Refrigerator with door open module

Abstract

Ensures sufficient drawer extension distance for the drawer assembly, even in the confined storage space of a refrigerator. [Solution] The refrigerator according to the present invention includes a multi-stage rack and pinion assembly that includes at least three gear racks that are sequentially extended and pulled out in the front-to-back direction, thereby ensuring a sufficient drawer extension distance even in the narrow storage compartment of the refrigerator.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to a refrigerator including a door opening module.

Background Art

[0002] A refrigerator is a household appliance that supplies cold air generated by using the circulation of a refrigerant to a storage chamber and stores various storage objects in the storage chamber freshly for a long time. The cold air supplied to the refrigerator may be generated by the refrigerant circulating in the order of a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator flowing into the evaporator, and the liquid refrigerant vaporizing into a gas refrigerant while taking away the heat in the refrigerator.

[0003] Generally, a refrigerator may include a cabinet forming a storage chamber and a door provided in the cabinet for opening and closing the storage chamber. For example, the door may be opened and closed by a method such as a rotary door or a drawer door. The rotary door is connected to one side of the cabinet so as to be rotatable about a single axis, and the storage chamber can be opened and closed by a rotary method. The drawer door is provided so as to be pulled out and retracted in the front-rear direction of the cabinet, and the storage chamber can be opened and closed by a pull-out and retraction method.

[0004] The drawer door may include a door part covering the front surface of the storage chamber and a storage part provided behind the door part and having a storage space for storing stored items. The storage space of the drawer door may be exposed to the outside by a user's pulling operation such as pushing or pulling the door. As an example, the drawer door may be provided in a lower region of the cabinet. In this way, when the drawer door is provided in the lower region of the cabinet, the user has to bend down to pull out the drawer door, which is inconvenient because the operation is not easy. Accordingly, in recent years, refrigerators including a door opening module that automatically pulls out and retracts the drawer door by driving a motor have been developed.

[0005] On the other hand, conventional door opening modules have several problems. These problems mainly stem from resistance caused by the direct connection between the drive motor and rails, reduced heat insulation performance, increased load due to the weight of the storage compartment, and problems with pulling force due to negative pressure.

[0006] Specifically, conventional door open modules have problems with the resistance and unfamiliar feeling experienced when the user manually pulls out the door. In the case of retractable doors, in addition to automatically pulling them out using the door open module, there are times when the user needs to pull them out manually. In this case, if the door open module is designed with the rail and motor directly connected, the resistance the user feels when manually pulling out the door may be significant. This can cause the user to feel unfamiliar and cause inconvenience when manually pulling out the door. In particular, if the pulling resistance increases due to the motor's back electromotive force, it becomes difficult to pull out the door manually, which can further reduce the user experience.

[0007] Furthermore, conventional door-opening modules may be susceptible to rail sagging and rack damage due to the weight of the storage compartment. For example, a door-opening module can utilize a rack-and-pinion system that converts rotational motion into linear motion using a gear rack and pinion gear. In this case, when many items are stored in the compartment, the weight can cause the rails to sag or the racks to break. In the long term, these structural flaws can reduce the reliability of the refrigerator, and if the rails sag or the racks break, the drawers will no longer open smoothly. This can ultimately lead to increased maintenance costs for the refrigerator.

[0008] On the other hand, telescopic structures, in which multiple components overlap and expand or contract in a typical device, are introduced.

[0009] However, in the case of a typical telescopic structure, gears or belts are placed on both sides of the expanding or contracting part, which increases the total number of parts and thus the overall structure becomes larger.

[0010] Furthermore, conventional telescopic structures require multiple gears, shafts, bearings, etc., in the power transmission process, resulting in a complex power transmission mechanism that complicates the manufacturing process, leading to problems such as increased failure risk and difficulty in maintenance.

[0011] Furthermore, with conventional door-opening modules, the limited space in the refrigerator's storage compartment makes it difficult to ensure sufficient door extension distance, resulting in the disadvantage of the door being difficult to fully open.

[0012] To solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention proposes a refrigerator that includes the following door opening module. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0013] The object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator including a door-opening module that can ensure a sufficient drawer assembly pull-out distance even in a narrow storage compartment.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator including a door-opening module that can minimize the length in the front-to-back direction.

[0015] Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator including a door open module that can convert the driving force of the drive unit that drives the rack and pinion assembly into a linear pull force of the gear rack with maximum loss.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator including a door-opening module that can minimize the length of the rear section of the gear rack, which does not substantially contribute to the drawer distance.

[0017] Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that includes a door opening module that can complement the strength and prevent sagging when the gear rack is pulled out.

[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator including a door open module that can make the maximum extension distance when multiple gear racks are fully extended longer than the front-to-back length of the rack and pinion assembly.

[0019] Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator including a door-opening module that can effectively realize a telescopic multi-structure with a small number of parts.

[0020] The objectives of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above. Other objectives and advantages of the present invention not mentioned can be understood from the following description and more clearly from the embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, it is readily apparent that the objectives and advantages of the present invention can be achieved by the means and combinations thereof described in the claims. [Means for solving the problem]

[0021] In order to solve the above problems, a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet including one or more storage chambers, a drawer assembly that opens and closes the front surface of the storage chamber, and a door open module disposed in the storage chamber and configured to open the drawer assembly. The door open module includes a multi-stage rack and pinion assembly including a plurality of gear racks that are pulled out and retracted along a first direction, and a gear assembly that transmits the driving force of a driving unit to the rack and pinion assembly. The gear assembly is disposed on one side of the rack and pinion assembly corresponding to a second direction intersecting the first direction.

[0022] The first direction may be the front-rear direction of the storage chamber, and the second direction may be the left-right direction of the storage chamber.

[0023] The gear assembly may be located between the front stage and the rear stage of the rack and pinion assembly.

[0024] The gear assembly includes a contact gear that meshes with the rack and pinion assembly, and the contact gear may mesh with one side of the rack and pinion assembly.

[0025] The contact gear may be located in a central region with reference to the front-rear direction of the rack and pinion assembly.

[0026] The plurality of gear racks include a first gear rack, a second gear rack, and a third gear rack. The first gear rack may be located closest to the contact gear, and the third gear rack may be located farthest from the contact gear.

[0027] One side of the contact gear may mesh with the first gear rack.

[0028] The first gear rack includes a first pinion gear whose one side meshes with the second gear rack, and the second gear rack may include a second pinion gear whose one side and the other side mesh with the first gear rack and the third gear rack, respectively.

[0029] The first pinion gear and the second pinion gear may be positioned so as to be biased to one side of the rack and pinion assembly adjacent to the contact gear.

[0030] The door opening module may further include a support gear rack that meshes with the other side of the first pinion gear, and the support gear rack may be positioned in front of the contact gear.

[0031] The first pinion gear and the second pinion gear may be positioned in front of the contact gear.

[0032] The first pinion gear and the second pinion gear may be arranged to overlap each other in the second direction.

[0033] At least a partial region of the contact gear may be positioned in the same layer in the vertical direction as the first pinion gear and the second pinion gear.

[0034] The contact gear, the first pinion gear, and the second pinion gear may be arranged to overlap each other in the second direction.

[0035] The contact gear may be arranged in a layer different from the first pinion gear in the vertical direction, and at least a partial region of the contact gear may be positioned in the same layer in the vertical direction as the second pinion gear.

[0036] A refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet having one or more storage compartments, a drawer assembly for opening and closing the front of the storage compartments, and a door open module disposed in the storage compartments for opening the drawer assembly, the door open module including a multi-stage rack and pinion assembly including a first gear rack, a second gear rack, and a third gear rack that are pulled out and retracted in the front-rear direction, the first gear rack including a first pinion gear that meshes with one side of the second gear rack, and the second gear rack including a second pinion gear that meshes with one side of the first gear rack and one side of the third gear rack.

[0037] The first pinion gear and the second pinion gear may each be provided individually.

[0038] The second gear rack may include a second tooth profile formed only on one side of the second gear rack that meshes with the first pinion gear, and the third gear rack may include a third tooth profile formed only on one side of the third gear rack that meshes with the second pinion gear.

[0039] A portion of the second pinion gear may be arranged to overlap the third gear rack in the vertical direction.

[0040] The door open module further includes a drive unit, a contact gear that transmits the driving force of the drive unit to the rack and pinion assembly, and a support gear rack that meshes with the first pinion gear, wherein the contact gear can mesh with one side of the first gear rack.

[0041] The maximum extension distance may increase in the order of the first gear rack, the second gear rack, and the third gear rack.

[0042] The length of the rack and pinion assembly in the first direction can correspond to the sum of a first distance (A) between the downstream of the first gear rack and the center of the contact gear when the gear rack is fully extended, a second distance (B) between the center of the contact gear and the center of the first pinion gear when the gear rack is not extended, a third distance (C) between the upstream of the support gear rack and the center of the first pinion gear when the gear rack is fully extended, and twice the maximum movable distance (L) of the first gear rack (L2).

[0043] The maximum movable distance (L) of the first gear rack may be the same as the first extension distance (S1) of the first gear rack.

[0044] When the rack and pinion assembly is not driven and the front stages of the first gear rack, the second gear rack, and the third gear rack are aligned, the second extension distance (S2) of the second gear rack, which is extended further than the front stage of the first gear rack when the gear rack is fully extended, may be the same as the first extension distance (S1).

[0045] When the gear rack is fully extended, the third extension distance (S3) of the third gear rack, which is extended further than the preceding stage of the second gear rack, may be the same as the first extension distance (S1).

[0046] When the rack and pinion assembly is not driven, the front stage of the first gear rack and the front stage of the second gear rack may be positioned behind the front stage of the third gear rack.

[0047] When the rack and pinion assembly is not driven, the contact gear may be located in the central region of the first gear rack with respect to the front-rear direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0048] The refrigerator according to the present invention includes a multi-stage rack and pinion assembly comprising at least three gear racks that sequentially expand and retract in the front-to-back direction, thereby ensuring a sufficient drawer extension distance even in the narrow storage compartment of the refrigerator.

[0049] Furthermore, the refrigerator according to the present invention can minimize the length of the door opening module in the front-to-back direction by positioning the gear assembly that transmits the driving force of the drive unit on one side of the rack and pinion assembly corresponding to the second direction which intersects the first direction in which the multiple gear racks are pulled out and retracted.

[0050] This allows for maximizing the front-to-back length of the multiple gear racks included in the rack and pinion assembly, ensuring sufficient drawer extension distance even in the confined storage compartments of refrigerators.

[0051] Furthermore, since the refrigerator according to the present invention can transmit the driving force of the drive unit via a gear assembly located on one side of the rack and pinion assembly, the power transmission mechanism can be simplified, and the drawer assembly pulling force can be improved by effectively switching the rated torque of the drive unit to the linear pulling force of the gear rack.

[0052] By positioning the gear assembly that transmits the driving force of the drive unit on one side of the rack and pinion assembly corresponding to a second direction that intersects with the first direction in which multiple gear racks are pulled out and retracted, the length of the door open module in the front-to-rear direction can be reduced to the greatest extent possible.

[0053] Furthermore, in the refrigerator according to the present invention, the contact gear of the gear assembly that meshes with the rack and pinion assembly is located in the central region with reference to the front-rear direction of the rack and pinion assembly, thereby allowing the first gear rack that meshes with the contact gear to be partially pulled out.

[0054] This allows for a simplification of the structure by minimizing the length of the downstream portion of the first gear rack, which does not engage with the contact gear when the first gear rack is fully extended and does not substantially contribute to the extension distance.

[0055] Furthermore, since the remaining portion of the first gear rack that is not extended externally can effectively act as a support that reinforces the strength of the gear rack and prevents sagging, the strength of the gear rack can be reinforced and the problem of sagging can be eliminated compared to when the first gear rack is fully extended.

[0056] Furthermore, the refrigerator according to the present invention includes a multi-stage rack and pinion assembly, and since multiple gear racks that are extended and retracted in the front-to-back direction can be sequentially extended and expanded, the maximum extension distance when the multiple gear racks are fully extended can be made even longer than the front-to-back length of the rack and pinion assembly when the gear racks are not extended.

[0057] Furthermore, in the refrigerator according to the present invention, the pinion gear that pulls out the multi-stage rack and pinion assembly is positioned on one side of the gear rack with which it meshes, thereby effectively realizing a telescopic multi structure with a small number of parts and improving product reliability.

