Refrigerator
By employing a door opening actuator structure with lever and gear meshing in the refrigerator, the problem of complex structure in existing refrigerator door opening actuators is solved, achieving higher stability and aesthetics, while reducing manufacturing costs and space occupation.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- HISENSE(SHANDONG)REFRIGERATOR CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-04-25
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-26
AI Technical Summary
Existing refrigerator door openers have complex structures, resulting in high manufacturing costs, large space requirements, high failure rates, and unsightly appearance.
The refrigerator adopts a lever structure, with one end of the lever hinged to the cabinet. The lever is switched between two states by a drive mechanism to realize the automatic opening of the refrigerator door. Power is transmitted by gears and meshing transmission components, and stability and reliability are ensured by electromagnets and reset components.
The structure of the door opening actuator has been simplified, reducing manufacturing difficulty and failure rate, saving internal space, and improving the aesthetics and operational stability of the refrigerator.
Smart Images

Figure CN224415463U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application falls under the field of household appliances, and more specifically, relates to a refrigerator. Background Technology
[0002] Refrigerators, as essential household appliances, play a vital role in daily life. With continuous technological advancements, some refrigerators are equipped with automatic door openers, a design that greatly enhances user convenience. However, current refrigerator door openers on the market generally suffer from complex structures. Utility Model Content
[0003] The purpose of this application is to provide a refrigerator to solve the technical problem of complex door opening actuator structure in existing refrigerators.
[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted in this application is: to provide a refrigerator, the refrigerator comprising:
[0005] Box;
[0006] Refrigerator door; the refrigerator door is located on the refrigerator body;
[0007] Door opening actuator; The door opening actuator includes a drive mechanism and a lever, the lever includes a first end and a second end, the first end is hinged to the housing so that the second end can rotate about the first end;
[0008] The lever has a first state and a second state. In the first state, the second end is folded onto the cabinet. In the second state, the drive mechanism drives the second end to rotate toward the refrigerator door to open the refrigerator door.
[0009] Optionally, the refrigerator also includes a reset component, which is connected to a lever to drive the second end to switch to the first state when the refrigerator door is open.
[0010] Optionally, the door opening actuator also includes a gear and a meshing transmission component, the gear being connected to the first end, and the first end being hinged to the housing via the gear;
[0011] The drive mechanism is connected to the meshing transmission component, which meshes with the gear.
[0012] Optionally, the drive mechanism includes a linear drive member, and the meshing transmission member includes a rack. The linear drive member is connected to the rack and pinion drive for driving the rack to move in the first direction.
[0013] When the gear and rack mesh, and the rack moves in the first direction, the second end is driven to rotate toward the refrigerator door via the gear.
[0014] Optionally, the linear drive includes an electromagnet, and the rack is a magnetic component. The electromagnet is disposed at one end of the rack, and when energized, the electromagnet attracts the rack to move in the first direction.
[0015] Optionally, the drive mechanism further includes a reset element, which includes a spring connected to a rack for driving the rack to move in the opposite direction of the first direction, so as to drive the second end to rotate away from the refrigerator door via the gear.
[0016] Optionally, the cabinet includes a mounting box, which is connected to the cabinet and positioned opposite the refrigerator door;
[0017] The drive mechanism is located inside the mounting box, with its first end hinged to the mounting box;
[0018] In the first state, the second end is folded inside the mounting box.
[0019] Optionally, the mounting box includes a first mounting groove, with a first end hinged within the first mounting groove, the first mounting groove having an opening facing the refrigerator door.
[0020] In the first state, the second end is folded into the first mounting slot;
[0021] In the second state, the second end rotates out of the opening into the first mounting slot, pushing the refrigerator door open.
[0022] Alternatively, the mounting box is located on the top of the cabinet, near the refrigerator door.
[0023] Optionally, the refrigerator includes multiple refrigerator doors, including a first refrigerator door and a second refrigerator door. The first refrigerator door is hinged to a first side of the refrigerator body, and the second refrigerator door is hinged to a second side of the refrigerator body. The first side and the second side are opposite sides of the refrigerator, and the first refrigerator door and the second refrigerator door are arranged opposite to each other to form a double-door structure.
[0024] The installation box contains multiple door opening actuators, including a first door opening actuator and a second door opening actuator. The first door opening actuator is positioned opposite the first refrigerator door and is used to open the first refrigerator door; the second door opening actuator is positioned opposite the second refrigerator door and is used to open the second refrigerator door.
