Refrigerator

Abstract

To provide a refrigerator which can adjust an opening amount of a door.SOLUTION: A refrigerator includes a housing, a door, a door opening device, a storage part, and a control part. The housing includes a storage chamber having an opening. The door is mounted in such a manner that the opening is openable / closable. The door opening device can open the door. The storage part has opening amount information containing the opening amount of the door. The control part can acquire the opening amount information. The control part controls the door opening device based on the opening amount information, and opens the door and reduces the speed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a refrigerator. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, refrigerators have been equipped with automatic revolving door opening mechanisms. Examples of door opening devices in refrigerator automatic opening / closing mechanisms include solenoid-type door opening devices. Solenoid-type door opening devices use electromagnetic force to move a movable iron core located inside a cylindrical coil, which pushes out the door to open it.

[0003] In the refrigerator described above, the opening amount of the door cannot be adjusted, so there is a possibility that the opened door may collide with an object such as a wall disposed around the refrigerator. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-135220 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a refrigerator in which the opening amount of the door can be adjusted. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A refrigerator according to an embodiment includes a housing, a door, a door-opening device, a memory unit, and a control unit. The housing includes a storage compartment having an opening. The door is attached so as to be able to open and close the opening. The door-opening device is capable of opening the door. The memory unit has opening amount information including an opening amount of the door. The control unit is capable of acquiring the opening amount information. The control unit controls the door-opening device based on the opening amount information to open and slow down the door. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a refrigerator according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line F2-F2 in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a ceiling part of the refrigerator according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view showing a door opening device attached to a door of a refrigerator according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] 1 is a perspective view showing a door opening device attached to a housing of a refrigerator according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a refrigerator according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a refrigerator according to an embodiment. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a door opening operation of a refrigerator according to an embodiment. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a door closing operation of a refrigerator according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having the same or similar functions will be denoted by the same reference numerals. Duplicate descriptions of those components may be omitted.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line F2-F2 in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the ceiling of the refrigerator 1. The overall configuration of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 will be described below. Note that the refrigerator 1 does not need to have all of the components described below, and some components may be omitted as appropriate.

[0010] In this embodiment, the vertical direction in refrigerator 1 is defined as the "up-down direction V," the vertically upward direction as the "upper UP" in the vertical direction V, and the vertically downward direction as the "lower LO" in the vertical direction V. Furthermore, the left-right direction when viewed from a user standing in front of refrigerator 1 is defined as the "width direction W," the leftward direction as the "leftward LT" in the width direction W, and the rightward direction as the "rightward RT" in the width direction W. Furthermore, the direction perpendicular 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 refrigerator 1 as viewed from the refrigerator 1 is defined as the "forward FR" in the depth direction D, and the direction further away from the user is defined as the "rearward RR" in the depth direction D.

[0011] The refrigerator 1 includes, for example, a refrigerator body 5 and a plurality of doors 30.

[0012] The refrigerator 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 foam insulating material 10c.

[0013] The inner box 10a is a member that forms the inner surface of the housing 10, and is made of, for example, synthetic resin.

[0014] 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.

[0015] The outer box 10b is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped that forms the outer surface excluding the front FR (front face) of the housing 10. However, a recess is formed in the rear RR of the end (lower end) of the lower LO of the outer box 10b to form a machine chamber 26, which will be described later.

[0016] The foam insulation 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.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 10 has an upper wall 11, a lower wall 12, a left side wall 13, a right side wall 14, and a rear wall 15.

[0018] The upper wall 11 and the lower wall 12 extend substantially horizontally. The left side wall 13 and the right side wall 14 rise upward from the left and right ends (left LT and right RT) of the lower wall 12 and connect to the left and right ends of the upper wall 11.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, the rear wall 15 stands upward UP from the rear end (rear end) of the lower wall 12 at the rear RR, and is connected to the rear end of the upper wall 11.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of storage chambers 20 are formed inside the housing 10.

[0021] The multiple storage compartments 20 include, for example, a refrigerator compartment 21, a vegetable compartment 22, an ice-making compartment 23, a small freezer compartment 24, and a main freezer compartment 25.

[0022] In this embodiment, the refrigerator compartment 21 is arranged at the uppermost position UP (top) among the plurality of storage compartments 20. The vegetable compartment 22 is arranged below the refrigerator compartment 21 at the lower position LO.

[0023] Ice making compartment 23 and small freezer compartment 24 are located below vegetable compartment 22, LO. Main freezer compartment 25 is located below ice making compartment 23 and small freezer compartment 24, LO. Small freezer compartment 24 is located to the right of ice making compartment 23, RT.

[0024] The housing 10 has an opening at the front FR of each storage compartment 20, which allows ingredients and the like to be put in and taken out of each storage compartment 20.

[0025] The housing 10 has a first partition 28 and a second partition 29. The first partition 28 and the second partition 29 are, for example, partition walls that extend in a substantially horizontal direction.

[0026] The first partition 28 is located between the refrigerator compartment 21 and the vegetable compartment 22, and separates the refrigerator compartment 21 from the vegetable compartment 22.

[0027] Second partition 29 is located between vegetable compartment 22 and ice-making compartment 23 and small freezer compartment 24, and separates vegetable compartment 22 from ice-making compartment 23 and small freezer compartment 24.

[0028] The temperature inside vegetable compartment 22 is maintained higher than that inside refrigerator compartment 21. Inside vegetable compartment 22, 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.

[0029] The temperatures inside ice-making compartment 23, small freezing compartment 24, and main freezing compartment 25 are maintained at temperatures at which stored items can be frozen. Inside ice-making compartment 23, small freezing compartment 24, and main freezing compartment 25, for example, storage containers for accommodating the items to be frozen and guide rails for moving the storage containers in the depth direction D are provided.

[0030] The openings of the storage compartments 20 are covered by a plurality of doors 30 which can be opened and closed.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of doors 30 include, for example, a left refrigerator door 31, a right refrigerator door 32, a vegetable door 33, an ice maker door 34, a small freezer door 35, and a main freezer door 36.

[0032] The left refrigerator compartment door 31 and the right refrigerator compartment door 32 are attached so that the opening of the refrigerator compartment 21 can be opened and closed. The vegetable compartment door 33 is attached so that the opening of the vegetable compartment 22 can be opened and closed.

