Refrigerator

Abstract

To provide a refrigerator including a door closing device which achieves improvement of quiet performance.SOLUTION: A refrigerator according to an embodiment includes a housing, a door, and a door closing device. The housing includes a storage chamber having an opening. The door is attached in a manner that the door can open or close the opening and may rotate relative to the housing. The door closing device may close the door. The door closing device has a shaft part, a pulley part, a transmission member, and an electric motor. The shaft part rotatably supports the door. The pulley part may rotate relative to the housing. The transmission member is wound around the shaft part and the pulley part in an annular form and transmits rotation of the pulley part to the shaft part. The electric motor may generate rotational force and has a first gear part which may be rotated by the rotational force. The pulley part has a second gear part which engages with the first gear part and rotates around a rotation axis extending in a direction different from the rotation axis of the first gear part and transmits the rotational force to the shaft part through the transmission member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a refrigerator.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is a refrigerator equipped with an automatic opening and closing mechanism for a rotary door. As an opening device in the automatic opening and closing mechanism of the refrigerator, there is an opening device using a solenoid method or a method combining a motor and a gear. Further, as a closing device, there is a closing device using a method combining a motor and a gear. A refrigerator equipped with a closing device combining a motor and a gear can be closed regardless of the opening angle of the opened door.

[0003] In the refrigerator as described above, the noise generated when the gear used in the closing device is driven is large, which may cause discomfort to the user. Further, when aluminum is used for the material of the gear in order to improve durability, there is a possibility that the driving noise of the gear becomes even larger.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a refrigerator equipped with a closing device with improved quietness.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The refrigerator according to the embodiment includes a housing, a door, and a door closing device. The housing includes a storage chamber having an opening. The door is attached to be able to open and close the opening and is rotatable with respect to the housing. The door closing device is able to close the door. The door closing device includes a shaft portion, a pulley portion, a transmission member, and an electric motor. The shaft portion rotatably supports the door. The pulley portion is rotatable with respect to the housing. The transmission member is annularly bridged between the shaft portion and the pulley portion and transmits the rotation of the pulley portion to the shaft portion. The electric motor is capable of generating a rotational force and has a first gear portion that is rotatable by the rotational force. The pulley portion meshes with the first gear portion and has a second gear portion that rotates about a rotation axis extending in a direction different from the rotation axis of the first gear portion, and transmits the rotational force to the shaft portion via the transmission member.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, the refrigerator according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals are given to configurations having the same or similar functions. And the overlapping descriptions of those configurations may be omitted.

[0009] In the present embodiment, the vertical direction in the refrigerator 1 is defined as the "vertical direction V", the vertically upward direction is defined as "upward UP" in the vertical direction V, and the vertically downward direction is defined as "downward LO" in the vertical direction V. Also, the left-right direction when viewing the refrigerator 1 from a user (user) standing in front of the refrigerator 1 is defined as the "width direction W", the leftward direction is defined as "left LT" in the width direction W, and the rightward direction is defined as "right RT" in the width direction W. Further, the direction orthogonal to the vertical direction V and the width direction W is defined as the "depth direction D", the direction closer to the user standing in front of the refrigerator 1 when viewed from the refrigerator 1 is defined as "front FR" in the depth direction D, and the far direction is defined as "rear RR" in the depth direction D.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a front view showing the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line F2-F2 in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the ceiling portion of the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment. The overall configuration of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 will be described. Note that the refrigerator 1 does not necessarily have all of the configurations described below, and some configurations may be appropriately omitted.

[0011] The refrigerator 1 includes, for example, a refrigerator main body 5 and a plurality of doors 11. The refrigerator main body 5 includes a housing 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 10 includes, for example, an inner box 10a, an outer box 10b, and a foamed heat insulating material 10c.

[0012] The inner box 10a is a member that forms the inner surface of the housing 10 and is made of, for example, synthetic resin. The outer box 10b is a member that forms the outer surface of the housing 10 and is made of, for example, metal. The outer box 10b is formed to be slightly larger than the inner box 10a and is disposed outside the inner box 10a.

[0013] The outer box 10b is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped that forms the outer surface portion of the housing 10 except for the front FR (front surface). However, a recess for forming a machine room 26 described later is formed at the rear RR of the lower LO end portion (lower end portion) of the outer box 10b.

[0014] The foam heat insulating material 10c is a heat insulating material made of a foam such as urethane foam, and is filled between the inner box 10a and the outer box 10b.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 10 has an upper wall 21, a lower wall 22, a left side wall 23, a right side wall 24, and a rear wall 25.

