frame is provided at the lower part of the housing and has a machine room inside; The door assembly is rotatably connected to the housing, selectively shielding the storage space; A cover plate, disposed between the inner shell and the machine room frame to cover the machine room, has a recessed space in the direction of the storage space; An operation module is disposed on the upper part of the door assembly, including an input device for receiving input signals that cause the door assembly to operate; as well as A door opening device is provided in the installation space, at least a portion of which protrudes toward the rear of the door assembly according to the input signal, so as to push the door assembly away from the housing.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, The space is configured such that the front portion of the cover plate, which is close to the door assembly, protrudes upward, the bottom surface facing the machine room is open, and the front surface facing the door assembly is open.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, The mechanical room frame is detachably combined with the housing.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, The door opening device includes a push rod, at least a portion of which protrudes toward the rear of the door assembly to push the door assembly away from the housing.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein, The enclosure also includes a front frame, which is assembled to the front of the outer shell to shield the front of the installation space; The front frame is formed with a push rod inlet and outlet for allowing the push rod to move in and out. The door assembly can conceal the storage space by being in close contact with the front frame, or by rotating away from the front frame to open the storage space.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein, The door opening device also includes a motor and a plurality of gears, the motor providing driving force to the push rod, and the plurality of gears transmitting the driving force to the push rod.

7. A door assembly, wherein, include: A panel unit includes a front door panel and at least one insulated door panel, the front door panel forming the front of the panel unit and having a transparent portion and a frame portion surrounding the transparent portion, and the insulated door panel being stacked on the back of the front door panel; as well as A door frame, configured to be spaced apart from the outer peripheral surface of the at least one layer of insulated door panel, is attached to the back of the frame portion of the panel unit; The door frame consists of a pair of side frames surrounding the two sides of the panel unit, an upper frame surrounding the top surface of the panel unit, and a lower frame surrounding the bottom surface of the panel unit. A component storage groove is formed between the top surface of the outer peripheral surface of the at least one layer of door insulation panel, the back surface of the frame portion, and the bottom surface of the lower frame; An operation module is provided in the component storage slot. The operation module includes an input device for receiving input signals for causing the door assembly to move.

8. The door assembly according to claim 7, wherein, It also includes a door insert, which is detachably coupled to the back of the door frame to conceal the component storage slot; When the door insert is separated from the door frame, the component storage groove is exposed to the opposite side of the frame portion.

9. The door assembly according to claim 7, wherein, It also includes hooks that protrude from the door frame toward the component storage slot; The hook ensures that the operating module makes close contact with the back of the frame.

10. The door assembly according to claim 7, wherein, The operation module also includes a detection device for detecting the approach of a user; The input device includes a light-emitting unit and a touch sensor; If the detection device detects that a user is approaching, the light-emitting part emits light so that the user can identify the location of the touch sensor.

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