[0033] Ice making compartment door 34 is attached so that the opening of ice making compartment 23 can be opened and closed. Small freezing compartment door 35 is attached so that the opening of small freezing compartment 24 can be opened and closed. Main freezing compartment door 36 is attached so that the opening of main freezing compartment 25 can be opened and closed.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 3, the left refrigerator compartment door 31 and the right refrigerator compartment door 32 are supported on the housing 10 via hinge members so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis O as the center of rotation.

[0035] The left refrigerator compartment door 31 is supported so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft (left rotation shaft) Oa provided on the left side LT of the housing 10 as the center of rotation.

[0036] The right refrigerator compartment door 32 is supported so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft (right rotation shaft) Ob provided on the right side RT of the housing 10 as the center of rotation.

[0037] The left refrigerator compartment door 31 and the right refrigerator compartment door 32 are provided with door opening devices 60 connected to hinge members attached to the housing 10. The door opening devices 60 include a left door opening device 60a and a right door opening device 60b.

[0038] The left door-opening device 60a includes a shaft member connected to a hinge member that supports the left refrigerator compartment door 31 so that the left refrigerator compartment door 31 is rotatable about the left rotation shaft Oa.

[0039] The right door-opening device 60b includes a shaft member connected to a hinge member that supports the right refrigerator compartment door 32 so that the door can rotate about the right rotation shaft Ob. Details of the door-opening device 60 will be described later.

[0040] A revolving door that swings left and right, such as the left refrigerator compartment door 31 and the right refrigerator compartment door 32, is also called, for example, a double door or a French door.

[0041] The dimensions in the width direction W of the left refrigerator compartment door 31 and the right refrigerator compartment door 32 may be equal to or different from each other. In the example shown in Figures 1 and 3, the dimensions in the width direction W are different, and the dimension of the left refrigerator compartment door 31 is smaller than the dimension of the right refrigerator compartment door 32.

[0042] 2, a door container 19 is detachably attached to the rear side RR of the right refrigerator compartment door 32.

[0043] The door container 19 includes upper door containers 19a and 19b that are provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction V, and a lower door container 19c that is provided on the lower side LO. Similarly, multiple door containers may be attached to the rear side RR of the left refrigerator compartment door 31.

[0044] Vegetable compartment door 33, ice compartment door 34, small freezer compartment door 35 and main freezer compartment door 36 are, for example, drawer-type doors.

[0045] A vegetable compartment container is connected to the rear RR surface of vegetable compartment door 33. A storage container is connected to each rear RR surface of ice compartment door 34, small freezer compartment door 35, and main freezer compartment door 36.

[0046] Each of the doors 30 contains an appropriate insulating material inside. The appropriate insulating material may include a foam insulating material similar to the foam insulating material 10c described above, a sheet insulating material, a vacuum insulating material, and the like.

[0047] At the rear RR of the housing 10, various members are arranged which, together with the housing 10, form a refrigerator body 5. Examples of members which form the refrigerator body 5 include pipes (not shown) through which a refrigerant circulates, a cooling unit 17, a flow path forming member 16, and a cooling fan 18.

[0048] At the rear RR of the housing 10, at the lower LO, there is provided a machine room 26 in which, for example, a compressor, a condenser, an evaporating dish, etc. are arranged.

[0049] The cooling unit 17 includes a first cooling unit 17a and a second cooling unit 17b.

[0050] The first cooling unit 17a is disposed behind the refrigerator compartment 21 RR and cools the refrigerator compartment 21 and the vegetable compartment 22.

[0051] Second cooling unit 17b is arranged behind ice making compartment 23 or small freezing compartment 24 RR, and cools ice making compartment 23, small freezing compartment 24 and main freezing compartment 25.

[0052] The flow path forming member 16 includes a first flow path forming member 16a and a second flow path forming member 16b.

[0053] The first flow path forming member 16a forms a flow path through which the cold air supplied from the first cooling unit 17a flows to the refrigerator compartment 21 and the vegetable compartment 22.

[0054] Second flow path forming member 16b forms a flow path through which the cold air supplied from second cooling unit 17b flows to ice making compartment 23, small freezing compartment 24, and main freezing compartment 25.

[0055] The cooling fan 18 includes a first cooling fan 18a and a second cooling fan 18b.

[0056] The first cooling fan 18a blows the cold air formed by the first cooling unit 17a into a flow path surrounded by the first flow path forming member 16a, forming a flow of cold air that circulates inside the refrigerator compartment 21 and the vegetable compartment 22.

[0057] The second cooling fan 18b blows the cold air formed by the second cooling unit 17b into a flow path surrounded by the second flow path forming member 16b, forming a flow of cold air that circulates inside the ice making compartment 23, the small freezing compartment 24 and the main freezing compartment 25.

[0058] 2 and 3, a substrate 50 is provided in the substrate accommodating section 2 in the ceiling portion of the upper UP of the housing 10. Here, the ceiling portion refers to the surface of the upper wall 11 on the upper UP side.

[0059] The substrate accommodating section 2 has a rectangular container shape with an open upper side UP, and is covered from the upper side UP by a substrate accommodating section lid member 2A. The substrate accommodating section lid member 2A is attached to the substrate accommodating section 2 in a detachable manner.

[0060] The board 50 includes, for example, a control board 51 and a power supply board 55 .

[0061] The control board 51 includes a control unit 52 configured by a computer such as a microcomputer, and a storage unit 53 that stores various information for the control unit 52 to control the refrigerator 1.

[0062] The control unit 52 controls the entire refrigerator 1. Furthermore, power is supplied to the control board 51 from an external commercial power source PS via a power cord 7.

[0063] The power supply board 55 is connected to the control board 51 via the power supply line 8, and is supplied with power from an external commercial power supply PS through the control board 51. The power supply board 55 is a power supply board that supplies the power required for the cooling operation of the refrigerator 1 to various parts.

[0064] For example, the power supply board 55 supplies power to the cooling unit 17, the cooling fan 18, the proximity detector 41, the object detector 42, the door opening device 60, and the like, which will be described later.

[0065] Power supply board 55 may be provided with a control unit configured by a computer such as a microcomputer, and may control part or all of refrigerator 1. Control unit 52 and memory unit 53 may be provided on a control board other than control board 51 or power supply board 55.