[0025] The beneficial effects of the refrigerator provided in this application are as follows: Compared with the prior art, in the refrigerator of this application embodiment, the door opening actuator includes a drive mechanism and a lever. The first end of the lever is hinged to the cabinet so that the second end of the lever can rotate around the first end. The lever has a first state and a second state. In the first state, the second end is folded onto the cabinet. In the second state, the drive mechanism drives the second end to rotate toward the refrigerator door to push the refrigerator door open. In the door opening actuator of this refrigerator, the lever is hinged to the cabinet at one end, forming a lever structure that can rotate around a fixed point to realize the opening of the refrigerator door. This simple structure has higher stability and lower manufacturing difficulty compared with some components that require multiple moving joints and complex connection methods. The lever switches between the two states so that the lever does not occupy additional space, keeping the appearance of the refrigerator neat and beautiful, and does not affect the structural layout of the refrigerator. Attached Figure Description
[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
[0027] Figure 1 This is a top-view schematic diagram of the refrigerator in an embodiment of this application;
[0028] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the door opening actuator in an embodiment of this application;
[0029] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;
[0030] Figure 4 This is a front view of the refrigerator in an embodiment of this application;
[0031] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of an explosion of a refrigerator in an embodiment of this application;
[0032] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the mounting box in an embodiment of this application.
[0033] The following are the labeling elements in the figure:
[0034] 1. Refrigerator body; 2. Refrigerator door; 201. Refrigerator door; 202. Door opening actuator; 3. First door opening actuator; 301. Second door opening actuator; 302. Lever; 31. First end; 311. Second end; 312. Gear; 32. Rack; 33. Electromagnet; 34. Reset component; 35. Detector; 4. Controller; 5. Mounting box; 6. Box body; 61. Box cover; 62. Second mounting groove; 63. First mounting groove; 64. Wire groove; 65. Detailed Implementation
[0035] To make the technical problems, technical solutions, and beneficial effects to be solved by this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of this application.
[0036] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on or indirectly on that other component. When a component is referred to as being "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to or indirectly connected to that other component.
[0037] It should be understood that the terms "length", "width", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.
[0038] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.
[0039] As an essential appliance in modern households, the refrigerator plays a vital role in food preservation and storage, greatly improving people's quality of life. To further enhance the user experience and endow refrigerators with more intelligent functions, automatic door opening technology has emerged. The key component for achieving automatic door opening is the refrigerator's door opening actuator.
[0040] Existing refrigerator door opener actuators 3 typically employ a relatively complex structure to ensure reliability and force output. For example, a common solution uses a motor to drive 32 sets of gears, obtaining sufficient torque through multi-stage reduction, and then converting the rotational motion into push-pull motion through a linkage mechanism, ultimately achieving automatic opening of the refrigerator door 2.
[0041] However, this complex structure also brings unavoidable drawbacks. The numerous mechanical parts not only increase manufacturing costs but also make the door actuator 3 bulky. These larger actuators often occupy a considerable amount of space inside the refrigerator, encroaching on areas that could be used for food storage and reducing the refrigerator's actual usable volume. At the same time, the complex structure also increases the probability of malfunctions and raises maintenance costs.
[0042] To address the aforementioned problems, this application provides a refrigerator; please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 In some embodiments of this application, the refrigerator includes:
[0043] Box 1;
[0044] Refrigerator door 2; Refrigerator door 2 is installed on the cabinet 1;
[0045] Door opening actuator 3; Door opening actuator 3 includes a drive mechanism and a lever 31. The lever 31 includes a first end 311 and a second end 312. The first end 311 is hinged to the housing 1 so that the second end 312 can rotate around the first end 311.
[0046] The lever 31 has a first state and a second state. In the first state, the second end 312 is folded onto the cabinet 1. In the second state, the drive mechanism drives the second end 312 to rotate toward the refrigerator door 2 to push the refrigerator door 2 open.
[0047] In this embodiment, the cabinet 1 is the basic frame of the refrigerator, providing installation space and support for other components. Various refrigeration equipment, storage spaces, etc., are all housed inside the cabinet 1. The refrigerator door 2 is located on the cabinet 1 and is used to close and open the refrigerator's storage space.