[0016] The upper wall 21 and the lower wall 22 extend substantially horizontally. The left side wall 23 and the right side wall 24 stand up upward UP from the left and right (left LT and right RT) ends of the lower wall 22 and are connected to the left and right ends of the upper wall 21. As shown in FIG. 2, the rear wall 25 stands up upward UP from the rear RR end (rear end) of the lower wall 22 and is connected to the rear end of the upper wall 21.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of storage chambers 27 are formed inside the housing 10. The plurality of storage chambers 27 include, for example, a refrigerating chamber 27A, a vegetable chamber 27B, an ice making chamber 27C, a small freezing chamber 27D, and a main freezing chamber 27E.

[0018] In the present embodiment, among the plurality of storage chambers 27, the refrigerating chamber 27A is arranged at the uppermost position UP (the topmost part). The vegetable chamber 27B is arranged below LO the refrigerating chamber 27A. The ice making chamber 27C and the small freezing chamber 27D are arranged below LO the vegetable chamber 27B. The main freezing chamber 27E is arranged below LO the ice making chamber 27C and the small freezing chamber 27D. Also, the small freezing chamber 27D is arranged to the right RT of the ice making chamber 27C.

[0019] The housing 10 has an opening in front FR of each storage chamber 27 that enables the loading and unloading of foodstuffs and the like into and out of each storage chamber 27.

[0020] The housing 10 has a first partition portion 28 and a second partition portion 29. The first partition portion 28 and the second partition portion 29 are partition walls along substantially horizontal directions, respectively.

[0021] The first partition portion 28 is located between the refrigerating chamber 27A and the vegetable chamber 27B and partitions between the refrigerating chamber 27A and the vegetable chamber 27B.

[0022] The second partition portion 29 is located between the vegetable compartment 27B and the ice making compartment 27C and the small freezing compartment 27D, and partitions between the vegetable compartment 27B and the ice making compartment 27C and the small freezing compartment 27D.

[0023] The temperature inside the vegetable compartment 27B is maintained higher than that of the refrigerating compartment 27A. Inside the vegetable compartment 27B, for example, a vegetable compartment container for storing stored items such as vegetables and a guide rail for moving the vegetable compartment container in the depth direction D are provided.

[0024] The temperatures inside the ice making compartment 27C, the small freezing compartment 27D, and the main freezing compartment 27E are maintained at temperatures capable of freezing stored items. Inside the ice making compartment 27C, the small freezing compartment 27D, and the main freezing compartment 27E, for example, storage containers for storing frozen stored items respectively and guide rails for moving the storage containers in the depth direction D are provided.

[0025] The openings of the plurality of storage compartments 27 are covered so as to be openable and closable by a plurality of doors 11. As shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of doors 11 include, for example, a left refrigerating compartment door 11Aa, a right refrigerating compartment door 11Ab, a vegetable compartment door 11B, an ice making compartment door 11C, a small freezing compartment door 11D, and a main freezing compartment door 11E.

[0026] The left refrigerating compartment door 11Aa and the right refrigerating compartment door 11Ab are attached to open and close the opening of the refrigerating compartment 27A. The vegetable compartment door 11B is attached to open and close the opening of the vegetable compartment 27B. The ice making compartment door 11C is attached to open and close the opening of the ice making compartment 27C. The small freezing compartment door 11D is attached to open and close the opening of the small freezing compartment 27D. The main freezing compartment door 11E is attached to open and close the opening of the main freezing compartment 27E.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, the left refrigerator door 11Aa and the right refrigerator door 11Ab are rotatably supported with respect to the housing 10 about a rotation axis O via a hinge (shaft portion). The left refrigerator door 11Aa is rotatably supported about a rotation axis Oa via a left hinge (left shaft portion) provided on the left side LT of the housing 10. The right refrigerator door 11Ab is rotatably supported about a rotation axis Ob via a right hinge (right shaft portion) provided on the right side RT of the housing 10.

[0028] The housing 10 is provided with a door closing device 60 including a shaft member that rotatably supports the left refrigerator door 11Aa and the right refrigerator door 11Ab. The left door closing device 60A includes a shaft member that rotatably supports the left refrigerator door 11Aa. The right door closing device 60B includes a shaft member that rotatably supports the right refrigerator door 11Ab. Details of the door closing device 60 will be described later.

[0029] Rotating doors that open to both the left and right, such as the left refrigerator door 11Aa and the right refrigerator door 11Ab, may also be referred to as, for example, double doors or French doors.

[0030] The dimensions in the width direction W of the left refrigerator door 11Aa and the right refrigerator door 11Ab may be equal to each other or different from each other. In the examples shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the dimensions in the width direction W of the two are different, and the dimension of the left refrigerator door 11Aa is smaller than the dimension of the right refrigerator door 11Ab.

[0031] Also, as shown in FIG. 2, door containers 18A and 18B that are movably provided in the vertical direction V and a door container 19 provided in the lower left LO are detachably attached to the rear RR of the right refrigerator door 11Ab. A plurality of door containers may similarly be attached to the rear RR of the left refrigerator door 11Aa.