[0066] A wiring bundle 9 is laid in the space between the inner box 10a and the outer box 10b of the housing 10. The wiring bundle 9 includes, for example, a first wiring bundle 9a drawn from the control board 51 and a second wiring bundle 9b drawn from the power supply board 55.

[0067] The first wiring bundle 9a includes control lines connected to the control board 51, the cooling unit 17, the cooling fan 18, the proximity detection unit 41, the object detection unit 42, and the door-opening device 60, and transmits control signals from the control board 51 to the cooling unit 17, the cooling fan 18, and the door-opening device 60.

[0068] The first wiring bundle 9a also transmits to the control board 51 the detection results of the proximity detector 41, the object detector 42, and an opening amount detector 66, which will be described later.

[0069] The second wiring bundle 9b is a power supply line that supplies power to the cooling unit 17, the cooling fan 18, the proximity detector 41, the object detector 42, the door-opening device 60, etc. The first wiring bundle 9a may also include a power supply line that supplies power from the control board 51 to each location.

[0070] The control board 51 and the power supply board 55 do not have to be two independent boards, but may be one board. Furthermore, the control board 51 and the power supply board 55 may be provided on the rear wall 15 of the housing 10, etc.

[0071] 3, a cover member 3 may be provided on the ceiling of the housing 10 at the front FR of the top wall 11 of the housing 10, and the cover member 3 is detachably attached to the top wall 11. The cover member 3 covers the door-opening device 60 from above UP, for example.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 1, left refrigerator compartment door 31 and right refrigerator compartment door 32 each have a proximity detector 41 and an object detector 42.

[0073] The proximity detection unit (door-opening operation unit) 41 is a sensor that can detect an input operation from a user, and is, for example, a touch sensor (touch-open sensor) that can input an operation by a user touching it. The user can input an operation to open the left refrigerator door 31 or the right refrigerator door 32 to the proximity detection unit 41.

[0074] The proximity detector 41 includes a left proximity detector (left door-opening operation unit) 41a provided on the left refrigerator compartment door 31 and a right proximity detector (right door-opening operation unit) 41b provided on the right refrigerator compartment door 32.

[0075] The left proximity detector 41a receives an input of an operation to open the left refrigerator compartment door 31. The right proximity detector 41b receives an input of an operation to open the right refrigerator compartment door 32.

[0076] For example, when a user approaches the surface of the left refrigerator compartment door 31 or the right refrigerator compartment door 32 when the door is closed and the hand enters within a predetermined range, the proximity detection unit 41 detects the user's hand. The surface of the left refrigerator compartment door 31 or the right refrigerator compartment door 32 refers to the front FR surface of the left refrigerator compartment door 31 or the right refrigerator compartment door 32 when the door is closed.

[0077] When the door 30 is closed, the proximity detection unit 41 detects the hand of a user that has entered within a predetermined range as an operation to open the door 30. In other words, the proximity detection unit 41 functions as a door-opening operation unit that accepts an operation to open the door 30.

[0078] The proximity detection unit 41, which functions as a door-opening operation unit, may receive an operation to open the door 30 by detecting not only the user's hand but also the user's arm or the like.

[0079] The proximity detector 41 transmits the detection result to the controller 52. The operation of the refrigerator 1 based on the detection result of the proximity detector 41 will be described later.

[0080] The object detection unit 42 is a sensor that can detect an object within a predetermined range in the traveling direction of the left refrigerator compartment door 31 or the right refrigerator compartment door 32 when the door 30 is in the process of opening. The object detection unit 42 includes a left object detection unit 42a provided on the left refrigerator compartment door 31 and a right object detection unit 42b provided on the right refrigerator compartment door 32.

[0081] The left object detector 42a detects objects within a predetermined range in the direction of travel of the open left refrigerator compartment door 31. The right object detector 42b detects objects within a predetermined range in the direction of travel of the open right refrigerator compartment door 32.

[0082] The object detection unit 42 provided on the left refrigerator compartment door 31 and the right refrigerator compartment door 32, which are revolving doors, detects an object within a predetermined range in front of (on the front side of) the left refrigerator compartment door 31 and the right refrigerator compartment door 32 on the rotation trajectory when the left refrigerator compartment door 31 and the right refrigerator compartment door 32, which rotate around the rotation axis O as the center of rotation, are opened.

[0083] Furthermore, proximity detection unit 41 may detect objects in the same manner as object detection unit 42. Specifically, proximity detection unit 41 may detect an object within a predetermined range in front of left refrigerator compartment door 31 and right refrigerator compartment door 32 in the rotation trajectory when left refrigerator compartment door 31 and right refrigerator compartment door 32 are opened.

[0084] The object detection unit 42 transmits the detection result to the control unit 52. The operation of the refrigerator 1 based on the detection result of the object detection unit 42 will be described later.

[0085] Next, we will explain the configuration of the door-opening device 60. Below, we will explain the left-door-opening device 60a attached to the left refrigerator compartment door 31, but the right-door-opening device 60b attached to the right refrigerator compartment door 32 has the same configuration.

[0086] Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the left door-opening device 60a attached to the left refrigerator compartment door 31. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the left door-opening device 60a attached to the housing 10.

[0087] 4 and 5, the shape and the like of the back surface side of the left refrigerator compartment door 31 are omitted as appropriate. The back surface of the left refrigerator compartment door 31 refers to the rear surface RR of the left refrigerator compartment door 31 when closed.

[0088] In addition, in FIG. 4, components such as the housing 10 other than the left refrigerator compartment door 31 and the left door-opening device 60a are omitted.

[0089] As shown in FIG. 4, the door-opening device 60 includes a main body 61, an axis 62, a shaft 63, a drive unit 65, an opening amount detection unit 66, and a transmission unit 67.

[0090] Here, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the left refrigerator compartment door 31 has a left door surface portion 31a that forms the surface of the left refrigerator compartment door 31, and a left door main body portion 31b that forms the side and back surfaces of the left refrigerator compartment door 31.

[0091] The main body 61 is a base portion of the door-opening device 60. The main body 61 is provided, for example, in the internal space of the left refrigerator compartment door 31 surrounded by the left door surface portion 31a and the left door main body portion 31b.

[0092] In this embodiment, the left door-opening device 60a is attached to the left refrigerator compartment door 31 by fixing the main body 61 to the left door main body 31b.