[0048] The door opening actuator 3 is the core component that enables the refrigerator door 2 to open automatically. The door opening actuator 3 includes a drive mechanism and a lever 31. The drive mechanism is the power source of the door opening actuator 3 and is responsible for providing driving force for the rotation of the lever 31. The drive mechanism can take various forms, such as an electric motor, a pneumatic device, or a hydraulic device.
[0049] The lever 31 has a first end 311 and a second end 312. The first end 311 is hinged to the cabinet 1. This hinge allows the second end 312 to rotate around the first end 311, thus enabling interaction with the refrigerator door 2. The second end 312 of the lever 31 is in direct contact with the refrigerator door 2. It can be made of a soft, wear-resistant material that will not scratch the refrigerator door 2. The first end 311 of the lever 31 can be made of a hard, wear-resistant, shear-resistant, and high-strength material, as it experiences greater stress and breakage must be avoided. The length and position of the lever 31 need to be specifically designed to prevent the refrigerator door 2 from closing again after being opened by the lever 31.
[0050] The lever 31 has two states: a first state and a second state. In the first state, the second end 312 is folded onto the cabinet 1. At this time, the lever 31 is inactive and will not affect the refrigerator door 2, thus not affecting the normal closing and use of the refrigerator door 2. This folding design allows the lever 31 to not occupy extra space, maintaining the neat and aesthetically pleasing appearance of the refrigerator.
[0051] The second state is the working state of lever 31. When it is necessary to open the refrigerator door 2, the second state is executed. In the second state, the drive mechanism is activated, driving the second end 312 to rotate towards the refrigerator door 2. As lever 31 rotates, the second end 312 gradually approaches and pushes the refrigerator door 2, thereby opening the refrigerator door 2. In this process, lever 31 plays the role of transmitting driving force, converting the power of the drive mechanism into the force to push the refrigerator door 2.
[0052] In this embodiment, the lever 31 is hinged to the housing 1 at one end, forming a lever structure that can rotate around a fixed point. This simple structure offers higher stability and lower manufacturing difficulty compared to components requiring multiple moving joints and complex connections. The lever 31 switches between two states. In the first state, the folded design allows the lever 31 to not occupy additional space, maintaining the refrigerator's neat and aesthetically pleasing appearance. In the second state, the lever 31 also rotates towards the refrigerator, without occupying internal space or affecting the refrigerator's structural layout.
[0053] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the door opening actuator 3 pushes the refrigerator door 2 open via a lever 31. The lever 31 can be installed at a position relatively far from the hinge axis of the refrigerator door 2, thereby extending the lever arm and reducing the force required to open the refrigerator door 2. A drive mechanism with a smaller driving force can be used to drive the door, thereby expanding the selection of drive mechanisms. For example, a smaller component can be selected as the drive mechanism.
[0054] Please see Figure 3 In some embodiments of this application, the refrigerator further includes a reset member 35, which is connected to the lever 31 to drive the second end 312 to switch to the first state when the refrigerator door 2 is open.
[0055] In this embodiment, the reset member 35 can be a tension spring, compression spring, gas spring, or other driving structure. The driving structure of the reset member 35 can be designed according to the specific driving structure of the driving mechanism. For example, the driving direction of the reset member 35 is usually the opposite direction of the driving direction of the driving mechanism. When the refrigerator door 2 is opened, the lever 31 will move due to the action of the driving mechanism to realize the door opening function. The reset member 35 is connected to the lever 31 for transmission, and its purpose is to enable the second end 312 of the lever 31 to return to a specific first state after the refrigerator door 2 is opened. This design has many advantages. On the one hand, it ensures that the door opening mechanism can automatically return to the initial position after each use, preparing for the next door opening operation, so that the door opening system has good cycle performance and stability. On the other hand, it ensures that the lever 31 will not affect the normal closing of the refrigerator door 2 when the door is not open. Furthermore, after the lever 31 returns to the first state, it is in a folded state, which can keep the refrigerator appearance clean and improve the aesthetics of the refrigerator.
[0056] Please see Figure 3 In some embodiments of this application, the door opening actuator 3 further includes a gear 32 and a meshing transmission component. The gear 32 is connected to the first end 311, and the first end 311 is hinged to the housing 1 through the gear 32. The drive mechanism is connected to the meshing transmission component, and the meshing transmission component meshes with the gear 32.