[0032] The vegetable compartment door 11B, the ice making compartment door 11C, the small freezer compartment door 11D, and the main freezer compartment door 11E are, for example, pull-out doors.

[0033] On the rear RR surface of the vegetable compartment door 11B, a vegetable compartment container is connected. On the rear RR surfaces of the ice making compartment door 11C, the small freezer compartment door 11D, and the main freezer compartment door 11E, respective storage item containers are connected.

[0034] The plurality of doors 11 each contain an appropriate heat insulating material inside. The appropriate heat insulating material may include a foam heat insulating material similar to the above-described foam heat insulating material 10c, a sheet heat insulating material, a vacuum heat insulating material, and the like.

[0035] At the rear RR of the housing 10, various members that form the refrigerator body 5 together with the housing 10 are arranged. Examples of the members that form the refrigerator body 5 include a pipe (not shown) through which a refrigerant circulates, cooling units 15A, 15B, flow path forming members 14A, 14B, cooling fans 16A, 16B, and the like.

[0036] At the rear RR of the housing 10, a machine room 26 in which, for example, a compressor, a condenser, an evaporation tray, and the like are arranged is provided at the lower LO.

[0037] The cooling unit 15A is arranged at the rear RR of the refrigerating compartment 27A, and cools the refrigerating compartment 27A and the vegetable compartment 27B.

[0038] The cooling unit 15B is arranged at the rear RR of the ice making compartment 27C or the small freezer compartment 27D, and cools the ice making compartment 27C, the small freezer compartment 27D, and the main freezer compartment 27E.

[0039] The flow path forming member 14A forms a flow path through which the cold air supplied from the cooling unit 15A flows into the refrigerating compartment 27A and the vegetable compartment 27B.

[0040] The flow path forming member 14B forms a flow path through which the cold air supplied from the cooling unit 15B flows into the ice making compartment 27C, the small freezer compartment 27D, and the main freezer compartment 27E.

[0041] The cooling fan 16A blows the cold air formed by the cooling unit 15A into the flow path surrounded by the flow path forming member 14A, and forms a flow of cold air that circulates inside the refrigerating compartment 27A and the vegetable compartment 27B.

[0042] The cooling fan 16B blows the cold air formed in the cooling unit 15B into the flow path surrounded by the flow path forming member 14B, and forms the flow of the cold air circulating inside the ice making chamber 27C, the small freezing chamber 27D, and the main freezing chamber 27E.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a first power supply board 70 and a second power supply board 80 are provided in the power supply board housing portion 2 in the ceiling portion UP above the housing 10. Here, the ceiling portion refers to the upper UP surface of the upper wall 21.

[0044] The power supply board housing portion 2 has a rectangular container shape with an open upper UP, and is covered from above UP by a lid member 2A for the power supply board housing portion. The lid member 2A for the power supply board housing portion is detachably attached to the power supply board housing portion 2.

[0045] The first power supply board 70 is a power supply board to which power is supplied from an external commercial power supply PS via the power cord 7, and supplies the power required for the cooling operation of the refrigerator 1 to various places. The first power supply board 70 supplies power to, for example, the cooling units 15A and 15B and a door opening device 41 described later.

[0046] The first power supply board 70 includes a control portion 70a composed of a computer such as a microcomputer, and the control portion 70a of the first power supply board 70 controls the entire refrigerator 1.

[0047] The second power supply board 80 is connected to the first power supply board 70 via the power supply line 8, and power is supplied from the external commercial power supply PS through the first power supply board 70. The second power supply board 80 supplies power to, for example, a door opening operation portion 42 and a door closing device 60 described later.

[0048] The second power supply board 80 may include a control portion composed of a computer such as a microcomputer, and control a part or the whole of the refrigerator 1. Further, the control portion 70a that controls the refrigerator 1 may be provided on a control board other than the first power supply board 70 or the second power supply board 80.

[0049] In the space between the inner box 10a and the outer box 10b of the housing 10, a wiring bundle 12 drawn from the first power supply board 70 and a wiring bundle 13 drawn from the second power supply board 80 are drawn.

[0050] The wiring bundle 12 includes control lines connected to the first power supply board 70, the cooling units 15A, 15B, and the door opening device 41, and transmits control signals from the first power supply board 70 to the cooling units 15A, 15B, and the door opening device 41.

[0051] The wiring bundle 13 is a power supply line that supplies power to the door opening operation unit 42, the door closing device 60, and the like. Also, the wiring bundle 12 may include a power supply line that supplies power from the first power supply board 70 to the door opening operation unit 42, the door closing device 60, and the like.

[0052] The first power supply board 70 and the second power supply board 80 may not be two independent power supply boards but may be one power supply board. Also, the first power supply board 70 and the second power supply board 80 may be provided on the rear wall 25 of the housing 10.