[0093] The shaft portion 62 is a cylindrical or columnar shaft member centered on the rotation axis O. The shaft portion 62 does not need to be strictly cylindrical or columnar. The shaft portion 62 is provided to be rotatable relative to the main body portion 61 with the rotation axis O as the center of rotation.

[0094] The shaft 62 extends upward UP from the main body 61 and is exposed in the space above UP of the main body 61. A recess that is recessed downward LO is formed on the left door main body 31b at the end of the upper UP on the left rotation axis Oa side. The shaft 62 is provided in this recess.

[0095] In this embodiment, the shaft 63 , the drive unit 65 , the opening amount detection unit 66 and the transmission unit 67 are provided inside the main body 61 .

[0096] The shaft 63 is connected to the lower part LO of the shaft portion 62 and is a cylindrical member centered on the rotation axis O. The shaft 63 does not need to be strictly cylindrical.

[0097] The driving unit 65 is, for example, an electric motor having a motor shaft that is rotatable about a rotation axis Oc.

[0098] In this embodiment, the rotation axis Oc of the drive unit 65 extends parallel to the left rotation axis Oa of the left refrigerator compartment door 31 (or the right rotation axis Ob of the right refrigerator compartment door 32), but the direction in which the rotation axis Oc extends is not limited to this.

[0099] The opening amount detection unit 66 will be described later.

[0100] The transmission unit 67 is capable of transmitting the rotational force of the motor shaft of the drive unit 65 around the rotation axis Oc to the shaft 63, and is configured by, for example, a plurality of gears.

[0101] When the driving unit 65 is driven, the rotational force of the motor shaft of the driving unit 65 around the rotation axis Oc is transmitted to the shaft 63 via the transmission unit 67, causing the shaft 63 to rotate around the rotation axis O as the center of rotation.

[0102] When the shaft 63 rotates around the rotation axis O, the shaft portion 62 connected to the shaft 63 also rotates together with the shaft 63. That is, when the drive portion 65 is driven, the shaft portion 62 rotates relative to the main body portion 61 around the rotation axis O.

[0103] 5, the door-opening device 60 is attached to the housing 10 via a connecting portion 68. In this embodiment, the connecting portion 68 is attached to the upper surface UP of the top wall 11.

[0104] The connecting portion 68 includes a fixing portion 68a and a support portion 68b. The connecting portion 68 is a hinge member that supports the left refrigerator compartment door 31 or the right refrigerator compartment door 32 rotatably with respect to the housing 10.

[0105] The fixing portion 68a is attached to the upper surface UP of the upper wall 11. The support portion 68b extends forward FR from the fixed portion 68a and is disposed forward FR of the housing 10.

[0106] An opening is provided at the tip of the front FR of the support portion 68b, penetrating in the up-down direction V. As shown in Fig. 5, the shaft portion 62 is inserted through the opening of the support portion 68b.

[0107] The shaft 62 is fixed to the opening of the support portion 68b. Therefore, when the drive portion 65 is driven and the shaft 62 rotates about the rotation axis O, the main body 61 rotates relative to the connecting portion 68 about the rotation axis O.

[0108] When main body 61 rotates relative to connecting part 68, left refrigerator compartment door 31 to which main body 61 is fixed rotates about rotation axis O relative to connecting part 68. That is, when drive part 65 is driven, left refrigerator compartment door 31 rotates about rotation axis O relative to housing 10.

[0109] In this way, the left refrigerator compartment door 31 rotates around the left rotation axis Oa by the left door-opening device 60a, and the right refrigerator compartment door 32 rotates around the right rotation axis Ob by the right door-opening device 60b.

[0110] The door-opening device 60 can open and close the left refrigerator compartment door 31 and the right refrigerator compartment door 32 by rotating the shaft part 62 with the drive part 65 about the rotation axis O as the center of rotation.

[0111] Fig. 6 is a functional block diagram showing the refrigerator 1. Fig. 7 is a plan view showing the refrigerator 1 in schematic form.

[0112] 6, the storage unit 53 has opening amount information 53a. The opening amount information 53a is information that indicates the opening amount of the door 30, and is stored in the storage unit 53.

[0113] In this embodiment, the opening amount of the door 30 refers to the amount of displacement between the door 30 in a closed state (closed state) and the door 30 in an open state (open state). The opening amount of the door 30 is, for example, the amount of movement of the door 30 in an open state, that is, the door 30 that has been opened to a predetermined position, from the door 30 in a closed state.

[0114] 7 is an angle indicating the amount of opening of left refrigerator compartment door 31 or right refrigerator compartment door 32. Opening amount information 53a includes, for example, door opening angle θ as information indicating the amount of opening of door 30.

[0115] The door-opening angle θ is set to 0° when the left refrigerator compartment door 31 or the right refrigerator compartment door 32 is closed. For example, in the refrigerator 1 shown in Fig. 7, the door-opening angle θ of the left refrigerator compartment door 31 (left door-opening angle θ1) is 90°, and the door-opening angle θ of the right refrigerator compartment door 32 (right door-opening angle θ2) is an angle greater than 90°.

[0116] The control unit 52 acquires the opening amount information 53a from the storage unit 53. Here, the opening amount information 53a acquired by the control unit 52 is, for example, information including a preset opening amount of the door 30. The control unit 52 controls the drive unit 65 based on the acquired opening amount information 53a, and causes the door-opening device 60 to open the door 30.

[0117] In the following description, the operation when the door 30 is opened by the door opening device and is moving will be referred to as the "door opening operation."

[0118] Furthermore, the control unit 52 controls the drive unit 65 based on the opening amount information 53a to slow down the opening operation of the door 30 that is currently open, and finally stops it.

[0119] At this time, the control unit 52 opens the door 30 to the opening amount indicated in the opening amount information 53a, and controls the drive unit 65 so that the door 30 stops at the opening amount indicated in the opening amount information 53a.

[0120] For example, if the left door opening angle θ1 included in the opening amount information 53a is 90°, the control unit 52 controls the left door opening device 60a so that the left refrigerator compartment door 31 opens by 90° from a closed state, thereby opening the left refrigerator compartment door 31.

[0121] Furthermore, the control unit 52 controls the left door-opening device 60a so that the left refrigerator compartment door 31 stops at the 90° open position, thereby slowing down and stopping the left refrigerator compartment door 31.