[0057] In this embodiment, gear 32 is connected to the first end 311 of lever 31, and through it, the first end 311 is hinged to housing 1. This design provides a stable support point for lever 31, allowing lever 31 to rotate around the hinge point between gear 32 and housing 1, ensuring the stability and reliability of door opening actuator 3 during operation.
[0058] The meshing transmission component acts as a bridge between the drive mechanism and gear 32. It transmits the power generated by the drive mechanism to gear 32, effectively converting the motion of the drive mechanism into the rotation of gear 32, which in turn drives the lever 31. The meshing transmission between gear 32 and the meshing transmission component enables precise control of the movement of the door opening actuator 3.
[0059] Please see Figure 3 In some embodiments of this application, the driving mechanism includes a linear drive member and a meshing transmission member including a rack 33. The linear drive member is connected to the rack 33 for driving the rack 33 to move in a first direction. The gear 32 meshes with the rack 33. When the rack 33 moves in the first direction, the gear 32 drives the second end 312 to rotate toward the refrigerator door 2.
[0060] In this embodiment, the linear drive can be an electric push rod, a cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, an electromagnetic drive, etc., which can convert its own power into the linear motion of the rack 33. The linear drive is connected to the rack 33 for driving the rack 33 to move in the first direction. When the linear drive drives the rack 33 to move in the first direction, the linear motion of the rack 33 is transmitted to the gear 32 through the interaction between the teeth. At this time, the cooperation between the rack 33 and the gear 32 converts the linear motion into the rotational motion of the gear 32, which drives the lever 31 connected to the gear 32 to move, thereby realizing the opening of the refrigerator door 2. It should be noted that the first direction is the direction in which the movement of the rack 33 can make the lever 31 rotate to push open the refrigerator door. For example, it could be Figure 3 As shown by the arrow, the first direction can also be other directions when the configuration of rack 33 and lever 31 is changed.
[0061] Please see Figure 3 In some embodiments of this application, the linear drive includes an electromagnet 34 and a rack 33, which is a magnetic component. The electromagnet 34 is disposed at one end of the rack 33, and the electromagnet 34 attracts the rack 33 to move in a first direction when energized.
[0062] In this embodiment, the linear actuator uses an electromagnet 34, which is a device that generates a magnetic field when energized. The generation and disappearance of the magnetic field can be precisely controlled by switching the current on and off. When current passes through the coil of the electromagnet 34, a magnetic field of specific strength and direction is formed. This characteristic allows the electromagnet 34, when used as a linear actuator, to quickly generate or eliminate driving force as needed, achieving rapid and flexible control of the rack 33's movement.
[0063] Since the rack 33 is a magnetic component, it can interact with the magnetic field generated by the electromagnet 34. When the electromagnet 34 is energized and generates a magnetic field, the magnetic rack 33 is attracted by the magnetic force, thus moving in the first direction where the electromagnet 34 is located. This magnetic force-based driving method gives the rack 33 a high response speed, enabling it to quickly react to the energizing signal of the electromagnet 34 and achieve rapid opening of the refrigerator door 2. Although the rack 33 can be made of magnet, iron or an iron alloy is better.
[0064] When the refrigerator door 2 needs to be opened, the electromagnet 34 is energized, and it immediately generates a magnetic field. Since the rack 33 is magnetic, it is attracted by the magnetic field and quickly moves in the first direction where the electromagnet 34 is located. As the rack 33 moves, the gear 32 meshing with it begins to rotate, which in turn drives the second end 312 of the lever 31 to rotate towards the refrigerator door 2, ultimately pushing the refrigerator door 2 open. Once the refrigerator door 2 is opened to the appropriate position or the opening action is completed, the power supply to the electromagnet 34 is disconnected, the magnetic field disappears, and the rack 33 is no longer attracted.
[0065] To ensure the stable movement of the rack 33, a guide structure can be provided along the direction of movement of the rack 33. For example, a guide block can be provided on the rack 33, and a guide groove can be provided in the housing 61 along the direction of movement of the rack 33. The rack 33 can be guided by the guide block being placed in the guide groove. Alternatively, a guide hole can be provided on the rack 33, and a guide rod can be provided in the housing 61 along the direction of movement of the rack 33. The rack 33 can be guided by the guide rod passing through the guide hole.
[0066] If the system is equipped with a reset element 35, the lever 31 will return to its initial state under the action of the reset element 35 to prevent obstructing the closing of the refrigerator door 2. Please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 3 Based on the above embodiments, in some embodiments, the drive mechanism further includes a reset member 35, which includes a spring connected to a rack 33 for driving the rack 33 to move in the opposite direction of the first direction, so as to drive the second end 312 to rotate away from the refrigerator door 2 through the gear 32.