[0058] The effects described above, as well as the specific effects of the present invention, will be explained and described below in the following descriptions of embodiments for carrying out the invention. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0059] [Figure 1] This is a front view perspective of the refrigerator with the door closed. [Figure 2] This is a front view perspective of the refrigerator with the bottom door open. [Figure 3] This diagram shows the interior of the storage room with the lower door removed and the door opening module installed. [Figure 4]This diagram shows the storage compartment with the top and one side removed, illustrating the state in which the door storage section attached to the bracket member is retracted into the storage compartment. [Figure 5] This diagram shows the top and one side of the storage chamber removed, illustrating the state in which the door storage section attached to the bracket member is pulled out to the outside of the storage chamber along the rail assembly. [Figure 6] This diagram shows the door open module and rail assembly in their state before they are pulled out. [Figure 7] This diagram shows the door open module and rail assembly in their fully extended positions. [Figure 8] This diagram shows the drive assembly, rack and pinion assembly, and lock assembly that make up the door open module, separated from each other. [Figure 9] This is a disassembled perspective view of the drive assembly. [Figure 10] This is an exploded perspective view of a rack and pinion assembly. [Figure 11] This is a cross-sectional view from the front showing the connection relationship between the gear rack and pinion gear that constitute the first rack and pinion assembly and the drive assembly. [Figure 12] This is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the connection relationship between the gear rack and pinion gear that constitute the first rack and pinion assembly and the drive assembly, viewed from the side. [Figure 13] This is a perspective view showing the back of a lock assembly fastened to a hook-type member according to one embodiment. [Figure 14] This is a disassembled perspective view of the lock assembly. [Figure 15] This diagram shows the bracket member and rail assembly attached to the door section of the door, and the door open module located at the bottom, with the door storage compartment removed. [Figure 16] This diagram shows the bracket member and rail assembly attached to the door section of the door, and the door open module located at the bottom, with the door storage compartment installed. [Figure 17]This figure shows both the fully extended and fully extended states of each gear rack in a rack and pinion assembly according to one embodiment. [Figure 18] This is a plan view showing the rack and pinion assembly in another embodiment mounted within a drive assembly, with each gear rack in its unextended state, with the first and second gear racks fully extended, and with the third gear rack fully extended. [Figure 19] This is a plan view showing the rack and pinion assembly in another embodiment mounted within a drive assembly, with each gear rack in its unextended state, with the first and second gear racks fully extended, and with the third gear rack fully extended. [Figure 20] This is a plan view showing the rack and pinion assembly in another embodiment mounted within a drive assembly, with each gear rack in its unextended state, with the first and second gear racks fully extended, and with the third gear rack fully extended. [Figure 21] Figure 18 is an exploded perspective view of the other components that make up the rack and pinion assembly. [Figure 22] Figure 18 shows a cross-sectional view of another rack and pinion assembly, cut in the left-right direction and viewed from the front. [Figure 23] This is a perspective view showing a rack and pinion assembly according to another embodiment mounted within a drive assembly, with each gear rack in its unextended state, with the first and second gear racks fully extended, and with the third gear rack fully extended. [Figure 24] This is a perspective view showing a rack and pinion assembly according to another embodiment mounted within a drive assembly, with each gear rack in its unextended state, with the first and second gear racks fully extended, and with the third gear rack fully extended. [Figure 25]This is a perspective view showing a rack and pinion assembly according to another embodiment mounted within a drive assembly, with each gear rack in its unextended state, with the first and second gear racks fully extended, and with the third gear rack fully extended. [Figure 26] This is a perspective view of the support gear rack. [Figure 27] This is a cross-sectional view of the line 27-27 in Figure 26. [Figure 28] Figure 26 is a perspective view showing the first gear rack attached. [Figure 29] This is a cross-sectional view of the line 29-29 in Figure 28. [Figure 30] Figure 28 is a perspective view showing the second gear rack attached. [Figure 31] This is a cross-sectional view of the line 31-31 in Figure 30. [Figure 32] Figure 30 is a perspective view showing the third gear rack attached. [Figure 33] This is a cross-sectional view of the line 33-33 in Figure 32. [Figure 34] This figure shows a rack and pinion assembly according to yet another embodiment mounted within a drive assembly, with each gear rack in its unextended state, with the first and second gear racks fully extended, and with the third gear rack fully extended. [Figure 35] This figure shows a rack and pinion assembly according to yet another embodiment mounted within a drive assembly, with each gear rack in its unextended state, with the first and second gear racks fully extended, and with the third gear rack fully extended. [Figure 36] This figure shows a rack and pinion assembly according to yet another embodiment mounted within a drive assembly, with each gear rack in its unextended state, with the first and second gear racks fully extended, and with the third gear rack fully extended. [Figure 37] Figure 34 is an exploded perspective view of the other components that make up the rack and pinion assembly. [Figure 38] Figure 34 shows a cross-sectional view of another rack and pinion assembly, cut in the left-right direction and viewed from the front. [Figure 39] This is a side cross-sectional view showing the door and door open module before the door open module is activated, as well as a magnified view of a portion of the area. [Figure 40] This is a side cross-sectional view and a magnified view of a portion of the door, showing the door and door open module in the state where the door open module is driven so that the rack and pinion assembly first makes contact with the door's push-out portion. [Figure 41] This is a side cross-sectional view and a magnified view of a portion of the door, showing the door and door open module in a state where the door open module is driven so that the rack and pinion assembly pushes the door's push-out portion by a predetermined distance. [Figure 42] This is a side cross-sectional view and a magnified view of a portion of the door and door open module, showing the door and door open module in a fully open state when the door open module is driven. [Figure 43] This is a side cross-sectional view and a magnified view of a portion of the door and door open module, showing the door and door open module in a state where the door has moved a predetermined distance backward due to the door open module being driven to automatically close the door. [Figure 44] This figure shows the door open module, rail assembly, and bracket member in their state before being pulled out, according to other embodiments of this specification. [Figure 45] This figure shows the door open module, rail assembly, and bracket member fully extended according to other embodiments of this specification. [Figure 46] This is a side cross-sectional view and a magnified view of a portion of the door and door open module, showing the door and door open module before the door open module according to other embodiments of this specification is driven. [Figure 47] This is a side section view and a magnified view of a portion of the door and door open module in a fully open state, with the door open module according to another embodiment of this specification driven. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0060] The aforementioned objectives, features, and advantages will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings, so that a person with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains can easily implement the technical concept of the present invention. In describing the present invention, if a specific description of known technology according to the present invention is deemed to obscure the gist of the present invention, then such detailed description will be omitted. Hereafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings are used to indicate the same or similar components.

[0061] Although terms such as "first," "second," etc., are used to indicate various components, these components are, of course, not limited by these terms. These terms are simply used to distinguish one component from another, and unless otherwise specified, the first component may also be the second component.

[0062] Throughout the specification, unless otherwise stated, each component may be singular or plural.

[0063] Hereinafter, the placement of any configuration on the "upper (or lower)" or "above (or below)" of a component means not only that the configuration is placed in contact with the upper surface (or second) of the component, but also that other configurations may be interposed between the component and any configuration placed on (or below) it.

[0064] Furthermore, where it is stated that one component is “linked,” “joined,” or “connected” to another component, it should be understood that the components may be directly linked or connected to one another, but may also be “interposed” between each component, or each component may be “linked,” “joined,” or “connected” through other components.

[0065] Furthermore, throughout this specification, the terms “connect” and “disconnect” are used to describe the connection and disconnection between components. However, these terms are not limited to these and may be used interchangeably with other similar terms such as “connect” and “disconnect,” or “join” and “separate.” Also, throughout this specification, the term “mesh” is used to define the functional connection between gear components. This term is not intended to be limiting and may include other forms of connection described by terms such as “engage with,” “connect to,” or “joined with.”

[0066] In this specification, singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Terms such as “composed of” or “including” in this application should not be interpreted as necessarily including all of the multiple components or stages described in the specification, but rather as meaning that some of the components or stages may not be included, or that further components or stages may be included.

[0067] Throughout the specification, "A and / or B" means A, B, or A and B unless otherwise specified, and "C to D" means C or greater and D or less unless otherwise specified.

[0068] The following describes refrigerators according to several embodiments of the present invention.

[0069] [Refrigerator Structure] The structure of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

[0070] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the refrigerator 1 may have an exterior formed by a cabinet 2 containing one or more storage compartments which are storage spaces for items, and a plurality of doors 20 that can open and close the open front of the cabinet 2. The cabinet 2 may include an outer case 12 and an inner case 11 coupled to the inside of the outer case 12. An insulated area filled with insulating material is formed between the inner case 11 and the outer case 12, and various ducts related to the cooling system can pass through the insulated area.

[0071] The internal case 11 may be partitioned into separate spaces to include multiple storage compartments. For example, the storage compartments may include a first storage compartment 14, a second storage compartment 15, and a third storage compartment 16. The first storage compartment 14 may be located on the upper level, the second storage compartment 15 on the middle level, and the third storage compartment 16 on the lower level. In this specification, the arrangement of three storage compartments stacked vertically is described as an example, but the number and location of the storage compartments are not limited thereto. For example, the first storage compartment 14 may function as a refrigerator, the second storage compartment 15 may function as a switchable compartment that can be used as a refrigerator, a freezer, or a separate storage compartment with a desired temperature depending on the user's settings, and the third storage compartment 16 may function as a freezer, but the function of each storage compartment is not limited thereto.

[0072] The first storage compartment 14 may be opened and closed by a first door 21. The first door 21 may be a pair of revolving doors that rotate, connected by hinges to one side and the other side of the cabinet 2 constituting the first storage compartment 14, respectively. Each first door 21 may have a handle for easy opening and closing by the user. In addition, one of the first doors 21 may be equipped with a dispenser unit 13 that allows the user to take out water or ice without opening the first door 21.

[0073] The third storage compartment 16 may be opened and closed by a third door 23. The third door 23 may be a retractable door that can be opened and closed by being pulled out and retracted in the front-rear direction. In this specification, the front-rear direction means the direction relative to the front and rear of the refrigerator 1, and the left-right direction means the direction relative to both sides of the refrigerator 1. The front of the refrigerator 1 means the direction in which the user uses the refrigerator 1. The third door 23 may include a door section 210 that covers the front of the third storage compartment 16, and a storage section 220 provided behind the door section 210 and housed in the third storage compartment 16. The door section 210 may have a handle formed on it for easy opening and closing by the user. The third door 23, including the door section 210 and the storage section 220, may be referred to as a drawer assembly or an auto drawer.

[0074] The storage compartment 220 may be formed in a basket shape, with a storage space for storing items such as food. The storage compartment 220 may be formed to be separable so as to be separable from the door compartment 210. For example, the storage compartment 220 may be fixed to the door compartment 210 by fastening to or resting on a separate connecting member such as a bracket member, which will be described later, but is not limited to this, and the storage compartment 220 may be fixed by fastening directly to the door compartment 210. By configuring the storage compartment 220 to be separable from the door compartment 210 in this way, the user can easily separate the storage compartment 220 for cleaning. The storage compartment 220 of the third door 23 described herein may be referred to as the first storage compartment 220. A second storage compartment 230 may be further arranged in the third storage compartment 16. The second storage compartment 230 may be arranged on top of the first storage compartment 220. The door compartment 210 may be formed to substantially cover the front of the first storage compartment 220 and the second storage compartment 230. For example, the second storage section 230 may be pulled out and retracted in the front-to-back direction without being constrained by the movement of the first storage section 220. For instance, the second storage section 230 may be pulled out and retracted in the front-to-back direction by a roller system that rolls along the upper surfaces of the frame sections on both sides of the first storage section 220.

[0075] The second storage room 15 may be opened and closed by a second door 22. The second door 22 may be a retractable door that can be opened and closed by being pulled out and retracted in the front-to-back direction. For example, the second door 22 may also include a door section that covers the front of the second storage room 15 in the same manner as the third door 23, and a storage section provided behind the door section and housed inside the second storage room 15, but is not limited to this. The second door 22 including the door section and storage section may also be called a drawer assembly or auto drawer. A machine room may be located behind the lower area of ​​the third storage room 16, thereby reducing the front-to-back width of the lower area of ​​the third storage room 16. Therefore, the front-to-back width of the second storage room 15 may be longer than the front-to-back width of the lower area of ​​the third storage room 16 where the machine room 17 is located. The second door 22 may have a handle for easy opening and closing by the user. The opening and closing methods of each door 20 described above are not limited by the drawings, and the revolving doors and the retractable doors may be changed to different methods from each other as needed.

[0076] [Rail assembly, bracket member, and door open module] In the following, with further reference to Figures 3 to 7, a rail assembly 70, a bracket member 80, and a door open module 30 arranged in a storage room according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. The storage room described below will be described as a third storage room 16 as an example, but it is not limited to this, and the same can be applied to the first storage room 14 and the second storage room 15 when they are opened and closed with a pull-out door system. In the following, for convenience of explanation, the third storage room 16 will be referred to as storage room 16, and the third door 23 will be referred to as door 23. Also, as mentioned above, the third door 23 may also be referred to as a drawer assembly or auto drawer.

[0077] The storage chamber 16 may be divided by a bottom surface 164 that constitutes the lower surface, first side surfaces 162a and second side surfaces 162b that constitute the two sides, and a rear surface 163. The upper surface of the storage chamber 16 may be composed of a barrier portion that separates the second storage chamber 15 and the third storage chamber 16. A machine room 17 may be located behind the storage chamber 16. Specifically, a machine room 17 in which components related to a cooling system, such as a compressor, are located may be located outside the rear surface 163 of the storage chamber 16. Therefore, the rear surface 163 of the storage chamber 16 that overlaps the machine room 17 in the front-rear direction may be formed to be narrower in the front-rear direction than other rear surfaces 163 of the storage chamber 16 that do not overlap the machine room 17 in the front-rear direction. As an example, the rear surface 163 of the storage chamber 16 that overlaps in the front-rear direction may be formed to have a surface that slopes forward towards the bottom surface 164.

[0078] A pair of rail assemblies 70 may be positioned on each side of the storage chamber 16. The rail assemblies 70 may be multi-stage rail assemblies 70 whose length can be extended and shortened. The rail assemblies 70 can guide the movement of the door 20 in the front-rear direction. For example, a first rail assembly 71 may be positioned on the first side 162a of the storage chamber 16, and a second rail assembly 72 may be positioned on the second side 162b of the storage chamber 16. The first rail assembly 71 may be fixed to the first side 162a of the storage chamber 16 by a separately provided storage chamber connecting member 18. One side of the storage chamber connecting member 18 may provide a mounting space on which the first rail assembly 71 can be placed and may be fastened to the first rail assembly 71. The other side of the storage chamber connecting member 18 may be fastened to the first side 162a of the storage chamber 16.

[0079] The first rail assembly 71 may include multiple rail units so that they can be extended in multiple stages. For example, the first rail assembly 71 may be a three-stage rail assembly including three rail units consisting of a first rail unit 710, a second rail unit 720, and a third rail unit 730. However, it is not limited to this, and may include two rail units or four or more rail units. When the rail units of the first rail assembly 71 are not extended, the length of the first rail unit 710 can substantially correspond to the length of the first rail assembly 71.

[0080] When the rail units of the first rail assembly 71 are pulled out, the first rail unit 710 may be pulled out in a fixed state, with a portion of the second rail unit 720 being pulled out further forward than the first rail unit 710, and a portion of the third rail unit 730 being pulled out further forward than the second rail unit 720. One or more rail fixing portions 711 may be formed on one side of the first rail unit 710. The rail fixing portions 711 can fasten and fix the first rail assembly 71 to the storage chamber connecting member 18. For example, the rail fixing portion 711 may be in the shape of a plate that has a predetermined area and is bent upward, thereby increasing the fastening area and improving the fastening force.

[0081] In a similar manner, the second rail assembly 72 may be fixed to the second side surface 162b of the storage chamber 16 by a separately provided storage chamber connecting member 18. Alternatively, the second rail assembly 72 may be positioned opposite the first rail assembly 71 and formed in a symmetrical shape. The description of the first rail assembly 71 can be similarly applied to the second rail assembly 72.

[0082] A bracket member 80 may be provided in each rail assembly 70. A first bracket member 81 may be provided in the first rail assembly 71, and a second bracket member 82 may be provided in the second rail assembly 72. The first bracket member 81 may include a bracket body portion 810 that extends long in one direction. The bracket body portion 810 may be fastened to the third rail unit 730 that protrudes furthest forward among the rail units of the first rail assembly 71. Thus, the first bracket member 81 can move in the front-rear direction while being constrained by the extension and retraction of the third rail unit 730. A bracket bent portion 811 may be formed in front of the bracket body portion 810, which is bent downwards and extends. A sensor portion 830 may be provided in the bracket bent portion 811. The sensor portion 830 may be equipped with a sensor that senses whether or not the door 20 is extended or retracted. The sensor portion 830 can transmit a sensing signal to a control unit located inside the refrigerator 1. A front extension portion 820 may be formed in front of the bracket bent portion 811, extending downward from the bracket body portion 810. The front extension portion 820 may have a predetermined area, be formed in a plate shape facing forward, and be positioned in front of the first bracket member 81. The front extension portion 820 may be the part that fastens and fixes the first bracket member 81 to the door 20.