[0053] A door opening device 41 is provided on the ceiling portion of the housing 10. The door opening device 41 is covered from above UP by a cover member 3 detachably attached to the upper wall 21 of the housing 10. The door opening device 41 is a device that automatically opens the left refrigerator door 11Aa and the right refrigerator door 11Ab. For example, the door opening device 41 includes a left door opening device 41A and a right door opening device 41B.

[0054] The left door opening device 41A and the right door opening device 41B have, for example, a driving device for opening the left refrigerator door 11Aa and the right refrigerator door 11Ab, and other components such as a housing member for housing the driving device.

[0055] In this embodiment, as the drive device, for example, it has a movable iron core that is pushed forward FR by exciting an electromagnet, and a cylindrical coil (not shown) provided around the movable iron core. It uses a solenoid structure or a solenoid method that moves the movable iron core arranged inside the cylindrical coil by the electromagnetic force obtained by passing an electric current through the cylindrical coil.

[0056] The left door opening device 41A and the right door opening device 41B use the drive device that utilizes the solenoid structure or the solenoid method. When an electric current is passed through the cylindrical coil, the electromagnetic force generated causes the movable iron core to move straight, thereby opening the left refrigerator door 11Aa and the right refrigerator door 11Ab. The drive device that utilizes the solenoid structure or the solenoid method may be referred to as a solenoid actuator.

[0057] With such a drive device, the electromagnetic force causes the movable iron core inside the cylindrical coil to move forward vigorously, thereby being able to vigorously push out the left refrigerator door 11Aa or the right refrigerator door 11Ab in the opening direction. Note that the power of the movable iron core is transmitted to the left refrigerator door 11Aa or the right refrigerator door 11Ab while the movable iron core is in contact with the left refrigerator door 11Aa or the right refrigerator door 11Ab.

[0058] The left refrigerator door 11Aa and the right refrigerator door 11Ab are opened by the pressing force of the movable iron core, and then rotate to open to a predetermined angle due to the inertia of the pushed-out force. When the action of inertia weakens, the opening speed of the left refrigerator door 11Aa and the right refrigerator door 11Ab decelerates. In this way, the left refrigerator door 11Aa and the right refrigerator door 11Ab are set in a state of being opened to a certain extent.

[0059] The left door opening device 41A is arranged at the rear RR of the left refrigerator door 11Aa. The left door opening device 41A has a plunger 41P as the movable iron core that is pushed forward FR by exciting an electromagnet, and the cylindrical coil (not shown) provided around the plunger 41P.

[0060] The right door opening device 41B is arranged behind RR of the right refrigerator door 11Ab. The right door opening device 41B has a plunger 41P as the movable iron core that is pushed forward FR when the electromagnet is excited, and a cylindrical coil (not shown) provided around the plunger 41P.

[0061] The cylindrical coil has, for example, a shape formed by tightly winding an electric wire made of copper wire in a spiral shape. The plunger 41P is provided inside the cylindrical coil and is a movable iron core that moves straight using the electromagnetic force generated when an electric current flows through the cylindrical coil. The direction in which the plunger 41P moves straight coincides with the depth direction D.

[0062] The door opening device 41 is controlled by the control unit 70a of the first power supply board 70, and forcibly opens the left refrigerator door 11Aa and the right refrigerator door 11Ab by pushing the plunger 41P forward FR.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 1, the left refrigerator door 11Aa and the right refrigerator door 11Ab have a door opening operation unit 42 (operation unit) capable of detecting an input operation from the user on the surface of the front FR. The door opening operation unit 42 is, for example, a touch sensor (touch open sensor) that allows an operation to be input when touched by the user. When the door opening operation unit 42 receives an operation from the user, the control unit 70a operates the door opening device 41.

[0064] The door opening operation unit 42 has a left door opening operation unit 42a provided on the left refrigerator door 11Aa and a right door opening operation unit 42b provided on the right refrigerator door 11Ab. When the control unit 70a receives an operation on the left door opening operation unit 42a, it operates the left door opening device 41A, and when it receives an operation on the right door opening operation unit 42b, it operates the right door opening device 41B.

[0065] Next, the configuration of the door closing device 60 will be described. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the door closing device 60. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the door closing device 60. FIG. 6 is a front view showing the door closing device 60. In the right refrigerator door 11Ab shown in FIG. 6, the portion overlapping the door closing device 60 in a plan view from the front FR is omitted.

[0066] The door closing device 60 shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 is the right door closing device 60B. Hereinafter, mainly the right door closing device 60B and the right refrigerator door 11Ab will be described, but the configurations and operations of the left door closing device 60A and the left refrigerator door 11Aa are the same.

[0067] The door closing device 60 includes an electric motor 61, a first pulley part (pulley part) 62, a second pulley part (pulley part) 63, a first transmission member (transmission member) 64, a shaft part 65, a second transmission member (transmission member) 66, and a detection part (not shown). The door closing device 60 is provided on the upper surface of the upper wall 21.