[0067] The spring is connected to the rack 33, and its main function is to provide the rack 33 with the force to move in the opposite direction to the first direction after the refrigerator door 2 has opened. When the electromagnet 34 is energized and attracts the rack 33 to move in the first direction, the spring will be stretched or compressed, thereby storing elastic potential energy. Whether the spring is stretched or compressed depends mainly on the spring's setting position, for example, Figure 3 In the illustrated embodiment, the spring is stretched; if the spring is placed at the other end of the rack 33, it will be compressed. When the electromagnet 34 is de-energized and the magnetic field disappears, the spring releases its stored elastic potential energy, driving the rack 33 to move in the opposite direction, restoring the entire door opening actuator 3 to its initial state. The presence of the spring reset element 35 makes the movement of the rack 33 reversible. Without the reset element 35, the rack 33 might not automatically return to its original position after moving under the drive of the electromagnet 34, affecting the next door opening operation. The elasticity of the spring ensures that the rack 33 can accurately return to its initial position, preventing interference with the closing of the refrigerator door 2 and maintaining a clean appearance.
[0068] It is important to note that the magnetic force of the electromagnet 34 must be much greater than the resultant force of the spring's restoring force and the frictional force on the rack 33. This places strict requirements on the current of the electromagnet 34 and the number of turns of the coil. The force of the reset component 35 must be much greater than the frictional force on the rack 33, and the reset component 35 must have good durability, stability and corrosion resistance.
[0069] Please see Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 6In some embodiments of this application, the cabinet 1 includes a mounting box 6, which is connected to the cabinet 1 and is positioned opposite to the refrigerator door 2; a drive mechanism is disposed inside the mounting box 6, with its first end 311 hinged to the mounting box 6; in the first state, the second end 312 is folded inside the mounting box 6.
[0070] The mounting box 6 is connected to the housing 1, providing a space for housing and installing the drive mechanism and part of the lever 31. The mounting box 6 protects the drive mechanism, preventing damage from dust, moisture, and other external factors, thus improving its lifespan and operational stability. For example, components such as the electromagnet 34 and springs are protected within the mounting box 6, reducing the probability of malfunctions caused by environmental factors. The mounting box 6 is positioned opposite the refrigerator door 2, ensuring that the lever 31 can effectively open the refrigerator door 2 during operation, making power transmission more direct and efficient.
[0071] The drive mechanism is housed within the mounting box 6, and the first end 311 of the lever 31 is hinged to the mounting box 6, making the installation and adjustment of the door opening actuator 3 more convenient. During production and assembly, each component is pre-installed within the mounting box 6 before the refrigerator is assembled, which greatly improves production efficiency. Simultaneously, this centralized installation method facilitates later maintenance and repair. When the drive mechanism malfunctions, inspection and repair can be performed simply by opening the mounting box 6, improving maintenance efficiency.
[0072] In the first state, the second end 312 is folded into the mounting box 6, making the appearance of the refrigerator neater and smoother, and avoiding the impact on aesthetics due to exposed mechanical parts.
[0073] Please see Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 In some embodiments of this application, the mounting box 6 includes a first mounting groove 64, with a first end 311 hinged within the first mounting groove 64. The first mounting groove 64 has an opening facing the refrigerator door 2.
[0074] In the first state, the second end 312 is folded into the first mounting groove 64;
[0075] In the second state, the second end 312 rotates out of the opening and out of the first mounting slot 64, pushing the refrigerator door 2 to open.
[0076] The first mounting groove 64 provides a hinged position for the first end 311 of the lever 31. In the first state, the second end 312 of the lever 31 is folded within the first mounting groove 64, which effectively accommodates it. This protects the lever 31 from external interference and damage when not in use, and maintains the relatively clean and aesthetically pleasing appearance of the refrigerator. The first mounting groove 64 has an opening facing the refrigerator door 2. This opening is designed to meet the movement requirements of the lever 31 in the second state. When it is necessary to open the refrigerator door 2, the second end 312 of the lever 31 can smoothly rotate out of the first mounting groove 64 through the opening, thereby pushing the refrigerator door 2 open.