[0122] At this time, the control unit 52 may slow down or stop the left refrigerator compartment door 31 based on the detection result of the opening amount detection unit 66.

[0123] The opening amount detection unit 66 is a sensor capable of detecting the amount of drive of the drive unit 65. In this embodiment, the opening amount detection unit 66 is an encoder capable of detecting the amount of rotation of the drive unit 65, which is an electric motor.

[0124] The opening amount detection unit 66 detects the drive amount of the drive unit 65, thereby detecting the opening amount of the door 30 opened by the drive unit 65. For example, the control unit 52 detects the rotation amount of the drive unit 65 to detect the left door opening angle θ1.

[0125] The control unit 52 acquires the left door opening angle θ1 of the left refrigerator door 31 that opens, for example, by acquiring the detection result of the opening amount detection unit 66, and stops the left refrigerator door 31 when the left door opening angle θ1 reaches the opening amount included in the opening amount information 53a acquired from the memory unit 53.

[0126] In this way, the refrigerator 1 can automatically open the door 30 to the opening amount included in the opening amount information 53a.

[0127] The storage unit 53 has a plurality of pieces of opening amount information 53a corresponding to a plurality of doors 30. For example, the storage unit 53 has opening amount information 53a (first opening amount information) including a left door opening angle θ1 and opening amount information 53a (second opening amount information) including a right door opening angle θ2.

[0128] As described above, the refrigerator 1 has a left door-opening device 60a (first door-opening device) that can open the left refrigerator compartment door 31 (first door), and a right door-opening device 60b (second door-opening device) that can open the right refrigerator compartment door 32 (second door).

[0129] The control unit 52 controls the left door opening device 60a (first door opening device) based on the opening amount information 53a (first opening amount information) including the left door opening angle θ1, and opens the left refrigerator compartment door 31 (first door).

[0130] In addition, the control unit 52 controls the right door opening device 60b (second door opening device) based on the opening amount information 53a (second opening amount information) including the right door opening angle θ2, and opens the right refrigerator compartment door 32 (second door).

[0131] When the left door opening angle θ1 and the right door opening angle θ2 included in the opening amount information 53a are different angles, the control unit 52 opens the left refrigerator compartment door 31 and the right refrigerator compartment door 32 by different opening amounts based on the opening amount information 53a.

[0132] The storage unit 53 stores an appropriate number of pieces of opening amount information 53a in accordance with the number of doors 30 that can be opened by the door-opening device 60.

[0133] For example, the memory unit 53 may have first opening amount information including the opening amount of the first door that can be opened by the first door-opening device, second opening amount information including the opening amount of the second door that can be opened by the second door device, and third opening amount information including the opening amount of the third door that can be opened by the third door-opening device.

[0134] 6, the opening amount information 53a can be changed based on an operation input to a terminal device 70 that is communicatively connected to the storage unit 53. The terminal device 70 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or the like.

[0135] The terminal device 70 accepts an operation for changing the opening amount information 53a, and transmits a signal based on the accepted operation to the storage unit 53. The opening amount information 53a is changed based on the signal that the storage unit 53 receives from the terminal device 70.

[0136] For example, a display unit such as a touch panel display of the terminal device 70 displays a plan view of the refrigerator 1 as shown in Fig. 7. The user inputs a desired opening amount (for example, a door opening angle θ) by sliding the door 30 of the refrigerator 1 displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 70 with a finger or the like.

[0137] Terminal device 70 transmits a signal including the arbitrary opening amount input by the user to storage unit 53. The opening amount included in opening amount information 53a is changed to the opening amount set by the user based on the signal received by storage unit 53.

[0138] The control board 51 may have a receiving unit (not shown) capable of receiving a signal transmitted from the terminal device 70. A signal based on an operation input by the user to the terminal device 70 may be transmitted to the storage unit 53 via this receiving unit.

[0139] The terminal device 70 may accept a numerical value input by the user as the opening amount of the door 30. For example, the user inputs into the terminal device 70 the value of an arbitrary angle that the user wants to set as the left door opening angle θ1.

[0140] Furthermore, as described above, the memory unit 53 has multiple opening amount information 53a corresponding to multiple doors 30, so that the user can input the opening amount of each of the multiple doors 30 into the terminal device 70 and set different opening amounts for each of the multiple doors 30.

[0141] The terminal device 70 may be an operation panel or the like provided on the surface of the door 30 or the like.

[0142] Next, the door opening operation of the refrigerator 1 will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the door opening operation of the refrigerator 1.

[0143] (Step S1) First, the control unit 52 performs step S1 (door open standby process). In step S1, the door 30 is closed. When no operation is input to the refrigerator 1, the control unit 52 waits with the door 30 closed.

[0144] (Step S2) Next, the control unit 52 performs step S2 (door-opening operation determination step). In step S2, the control unit 52 determines whether or not an operation to open the door 30 has been input.

[0145] The control unit 52 acquires the detection result of the proximity detection unit 41, and determines, based on the detection result of the proximity detection unit 41, whether or not an operation to open the door 30 has been input.

[0146] When an operation to open the door 30 has not been input, the control unit 52 returns to step S1 and continues the standby operation.

[0147] For example, when opening the door 30, the user brings his / her hand close to or into contact with the proximity detection unit 41 to input an operation for opening the door 30 (door-opening operation).

[0148] When the proximity detection unit 41 receives a door-opening operation, the control unit 52 proceeds to step S3.

[0149] (Step S3) In step S3 (door-opening step), the control unit 52 drives the door-opening device 60, and causes the door-opening device 60 to open the door 30.

[0150] As described above, in this embodiment, the control unit 52 drives the drive unit 65 to rotate the shaft unit 62 about the rotation axis O, thereby rotating the door 30 relative to the housing 10 and opening it.

[0151] At this time, the control unit 52 acquires the opening amount information 53a from the storage unit 53, and opens the door 30 based on the opening amount information 53a.

[0152] (Step S4) Next, the control unit 52 performs step S4 (object determination step). In step S4, the control unit 52 determines, based on the detection result of the object detection unit 42, whether or not the door 30 to be opened is approaching an object.

[0153] As described above, the object detection unit 42 is a sensor capable of detecting an object within a predetermined range in the traveling direction of the door 30.