[0083] The second bracket member 82 may be fastened to the second rail assembly 72 in a similar manner. Alternatively, the second bracket member 82 may be positioned opposite the first bracket member 81 and formed in a symmetrical shape. The description relating to the first bracket member 81 can be similarly applied to the second bracket member 82.

[0084] As described above, the rail assembly 70 and bracket member 80 may be fastened to the door 20 and constrained to the door 20's movement in the front-rear direction, allowing them to be extended and retracted in that direction. In manual door open mode, where the user manually controls the extension and retraction of the door 20, the rail unit of the rail assembly 70 may be extended and retracted in the front-rear direction even without separate driving force provided to the rail assembly 70 by a drive motor. However, in automatic door open mode, where the extension and retraction of the door 20 are automatically controlled, since the rail assembly 70 is not directly provided with driving force by a drive motor, a method must be implemented to indirectly provide driving force so that the extension and retraction of the rail assembly 70 can be controlled.

[0085] The door open module 30 is not directly connected to the rail assembly 70 and does not provide driving force for the extension and retraction of the rail unit, but it can indirectly provide driving force to control the extension and retraction of the rail unit of the rail assembly 70. The door open module 30 may not be directly connected to the rail assembly 70 and the bracket member 80, but may be positioned at a predetermined distance apart. The door open module 30 can push the door 20 forward and pull the door 20 backward. Thus, the door 20 can be moved so as to be extended and retracted in the front-rear direction by the door open module 30. The door open module 30 may include one or more multi-stage rack and pinion assemblies 50, one or more drive assemblies 40 that drive the rack and pinion assemblies 50, and a lock assembly 60 that is connected to and disconnected from the door 20.

[0086] For example, the drive assembly 40 may include a pair consisting of a first drive assembly 41 and a second drive assembly 42. The rack and pinion assembly 50 may also include a pair consisting of a first rack and pinion assembly 51 and a second rack and pinion assembly 52. ​​The first rack and pinion assembly 51 may be attached to the first drive assembly 41 and transmit driving force from the first drive assembly 41. The second rack and pinion assembly 52 may be attached to the second drive assembly 42 and transmit driving force from the second drive assembly 42. The first drive assembly 41 and the second drive assembly 42 may be positioned so as to be biased toward the first side 162a and the second side 162b of the storage chamber 16, respectively.

[0087] The first drive assembly 41 and the second drive assembly 42 may be arranged in positions and configurations symmetrical to each other with respect to the center of the storage chamber 16. The first rack and pinion assembly 51 and the second rack and pinion assembly 52 may also be arranged in positions and configurations symmetrical to each other with respect to the center of the storage chamber 16. In this way, the door open module 30 according to the present invention is embodied in a dual-module structure including a pair of drive assemblies 40 and a pair of rack and pinion assemblies 50, thereby providing a strong door pulling force that allows the door to be opened smoothly even in a strong negative pressure environment such as a freezer. However, the door open module 30 may include one drive assembly 40 and one rack and pinion assembly 50. In this case, it is preferable that the drive assembly 40 and the rack and pinion assembly 50 are arranged in the central region of the storage chamber 16.

[0088] The lock assembly 60 may be connected to the first rack and pinion assembly 51 and the second rack and pinion assembly 52 on one side and the other side, respectively. For example, the lock assembly 60 may include a pushing member 630 that extends in the left-right direction of the storage chamber 16. A pair of connecting members 612 may be arranged so as to be connected to one side and the other side of the pushing member 630. A pair of slide racks 611 that fasten to the first rack and pinion assembly 51 and the second rack and pinion assembly 52 may be connected to the pair of connecting members 612, respectively. In this way, by connecting the lock assembly 60 to the first rack and pinion assembly 51 and the second rack and pinion assembly 52, the lock assembly 60 can move together with the first rack and pinion assembly 51 and the second rack and pinion assembly 52, while being constrained to their movement in the front-rear direction.

[0089] The pushing member 630 may be formed to push the rear surface of the storage section 220. In this way, the pushing member 630 of the lock assembly 60 pushes the rear surface of the storage section 220, thereby restricting the forward movement of the lock assembly 60 and allowing it to move in conjunction with the lock assembly 60. The pushing member 630 may also be equipped with a hook member 620 that can be switched to connect and disconnect the storage section 220 and the lock assembly 60. When the hook member 620 of the lock assembly 60 is connected to the storage section 220, the storage section 220 can move in conjunction with the lock assembly 60, restricting its movement not only forward but also backward. When the hook member 620 of the lock assembly 60 is disconnected from the storage section 220, the storage section 220 can move freely independently of the lock assembly 60, even when the lock assembly 60 is not driven. A detailed explanation of each assembly constituting the door open module 30 will be given later.

[0090] The drive assembly 40 and the rack and pinion assembly 50 may be located at the bottom of the storage compartment 220. When the door 20 is closed, the drive assembly 40 and the rack and pinion assembly 50 may be positioned so as to overlap each other vertically with respect to the storage compartment 220. The lock assembly 60 may be located at the rear of the storage compartment 220, with the exception of some components. The slide rack 611 of the lock assembly 60 may be located at the bottom of the storage compartment 220, and the pushing member 630 and the hook member 620 may be located at the rear of the storage compartment 220.

[0091] The door open module 30 may be located in the lower region of the storage chamber 16. For example, the door open module 30 may be located on the bottom surface 164, which is the lower surface of the storage chamber 16. The bottom surface 164 of the storage chamber 16 may be composed of an internal case 11, and the space between it and an external case 12 located below the bottom surface 164 may become an insulated space where insulation material is placed. The door open module 30 may be located above the bottom surface 164 so as not to infringe upon the insulated space. A groove 165 on which the drive assembly 40 of the door open module can be placed may be formed in the bottom surface 164 of the storage chamber 16. Preferably, the groove 165 is formed to be thinner than the vertical thickness of the drive assembly 40. This allows the groove 165 to stably place the drive assembly 40 on the bottom surface 164 while minimizing the reduction of the insulated space below the bottom surface 164 of the storage chamber 16. Thus, although the door open module 30 according to the present invention is located at the bottom of the storage compartment 16, it is located at the upper part of the storage compartment 16 rather than the lower part of the lower surface of the storage compartment 16. This reduces the intrusion of the door open module 30 into the thermal insulation space, thereby maintaining the thermal insulation performance of the refrigerator and improving energy efficiency.

[0092] [Drive assemblies, rack and pinion assemblies, and lock assemblies] In the following, the drive assembly 40, rack and pinion assembly 50, and lock assembly 60 included in a door open module 30 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with further reference to Figures 8 to 14 and Figures 26 to 33. For convenience of explanation, the gear assembly 430 in Figures 26 to 33 is shown as an unillustrated perspective or cross-sectional view.

[0093] Referring to Figure 9, the drive assembly 40 may comprise a pair of a first drive assembly 41 and a second drive assembly 42. The first drive assembly 41 and the second drive assembly 42 may be formed to have symmetrical shapes, and the description based on the first drive assembly 41 can be similarly applied to the second drive assembly 42.

[0094] The first drive assembly 41 may include a first case 410 that constitutes the upper outer surface and a second case 420 that houses various related parts and constitutes the lower surface. The second case 420 may be formed to have sufficient thickness to house the rack and pinion assembly 50 and the gear assembly 430. The second case 420 may include a first mounting section 421 on which the rack and pinion assembly 50 can be housed and mounted, and a second mounting section 422 on which the gear assembly 430 can be housed and mounted. Referring to Figures 26 and 27, the first mounting section 421 may have a long, elongated shape in the front-rear direction and its front surface may be open so that the gear rack of the rack and pinion assembly 50 can be pulled out forward.

[0095] The gear assembly 430 may include multiple gears. For example, the multiple gears may be circular gears arranged to mesh with each other. The multiple gears constituting the gear assembly 430 can rotate with respect to a rotation axis extending in the vertical direction. Therefore, the gear assembly 430 does not significantly increase the thickness in the vertical direction, which may be advantageous for the use of space in the storage chamber 16. Among the gears of the gear assembly 430, the gear that meshes with the rack and pinion assembly 50 may be a pinion gear. In this case, the gear among the gears of the gear assembly 430 that meshes with the rack and pinion assembly 50 may be called a contact gear 431. Therefore, when the gear assembly 430 is driven, the rack and pinion assembly 50 may be driven in a rack and pinion drive manner by the pinion gear included in the gear assembly 430.

[0096] A drive unit 440 may be located in the second case 420. For example, the drive unit 440 may be mounted in a housing space in the second case 420 that opens downwards. The drive unit 440 can be coupled to one of the gears of the gear assembly 430 to provide driving force. The drive unit 440 may also be a drive motor. The driving force of the drive unit 440 may be transmitted to the rack and pinion assembly 50 via the gear assembly 430, and then to the housing 220 and the rail assembly 70 via the rack and pinion assembly 50. A lower cover 450 may be located at the bottom of the second case 420 to house the drive unit 440 and protect the appearance of the drive unit 440.

[0097] The first case 410 is positioned to cover the top surface of the second case 420, thereby protecting the gear assembly 430 and the rack and pinion assembly 50. The first case 410 may have an opening extension 411 extending in the front-rear direction, which is open in the vertical direction, to guide the movement of the gear rack of the rack and pinion assembly 50. The opening extension 411 is also open on the front of the first case 410, allowing the gear rack of the rack and pinion assembly 50 to be pulled forward.

[0098] Referring further to Figures 26 and 27, a support gear rack 500 having a support gear rack tooth profile 501 with multiple tooth profiles may be arranged on the inner surface forming the first mounting portion 421 of the second case 420. The support gear rack 500 may be integrally formed on the inner surface of the second case 420, but is not limited thereto, and may be formed from a separate part from the second case 420 and fastened to the inner surface of the second case 420. The support gear rack 500 can provide a support surface on which the pinion gear of the gear rack of the rack and pinion assembly 50 mounted on the first mounting portion 421 can mesh and move. Multiple fastening members 451 may be arranged on the outer surface of the second case 420 to fix the drive assembly 40 to the bottom surface 164 of the storage chamber 16. In this case, the fastening members 451 may be in the form of cushioning members that can cancel out vibrations of the drive assembly 40. For example, the cushioning members may be made of rubber, but is not limited thereto.

[0099] The first mounting portions 421 formed on the first drive assembly 41 and the second drive assembly 42 may be positioned adjacent to the center of the storage chamber 16. Therefore, the first rack and pinion assembly 51 and the second rack and pinion assembly 52, which are positioned on the first mounting portions 421 of the first drive assembly 41 and the second drive assembly 42, may be positioned closer to each other toward the center of the storage chamber 16. Also, the second mounting portions 422 formed on the first drive assembly 41 and the second drive assembly 42 may be positioned adjacent to the first side surface 162a and the second side surface 162b of the storage chamber 16, respectively. Therefore, the gear assemblies 430, which are positioned on the second mounting portions 422 of the first drive assembly 41 and the second drive assembly 42, may be positioned further away from each other toward the sides of the storage chamber 16.

[0100] Referring to Figures 10 to 12, the rack and pinion assembly 50 may comprise a pair of first rack and pinion assemblies 51 and second rack and pinion assemblies 52. The first rack and pinion assembly 51 and the second rack and pinion assembly 52 may be formed to have symmetrical shapes, and the description based on the first rack and pinion assembly 51 can be similarly applied to the second rack and pinion assembly 52.

[0101] The first rack and pinion assembly 51 may be a multi-stage rack and pinion assembly including multiple gear racks. While the present invention describes a three-stage rack and pinion assembly including three gear racks as a basis, it is not limited to this and may include four or more gear racks. That is, the rack and pinion assembly 50 according to the present invention may include three or more gear racks. Here, "three or more gear racks" means gear racks that are moved to be pulled out and retracted in the front-rear direction, and may exclude gear racks that remain fixed and not moved.

[0102] The more gear racks there are, the greater the total distance that can be pulled out of the storage chamber 16, even though it can be installed in a storage chamber 16 with a short length in the front-to-back direction. As mentioned above, if a machine room 17 is located behind the storage chamber 16, the length of the storage chamber 16 in the front-to-back direction may be shorter than that of other storage chambers 16. Therefore, by including three or more gear racks, the multi-stage rack and pinion assembly 50 according to the present invention can greatly extend the door's pull-out distance so that the storage section 220 of the door 20 can be fully exposed to the outside, even when it is installed in a storage chamber 16 with a narrow width in the front-to-back direction. However, it is not limited to this, and if the rack and pinion assembly 50 is installed in a storage chamber 16 with sufficient length in the front-to-back direction, it may be installed as a two-stage rack and pinion assembly 50 including two gear racks.

[0103] The first rack and pinion assembly 51 may include a first gear rack 510, a second gear rack 520, and a third gear rack 530. The first gear rack 510 may be elongated in one direction and formed with an open front and top surface. Referring further to Figures 28 and 29, the first gear rack 510 may be housed within the second case 420 by being placed on a first mounting section 421 of the second case 420. The first gear rack 510 has a storage space 514 that can accommodate the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530, and the storage space 514 may be formed by a pair of support walls 513 formed on both sides of the first gear rack 510.

[0104] A sawtooth-shaped first external tooth profile 511a may be formed on one side of the support wall 513. For example, the first external tooth profile 511a may be formed over a length of about half of the total length of the support wall 513 in the front-rear direction. The first external tooth profile 511a may be formed on the outer surface of the support wall 513 facing the gear assembly 430 so as to mesh with the pinion gear of the gear assembly 430. Therefore, when the gear assembly 430 is driven, the first gear rack 510 may be pulled forward by a rack and pinion drive along the first external tooth profile 511a that meshes with the gear assembly 430. The first gear rack 510 may include a first pinion gear 512. The first pinion gear 512 may be formed on the support wall 513 on which the first external tooth profile 511a is formed. The first pinion gear 512 may be located near the central region of the first gear rack 510 and positioned forward of the first external tooth profile 511a.

[0105] The aforementioned support gear rack 500 may be located in front of the gear assembly 430 when the rack and pinion assembly 50 is mounted on the second case 420 of the drive assembly 40. The support gear rack 500 may be formed to have a length equivalent to approximately half the length of the first gear rack 510 in the front-rear direction. When the gear assembly 430 is driven, the first pinion gear 512 can move forward along the support gear rack 500 while meshing with the support gear rack tooth profile 501 of the support gear rack 500. This may cause the first gear rack 510 to be pulled forward.