[0077] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 5 In some embodiments of this application, the mounting box 6 is located on the top of the cabinet 1, near the refrigerator door 2. This placement on the top of the cabinet 1, near the refrigerator door 2, effectively utilizes the relatively unused space at the top of the refrigerator, avoiding the occupation of the main storage space inside the cabinet 1. For a refrigerator, storage space is its core functional area; this layout ensures sufficient space inside to store food and other items, improving space utilization. Simultaneously, it does not interfere with the normal opening and closing of the refrigerator door 2, ensuring that the refrigerator door 2 does not collide with the mounting box 6 during opening and closing.
[0078] In addition, from the overall appearance of the refrigerator, the installation box 6 is set on the top side near the refrigerator door 2, which will not affect the front appearance of the refrigerator, making the refrigerator look more concise and beautiful.
[0079] Please see Figure 4 In some embodiments of this application, the refrigerator includes multiple refrigerator doors 2, each including a first refrigerator door 201 and a second refrigerator door 202. The first refrigerator door 201 is hinged to a first side of the cabinet 1, and the second refrigerator door 202 is hinged to a second side of the cabinet 1. The first side and the second side are opposite sides of the refrigerator, and the first refrigerator door 201 and the second refrigerator door 202 are arranged opposite each other to form a double-door structure. The mounting box 6 is provided with multiple door opening actuators 3, each including a first door opening actuator 301 and a second door opening actuator 302. The first door opening actuator 301 is positioned opposite the first refrigerator door 201 and is used to open the first refrigerator door 201. The second door opening actuator 302 is positioned opposite the second refrigerator door 202 and is used to open the second refrigerator door 202.
[0080] In this embodiment, the refrigerator includes multiple refrigerator doors 2. The first refrigerator door 201 and the second refrigerator door 202 are hinged to opposite sides of the cabinet 1, forming a double-door structure, a classic refrigerator door 2 layout. Multiple door-opening actuators 3 are installed within the mounting box 6, with the first door-opening actuator 301 and the second door-opening actuator 302 corresponding to the first refrigerator door 201 and the second refrigerator door 202, respectively. This layout ensures that each refrigerator door 2 has an independent door-opening actuator 3, controlling the opening of the first refrigerator door 201 and the second refrigerator door 202 respectively. Placing multiple door-opening actuators 3 within a single mounting box 6 effectively utilizes the space at the top of the cabinet 1, avoiding the space waste and layout chaos caused by dispersing drive devices in different locations within the refrigerator.
[0081] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown, in some embodiments of this application, for refrigerators comprising multiple refrigerator doors 2, the refrigerator further includes a detector 4 and a controller 5. The detector 4 is used to detect the state of the refrigerator doors 2 and, upon detecting that a refrigerator door 2 is in an open state, sends an opening signal. The controller 5 is communicatively connected to the detector 4 to receive the opening signal, and the controller 5 is communicatively connected to the door opening actuator 3 to control the door opening actuator 3 to open the refrigerator doors 2. The controller 5 is configured to, in response to the opening signal, control the door opening actuator 3 to open at least one other refrigerator door 2 when one of the refrigerator doors 2 is open.
[0082] Detector 4 is used to monitor the status of each refrigerator door 2. It can employ mechanical limit switches, Hall effect sensors, infrared sensors, etc. Mechanical limit switches operate through physical contact. When a refrigerator door 2 is opened or closed to a specific position, its internal mechanical structure is triggered, thereby changing the circuit's on / off state and sending a corresponding door status signal to controller 5. Hall effect sensors detect the position of the refrigerator door 2 using the principle of magnetic field changes. Magnets and Hall effect elements are installed on the refrigerator door 2 and door frame, respectively. When the refrigerator door 2 moves, the change in the magnetic field generated by the magnet is accurately sensed by the Hall effect element and converted into an electrical signal, which is output to controller 5. Infrared sensors determine the status of the refrigerator door 2 by emitting and receiving infrared light. When the refrigerator door 2 is closed, the infrared light is blocked and cannot return to the sensor; when the refrigerator door 2 is open, the infrared light can propagate freely. After receiving the infrared light, the sensor generates an open signal and sends it to controller 5. There can be one or more detectors 4. For example, one detector 4 can simultaneously detect the status of multiple refrigerator doors 2, or multiple detectors 4 can each correspond to a different refrigerator door 2, providing the controller 5 with real-time and accurate status information for each door.