[0068] The electric motor 61 includes an electric motor main body 611 and a first gear part 612. The electric motor main body 611 is, for example, an electric motor, and generates a rotational force centered on the first rotation axis O1 by sharing power from the first power supply board 70 or the second power supply board 80. Also, the electric motor main body 611 is controlled by the control part 70a. In the present embodiment, the electric motor main body 611 is a geared motor including a speed reducer.

[0069] The first gear part 612 is a screw-shaped gear provided at the tip of the rotation axis of the electric motor main body 611. The first gear part 612 rotates about the first rotation axis O1 when the electric motor main body 611 is driven. The first gear part 612 is a screw-shaped gear with a spiral screw cut around the first rotation axis O1.

[0070] The first pulley part 62 includes a second gear part 621 and a cylindrical part 622. The first pulley part 62 is rotatably provided with respect to the housing 10 about the second rotation axis O2.

[0071] The second gear part 621 is a gear that meshes with the first gear part 612. When the first gear part 612 rotates about the first rotation axis O1, it rotates about the second rotation axis O2.

[0072] Here, the second rotation axis O2 extends in a direction different from the first rotation axis O1. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the first rotation axis O1 extends in the depth direction D, and the second rotation axis O2 extends in the vertical direction V.

[0073] For example, the first gear part 612 is a worm, and the second gear part 621 is a worm wheel that meshes with the worm. Therefore, the rotational force about the first rotation axis O1 generated by driving the motor body 611 becomes a rotational force about the second rotation axis O2 by the worm gear composed of the first gear part 612 and the second gear part 621, and is transmitted to the first pulley part 62.

[0074] The first gear part 612 and the second gear part 621 only need to be able to convert the rotational force generated by the motor body 611 from a rotational force about the first rotation axis O1 to a rotational force about the second rotation axis O2, and are not limited to worm gears. For example, the first gear part 612 and the second gear part 621 may be helical gears.

[0075] The cylindrical part 622 is provided above the second gear part 621 and is a cylindrical member (pulley) centered on the second rotation axis O2. When the second gear part 621 rotates about the second rotation axis O2, the cylindrical part 622 rotates about the second rotation axis O2 together with the second gear part 621.

[0076] The second pulley part 63 includes a large-diameter part 631 and a small-diameter part 632. The second pulley part 63 is rotatably provided with respect to the housing 10 about the third rotation axis O3. The third rotation axis O3 extends in the vertical direction V.

[0077] The large-diameter part 631 is a cylindrical member (pulley) centered on the third rotation axis O3. The small-diameter portion 632 is a cylindrical member (pulley) centered on the third rotation axis O3.

[0078] The small-diameter portion 632 is provided below LO of the large-diameter portion 631 and has a smaller diameter than the large-diameter portion 631. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, due to the difference in diameter between the large-diameter portion 631 and the small-diameter portion 632, a space 63s is formed below LO of the large-diameter portion 631. A detection portion (not shown) is provided in the space 63s. The detection portion will be described later.

[0079] The first transmission member 64 is a belt member annularly bridged between the cylindrical portion 622 and the large-diameter portion 631. The first transmission member 64 is a timing belt that connects the cylindrical portion 622, which is a pulley, and the large-diameter portion 631, which is a pulley.

[0080] The large-diameter portion 631 is a portion that receives rotation from the first transmission member 64 and rotates by the first transmission member 64 in the second pulley portion 63. When the first pulley portion 62 rotates about the second rotation axis O2, a rotational force is transmitted from the cylindrical portion 622 to the large-diameter portion 631 via the first transmission member 64, and the large-diameter portion 631 rotates about the third rotation axis O3. When the large-diameter portion 631 rotates about the third rotation axis O3, the small-diameter portion 632 connected below LO of the large-diameter portion 631 rotates about the third rotation axis O3 together with the large-diameter portion 631.

[0081] In this way, the door closing device 60 has pulleys and includes pulley portions (the first pulley portion 62, the second pulley portion 63) that can rotate about rotation axes (the second rotation axis O2, the third rotation axis O3) extending in the vertical direction V.

[0082] The shaft portion 65 includes a rotatable portion 651 and a shaft body 652. The shaft portion 65 is a shaft member that rotatably supports the left refrigerator door 11Aa or the right refrigerator door 11Ab about the rotation axis O (Oa, Ob). The shaft portion 65 is provided so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis O with respect to the housing 10.

[0083] The rotatable portion 651 is a cylindrical member (pulley) centered on a rotation axis O extending in the vertical direction V. The shaft body 652 is a cylindrical member centered on the rotation axis O. As shown in FIG. 6, the shaft body 652 is provided below the rotated part 651 at LO and is connected to the right refrigerator door 11Ab.

[0084] The shaft body 652 is a hinge member that rotatably supports the right refrigerator door 11Ab with respect to the housing 10. Therefore, when the right refrigerator door 11Ab opens and closes, the shaft body 652 rotates about the rotation axis Ob together with the right refrigerator door 11Ab.