[0106] On the other side of the support wall 513 on which the first external tooth profile 511a is formed, a sawtooth-shaped first internal tooth profile 511b may be formed. For example, the first internal tooth profile 511b may be formed to a length of about half of the total length of the support wall 513 in the front-rear direction. The first internal tooth profile 511b may be formed on the inner surface of the support wall 513 so as to mesh with the second pinion gear 522 of the second gear rack 520 which is housed in the storage space 514 of the first gear rack 510. The first internal tooth profile 511b may be formed on the support wall 513 on which the first pinion gear 512 is formed. The first internal tooth profile 511b may be located in front of the first pinion gear 512.

[0107] Referring further to Figures 30 and 31, a second gear rack 520 may be disposed in the storage space 514 of the first gear rack 510. The second gear rack 520 may be formed in a form that extends long in one direction. The second gear rack 520 may be formed to have a substantially elongated rod shape. The second gear rack 520 may be formed to be even shorter than the length of the first gear rack 510 in the front-rear direction. The second gear rack 520 may include a second tooth profile 521 formed along the surface facing the first pinion gear 512. The second tooth profile 521 may be formed to mesh with the first pinion gear 512. The second gear rack 520 may include a second pinion gear 522 disposed on the side on which the second tooth profile 521 is formed.

[0108] When the first gear rack 510 is pulled forward, the second gear rack 520, which maintains meshing with the first pinion gear 512, may be pulled forward by a rack and pinion drive system with the first pinion gear 512. When the first pinion gear 512 rotates, the second gear rack 520 can move forward while meshing with the first pinion gear 512 and with the second pinion gear 522 meshing with the first internal tooth profile 511b. In this case, the second pinion gear 522 can also move forward. Therefore, when the first gear rack 510 is pulled out, the second gear rack 520 may be pulled forward by a rack and pinion drive system along the first internal tooth profile 511b that meshes with the second pinion gear 522. A second rack cover 523 that seals the lower surface of the second gear rack 520 may be positioned on the lower surface of the second gear rack 520.

[0109] Referring further to Figures 32 and 33, a third gear rack 530 may be positioned in the storage space 514 of the first gear rack 510. The third gear rack 530 may be formed in a form that extends long in one direction. The third gear rack 530 may be formed to have a substantially elongated rod shape. The third gear rack 530 may be formed to be even shorter than the longitudinal length of the first gear rack 510. Alternatively, the third gear rack 530 may be formed to have substantially the same longitudinal length as the second gear rack 520. The third gear rack 530 may include a third tooth profile 531 formed along the surface facing the second pinion gear 522. The third tooth profile 531 may be formed to mesh with the second pinion gear 522. When the second gear rack 520 is pulled forward, the third gear rack 530, which maintains engagement with the second pinion gear 522, may also be pulled forward by a rack and pinion drive system with the second pinion gear 522. Therefore, when the second pinion gear 522 rotates, the third gear rack 530 can move forward while engaged with the second pinion gear 522.

[0110] A portion of the third gear rack 530 may be formed to protrude outward from the upper surface of the first gear rack 510. For example, a projection 533 protruding to a predetermined height may be formed on the upper surface of the third gear rack 530, which extends long in one direction. The projection 533 may be formed to substantially correspond to the length of the third gear rack 530 in the front-rear direction. Furthermore, a stepped portion 534 may be formed on the upper surface of the projection 533, protruding further above the projection 533 by a predetermined height. The stepped portion 534 may be formed to be even shorter in the front-rear direction than the projection 533, and the stepped portion 534 may be located behind the projection 533.

[0111] The upper surface of the first gear rack 510 may be covered by a rack cover. For example, the rack cover may consist of a pair of first rack covers 540a and second rack covers 540b. The first rack cover 540a and the second rack cover 540b may be arranged to cover the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530, and may be spaced apart by a predetermined distance such that the protruding portion 533 and the stepped portion 534 of the third gear rack 530 protrude upward. An opening guide portion 541 may be formed between the first rack cover 540a and the second rack cover 540b, which are spaced apart by a predetermined distance. The opening guide portion 541 may have a shape that penetrates vertically and extends in the front-rear direction so that the front and rear are open. Therefore, the protruding portion 533 and the stepped portion 534 of the third gear rack 530 may slide along the opening guide portion 541 in the front-rear direction.

[0112] A rack guide member 532 may be placed on the third gear rack 530. For example, the rack guide member 532 may be fastened and fixed on the stepped portion 534 of the third gear rack 530. For example, the rack guide member 532 may be fastened in a manner that fits onto the upper surface of the stepped portion 534. In this case, the rack guide member 532 may be fastened and fixed on the stepped portion 534 by a plurality of fastening members. For example, the rack guide member 532 may include a rack guide neck portion 5321 and a rack guide head portion 5322. One side of the rack guide neck portion 5321 may be fastened to the stepped portion 534, and the rack guide head portion 5322 may be placed on the other side of the rack guide neck portion 5322. Therefore, when the rack guide member 532 is fastened on the stepped portion 534, the rack guide neck portion 5321 and the rack guide head portion 5322 may be placed sequentially on the stepped portion 534. The lengths of the rack guide neck portion 5321 and the rack guide head portion 5322 in the front-rear direction may be formed to be substantially the same as the length of the stepped portion 534 in the front-rear direction. The width of the rack guide head portion 5322 in the left-right direction may be formed to be narrower than the width of the rack guide neck portion 5321 in the left-right direction. Therefore, the rack guide head portion 5322 may be formed to protrude outward from the rack guide neck portion 5321 with respect to the left-right direction. The width of the rack guide neck portion 5321 in the left-right direction may be formed to be substantially the same as the width of the stepped portion 534 in the left-right direction.

[0113] When the rack and pinion assembly 50 is driven, the first gear rack 510 may protrude the shortest distance forward relative to the front section of the rack and pinion assembly 50, followed by the second gear rack 520 which protrudes further forward than the first gear rack 510, and then the third gear rack 530 which protrudes further forward than the second gear rack 520. The speed of movement of the gear racks may increase in the order of the first gear rack 510, the second gear rack 520, and the third gear rack 530. Also, since the distance traveled by the gear racks and the pulling force of the gear racks are inversely proportional to each other, the pulling force may increase in the order of the third gear rack 530, the second gear rack 520, and the first gear rack 510. In this case, the gear rack that protrudes first relative to the front section of the rack and pinion assembly 50 may be the first gear rack 510. This will be explained in detail later.

[0114] As described above, the rotation axis of the pinion gear of the rack and pinion assembly 50 may extend in the vertical direction of the storage chamber 16, similar to the rotation axis of the gear assembly 430. Therefore, the pinion gear does not rotate in a vertically upright position, but can rotate horizontally parallel to the bottom surface 164 of the storage chamber 16. This can be seen by referring to Figures 22, 32, and 33. Since the thickness of the pinion gear in a horizontally upright position is relatively thinner than the thickness of the pinion gear in a vertically upright position, the overall vertical thickness of the rack and pinion assembly 50 can also be reduced. Therefore, according to the present invention, by arranging the rotation axis of the pinion gear of the door open module 30, which is driven by a rack and pinion drive system, to extend in the vertical direction of the storage chamber 16, the vertical thickness of the door open module 30 can be reduced, thereby improving the usability of the storage chamber 16 space.

[0115] Furthermore, the pinion gear and gear rack according to the present invention may be arranged to mesh with each other in the left-right direction rather than the up-down direction of the storage chamber 16, that is, in the horizontal direction rather than the vertical direction of the storage chamber 16. According to the present invention, since there are no other parts that directly apply load to the rack and pinion assembly 50 in the horizontal direction, it is possible to reduce misalignment or play between the pinion gear and gear rack.

[0116] Referring further to Figures 13 and 14, the lock assembly 60 may include a lock assembly extension bar 610 extending in the left-right direction. That is, the lock assembly extension bar 610 may extend in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction in which the gear rack of the rack and pinion assembly 50 is extended and retracted. For example, the lock assembly extension bar 610 may be a rod-shaped form with an open rear surface. For example, the lock assembly extension bar 610 may have a front surface formed in the shape of a plate that extends long in the left-right direction, with an upper and lower surface formed in a form that is bent backward at the upper and lower sections of the front surface. In this case, both sides and the rear surface of the lock assembly extension bar 610 may be formed to be open. This may form a bending groove 6101 inside the lock assembly extension bar 610. The lock assembly extension bar 610 can act as a base member that fastens and supports related parts located on both sides in order to synchronize the operation of the first rack and pinion assembly 51 and the second rack and pinion assembly 52 with each other.

[0117] The lock assembly 60 may include a pair of slide racks 611 positioned on one side and the other side of the lock assembly extension bar 610. The slide racks 611 may be formed to extend in a front-to-back direction perpendicular to the direction in which the lock assembly extension bar 610 extends. The slide racks 611 may be fastened and fixed to the third gear rack 530 of the rack and pinion assembly 50. For example, the slide racks 611 may be fastened to a rack guide member 532 positioned on the third gear rack 530. The slide racks 611 may be formed to have a storage space so that the rack guide member 532 is housed inside. The rear surface of the slide racks 611 may be open, and the bottom surface may also be formed to have an open area extending in the front-to-back direction. The rack guide head portion 5322 of the rack guide member 532 may be housed in the slide racks 611, and the rack guide neck portion 5321 may protrude into the open area on the bottom surface of the slide racks 611.

[0118] When fastening the rack guide member 532 to the slide rack 611, the rack guide member 532 can be inserted forward in a sliding manner from the rear surface of the opening of the slide rack 611. The internal storage space of the slide rack 611 may be formed in a shape that fits with the rack guide head portion 5322. In this case, the rack guide head portion 5322 may be supported by the non-opening lower surface of the slide rack 611. The slide rack 611 may be formed to be even longer in the front-rear direction than the rack guide member 532. With the slide rack 611 and the rack guide member 532 fastened together, the slide rack 611 can move in the front-rear direction in a sliding manner along the rack guide head portion 5322 of the rack guide member 532. Therefore, the slide rack 611 may move in the front-rear direction while being constrained to the front-rear movement of the third gear rack 530.

[0119] A gap of a predetermined distance may exist between the rack guide member 532 and the slide rack 611 so that the rack guide member 532 can move in a sliding manner in the front-rear direction when inserted inside the slide rack 611. For example, when the rack guide member 532 is in close contact with the rear of the slide rack 611, a forward slide gap 6111 of a predetermined distance may be formed between the front portion 5323 of the rack guide member 532 and the front portion 6113 of the slide rack 611. That is, the forward slide gap 6111 can be defined as the distance between the front surface of the front portion 5323 of the rack guide member 532 and the rear surface of the front portion 6113 of the slide rack 611. The forward slide gap 6111 allows the movement of each gear rack of the rack and pinion assembly 50 and the movement of the pushing member 630 to occur with a predetermined time difference, which will be described in detail later. The time difference between the movement of each gear rack in the rack and pinion assembly 50 and the movement of the pushing member 630 can be proportional to the distance of the forward slide gap 6111.

[0120] A recessed portion 6117 with a shape that protrudes upward may be formed on the rear of the upper surface of the slide rack 611. One or more fastening columns 6118 may be formed on the recessed portion 6117. For example, the fastening columns 6118 may be fastened to the connecting member 612 by a screw connection using a separately provided fastening member 650. Multiple openings 6113 may be formed in the slide rack 611. Multiple openings 6113 may be arranged in the front-rear direction so as to penetrate the upper surface of the slide rack 611. The slide rack 611 may be easily formed using an injection molding method by being formed to have openings 6113.

[0121] The rear surface of the opening of each slide rack 611 may be sealed by a sealing member 613. The sealing member 613 may be formed such that a portion of it is inserted forward from the rear surface of the slide rack 611 and fixed in place. The sealing member 613 may have a hole 6131 that penetrates in the vertical direction. The sealing member 613 may be fastened and fixed to the slide rack 611 by a fastening member 652 provided separately so as to penetrate the hole 6131. ​​For example, the fastening member 652 can be inserted downward from the sealing member 613 and penetrate a portion of the lower surface of the rear region of the protrusions 6117 of the slide rack 611, thereby fastening the sealing member 613 and the slide rack 611 together. Considering the direction of movement of the lock assembly 60 which moves in the front-rear direction, the slide rack 611 and the sealing member 613 may be fastened in the vertical direction. In this way, by making the direction of movement and the direction of fastening perpendicular to each other, it is possible to reduce the weakening of the fastening force between the slide rack 611 and the sealing member 613 even when repeated movement in the forward and backward directions occurs.

[0122] As described above, after the rack guide member 532 is inserted into the slide rack 611, the sealing member 613 may be fastened to the slide rack 611 so as to seal the rear surface of the slide rack 611. Therefore, when the rack guide member 532 moves in the front-rear direction along the slide rack 611, the front portion 5323 of the rack guide member 532 may be restrained from moving forward by the front portion 6113 of the slide rack 611, and its rearward movement may be restrained by the front portion of the sealing member 613 that seals the rear portion of the slide rack 611. In other words, the sealing member 613 can play a role in preventing the rack guide member 532 from detaching to the rear.

[0123] Thus, when the rack guide member 532 moves forward, a gap may occur between the rear portion of the rack guide member 532 and the rear portion of the slide rack 611. Referring further to Figures 39 to 43 described later, a rear slide gap 6112 may be formed between the rear portion of the rack guide member 532 and the rear portion of the slide rack 611. The rear slide gap 6112 may increase by the same distance that the front slide gap 6111 decreases. Therefore, the front slide gap 6111 and the rear slide gap 6112 can be inversely proportional to each other. Since the rear portion of the slide rack 611 is sealed by the sealing member 613, the rear slide gap 6112 can be defined as the distance between the front portion of the sealing member 613 and the rear portion of the rack guide member 532.

[0124] The lock assembly 60 may include a pair of connecting members 612 positioned on one side and the other side of the lock assembly extension bar 610, respectively, to connect the slide rack 611 and the lock assembly extension bar 610 to each other. For example, each connecting member 612 may be inserted into the rear and side openings of the lock assembly extension bar 610, respectively, and placed on the inner surface of the lock assembly extension bar 610. Multiple fastening holes 615 may be formed on the front surface of the lock assembly extension bar 610. Multiple fastening holes 6121 may also be formed on the front surface of the connecting member 612 housed in the lock assembly extension bar 610. After positioning the connecting member 612 such that its fastening holes 6121 and the fastening holes 615 of the lock assembly extension bar 610 correspond to each other, the connecting member 612 can be fixed inside the lock assembly extension bar 610 with a separately provided fastening member 651. The connecting member 612, which is fixed to the lock assembly extension bar 610, may be formed such that a portion of it protrudes from the side and rear surfaces of the lock assembly extension bar 610. Therefore, when the connecting member 612 is fastened to the lock assembly extension bar 610, the areas on both sides of the lock assembly extension bar 610, excluding the central area, may be formed to surround a portion of the connecting member 612. A portion of the connecting member 612 may be inserted into a bending groove 6101 formed inside the lock assembly extension bar 610.