[0083] The controller 5 plays a crucial role in coordinating the operation of various components within the entire refrigerator intelligent door opening system. The controller 5 can be the refrigerator's own controller or a standalone controller 5. The controller 5 communicates with the detector 4, enabling it to receive timely and accurate status feedback information from each refrigerator door 2. Simultaneously, it establishes a reliable communication connection with the door opening actuator 3, sending control signals to the corresponding actuator to achieve precise control over the opening action of each refrigerator door 2.
[0084] In this embodiment, the core task of the controller 5 is to accurately respond to the door opening signal transmitted by the detector 4, realizing intelligent linkage opening between multiple refrigerator doors 2 to meet the needs of one-handed operation. When the user opens any refrigerator door 2, the controller 5 can open one or more corresponding refrigerator doors 2 based on the door opening signal detected by the detector 4, thereby realizing the opening of multiple refrigerator doors 2 with one hand, greatly improving the convenience of operation. For example, in a double-door refrigerator, when the user opens one refrigerator door 2, the detector 4 will automatically open the other refrigerator door 2 after detecting that the refrigerator door 2 is open, thus realizing the opening of two refrigerator doors 2 at one time with one hand. In specific applications, it can also be set according to needs to automatically open three, four, or more refrigerator doors 2 after opening one refrigerator door 2.
[0085] like Figure 6 As shown, a second mounting slot 63 can be provided on the mounting box 6, and the controller 5 can be installed in the second mounting slot 63. The second mounting slot 63 and the first mounting slot 64 are provided with wire grooves 65 for arranging the circuit between the controller 5 and the door opening actuator 3.
[0086] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.
Claims
1. A refrigerator characterized by comprising: The refrigerator includes: Box; Refrigerator door; the refrigerator door is located on the cabinet body; A door opening actuator; the door opening actuator includes a drive mechanism and a lever, the lever including a first end and a second end, the first end being hinged to the housing so that the second end can rotate around the first end; The lever has a first state and a second state. In the first state, the second end is folded onto the cabinet. In the second state, the drive mechanism drives the second end to rotate toward the refrigerator door to push the refrigerator door open.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, The refrigerator also includes a reset component, which is connected to the lever to drive the second end to switch to the first state when the refrigerator door is open.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein The door opening actuator also includes a gear and a meshing transmission component. The gear is connected to the first end, and the first end is hinged to the housing via the gear. The drive mechanism is connected to the meshing transmission component, and the meshing transmission component meshes with the gear.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein The driving mechanism includes a linear driving component, and the meshing transmission component includes a rack. The linear driving component is connected to the rack in a transmission manner and is used to drive the rack to move in a first direction. When the gear and the rack mesh, and the rack moves in the first direction, the second end is driven to rotate toward the refrigerator door by the gear.
5. The refrigerator as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The linear drive includes an electromagnet, and the rack is a magnetic component. The electromagnet is disposed at one end of the rack, and when energized, the electromagnet attracts the rack to move in the first direction.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein The driving mechanism further includes a reset component, which includes a spring connected to the rack for driving the rack to move in the opposite direction of the first direction, so as to drive the second end to rotate away from the refrigerator door through the gear.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein The cabinet includes a mounting box, which is connected to the cabinet and is positioned opposite the refrigerator door. The drive mechanism is disposed inside the mounting box, and the first end is hinged to the mounting box; In the first state, the second end is folded inside the mounting box.
8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein The mounting box includes a first mounting groove, and the first end is hinged within the first mounting groove. The first mounting groove has an opening facing the refrigerator door. In the first state, the second end is folded into the first mounting groove; In the second state, the second end rotates out of the first mounting slot from the opening, pushing the refrigerator door open.
9. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein The mounting box is located on the top of the cabinet, near the refrigerator door.
10. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein The refrigerator includes multiple refrigerator doors, including a first refrigerator door and a second refrigerator door. The first refrigerator door is hinged to a first side of the refrigerator body, and the second refrigerator door is hinged to a second side of the refrigerator body. The first side and the second side are opposite sides of the refrigerator, and the first refrigerator door and the second refrigerator door are arranged opposite each other to form a double-door structure. The installation box contains a plurality of door opening actuators, including a first door opening actuator and a second door opening actuator. The first door opening actuator is positioned opposite the first refrigerator door and is used to open the first refrigerator door; the second door opening actuator is positioned opposite the second refrigerator door and is used to open the second refrigerator door.