[0085] The second transmission member 66 is a belt member annularly spanned between the small-diameter part 632 and the rotated part 651. The second transmission member 66 is a timing belt that connects the small-diameter part 632, which is a pulley, and the rotated part 651, which is a pulley.

[0086] The small-diameter part 632 is a part that imparts rotation to the second transmission member 66 in the second pulley part 63. When the second pulley part 63 rotates about the third rotation axis O3, a rotational force is transmitted from the small-diameter part 632 to the rotated part 651 via the second transmission member 66, and the rotated part 651 rotates about the rotation axis O. When the rotated part 651 rotates about the rotation axis O, the shaft body 652 connected below the rotated part 651 at LO rotates about the rotation axis O together with the rotated part 651.

[0087] In this way, the door closing device 60 includes transmission members (the first transmission member 64 and the second transmission member 66) capable of transmitting a rotational force by connecting two pulleys.

[0088] Due to the above-described configuration of the door closing device 60, the rotational force generated by the electric motor 61 is transmitted to the shaft part 65 by gears such as a worm gear, pulleys, and a timing belt. By transmitting the rotational force using pulleys and a timing belt, the quietness can be improved as compared with a conventional door opening / closing device using a combination of a motor and gears.

[0089] Hereinafter, in the transmission process in which the rotational force by the electric motor 61 is transmitted to the shaft portion 65, the process in which the rotational force is transmitted from the electric motor 61 to the first pulley portion 62 by the meshing of the first gear portion 612 and the second gear portion 621 is referred to as the "first transmission process", the process in which the rotational force is transmitted from the first pulley portion 62 to the second pulley portion 63 by the first transmission member 64 is referred to as the "second transmission process", and the process in which the rotational force is transmitted from the second pulley portion 63 to the shaft portion 65 by the second transmission member 66 is referred to as the "third transmission process". The rotational force by the electric motor 61 is transmitted from the electric motor 61 to the shaft portion 65 through the first transmission process, the second transmission process, and the third transmission process.

[0090] The door closing device 60 mainly rotates the shaft portion 65 in the direction of closing the left refrigerator door 11Aa and the right refrigerator door 11Ab.

[0091] When an operation from the user is input to the door opening operation unit 42 in a state where the right refrigerator door 11Ab is closed, the control unit 70a controls the door opening device 41 to open the right refrigerator door 11Ab.

[0092] The control unit 70a controls the door closing device 60 to close the opened right refrigerator door 11Ab. The control unit 70a may control the door closing device 60 based on an operation from the user. For example, the control unit 70a may control the door closing device 60 based on an operation from the user input to a terminal device such as a smartphone or a tablet wirelessly connected to the control unit 70a.

[0093] The control unit 70a may control the door closing device 60 based on a preset condition. For example, the control unit 70a may control the door closing device 60 based on the time during which the right refrigerator door 11Ab is open. When the control unit 70a detects that a preset time has elapsed while the right refrigerator door 11Ab is open, the door closing device 60 may automatically close the right refrigerator door 11Ab. In this case, even if the user forgets to close the right refrigerator door 11Ab, the door closing device 60 can automatically close the right refrigerator door 11Ab.

[0094] The control unit 70a controls the electric motor 61 to rotate the first gear unit 612 about the first rotation axis O1. At this time, the control unit 70a controls the rotational speed, angular velocity, rotation direction, etc. in the rotation of the electric motor 61.

[0095] In the above-described first transmission step, the rotational force by the electric motor 61 is transmitted to the first pulley unit 62 via the second gear unit 621 engaged with the first gear unit 612, and the first pulley unit 62 rotates about the second rotation axis O2.

[0096] At this time, by using a geared motor as the electric motor main body 611 and using worm gears as the first gear unit 612 and the second gear unit 621, it is possible to increase the torque and reduce the noise with a compact configuration as compared with a reduction mechanism using spur gears or the like.

[0097] Further, since the second gear unit 621 is provided below the cylindrical portion 622 at LO, there is no need to raise the position of the electric motor 61 having the first gear unit 612 engaged with the second gear unit 621. Therefore, a spacer or the like for raising the mounting position of the electric motor 61 on the upper wall 21 is unnecessary, and the number of parts when the closing door device 60 is provided in the housing 10 can be suppressed.

[0098] Next, in the second transmission step, the rotational force of the electric motor 61 transmitted to the first pulley unit 62 is transmitted to the second pulley unit 63. Specifically, the rotational force of the electric motor 61 is transmitted from the first pulley unit 62 to the second pulley unit 63 by the first transmission member 64 connecting the cylindrical portion 622 and the large-diameter portion 631, and the second pulley unit 63 rotates about the third rotation axis O3.