[0125] Each connecting member 612 may be fastened to the slide rack 611. Considering the direction of movement of the lock assembly 60, which moves in the front-rear direction, the slide rack 611 and the connecting member 612 may be fastened in the vertical direction. By making the direction of movement and the fastening direction perpendicular to each other in this way, the weakening of the fastening force between the slide rack 611 and the connecting member 612 can be reduced even when repeated movement in the front-rear direction occurs. As an example, a portion of the connecting member 612 protruding from both sides of the lock assembly extension bar 610 may be fastened to the slide rack 611. The recessed portion 6117 of the slide rack 611 and the fastening column 6118 may be inserted from the lower surface of one end of the connecting member 612. A fastening hole may be formed on the upper surface of the connecting member 6112 corresponding to the fastening column 6118 into which a separately provided fastening member 650 can be inserted. Thus, with the fastening column 6118 of the slide rack 611 inserted into the connecting member 612, the fastening column 6118 of the slide rack 611 may be fastened to the connecting member 612 by a screw connection using a separately provided fastening member 650.

[0126] The pair of slide racks 611 described above may be formed in the same shape. That is, the pair of slide racks 611 may be interchangeable with each other so that their functions can be realized even if their positions are changed. Similarly, the pair of sealing members 613 and the pair of connecting members 612 may be formed in the same shape. Therefore, according to the present invention, since parts of the same shape can be mass-produced, the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the assembly and maintenance of parts can be simplified.

[0127] The lock assembly 60 may include a pushing member 630. The pushing member 630 may extend long in the left-right direction, which is the same direction in which the lock assembly extension bar 610 extends. The pushing member 630 may be formed to have substantially the same length in the left-right direction as the lock assembly extension bar 610. The pushing member 630 may be formed to surround the front and top surfaces of the lock assembly extension bar 610.

[0128] As an example, the pushing member 630 may include a pushing portion 631 that extends upward and forward. The pushing portion 631 is capable of pushing an object located in front of it, for example, the storage portion 220. The pushing portion 631 may be formed to have a plate-like shape with a predetermined area so that it can make surface contact with the object to be pushed, such as the storage portion 220. For example, the pushing portion 631 may be formed to extend in the left-right and up-down directions, with the length in the left-right direction being longer than the length in the up-down direction.

[0129] A bent pushing member portion 632, which is bent forward, is formed on the lower part of the pushing portion 631, and a pushing member fastening portion 634, which is bent downward and extends, may be formed on the front part of the bent pushing member portion 632. The pushing member 630 is placed on the upper surface of the lock assembly extension bar 610 on the bent pushing member portion 632, and the pushing member fastening portion 634 may be fastened to the outer surface of the front of the lock assembly extension bar 610. Multiple fastening holes may be formed on the front of the pushing member fastening portion 634. The fastening holes formed on the front of the pushing member fastening portion 634 may be aligned to correspond to the fastening holes 615 of the lock assembly extension bar 610 and the fastening holes 6121 of the connecting member 612, and the pushing member fastening portion 634, the lock assembly extension bar 610 and the connecting member 612 may be fastened and fixed by a separately provided fastening member 651 that passes through the fastening holes.

[0130] Since the pushing portion 631 of the pushing member 630 pushes the object forward, the repulsive force applied to the pushing member 630 may also be applied to the rear. Therefore, by fastening the pushing member fastening portion 634 to the outer surface of the front of the lock assembly extension bar 610, it is possible to prevent the fastening between the pushing member 630 and the lock assembly extension bar 610 from loosening due to the repulsive force applied to the pushing member 630. Multiple reinforcing ribs 633 are formed on the bent portion 632 of the pushing member to reinforce the strength of the pushing member 630.

[0131] A hook member fixing portion 621 may be formed on the pushing member 630. A portion of the pushing portion 631 may be removed from the central region of the pushing member 630, and a hook member fixing portion 621 may be formed in the region where the pushing portion 631 was removed. Therefore, a pair of pushing portions 631 may be arranged on both sides of the hook member fixing portion 621, with the hook member fixing portion 621 at the center. A pair of rotating shaft portions 6211 may be formed on the hook member fixing portion 621. For example, a pair of rotating shaft portions 6211 may be formed to project rearward from the rear surface of a pair of pushing portions 631, which are respectively arranged on both sides of the hook member fixing portion 621. A pair of rotating shaft portions 6211 may be arranged adjacent to the hook member fixing portion 621. A through hole 6215 may be formed in each of the rotating shaft portions 6211. A pair of rotating shaft portions 6211 may be arranged so that their through holes 6215 face each other. The rotating shaft portion 6211 can be fastened to the hook member 620 to provide a rotating shaft on which the hook member 620 rotates.

[0132] The lock assembly 60 may include a hook member 620. The hook member 620 may be located in the central region of the pushing member 630. For example, the hook member 620 may be positioned on the hook member fixing portion 621. Therefore, when the hook member 620 is positioned on the pushing member 630, pushing portions 631 may be located on both sides of the hook member 620. Figure 13 shows one embodiment in which one hook member 620 is located in the central region of the pushing member 630, and a pair of pushing portions 631 are positioned on both sides of the hook member 620 so as to be offset to one side and the other side of the lock assembly extension bar 610, but the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, in another embodiment, one pushing portion 631 may be located in the central region of the pushing member 630, and a pair of hook members 620 may be positioned on both sides of the pushing portion 631 so as to be offset to one side and the other side of the pushing member 630. Furthermore, the number and position of the hook members 620 and pushing portions 631 are not limited to this. For example, it may include one hook member 620 and one pushing part 631, or it may include a pair of hook members 620 and a pair of pushing parts 631. It may also include three or more hook members 620 or three or more pushing parts 631. Furthermore, the arrangement can be modified in various ways so that the hook members 620 and pushing parts 631 are arranged alternately.

[0133] The hook member 620 can be operated to connect to and disconnect from an object located in front of it, such as the storage section 220. The hook member 620 may include a hook head portion 6222 which is substantially the part that fastens during hook connection, and a hook tail portion 6221 which extends downward from the hook head portion 6222. The hook head portion 6222 may be the part that connects to and disconnects from an object located in front of the hook member 620 by hook connection, such as the storage section 220. The hook head portion 6222 may be formed to have an inwardly curved surface in order to improve the hook connection force with the object to be hooked. A head bend portion 6225 may be formed at the end of the hook head portion 6222 in an inwardly bent form.

[0134] The hook tail portion 6221 of the hook member 620 may be formed to extend downward on the lower surface of the hook head portion 6222. A tail bend portion 6224 may be formed at the lower end of the hook tail portion 6221, which is bent forward at a predetermined angle. The hook tail portion 6221 having these shapes is the part that comes into contact with the rear surface 163 of the storage chamber 16, and can realize smooth contact and release from the rear surface 163 of the storage chamber 16.

[0135] One or more reinforcing ribs 6228 may be formed on the outer surface, which is the rear surface of the hook member 620. The reinforcing ribs 6228 may be formed on the hook head portion 6222 and the hook tail portion 6221, and the reinforcing ribs 6228 formed on the hook head portion 6222 and the hook tail portion 6221 may be formed to extend continuously in the vertical direction. Since the hook member 620 is a component that is connected to an object and substantially provides force to move the object backward, the presence of the reinforcing ribs 6228 can reinforce the rigidity of the hook member 620.

[0136] A pair of connecting portions 6223 may be formed on the inner surface of the front surface of the hook member 620. That is, the pair of connecting portions 6223 may be formed on the opposite side of the surface on which the reinforcing rib 6228 is formed. For example, the pair of connecting portions 6223 may be formed to protrude forward from the inner surface, which is one surface of the hook tail portion 6221. The pair of connecting portions 6223 may be arranged facing each other at a predetermined distance apart. Through holes may be formed in each of the pair of connecting portions 6223, and the pair of connecting portions 6223 may be arranged so that the through holes face each other. The connecting portion 6223 of the hook member 620 is the portion that is connected to the rotating shaft portion 6211 of the hook member fixing portion 621, and the connecting portion 6223 and the rotating shaft portion 6211 may be connected to each other by a separately provided fastening pin 624. For example, the through hole in the connecting portion 6223 is positioned to align with the through hole 6215 in the rotating shaft portion 6211, and the fastening pin 624 passes through the through hole in the connecting portion 6223 and the through hole 6215 in the rotating shaft portion 6211 in the left-right direction, thereby fixing the hook member 620 to the pushing member 630.

[0137] An elastic member 623, which provides elastic force to the hook member 620, may be fastened together with the fastening pin 624 to the connecting portion 6223 and the rotating shaft portion 6211. The elastic member 623 may be positioned between a pair of connecting portions 6223 that are spaced apart from each other. Therefore, the fastening pin 624, passing through the through hole 6215 of the rotating shaft portion 6211 and the through hole 6215 of the rotating shaft portion 6211 from one side, can pass through the elastic member 623 and then through the through hole 6215 of the connecting portion 6223 and the through hole 6215 of the rotating shaft portion 6211 located on the other side.

[0138] For example, the elastic member 623 may be a spring. Specifically, the elastic member 623 may be a torsion spring. A torsion spring is a spring that stores and releases energy using torsion. A torsion spring can act when a torsional force is applied around an axis. Therefore, a torsion spring may have the property of storing elastic energy through rotation or torsion, and then, when unwound, releasing the stored elastic energy to restore itself. A torsion spring is wound in a spiral shape, and torsion can be generated by the support bases connected to both ends. That is, the torsion spring itself may twist when subjected to force by rotational motion, and elastic energy may be stored by that torsion. Therefore, the hook member 620 can rotate in such a way that it can be restored in the opposite direction by the elastic member 623 during rotational motion in one direction.

[0139] For example, the elastic member 623 may include a coil portion 6231 and a pair of leg portions 6232a and 6232b projecting outward from both sides of the coil portion 6231. The coil portion 6231 is constructed in a spirally wound coil shape and can store energy through elastic deformation when subjected to a torsional load. The fastening pin 624 can pass through the coil portion 6231. The pair of leg portions 6232a and 6232b are comprised of a first leg portion 6232a and a second leg portion 6232b, respectively, extending from both ends of the coil portion 6231 and can be connected to external components to transmit or fix rotational motion. The first leg portion 6232a and the second leg portion 6232b may be designed at a specific angle and manufactured in various forms depending on the intended use.

[0140] As an example, the leg portions 6232a and 6232b may be formed in a straight line, but are not limited to this, and may also be formed in a curved shape. Figure 14 shows the elastic member 623 in its state before deformation. The first leg portion 6232a may extend from the coil portion 6231 in one direction, and the second leg portion 6232b may extend in the opposite direction to the first leg portion. When no external force is applied to the elastic member 623, the first leg portion 6232a and the second leg portion 6232b may extend parallel to each other in different directions. When a user applies an external force to the first leg portion 6232a and pushes it at a predetermined angle, the angle between the first leg portion 6232a and the second leg portion 6232b decreases. In this way, when an external force is applied to the first leg portion 6232a, the coil portion 6231 undergoes compression and torsional deformation, causing elastic energy to accumulate. The amount of elastic energy accumulated can be proportional to the degree of deformation of the first leg portion 6232a.

[0141] In other words, when an external force is applied to the leg portions 6232a and 6232b, the coil portion 6231 stores elastic energy through torsional deformation, and when the external force is removed, it can release the stored elastic energy through a restoring force. The elastic member 623 is connected to an external component via the leg portions 6232a and 6232b, and when rotational motion is applied in a specific direction, the coil portion 6231 undergoes torsional deformation and stores energy. Subsequently, when the external force is removed, the coil portion 6231 can release torque, which is a rotational force, via the leg portions 6232a and 6232b while returning to its original state. Thus, according to the present invention, by providing a torsion spring including leg portions 6232a and 6232b extending from both ends of the coil portion 6231, stable energy storage and release during rotational motion is possible, and high durability and efficiency can be provided in various application environments.

[0142] As an example, referring further to Figure 39, when the elastic member 623 is coupled between the hook member 620 and the pushing member 630, it may be fastened in a state where one of the leg portions 6232a and 6232b, for example, the first leg portion 6232a, is pressed at a predetermined angle. The first leg portion 6323a of the elastic member 623 can contact the hook member 620, and the second leg portion 6323b can contact the rear surface of the pushing member 630. In this case, since the elastic member 623 has stored a predetermined amount of elastic energy before contacting the hook member 620, unless another external force opposite to the restoring force of the elastic member 623 is applied to the hook member 620, the hook member 620 will rotate forward due to the restoring force of the elastic member 623.

[0143] The hook member 620 can rotate in a circular motion by a predetermined angle around the connecting portion 6223, which is connected to the rotating shaft portion 6211. When the door 20 is closed, that is, when the lock assembly 60 is fully retracted to the rear, the rear surface of the hook tail portion 6221 of the hook member 620 can come into contact with the rear surface 163 of the storage chamber 16. In this case, the rear surface of the hook tail portion 6221 of the hook member 620 is pressed forward by the rear surface 163 of the storage chamber 16, so the hook head portion 6222, which is located above the hook tail portion 6221, can rotate backward around the axis of rotation of the hook member 620. That is, the hook head portion 6222 and the lower end portion of the hook tail portion 6221, which are located in opposite directions to each other around the axis of rotation of the hook member 620, rotate in opposite directions to each other. As a result, the hook head portion 6222 can maintain a state in which the hook connection with an object such as the storage portion 220 located in front is released.

[0144] Thus, when the hook member 620 is in contact with the rear surface 163 of the storage chamber 16, the restorative energy is maintained by the torsion of the elastic member 623. Subsequently, when the lock assembly 60 moves forward, the hook tail portion 6221 of the hook member 620 is released from contact with the rear surface 163 of the storage chamber 16, and the hook head portion 6222 rotates forward around the axis of rotation in the connecting portion 6223 due to the restorative energy of the elastic member 623. Therefore, the hook head portion 6222 may be hooked to an object to be hooked, such as the storage portion 220 located in front.

[0145] As described above, the lock assembly 60 can synchronize the driving of the pair of drive assemblies 40 and the pair of rack and pinion assemblies 50 located on both sides. Therefore, even if one of the pair of drive assemblies 40 fails or stops working, if the other working drive assembly 40 is driven, the lock assembly 60 can control the rack and pinion assembly 50 that is engaged with the stopped drive assembly 40 to be pulled out and pulled in normally through synchronization.