[0154] For example, when the control unit 52 opens the left refrigerator compartment door 31 in the above-mentioned step S3, it determines whether the left refrigerator compartment door 31 to be opened is approaching an object based on the detection result of the left object detection unit 42a provided on the left refrigerator compartment door 31.

[0155] The object WA illustrated in Fig. 7 is, for example, an object such as a wall, door, or shelf located on the left side LT of the refrigerator 1. The left refrigerator compartment door 31 in Fig. 7 opens in a direction approaching the object WA.

[0156] At this time, the left object detection unit 42a detects that the left refrigerator compartment door 31 is approaching the object WA by detecting the object WA in the traveling direction of the left refrigerator compartment door 31. The left object detection unit 42a detects the object WA that has entered within a predetermined range in the traveling direction of the left refrigerator compartment door 31 that is performing the door-opening operation.

[0157] When the object detection unit 42 detects an object and determines that the door 30 to be opened is approaching the object, the control unit 52 proceeds to step S6. Step S6 will be described later.

[0158] When the object detection unit 42 does not detect an object, the control unit 52 determines that the door 30 to be opened is not approaching an object, and proceeds to step S5.

[0159] (Step S5) In step S5 (opening amount determination step), the control unit 52 determines whether or not the opening amount of the door 30 has reached a predetermined opening amount. Here, the predetermined opening amount indicates the opening amount included in the opening amount information 53a.

[0160] As described above, in step S3, control unit 52 acquires opening amount information 53a from memory unit 53. Opening amount information 53a stored in memory unit 53 is information including the opening amount set before door 30 was opened.

[0161] In the following explanation, the opening amount set before the door 30 is opened will be referred to as the "target opening amount." The target opening amount is the target amount of movement that the door-opening device 60 will make to open the door 30 when the door-opening device 60 opens the door 30. The target opening amount is set in advance by the user using, for example, the terminal device 70 or the like.

[0162] In addition, in step S5, the control unit 52 acquires the detection result of the opening amount detection unit 66, thereby acquiring the opening amount of the door 30 that has been opened by the door-opening device 60.

[0163] In the following description, the amount of opening of the door 30 acquired by the control unit 52 based on the detection result of the opening amount detection unit 66 will be referred to as the “detected opening amount.” For example, the control unit 52 calculates the detected opening amount using the amount of rotation of the drive unit 65 detected by the opening amount detection unit 66.

[0164] In step S5, the control unit 52 determines whether the opening amount of the door 30 has reached a predetermined opening amount based on the target opening amount included in the opening amount information 53a and the detected opening amount acquired from the opening amount detection unit 66.

[0165] The control unit 52 compares the target opening amount with the detected opening amount. When the detected opening amount does not reach the target opening amount, the control unit 52 determines that the opening amount of the door 30 does not reach the predetermined opening amount, returns to step S3, and allows the door 30 to continue the opening operation.

[0166] When the detected amount of opening reaches the target amount of opening, the control unit 52 determines that the amount of opening of the door 30 has reached a predetermined amount of opening, and proceeds to step S6.

[0167] (Step S6) In step S6 (door-opening stopping step), the control unit 52 stops the door-opening operation of the door 30. Specifically, the control unit 52 stops the driving of the drive unit 65, and stops the door-opening operation of the door 30.

[0168] In step S5, when the detected opening amount reaches the target opening amount, the control unit 52 stops the opening operation of the door 30. Therefore, the control unit 52 can stop the door 30 at the predetermined opening amount included in the opening amount information 53a.

[0169] By controlling the door-opening device 60, the control unit 52 can automatically open the door 30 based on the input door-opening operation, and can automatically stop the door 30 once it has opened to the target opening amount set by the user.

[0170] For example, when the refrigerator 1 is placed near an object such as a wall, the user sets a target opening amount using the terminal device 70 or the like within a range in which the door 30 does not come into contact with the object.

[0171] The control unit 52 can stop the door 30 at the target opening amount set by the user, so even if the refrigerator 1 is placed near an object such as a wall, the opening door 30 can be prevented from coming into contact with the object.

[0172] The control unit 52 may, for example, compare the detected amount of opening with a target amount of opening, and as the detected amount of opening approaches the target amount of opening, slow down the opening speed of the door 30. In this case, for example, the control unit 52 slows down the drive speed of the drive unit 65, thereby slowing down the opening speed of the door 30.

[0173] By slowing down the door-opening speed before stopping the door-opening operation of the door 30, it is possible to prevent the door 30 from suddenly stopping.

[0174] Also, as described above, in step S4, when the object detection unit 42 detects an object within a predetermined range in the traveling direction of the door 30 performing the door-opening operation, the control unit 52 proceeds to step S6.

[0175] When the object detection unit 42 detects an object within a predetermined range in the traveling direction of the door 30, the opening door 30 opens while approaching the object. When the object detection unit 42 detects an object within a predetermined range in the traveling direction of the door 30, the process proceeds to step S6, and the opening operation of the door 30 is stopped, thereby preventing the door 30 from coming into contact with the object.

[0176] In step S4, when the object detection unit 42 detects an object within a predetermined range in the traveling direction of the door 30, the control unit 52 proceeds to step S6 without proceeding to step S5. Therefore, even if the detected opening amount has not reached the target opening amount, the control unit 52 stops the door 30 when the object detection unit 42 detects an object within a predetermined range in the traveling direction of the door 30, thereby preventing contact between the door 30 and the object.

[0177] As described above, in this embodiment, the door-opening device 60 is attached to the door 30. Therefore, there is no need to provide the door-opening device 60 in the refrigerator body 5, and it is possible to prevent the door-opening device 60 from reducing the volume of the storage space in the storage compartment 20. In other words, it is possible to achieve automatic opening of the door 30 while ensuring the internal volume of the storage space in the refrigerator body 5.

[0178] The user may open the door 30 by holding it with his / her hand while it is being opened by the door-opening device 60. In this case, the door-opening device 60 preferably has a mechanism for preventing the transmission unit 67, the drive unit 65, etc. from being damaged when the user opens the door 30.

[0179] For example, the door-opening device 60 may be provided with a mechanism that blocks the transmission of rotational force from the shaft portion 62 to the transmission portion 67 or the drive portion 65. In addition, the opening amount detection portion 66 may be configured to be able to measure the amount of rotation of the shaft portion 62.