[0099] Here, the detection unit provided in the space 63s detects the rotation angle of the second pulley unit 63. The detection unit is, for example, an encoder including an encoder scale and a transmissive photosensor. By attaching the encoder scale to the lower surface of the large-diameter portion 631 and providing the transmissive photosensor in the space 63s, the rotation angle of the second pulley unit 63 can be detected.

[0100] By providing a detection unit in the space 63s formed by the difference in diameter between the large-diameter portion 631 and the small-diameter portion 632, the detection unit can be provided without changing the overall size of the door closing device 60.

[0101] Next, in the third transmission step, the rotational force of the electric motor 61 is transmitted from the second pulley portion 63 to the shaft portion 65. Specifically, the rotational force of the electric motor 61 is transmitted from the second pulley portion 63 to the shaft portion 65 by a second transmission member 66 that connects the small-diameter portion 632 and the rotated portion 651, and the shaft portion 65 rotates about the rotation axis Ob. At this time, the right refrigerator door 11Ab connected to the shaft main body 652 rotates about the rotation axis Ob, and the closing or opening of the right refrigerator door 11Ab can be realized.

[0102] The above-described detection unit is connected to the control unit 70a via wiring. Therefore, the control unit 70a can acquire the detection result detected by the detection unit and calculate the opening / closing angle of the right refrigerator door 11Ab based on the detection result of the detection unit. The control unit 70a can control the door closing device 60 based on the calculated opening / closing angle and close or open the right refrigerator door 11Ab.

[0103] Here, the reduction ratios in the first transmission step and the second transmission step are larger than the reduction ratio in the third transmission step. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in the diameter of the rotated portion 651 in the shaft portion 65, and it is possible to suppress the components constituting the door closing device 60 from protruding forward FR of the right refrigerator door 11Ab.

[0104] In this way, by transmitting the rotational force of the electric motor 61 to the shaft portion 65 through the first transmission step, the second transmission step, and the third transmission step, the right refrigerator door 11Ab can be closed (or opened).

[0105] Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the shaft main body 652 has an overload protection device 652a. The overload protection device 652a is a torque limiter that can cut off the rotational force transmitted from the shaft main body 652 to the rotated portion 651.

[0106] For example, even when the user manually closes the right refrigerator door 11Ab, when a torque equal to or greater than a certain value is applied to the shaft body 652, the overload protection device 652a cuts off the rotational force transmitted from the shaft body 652 to the driven part 651, so that the right refrigerator door 11Ab can be closed without being hindered by the motor magnet or the like of the electric motor 61. Further, by providing the overload protection device 652a on the shaft portion 65, it is possible to prevent noise from being generated by the sliding of the gears in the first gear portion 612 and the second gear portion 621 when the right refrigerator door 11Ab is manually closed.

[0107] By cutting off the rotational force with the overload protection device 652a, the second pulley portion 63 does not rotate when the right refrigerator door 11Ab is manually closed. Therefore, there is a possibility that the actual rotation angle (actual angle) of the right refrigerator door 11Ab is different from the opening angle (calculated angle) of the right refrigerator door 11Ab calculated by the control unit 70a based on the detection result of the above-described detection unit.

[0108] The control unit 70a initializes the calculated angle when the right refrigerator door 11Ab is located at a predetermined initialization position in order to eliminate the difference between the actual angle and the calculated angle in the right refrigerator door 11Ab.

[0109] The refrigerator 1 has an opening / closing state detection unit that detects that the right refrigerator door 11Ab is closed. The opening / closing state detection unit is, for example, a physical button or switch that is in a state of being pushed (ON state) by the right refrigerator door 11Ab when the right refrigerator door 11Ab is closed and is in a released state (OFF state) when the right refrigerator door 11Ab is opened.

[0110] When the opening / closing state detection unit detects that the right refrigerator door 11Ab is closed, the control unit 70a initializes the calculated angle. At this time, the right refrigerator door 11Ab located at the above-described initialization position is the right refrigerator door 11Ab in the closed state.

[0111] The opening / closing state detection unit may be able to detect that the right refrigerator door 11Ab has opened by a predetermined angle. In this case, the right refrigerator door 11Ab located at the initialization position is the right refrigerator door 11Ab that has opened by a predetermined angle.

[0112] By initializing the calculated angle based on the detection result of the opening / closing state detection unit by the control unit 70a, it is possible to suppress the deviation between the actual angle and the calculated angle of the right refrigerator door 11Ab.

[0113] In this embodiment, the refrigerator 1 includes a housing 10 including a storage chamber 27 having an opening, a door 11 rotatably attached to the housing 10 so as to open and close the opening of the storage chamber 27, and a door closing device 60 capable of closing the door 11. The door closing device 60 includes a shaft portion 65 that rotatably supports the door 11, pulley portions 62 and 63 rotatable with respect to the housing 10, transmission members 64 and 66 annularly spanned between the shaft portion 65 and the pulley portions 62 and 63 for transmitting the rotation of the pulley portions 62 and 63 to the shaft portion 65, and an electric motor 61 having a first gear portion 612 capable of generating a rotational force and rotatable by the rotational force.