[0146] [Door opening module, rail assembly, bracket member, and door connecting structure] The following description will further refer to Figures 15 and 16 to explain the door opening module 30, the rail assembly 70, the bracket member 80, and the connecting structure of the door 20. Referring to Figure 15, the door 20 may include a door section 210 that opens and closes the front of the cabinet 2. The door section 210 may include a door frame 211 that forms the substantial appearance of the door 20, and a door liner 212 positioned behind the door frame 211 and connected to the bracket member 80. A door dike 216 may be formed on the rear surface of the door liner 212, along the rear circumference. The door dike 216 may protrude from the rear of the door liner 212 so as to be inserted into the interior of the storage compartment 16.

[0147] A recessed door recess 217 may be formed on the rear surface of the door liner 212 corresponding to the inside of the door dike 216. Bracket connecting portions 214 may be formed on the door recess 217, which are connected to a first bracket member 81 and a second bracket member 82, respectively. The bracket connecting portions 214 may be formed to protrude to the rear by a predetermined thickness to facilitate connection with the bracket member 80. The bracket member 80 may be fastened to the outside of the rear surface of the bracket connecting portion 214, or inserted into an insertion space formed on the inside of the rear surface of the bracket connecting portion 214 and fastened to the inside of the rear surface, and the fastening method is not particularly limited. In this way, by fastening the door portion 210 and the bracket member 80 to each other, the movement and operation of the door 20, the bracket member 80 and the rail assembly 70 may be synchronized with each other. A gasket portion 213 may be formed on the rear surface of the door liner 212, which is arranged around the outside of the door dike 216. The gasket portion 213 contacts the cabinet 2, sealing the space between the door 20 and the cabinet 2, thereby reducing the occurrence of cold air leakage.

[0148] A pair of first press portions 215 may be positioned in the lower region of the door liner 212. The pair of first press portions 215 may be positioned so as to overlap each other in the longitudinal direction with the first drive assembly 41 and the second drive assembly 42. The first press portions 215 may be positioned so as to overlap each other in the longitudinal direction with the first rack and pinion assembly 51 and the second rack and pinion assembly 52, which are attached to the first drive assembly 41 and the second drive assembly 42, respectively. Specifically, when the first gear rack 510 of the rack and pinion assembly 50 protrudes forward, it can come into contact with the first press portion 215 and press the first press portion 215 forward.

[0149] For example, the first press portion 215 may be formed on the door dike 216. As an example, the first press portion 215 may be formed in a manner that surrounds the top, rear, and bottom surfaces of the door dike 216 and fixed to the door dike 216. In this case, the first press portion 215 may be fixed to the door dike 216 by a method such as a plug-in connection, a method such as a hook connection, or by a separate fastening member. The first press portion 215 may be formed of a highly impact-resistant plastic material, and as an example, it may include, but is not limited to, ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) plastic. As described above, the first press portion 215 is described as a separate component from the door dike 216 of the door liner 212 as one embodiment, but is not limited to this.

[0150] In another embodiment, the first press portion 215 may be formed integrally with the door liner 212. For example, a shape corresponding to the first press portion 215 may be formed integrally with the door liner 212 on the rear surface of the door liner 212. Alternatively, the first press portion 215 may be molded integrally with the door dike 216. Furthermore, the first press portion 215 does not need to be separately molded with the door dike 216; in this case, the first press portion 215 can be defined conceptually as a surface that contacts the gear rack of the rack and pinion assembly 50.

[0151] Referring to Figures 13 and 16, a hook-hooking member 221 may be positioned on the rear surface of the storage section 220. The hook member 620 may be fastened to the hook-hooking member 221 by rotating in a circular motion around a rotation axis in the left-right direction. The hook-hooking member 221 may be formed in a shape that facilitates the connection and disconnection of the hook coupling with the hook head portion 6222 of the hook member 620. The hook-hooking member 221 may be located in the lower region of the storage section 220. Since the lower region of the storage section 220 is formed to have an inclined surface toward the front, the hook-hooking member 221 may be formed to protrude toward the rear with a predetermined width. The hook-hooking member 221 may be formed in a shape corresponding to the inclined surface of the rear surface of the storage section 220 and fastened to the rear surface of the storage section 220. For example, the hook-hooking member 221 may be fixed to the rear surface of the storage section 220 in a manner that surrounds a part of the rear and bottom surfaces, including the corners of the rear and bottom surfaces of the storage section 220. For example, the hook-hooking member 221 may be formed to extend long in the left-right direction. The left-right length of the hook-hooking member 221 may be formed to be substantially the same as the left-right length of the pushing member 630.

[0152] A slot portion 2211 may be formed on the rear surface of the hook hooking member 221, which is an open area into which a portion of the hook member 620 of the lock assembly 60 is inserted. When the hook member 620, which is fixed to the hook member fixing portion 621, rotates forward about the axis of rotation, the hook head portion 6222 may be inserted into the slot portion 2211. The rear surface of the slot portion 2211 may be sealed by the hook portion 2212. Thus, the hook portion 2212 formed on the rear surface of the slot portion 2211 may be a portion that is substantially hooked with the hook head portion 6222. A second push portion 222 may be formed on both sides of the slot portion 2211 and the hook portion 2212. The second push portion 222 may be an area that is pushed forward by the pushing portion 631 of the pushing member 630. The rear surface of the hook hooking member 221 that is pushed by the pushing member 630 can be defined as the second push portion 222.

[0153] Thus, by forming the hook-hooking member 221 in the lower region of the storage section 220 having an inclined surface, the hook member 620 of the lock assembly 60 may also be formed adjacent to the lower region of the storage section 220 having an inclined surface. For example, the hook member 620 of the lock assembly 60, which is located at the rear of the storage section 220, may not be positioned behind the rearmost surface of the storage section 220, but rather positioned to overlap the inclined surface in the lower region of the storage section 220 in the vertical direction. Therefore, the width of the door open module 30 including the lock assembly 60 in the front-rear direction can be reduced, thereby increasing the usability of space within the narrow storage room 16.

[0154] In the refrigerator 1 according to the present invention, the hook member 620 is separated from the door 23 when the door 23 is closed, so the manual door open mode can be quickly implemented without any time lag when the door 23 is closed. In the present invention, the manual door open mode means a mode in which the hook member 620 and the door 23 are separated and the door open module 30 is not activated, and the door 23 can be opened and closed by the user's manual operation. The automatic door open mode means a mode in which the hook member 620 and the door 23 are connected and the door 23 is opened by the operation of the door open module 30, and the door 23 can be opened and closed automatically. In other words, according to the present invention, the hook member 620 may be separated from the door 23 and automatically switched to the manual door open mode without separate control by the refrigerator's control unit. Therefore, as soon as the door 23 is closed, the switch to the manual door open mode is performed, so the user can open and close the door 23 in manual door open mode very quickly.

[0155] If door 23, which has been opened in automatic door open mode, closes, it may be automatically switched to manual door open mode. Furthermore, if the door open module 30 is activated and door 23 is automatically opened, it may be switched to automatic door open mode, door 23 opens and closes, and once door 23 is completely closed, it may be automatically switched back to manual door open mode. In addition, door 23 that has been opened and closed in manual door open mode will continue to maintain manual door open mode unless otherwise switched to automatic door open mode.

[0156] [Gear rack pull-out mechanism of rack and pinion assembly] In the following, with further reference to Figures 17 to 38, the gear rack extraction mechanism of the rack and pinion assembly 50 according to various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0157] Figure 17 shows a rack and pinion assembly according to one embodiment, including both the unextended and fully extended states of each gear rack. In the embodiment shown in Figure 17, the lengths of the first gear rack 510, second gear rack 520, and third gear rack 530, which are extended and retracted in the front-rear direction, are substantially the same. Therefore, when the gear racks of the rack and pinion assembly 50 are unextended, the front sections of the first gear rack 510, second gear rack 520, and third gear rack 530 may be positioned on the same line as each other. Similarly, in the front section of the second case 420 that houses the rack and pinion assembly 50, the front sections of the first gear rack 510, second gear rack 520, and third gear rack 530 may be positioned on the same line as each other.

[0158] As described above, the first gear rack 510 of the rack and pinion assembly 50 may include a first external tooth profile 511a, a first internal tooth profile 511b, and a first pinion gear 512; the second gear rack 520 may include a second tooth profile 521 and a second pinion gear 522; and the third gear rack 530 may include a third tooth profile 531. The contact gear 431 of the gear assembly 430 may mesh with the first external tooth profile 511a, the first pinion gear 512 may mesh with the second tooth profile 521, and the second pinion gear 522 may mesh with the first external tooth profile 511a and the third tooth profile 531.

[0159] The gear assembly 430, which includes multiple gears arranged to mesh with each other, is also arranged to mesh with the gears of the drive unit 440, thereby transmitting the rotational force of the drive unit 440. The gear assembly 430, having received the rotational force from the drive unit 440, can transmit the rotational force to each gear rack via the contact gear 431. The rotational force generated in the drive unit 440 may be distributed to each of the first gear rack 510, the second gear rack 520, and the third gear rack 530 with the same torque via the gear assembly 430. If the same torque is provided to each gear rack, the magnitude of the extraction force can be inversely proportional to the transmission distance of each gear rack. The transmission distance can be defined as the vertical distance, which is the vertical separation distance to the point on the rotation axis of the contact gear 431 where the force acts. The first gear rack 510, the second gear rack 520, and the third gear rack 530 may be arranged further and further away from the contact gear 431 in that order. That is, the first gear rack 510 may be located closest to the contact gear 431, and the third gear rack 530 may be located furthest from the contact gear 431. Therefore, the magnitude of the pulling force may decrease in the order of the first gear rack 510, the second gear rack 520, and the third gear rack 530. In this way, the multiple gear racks included in the rack and pinion assembly 50 may be pulled forward in a straight line path based on the transmitted torque.

[0160] The maximum extension distance that the rack and pinion assembly 50 can achieve when the first gear rack 510, the second gear rack 520, and the third gear rack 530 are fully extended can be described as follows:

[0161] The direction in which multiple gear racks are pulled out and retracted can be defined as the first direction. With the door open module 30 installed inside the storage chamber 16, the first direction is the direction in which the door 23 is pulled out and retracted, and may be the front-to-back direction of the storage chamber 16. The direction intersecting the first direction can be defined as the second direction. For example, the second direction may be perpendicular to the first direction. With the door open module 30 installed on the bottom surface inside the storage chamber 16, the second direction may be the left-to-right direction of the storage chamber 16. Also, with the door open module 30 installed on the side of the storage chamber 16, the second direction may be the up-to-down direction of the storage chamber 16.

[0162] Multiple gear racks may be extended and retracted in the first direction of the rack and pinion assembly 50, and a contact gear 431 may be positioned in the second direction. The contact gear 431 may be a drive force transmission gear that directly meshes with the rack and pinion assembly 50 within the gear assembly 430 and transmits the driving force of the drive unit 440. Therefore, the gear assembly 430 may also be positioned on one side of the rack and pinion assembly 50 corresponding to the second direction. Furthermore, the drive unit 440 that meshes with the gear assembly 430 and provides driving force may also be positioned on one side of the rack and pinion assembly 50 corresponding to the second direction. Figures 18 and 34 can be further referenced for this.

[0163] Typically, in the case of a storage compartment 16 of a refrigerator 1, the width in the front-to-back direction is generally designed to be narrower than the width in the left-to-right direction. Therefore, if the gear assembly 430 or drive unit 440 that meshes with the rack and pinion assembly 50 is positioned in the front-to-back direction where the gear rack of the rack and pinion assembly 50 is extended and retracted, a larger portion of the storage compartment 16 will be occupied in the front-to-back direction, potentially reducing its internal volume in that direction.

[0164] Furthermore, if the gear assembly 430 or drive unit 440 that meshes with the rack and pinion assembly 50 is positioned in the front-to-back direction where the gear rack of the rack and pinion assembly 50 is extended and retracted, the length of the rack and pinion assembly 50 in the front-to-back direction will inevitably be shortened by the space occupied by the gear assembly 430 or drive unit 440. In this way, if the length of the rack and pinion assembly 50 in the front-to-back direction is shortened, the length of the gear rack included in the rack and pinion assembly 50 in the front-to-back direction will also be shortened, which can ultimately lead to a reduction in the maximum extension distance.

[0165] Thus, the door open module 30 according to the present invention can minimize the length of the door open module in the front-to-back direction by positioning the gear assembly 430 that transmits the driving force of the drive unit 440 on one side of the rack and pinion assembly 50 corresponding to a second direction that intersects with the first direction in which the multiple gear racks are pulled out and pulled in. This allows the length of the multiple gear racks included in the rack and pinion assembly 50 in the front-to-back direction to be made as long as possible, so that a sufficient door pull-out distance can be secured even in the narrow storage compartment of a refrigerator.

[0166] For example, the gear assembly 430 may be located between the front and rear stages of the rack and pinion assembly 50. Similarly, the drive unit 440 may also be located between the front and rear stages of the rack and pinion assembly 50. This allows the longitudinal length of the door open module 30 to substantially correspond to the longitudinal length of the rack and pinion assembly 50. This enables the door open module 30 according to the present invention to maximize the longitudinal length of the rack and pinion assembly 50 even in the narrow storage compartment of a refrigerator.

[0167] The door open module 30 according to the present invention may be a unidirectional type in which the gear assembly 430 and the drive unit 440 are located on only one side of the rack and pinion assembly 50. In this case, the contact gear 431 of the gear assembly 430 that meshes with the rack and pinion assembly 50 may also be located on only one side of the rack and pinion assembly 50. If the door open module is a bidirectional type in which the gear assembly 430 or the drive unit 440 are located on both sides of the rack and pinion assembly 50, the gear assembly 430 and the drive unit 440 will occupy the space on both sides in the left-right direction, which may increase the overall size of the door open module 30. Furthermore, the overall number of parts will increase, and the connection relationships between the gear assembly 430 and the drive unit 440 that transmit the driving force may become more complex.

[0168] As a result, the door open module 30 according to the present invention can reduce the overall number of parts and simplify the connection relationship for the drive force transmission mechanism by arranging the gear assembly 430 and the drive unit 440 on one side of the rack and pinion assembly 50. Furthermore, since the door open module 30 according to the present invention can transmit the drive force of the drive unit 440 via the gear assembly 430 which is located on one side of the rack and pinion assembly 50, the drive force transmission mechanism can be simplified and the door pulling force can be improved by effectively switching the rated torque of the drive unit to the linear pulling force of the gear rack.