[0180] The opening amount detection unit 66 measures the amount of rotation of the shaft 62 to detect the amount of opening of the door 30, so that even if the transmission of rotational force from the shaft 62 to the drive unit 65 is cut off, the opening amount detection unit 66 can detect the amount of opening of the door 30 (detected opening amount).

[0181] Therefore, the opening amount detection unit 66 can detect the amount of opening of the door 30 opened by the user.

[0182] Next, the door closing operation of the refrigerator 1 will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the door closing operation of the refrigerator 1.

[0183] (Step S10) First, the control unit 52 performs step S10 (first door-closed waiting step). In step S10, the door 30 is in an open state. For example, after stopping the door 30 in step S6 of the door-opening operation described above, the control unit 52 waits with the door 30 in an open state.

[0184] (Step S20) Next, the control unit 52 performs step S20 (first person detection determination step). In step S20, the control unit 52 determines whether or not there is a person such as a user around the door 30.

[0185] For example, the control unit 52 determines whether or not there is a person around the door 30 based on the detection result of the proximity detection unit 41. The control unit 52 may also determine whether or not there is a person around the door 30 based on the detection result of the object detection unit 42.

[0186] Furthermore, if the refrigerator 1 has an imaging device such as a camera, the control unit 52 may determine whether or not there is a person around the door 30 based on an image captured by the imaging device.

[0187] When the control unit 52 determines that there is a person around the door 30, the process returns to step S10 and the standby operation continues.

[0188] When the control unit 52 determines that there is no person around the door 30, the process proceeds to step S30.

[0189] (Step S30) In step S30 (second door closed waiting step), the control unit 52 waits for a predetermined time with the door 30 in an open state.

[0190] The predetermined waiting time (waiting time before closing the door) during which the control unit 52 waits in step S30 is stored in the storage unit 53 in advance, for example.

[0191] The waiting time before closing the door stored in the storage unit 53 may be changed based on an operation input by the user to the terminal device 70.

[0192] After a predetermined waiting time has elapsed, the control unit 52 proceeds to step S40.

[0193] (Step S40) The control unit 52 determines whether or not there is a person such as a user around the door 30 in step S40 (second person detection and determination step).

[0194] For example, in step S40, the control unit 52 determines whether or not there is a person around the door 30 in the same manner as in step S20.

[0195] When the control unit 52 determines that there is a person around the door 30, the process returns to step S10 and the standby operation continues.

[0196] When the control unit 52 determines that there is no person around the door 30, the process proceeds to step S50.

[0197] (Step S50) In step S50 (door closing process), the control unit 52 drives the door-opening device 60, and causes the door-opening device 60 to close the door 30.

[0198] The control unit 52 rotates the shaft 62 in the door closing direction around the rotation axis O as the center of rotation, and closes the door 30 using the door-opening device 60. Here, the door closing direction is the rotation direction opposite to the rotation direction (door opening direction) of the shaft 62 in step S3 of the door-opening operation described above.

[0199] For example, the control unit 52 controls the drive unit 65 to rotate the motor shaft of the drive unit 65 around the rotation axis Oc as the rotation center, thereby rotating the shaft unit 62 in the door-closing direction. At this time, the control unit 52 rotates the motor shaft of the drive unit 65 in the direction opposite to the rotation direction in step S3 of the door-opening operation.

[0200] (Step S60) Next, the control unit 52 performs step S60 (door closing completion determination step). In step S60, the control unit 52 determines whether or not the door 30 has been closed.

[0201] For example, the control unit 52 determines whether or not the door 30 has been completely closed based on the detection result of the opening amount detection unit 66.

[0202] In addition to the opening amount detection unit 66, the refrigerator 1 may also be provided with an open / close detection unit that can detect whether the door 30 is closed.

[0203] For example, the open / close detection unit may be a physical button or switch that is pressed by the door 30 (ON state) when the door 30 is closed and is released (OFF state) when the door 30 is open.

[0204] The control unit 52 may determine whether or not the door 30 has been completely closed based on the detection result of this open / close detection unit.

[0205] When the control unit 52 determines that the door 30 has not been completely closed, the process returns to step S50, and the door closing operation continues.

[0206] When the control unit 52 determines that the door 30 has been closed, the process proceeds to step S70.

[0207] (Step S70) In step S70 (door closing stopping step), the control unit 52 stops the closing operation of the door 30. Specifically, the control unit 52 stops the driving of the drive unit 65, and stops the door closing operation of the door 30.

[0208] In this way, the control unit 52 can automatically close the door 30 that is in an open state by controlling the door-opening device 60.

[0209] In the processes of steps S10 to S40 described above, the control unit 52 waits with the door 30 open. In addition, in steps S20 and S40, the control unit 52 determines whether or not there is a person around the door 30, and continues the standby operation when it determines that there is a person around the door 30.

[0210] Therefore, when the door 30 is open, the door 30 can be prevented from closing while a user is taking stored items in or out of the storage room 20 or checking the stored items. As a result, the door 30 can be prevented from interfering with the user's movements or colliding with the user.

[0211] Furthermore, the waiting time before closing the door 30 in the open state in step S30 can be set by the user at will. Therefore, the door 30 can be kept waiting for any waiting time suitable for the purpose of use of the user, thereby improving convenience.

[0212] In addition, in step S50 of closing the door 30, the control unit 52 may stop the closing operation of the door 30 when the proximity detection unit 41 or the object detection unit 42 detects a person or object around the door 30.

[0213] For example, when the control unit 52 detects a person or object in the vicinity and stops the closing operation of the door 30, the process returns to step S10 and executes the subsequent steps.

[0214] In addition, the user may hold the door 30, which has been closed by the door opening device 60, with his or her hand to close the door.

[0215] Even if the degree to which the door 30 is opened is changed by the user moving the door 30, the control unit 52 can detect the degree to which the door 30 is opened after being moved by the user by acquiring the detection result of the opening amount detection unit 66.

[0216] For example, if the door 30 is moved by a user during the closing operation by the door-opening device 60, and the door 30 is in an open state after being moved, the control unit 52 causes the door-opening device 60 to resume the closing operation of the door 30 again, and closes the door 30.

[0217] By automatically closing the door 30 using the door-opening device 60, it is possible to prevent the door 30 from being left in an open state due to a user forgetting to close the door 30.