[0114] Further, the pulley portion 62 has a second gear portion 621 that meshes with the first gear portion 612 and rotates about a rotation axis (second rotation axis O2) extending in a direction different from the rotation axis (first rotation axis O1) of the first gear portion 612, and transmits the rotational force to the shaft portion 65 via the transmission members 64 and 66.

[0115] According to such a configuration, the rotational force by the electric motor 61 can be transmitted to the shaft portion 65 using a transmission mechanism constituted by a pulley and a timing belt, and the door 11 can be opened and closed by the rotational force transmitted to the shaft portion 65.

[0116] As a result, it is possible to provide a refrigerator 1 provided with a door closing device 60 with improved quietness.

[0117] (Modification 1) In the above embodiment, the door closing device 60 mainly closes the door 11, but the mode of the door closing device is not limited to this. The door closing device may open the door by transmitting the rotational force of the electric motor to the shaft portion. In that case, the control unit can control the door closing device to open the door to a predetermined angle. By presetting the maximum opening angle at which the door can be opened using a terminal device such as a smartphone wirelessly connected to the control unit, the user can automatically open the door without colliding with the wall even when there is a wall near the refrigerator.

[0118] (Modification 2) In the above embodiment, the door closing device 60 includes a detection unit capable of detecting the rotation angle of the second pulley unit 63, but the mode of the door closing device is not limited to this. The door closing device may include a detection unit capable of detecting the rotation angle of the first gear unit 612, the first pulley unit 62, or the shaft portion 65. In that case, the control unit can calculate the opening and closing angle of the door 11 based on the rotation angle of the first gear unit 612, the first pulley unit 62, or the shaft portion 65.

[0119] (Modification 3) In the above embodiment, the door closing device 60 includes two pulley units (the first pulley unit 62 and the second pulley unit 63), but the mode of the door closing device is not limited to this. The number of pulley units included in the door closing device may be one, or three or more.

[0120] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and its equivalent scope.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0121] 1... Refrigerator, 10... Housing, 11... Door, 27... Storage room, 60... Door closing device, 61... Electric motor, 612... First gear part, 62... First pulley part (pulley part), 621... Second gear part, 622... Cylindrical part, 63... Second pulley part (pulley part), 631... Large diameter part, 632... Small diameter part, 64... First transmission member (transmission member), 65... Shaft part, 651... Rotated part, 652... Shaft body, 652a... Overload protection device, V... Vertical direction, UP... Upward, LO... Downward

Claims

1. a housing including a storage chamber having an opening; a door attached to the opening so as to be capable of opening and closing the opening and rotatable relative to the housing; A door closing device capable of closing the door; Equipped with The door closing device is A shaft portion that rotatably supports the door; A pulley part that is rotatable relative to the housing; a transmission member that is annularly hung between the shaft portion and the pulley portion and transmits rotation of the pulley portion to the shaft portion; an electric motor capable of generating a rotational force and having a first gear portion rotatable by the rotational force; Equipped with the pulley portion has a second gear portion that meshes with the first gear portion and rotates about a rotation axis extending in a direction different from the rotation axis of the first gear portion, and transmits the rotational force to the shaft portion via the transmission member. refrigerator.

2. The first gear portion is a screw gear.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1.

3. The shaft portion is A shaft body connected to the door and rotating together with the door; a rotated portion provided above the shaft body and connected to the pulley portion by the transmission member; an overload protection device capable of blocking a rotational force transmitted from the shaft body to the rotated part; Equipped with 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1.

4. The door closing device includes a detection unit capable of detecting a rotation angle of the pulley unit. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The pulley portion is a first pulley portion having the second gear portion; A second pulley portion having a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion provided below the large diameter portion and having a smaller diameter than the large diameter portion; having The second pulley portion is connected to the first pulley portion by a first transmission member that is annularly hung between the first pulley portion and the large diameter portion, and is connected to the shaft portion by a second transmission member that is annularly hung between the small diameter portion and the shaft portion, The detection portion is provided below the large diameter portion.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4.

6. The first pulley portion has a cylindrical portion connected to the large diameter portion by the first transmission member, The cylindrical portion is provided above the second gear portion.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5.

7. The rotational force by the electric motor is a first transmission step in which power is transmitted from the electric motor to the first pulley portion by meshing between the first gear portion and the second gear portion; a second transmission step in which the first transmission member transmits the force from the first pulley portion to the second pulley portion; a third transmission step in which the second transmission member transmits the force from the second pulley portion to the shaft portion; The power is transmitted from the electric motor to the shaft portion via the a reduction ratio in the first transmission step and the second transmission step is greater than a reduction ratio in the third transmission step; 7. The refrigerator according to claim 6.

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