[0169] On the other hand, the contact gear 431 may be located in the central region with respect to the front-rear direction of the door open module 30. The central region as used herein may mean, but is not limited to, the center line of the door open module 30 with respect to the front-rear direction, and may also mean a portion of the area including the center line and extending to a predetermined distance apart in the front-rear direction. For example, the front region, central region, and rear region can be equally divided with respect to the front-rear direction of the door open module 30, and the central region may mean a predetermined spatial area between the front region and the rear region. Furthermore, the meaning of the contact gear 431 being located in the central region with respect to the front-rear direction of the door open module 30 may mean, but is not limited to, the rotation axis of the contact gear 431 coinciding with the center line of the door open module 30, and may also mean that at least a portion of the contact gear 431 overlaps with the center line of the door open module 30, or is arranged to overlap with the central region. The center line and central region described below can be interpreted as having the same meaning. The contact gear 431 may be housed and fixed within the second case 420. Therefore, the contact gear 431 may be located in the central region with respect to the front-rear direction of the second case 420.

[0170] Furthermore, before the rack and pinion assembly 50 is pulled forward, while housed in the second case portion 420, the contact gear 431 may be positioned in the central region with respect to the front-rear direction of the rack and pinion assembly 50. For example, before the rack and pinion assembly 50 is pulled forward, while housed in the second case portion 420, the contact gear 431 may be positioned to mesh with the front region of the first external tooth profile 511a. Then, after the rack and pinion assembly 50 is pulled out, the contact gear 431 may be positioned in the rear region of the first external tooth profile 511a. Therefore, the final pulling distance of the first gear rack 510 that meshes with the contact gear 431 and is pulled forward may be approximately half the length of the first gear rack 510 in the front-rear direction, or slightly less than half the length.

[0171] If the contact gear 431 is located in the forward region with respect to the front-rear direction of the rack and pinion assembly 50, the final extension distance of the first gear rack 510 that engages with the contact gear 431 and is pulled forward can correspond to approximately the entire length of the first gear rack 510 in the front-rear direction. However, if the region corresponding to the entire length of the first gear rack 510 is extended outside the second case portion 420, there will be virtually no support region for the first gear rack 510, which may lead to a weakening of the first gear rack 510's strength or even sagging. This can be an even greater problem, especially if the door open module 30 is located on the side of the storage compartment 16.

[0172] To solve these problems, if the contact gear 431 is located in the forward region with respect to the front-rear direction of the rack and pinion assembly 50, only a portion of the first gear rack 510 can be extended forward. In such a case, the rear portion of the first gear rack 510 remaining inside the second case portion 420 can substantially reinforce the strength of the first gear rack 510 and prevent sagging. However, in such a case, the length of the rear portion of the first gear rack 510, which does not mesh with the contact gear 431 and does not substantially contribute to the extension distance of the first gear rack 510, increases, which may be disadvantageous in terms of increased material costs and space utilization.

[0173] Furthermore, if the contact gear 431 is located in the rear region relative to the front-rear direction of the rack and pinion assembly 50, while it is possible to solve the problems of reinforcing the strength of the first gear rack 510 and preventing sagging, there is a problem that the length of the first gear rack 510 that is pulled forward becomes too short.

[0174] As described above, the door open module 30 according to the present invention allows the contact gear 431 of the gear assembly 430 that meshes with the rack and pinion assembly 50 to be located in the central region with respect to the front-rear direction of the rack and pinion assembly 50, thereby partially extending the first gear rack 510 that meshes with the contact gear 431. This minimizes the length of the rear portion of the first gear rack 510 that does not mesh with the contact gear 431 and does not substantially contribute to the extension distance when the first gear rack 510 is fully extended, thereby simplifying the structure. Furthermore, the remaining portion of the first gear rack 510 that is not extended outward can substantially act as a support that reinforces the strength of the gear rack and prevents sagging, thus reinforcing the strength of the gear rack and eliminating the problem of sagging compared to when the first gear rack 510 is fully extended.

[0175] The first gear rack 510 may include a first pinion gear 512 that meshes with the second tooth profile 521 of the second gear rack 520 on one side and with the support gear rack tooth profile 501 of the support gear rack 500 on the other side. The first pinion gear 512 may be located approximately in the central region of the first gear rack 510. However, before the rack and pinion assembly 50 is pulled forward and housed in the second case portion 420, the first pinion gear 512 may be located forward at a fixed distance from the contact gear 431 to prevent interference with the contact gear 431. As a result, the first pinion gear 512 may be located slightly forward of the center line of the first gear rack 510.

[0176] Furthermore, the second gear rack 520 may include a second pinion gear 522 on one side that meshes with the first internal tooth profile 511b of the first gear rack 510 and the third tooth profile 531 of the third gear rack 530, respectively. The second pinion gear 522 may be located approximately in the central region of the second gear rack 520. However, before the rack and pinion assembly 50 is pulled forward, while housed in the second case portion 420, the second pinion gear 522 may be located a fixed distance forward from the contact gear 431 to prevent interference with the contact gear 431. As a result, the second pinion gear 522 may be located slightly forward of the center line of the second gear rack 520.

[0177] The first pinion gear 512 and the second pinion gear 522 may each be provided singly. Therefore, the first pinion gear 512 can mesh with only one side of the second gear rack 520. For this reason, the second tooth profile 521 that meshes with the first pinion gear 512 may be formed only on one side of the second gear rack 520. Also, the second pinion gear 522 can mesh with only one side of the first gear rack 510 and one side of the third gear rack 530. For this reason, the first internal tooth profile 511b and the third tooth profile 531 that mesh with the second pinion gear 522 may be formed only on one side of the first gear rack 510 and one side of the third gear rack 530, respectively. As a result, the first pinion gear 512 and the second pinion gear 522 may be positioned biased to one side of the rack and pinion assembly 50 adjacent to the contact gear 431.

[0178] Thus, by positioning the door open module 30 according to the present invention on one side of the gear rack into which the pinion gears that pull out the multi-stage rack and pinion assembly mesh, the telescopic multi structure can be effectively realized with a small number of parts, thereby improving product reliability.

[0179] On the other hand, when multiple gear racks of the rack and pinion assembly 50 are pulled out in the first direction, the maximum pull-out distance can be described as follows: The maximum pull-out distance may increase in the order of the first gear rack 510, the second gear rack 520, and the third gear rack 530.

[0180] With the multiple gear racks fully extended, the distance between the downstream portion of the first gear rack 510 and the center of the contact gear 431 can be defined as the first distance (A). In this case, the first distance (A) can also be defined as the distance between the downstream portion of the second case portion 420 and the center of the contact gear 431, taking into account the thickness of the second case portion 420. The first distance (A) may also be a safety distance to prevent the contact gear 431 from coming off.

[0181] With the aforementioned gear racks not extended, the distance between the center of the contact gear 431 and the center of the first pinion gear 512 can be defined as the second distance (B). The second distance (B) may be a safety distance to prevent interference between the contact gear 431 and the first pinion gear 512.

[0182] Furthermore, when the multiple gear racks are fully extended, the distance between the front of the support gear rack 500 and the center of the first pinion gear 512 can be defined as the third distance (C). In this case, the first distance (A) can also be defined as the distance between the front of the second case portion 420 and the center of the contact gear 431, when considering the separation distance between the front of the support gear rack 500 and the front of the second case portion 420. The third distance (C) may be a safety distance to prevent the first pinion gear 512 from coming off.

[0183] The maximum movable distance of the first gear rack 510 can be defined as L. In this case, the maximum movable distance (L) of the first gear rack 510 can correspond to the length in the front-rear direction of the first external tooth profile 511a that meshes with the contact gear 431. Since the first gear rack 510, the second gear rack 520, and the third gear rack 530 are arranged to mesh with each other by the first pinion gear 512 and the second pinion gear 522, the first gear rack 510, the second gear rack 520, and the third gear rack 530 move simultaneously. Therefore, the maximum movable distance (L) of the first gear rack 510 may be the same as the maximum movable distance of the second gear rack 520 and the maximum movable distance of the first pinion gear 512.

[0184] Considering the above factors, the length (M) of the rack and pinion assembly 50 in the first direction can be defined as follows:

[0185] M = A + B + C + 2L

[0186] In other words, the length (M) of the rack and pinion assembly 50 in the first direction can correspond to the sum of a first distance (A), a second distance (B), a third distance (C), and twice the maximum movable distance (L) of the first gear rack (L2).

[0187] When the rack and pinion assembly 50 is driven and the multiple gear racks are fully extended, the maximum movable distance (L) of the first gear rack 510 may be the same as the first extension distance (S1) of the first gear rack 510. The second extension distance (S2) of the second gear rack 520, which is extended further than the preceding stage of the first gear rack 510, may be the same as the first extension distance (S1). The third extension distance (S3) of the third gear rack 530, which is extended further than the preceding stage of the second gear rack 520, may be the same as the first extension distance (S1). This can be defined as follows.

[0188] S1=S2=S3

[0189] S1 + S2 + S3 = 3L

[0190] For example, it can be confirmed that the rack and pinion assembly 50 according to the present invention may be extended to a length equivalent to approximately 150% of the front-to-back length of the rack and pinion assembly 50 when the multiple gear racks are extended to their maximum extent.

[0191] As described above, the door open module 30 according to the present invention is included in a multi-stage rack and pinion assembly 50, and since multiple gear racks that are pulled out and retracted in the front-rear direction can be sequentially pulled out and expanded, the maximum extension distance when the multiple gear racks are pulled out to their maximum extent can be made even longer than the front-rear length of the rack and pinion assembly 50 when the gear racks are not pulled out.

[0192] As a result, the door opening module 30 according to the present invention includes a multi-stage rack and pinion assembly with at least three gear racks that sequentially extend and retract in the front-to-back direction, thereby ensuring a sufficient door extension distance even in the narrow storage compartment of a refrigerator.

[0193] Further reference will be given to Figures 18 to 33 to describe another embodiment of the rack and pinion assembly. Figures 18 to 20 are plan views showing the rack and pinion assembly of another embodiment mounted in a drive assembly in the unextended state, the state in which the first and second gear racks are fully extended, and the state in which the third gear rack is fully extended, respectively. Figures 23 to 25 are perspective views showing the rack and pinion assembly of another embodiment mounted in a drive assembly in the unextended state, the state in which the first and second gear racks are fully extended, and the state in which the third gear rack is fully extended, respectively, and the gear assembly 430 is omitted for the sake of explanation.

[0194] The second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 may be formed to have a different length from the first gear rack 510 in the longitudinal direction. For example, the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 may be formed to be shorter than the first gear rack 510 in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, in the state before the rack and pinion assembly 50 is driven, the front sections of the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 may be located further back than the front section of the first gear rack 510.

[0195] In the above embodiment, with the multiple gear racks fully extended, the downstream portion of the first gear rack 510 and the center of the contact gear 431 can substantially coincide. At this time, distance differences due to the thickness of each component or manufacturing tolerances can be ignored. Therefore, with the multiple gear racks fully extended, the first distance (A) between the downstream portion of the first gear rack 510 and the center of the contact gear 431 can be ignored. This allows for a further reduction in the length of the downstream portion of the first gear rack 510 that does not mesh with the contact gear 431 and does not substantially contribute to the extension distance when the first gear rack 510 is fully extended, thereby simplifying the structure.

[0196] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, when the multiple gear racks are fully extended, the front section of the support gear rack 500 and the center of the first pinion gear 512 can substantially coincide. At this time, distance differences due to the thickness of each component or assembly errors during the manufacturing process can be ignored. Therefore, when the multiple gear racks are fully extended, the third distance (C) between the front section of the support gear rack 500 and the center of the first pinion gear 512 can be ignored. This makes it possible to minimize the length of the rear section of the second gear rack 520, which does not mesh with the contact gear 431 and does not substantially contribute to the extension distance when the first gear rack 510 is fully extended, thereby simplifying the structure.

[0197] That is, before the rack and pinion assembly 50 is pulled forward, while housed in the second case section 420, the first pinion gear 512 and the second pinion gear 522 may be positioned in the same location in the front-to-back direction. That is, the first pinion gear 512 and the second pinion gear 522 may be positioned so as to overlap each other in the second direction. In this case, the first pinion gear 512 and the second pinion gear 522 may be positioned in different layers so as not to interfere with each other. For example, referring to Figure 22, if the door open module 30 is located on the underside of the storage chamber 16, the first pinion gear 512 and the second pinion gear 522 may be positioned in different layers in the vertical direction of the storage chamber 16. Also, if the door open module 30 is located on the side of the storage chamber 16, the first pinion gear 512 and the second pinion gear 522 may be positioned in different layers in the left-to-right direction of the storage chamber 16.

[0198] The third gear rack 530 may include a retracted portion 535 in which a portion of the second pinion gear 522 may be positioned on the inside of the third gear rack 530. For example, with the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 in place, a retracted portion 535 may be formed in the lower region of the third gear rack 530, retracted inward by a predetermined distance. A third tooth profile 531 may be formed on the surface of the retracted portion 535 facing the second pinion gear 522. The retracted portion 535 may be formed to overlap vertically with the protrusion 533 of the third gear rack 530. As a result, a portion of the second pinion gear 522 may be positioned to overlap vertically with the third gear rack 530 in the retracted portion 535.

[0199] Furthermore, the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530, which are arranged within the first gear rack 510, may be formed to have different shapes from each other. For example, the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 may each be formed to have an asymmetrical shape in the left-right direction. This allows the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 to be arranged to have various fitting structures while increasing the face-to-face area between them. As a result, the rack and pinion assembly 50 according to the present invention can be fitted together so that multiple gear racks have a more compact structure, thereby further improving the space utilization of the storage chamber.

[0200] The first pinion gear 512 and the second pinion gear 522 described above may be positioned in front of the contact gear 431. For example, referring to Figures 21, 26, and 27, the support gear rack tooth profile 501 that meshes with the first pinion gear 512 may be positioned in front of the contact gear 431. That is, the support gear rack tooth profile 501 may be arranged so as to overlap each other in a first direction with respect to the contact gear 431, but not so as to overlap each other in a second direction.

[0201] Therefore, referring to Figures 22, 32, and 33, at least a portion of the contact gear 431 may be arranged in the same layer as the first pinion gear 512 and the second pinion gear 522 in the vertical direction. That is, the upper region of the contact gear 431 may be arranged in the same layer as the first pinion gear 512 in the vertical direction, and the lower region of the contact gear 431 may be arranged in the same layer as the second pinion gear 522 in the vertical direction. In this way, by positioning the first pinion gear 512 and the second pinion gear 522 in front of the contact gear 431, even if the vertical thickness of the contact gear 431 increases, there is no need to consider interference between the first pinion gear 512 and the second pinion gear 522, and thus the vertical thickness of the door open module 30 can be reduced. In other words, since the contact gear 431 having a predetermined thickness can be positioned between the upper and lower surfaces of the rack and pinion assembly 50, the vertical thickness of the door open module 30 does not increase, and the most compact door open module 30 can be realized.