[0218] In this embodiment, the refrigerator 1 comprises a housing 10 including a storage compartment 20 having an opening, a door 30 attached so as to be able to open and close the opening of the storage compartment 20, a door-opening device 60 capable of opening the door 30, a memory unit 53 having opening amount information 53a including the opening amount of the door 30, and a control unit 52 capable of acquiring the opening amount information 53a.

[0219] The control unit 52 controls the door-opening device 60 based on the opening amount information 53a to open and decelerate the door 30.

[0220] According to this configuration, the door-opening device 60 can automatically open the door 30 to the opening amount preset in the memory unit 53, thereby providing a refrigerator 1 in which the opening amount of the door 30 can be adjusted.

[0221] The refrigerator 1 is capable of adjusting the opening amount of the door 30, and by setting an appropriate opening amount suited to the installation environment of the refrigerator 1, it is possible to prevent the opened door 30 from coming into contact with surrounding objects and damaging the door 30 or objects around the door 30 such as walls.

[0222] (Variation 1) In the above embodiment, the door opening device 60 is provided on the left refrigerator compartment door 31 and the right refrigerator compartment door 32, but the door opening device is not limited to this.

[0223] The door opening device may be provided so as to be able to open the vegetable compartment door 33, the ice compartment door 34, the small freezer compartment door 35, the main freezer compartment door 36, etc.

[0224] The opening and closing device is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and may have an appropriate configuration suited to the door 30 to be opened.

[0225] For example, an opening and closing device that opens a drawer-type door such as the vegetable compartment door 33 has a drive unit and a gear (pinion) that is rotated by the drive unit. Also, a rail member (rack) that is continuously geared and extends in the opening and closing direction of the door is attached to the drawer-type door.

[0226] This forms a rack and pinion in which the gear and the rail member are meshed, and by rotating the gear with the drive unit, the drawer door can be moved in the opening and closing direction, allowing it to be opened and closed.

[0227] Furthermore, by providing an opening amount detection unit such as an encoder that can detect the amount of rotation of the drive unit that rotates the gear, it is possible to detect the amount of opening of the drawer door.

[0228] The storage unit stores multiple pieces of opening amount information corresponding to each door that can be opened by the door-opening device. A user can use a terminal device or the like to set a target opening amount for each door in advance, and the multiple doors can be automatically opened and closed at the target opening amount corresponding to each door.

[0229] (Variation 2) In the above embodiment, the door 30 is equipped with a proximity detection unit 41 that detects the opening operation of the door 30 and an object detection unit 42 that detects an object within a predetermined range in the direction of travel of the door 30, but the door configuration is not limited to this.

[0230] The door may be configured to be capable of detecting the door-opening operation and an object within a predetermined range in the door's traveling direction with one sensor. For example, the proximity detector 41 in the above embodiment may detect the door-opening operation when the door is closed, and may detect an object within a predetermined range in the door's traveling direction when the door is open.

[0231] Furthermore, the proximity detector and the object detector may be provided at a location other than the door, and may be an imaging device such as a camera.

[0232] (Variation 3) In the above embodiment, the opening amount detection unit 66 is a sensor such as an encoder provided in the door-opening device 60, but the form of the opening amount detection unit is not limited to this.

[0233] The opening amount detection unit capable of detecting the amount of door opening may be provided in a location other than the door opening device, or may be an imaging device such as a camera, for example.

[0234] (Variation 4) In the above embodiment, the target opening amount included in the opening amount information 53a is set in advance by the user, but the form of the target opening amount is not limited to this.

[0235] The target opening amount of the door may be calculated by a calculation unit or the like included in the control unit, or may be determined by a trained model that has been machine-learned.

[0236] For example, the control unit or the storage unit may store the amount of opening of the door that has been manually opened over a predetermined period (e.g., one month). The control unit may obtain the maximum value (maximum opening amount) of the stored opening amounts and determine the target opening amount based on this maximum opening amount.

[0237] Although several 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, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as within the scope of the invention described in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0238] 1...refrigerator, 10...casing, 20...storage compartment, 30...door, 41...proximity detection unit (door opening operation unit), 42...object detection unit, 52...control unit, 53...storage unit, 53a...opening amount information, 60...door opening device, 66...opening amount detection unit, 70...terminal device

Claims

1. a housing including a storage chamber having an opening; a door attached so as to be able to open and close the opening; a door opening device capable of opening the door; a storage unit having opening amount information including the opening amount of the door; a control unit capable of acquiring the opening amount information; Equipped with The control unit controls the door opening device based on the opening amount information to open and decelerate the door. refrigerator.

2. the door includes a first door and a second door that are different from each other; The door opening device includes a first door opening device capable of opening the first door and a second door opening device capable of opening the second door, the storage unit has first opening amount information including an opening amount of the first door and second opening amount information including an opening amount of the second door, The control unit Controlling the first door-opening device based on the first opening amount information to open the first door; controlling the second door-opening device based on the second opening amount information to open the second door; The refrigerator according to claim 1.

3. An object detection unit is provided that can detect an object within a predetermined range in the moving direction of the door during the door opening operation, The control unit decelerates the door based on a detection result of the object detection unit when the door is being opened by the door opening device. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. an opening amount detection unit capable of detecting the opening amount of the door; The control unit decelerates the door based on a target opening amount, which is an opening amount of the door included in the opening amount information, and a detected opening amount, which is an opening amount of the door detected by the opening amount detection unit. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or claim 2.

5. the storage unit is capable of communicating with a terminal device that accepts an operation for changing the opening amount information, the terminal device transmits a signal based on the operation to the storage unit; the opening amount information is changed based on the signal received by the storage unit from the terminal device; The refrigerator according to claim 1 or claim 2.

6. The door includes a door-opening operation unit capable of detecting a door-opening operation for opening the door, The door opening operation unit is When the door is in a closed state, the door opening operation can be detected, When the door is opening, an object within a predetermined range in the moving direction of the door can be detected, The control unit When the door-opening operation unit detects the door-opening operation for the door in a closed state, the door-opening device is controlled based on the detection result of the door-opening operation unit to open the door in a closed state; When the door-opening operation unit detects an object within a predetermined range in the traveling direction of the door being opened by the door-opening device, the door-opening device is controlled based on the detection result of the door-opening operation unit to decelerate the door being opened. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or claim 2.

Images