[0202] As mentioned above, since the longitudinal lengths of the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 are shorter than the longitudinal length of the first gear rack 510, the second extension distance (S2) of the second gear rack 520, which is extended further than the preceding stage of the first gear rack 510 when the gear racks are fully extended, may be even shorter than the first extension distance (S1). However, since the third gear rack 530 is reduced to the same length as the second gear rack 520, the third extension distance (S3) of the third gear rack 530, which is extended further than the preceding stage of the second gear rack 520, may be the same as the first extension distance (S1).

[0203] As described above, the rack and pinion assembly 50 according to one embodiment can eliminate or minimize the first distance (A) and the third distance (C), and therefore the length (M) of the rack and pinion assembly 50 in the first direction can also be reduced, thereby improving the usability of space in the storage compartment of a small refrigerator.

[0204] Since the first gear rack 510, the second gear rack 520, and the third gear rack 530 are meshed with each other, when the drive unit 440 is in operation, the first gear rack 510, the second gear rack 520, and the third gear rack 530 may move simultaneously. In this case, if there are multiple gear racks, the gear racks that contribute substantially to opening the door 20 may differ at each stage of opening the door 20, by setting the longitudinal lengths of at least some of the gear racks to be different from each other.

[0205] When the rack and pinion assembly 50 begins to operate, the first gear rack 510 may be the first to protrude forward and outward of the second case 420. At this time, the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 may be pulled forward as the first gear rack 510 moves, but because they are shorter in length than the first gear rack 510, it may take them longer than the first gear rack 510 to protrude forward and outward of the second case 420. Referring to Figure 19, even after the first gear rack 510 has been fully pulled out, the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 may be pulled out to protrude even further forward than the first gear rack 510. In Figure 19, the first gear rack 510 and the second gear rack 520 are shown pulled out to their maximum length. Referring to Figure 20, even after the second gear rack 520 has been fully pulled out, the third gear rack 530 may be pulled out to protrude even further forward than the second gear rack 520.

[0206] Referring further to Figures 34 to 38, we will describe another embodiment of the rack and pinion assembly. Figures 34 to 36 show the rack and pinion assembly of another embodiment installed in the drive assembly in the following states: with the gear racks not extended, with the first and second gear racks fully extended, and with the third gear rack fully extended. We will omit any details that overlap with the previously described embodiment and focus on explaining the differences.

[0207] The second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 may be formed to be shorter than the longitudinal length of the first gear rack 510. Therefore, before the rack and pinion assembly 50 is driven, the front sections of the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 may be located behind the front section of the first gear rack 510.

[0208] With multiple gear racks fully extended, the downstream section of the first gear rack 510 and the center of the contact gear 431 can substantially coincide. At this point, distance differences due to the thickness of each component or manufacturing tolerances can be ignored. Therefore, with multiple gear racks fully extended, the first distance (A) between the downstream section of the first gear rack 510 and the center of the contact gear 431 can be ignored. This allows for a further reduction in the length of the downstream section of the first gear rack 510, which does not mesh with the contact gear 431 and does not substantially contribute to the extension distance when the first gear rack 510 is fully extended, thereby simplifying the structure.

[0209] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, when the multiple gear racks are fully extended, the front section of the support gear rack 500 and the center of the first pinion gear 512 can substantially coincide. At this time, distance differences due to the thickness of each component or assembly errors during the manufacturing process can be ignored. Therefore, when the multiple gear racks are fully extended, the third distance (C) between the front section of the support gear rack 500 and the center of the first pinion gear 512 can be ignored. This allows for a further reduction in the length of the rear section of the second gear rack 520, which does not mesh with the contact gear 431 and does not substantially contribute to the extension distance when the first gear rack 510 is fully extended, thereby simplifying the structure.

[0210] With the multiple gear racks not extended, the first pinion gear 512 and the second pinion gear 522 described above may be arranged so as to overlap each other with respect to the contact gear 431 in the second direction. For example, the centers of the first pinion gear 512, the second pinion gear 522, and the contact gear 431 may be located at the same position with respect to the first direction. In this case, the second distance (B), which is the distance between the center of the contact gear 431 and the center of the first pinion gear 512, may be eliminated.

[0211] For example, referring to Figure 37, the rear region of the support gear rack tooth profile 501 that meshes with the first pinion gear 512 may be arranged to overlap with the contact gear 431 in a second direction. Therefore, the contact gear 431 may not overlap with the support gear rack tooth profile 501 in a first direction, but a portion of it may overlap with the support gear rack tooth profile 501 in a second direction. Referring to Figure 38, the contact gear 431 may be arranged in a different layer from the first pinion gear 512. However, a portion of the contact gear 431 may be arranged in the same layer as the second pinion gear 522 in the vertical direction. As an example, the upper region of the contact gear 431 may be arranged in the same layer as the second pinion gear 522, and the first pinion gear 512 may be arranged above the contact gear 431 and the second pinion gear 522.

[0212] As mentioned above, since the longitudinal lengths of the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 are shorter than the longitudinal length of the first gear rack 510, the second extension distance (S2) of the second gear rack 520, which is extended further than the preceding stage of the first gear rack 510 when the gear racks are fully extended, may be even shorter than the first extension distance (S1). However, since the third gear rack 530 is reduced to the same length as the second gear rack 520, the third extension distance (S3) of the third gear rack 530, which is extended further than the preceding stage of the second gear rack 520, may be the same as the first extension distance (S1).

[0213] As described above, the rack and pinion assembly 50 according to one embodiment can eliminate or minimize the first distance (A), the second distance (B), and the third distance (C), and the length (M) of the rack and pinion assembly 50 in the first direction can also be further reduced, thereby further improving the space utilization in the storage compartment of a small refrigerator.

[0214] [Operation of the door open module and the pulling out and pulling in of the door] In the following, with further reference to Figures 39 to 43, the operation of the door open module 30 and the pulling out and pulling in operations of the door 20 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0215] Figure 39 shows a side cross-sectional view of the door 20 and the door open module 30 before the door open module 30 is driven. That is, Figure 39 shows the state in which the door 20 is completely closed and the storage section 220 is also completely stored within the storage chamber 16. In this case, the rack and pinion assembly 50 is also in a state before it is activated, and the rack and pinion assembly 50 attached to the drive assembly 40 remains in a state that is not pulled forward. Therefore, the first push portion 215 of the door 20 and the rack and pinion assembly 50 can maintain a predetermined distance apart without contacting each other. Similarly, the second push portion 222 of the storage section 220 and the pushing member 630 of the lock assembly 60 can also maintain a predetermined distance apart without contacting each other. Since the lock assembly 60 is completely retracted to the rear, the rear surface of the hook member 620 adheres closely to the rear surface 163 of the storage chamber 16, maintaining a rearward curved state. As a result, the hook member 620 of the lock assembly 60 can maintain a state in which it is not connected to the hook hook member 221 of the storage section 220. Therefore, when the door 20 is completely closed and the storage section 220 is fully stored in the storage room 16, the storage section 220 of the door 20 and the door open module 30 remain disconnected from each other.

[0216] Thus, with the connection between the storage unit 220 and the door open module 30 released, the user can easily pull out and retract the door 20 in manual door open mode. In other words, according to the present invention, when the storage unit 220 is retracted, the connection between the hook member 620 and the storage unit 220 is automatically released, so the user does not need to perform any additional operation to switch to manual door open mode. Therefore, in manual door open mode, the door 20 can be moved back and forth along the rail assembly 70 by the user even when the door open module 30 is not being driven.

[0217] As a result, according to the present invention, the lock assembly 60 includes a hook member 620 to which is attached, which is connected to the storage section 220 when the door 20 is moving forward or backward, and separated from the storage section 220 when the door 20 is closed. Therefore, when the door 20 is closed, the manual pull-out mode can be quickly and easily implemented without any additional operation.

[0218] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the switching between the automatic door opening mode and the manual door opening mode is performed naturally, and the user can easily and smoothly pull out the door without needing a separate command to switch to the manual door opening mode, thereby maximizing ease of use.

[0219] Furthermore, according to the present invention, in manual door open mode, the door 20 may be pulled out and retracted by the rail assembly 70 alone, even without being fastened to the door open module 30. Therefore, when the door 20 is pulled out and retracted manually, there is no need to forcibly drive the door open module 30, thus solving the problem of back electromotive force of the door open module 30 that may occur during manual pulling out and retraction.

[0220] Furthermore, according to the present invention, in the manual door open mode, the door 20 may be pulled out and retracted by the rail assembly 70 alone, even without being fastened to the door open module 30. This minimizes the resistance and unfamiliar feeling the user experiences when pulling out and retracting the door 20, thereby improving the user experience.

[0221] When the door open module 30 is not activated, the storage unit 220 and the door open module 30 can maintain a state where they are not in contact with each other. That is, the door open module 30 does not support the load of the storage unit 220, and the load of the storage unit 220 may be supported by the rail assembly 70. For example, a pair of rail assemblies 70 positioned on both sides of the storage unit 220 can support the lower surfaces of the side frame portions of the storage unit 220. Therefore, the multiple gear racks and multiple pinion gears of the rack and pinion assembly 50 do not have to be in contact with the lower surface of the storage unit 220. The lower surface of the storage unit 220 and the upper surface of the door open module 30 may be separated by a predetermined distance of clearance space (CS).

[0222] Thus, according to the present invention, the load of the storage compartment 220 can be supported not by the door open module 30, but by the rail assembly 70 located on the side of the door 20. Therefore, the door open module 30, which provides direct driving force, is prevented from being damaged by the load of the storage compartment 220, and the door open module 30 can be operated stably regardless of the magnitude of the load of the storage compartment 220.

[0223] Figures 40 and 41 show side cross-sectional views of the door 20 and the door open module 30 with the door open module 30 driven so that the rack and pinion assembly 50 contacts the first pressed portion 215 of the door 20. Figure 40 shows the moment when the rack and pinion assembly 50 first contacts the first pressed portion 215 of the door 23, and Figure 41 shows the state after the rack and pinion assembly 50 has made contact with the first pressed portion 215 of the door 23 and has been pressurized by a predetermined distance.

[0224] When the user activates the automatic door open mode, the door 20 can move back and forth along the rail assembly 70 by the drive of the door open module 30. The refrigerator 1 may be equipped with a separate button to activate the automatic door open mode, but is not limited to this, and may be activated in various ways, such as by a sensor such as a motion sensor or a sound sensor, by a voice command from the user, or by input from a mobile device such as a mobile phone or remote control.

[0225] When the automatic door open mode is activated and the door open module 30 is driven, the drive assembly 40 drives the gear rack of the rack and pinion assembly 50 forward. When the rack and pinion assembly 50 begins to pull out, the first gear rack 510 may be the first to be pulled out. The first gear rack 510 is pulled out a shorter distance than the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530, but its pulling force may be greater than that of the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530. When the door 20 is closed, the sealing pressure between the gasket portion 213 of the door 20 and the cabinet 2 is high, so a large force may be required initially to separate the door 20 from the cabinet 2. Therefore, the sealing pressure between the gasket portion 213 and the cabinet 2 can be effectively overcome by having the first gear rack 510, which has the greatest pulling force, push the first pressed portion 215 of the door portion 210 located in front of the door 20. In this case, pushing the rear surface of the door section 210, which is located in front of the door 20, may be more effective in effectively overcoming the sealing pressure between the gasket section 213 and the cabinet 2 than pushing the storage section 220, which is located behind the door 20.

[0226] Thus, according to the present invention, when the door open module 30 moves the door 20 forward while the door 20 is fully retracted, the rack and pinion assembly 50 can push the rear surface of the door portion 210, thereby releasing the contact between the door portion 210 and the cabinet 2. At this time, the rack and pinion assembly 50 can ensure that the gear rack with the greatest pulling force pushes the rear surface of the door portion 210 by having the gear rack that is pulled the shortest forward of the rack and pinion assembly 50 among the multiple gear racks push the rear surface of the door portion 210. This allows the driving force of the door open module 30 to effectively overcome the door sealing pressure between the cabinet 2 and the gasket portion 213 of the door 20.

[0227] With the first gear rack 510 of the rack and pinion assembly 50 pressing against the rear surface of the door section 210, the storage section 220 and the door open module 30 can maintain a state where they are not in contact with each other. The pushing member 630 of the lock assembly 60 may be in a state before pressing against the second pushed portion 222 of the storage section 220, and the hook member 620 of the lock assembly 60 may be in a state before being connected to the hook hooking member 221 of the storage section 220. That is, the hook member 620 may still be in contact with the rear surface of the storage chamber 16. Referring to Figure 20, the rack guide member 532 can also be moved forward by a predetermined distance by the drive of the rack and pinion assembly 50. The rotation of the hook member 620 may occur in synchronization with the forward movement of the slide rack 611. The forward movement of the slide rack 611 may occur as the rack guide member 532, which is housed within the slide rack 611, begins to push the slide rack 611 forward. At this time, since there is a predetermined distance between the front part of the slide rack 611 in which the rack guide member 532 is housed and the front part of the rack guide member 532, even if the rack guide member 532 moves forward, rotation of the hook member 620 does not need to occur until it pushes the front part of the slide rack 611 forward.

[0228] Therefore, in the case of Figure 40, the first gear rack 510 of the rack and pinion assembly 50 has come into contact with the first pressed portion 215, but the rack guide member 532 has not yet pushed the slide rack 611 forward. This indicates a state in which the hook member 620 and the hook portion 2212 have not yet been engaged. On the other hand, in the case of Figure 41, the first gear rack 510 of the rack and pinion assembly 50 has come into contact with the first pressed portion 215, and the first pressed portion 215 has been pushed forward by a predetermined distance. At this time, the front part of the rack guide member 532 has come into contact with the rear surface of the front part of the slide rack 611, so the forward movement of the rack guide member 532 can be synchronized with the forward movement of the slide rack 611. In this way, as the slide rack 611 moves forward, the hook member 620 may also move forward. As a result, the hook member 620 can be released from contact with the rear surface 163 of the storage chamber 16, and can rotate forward so that it is hooked with the hook portion 2212.

[0229] As the lock assembly 60 moves forward, the hook member 620 on the lock assembly 60 also moves forward, and the hook member 620 can release contact with the rear surface 163 of the storage chamber 16. When the contact between the hook member 620 and the rear surface 163 of the storage chamber 16 is released in this way, the hook member 620 rotates forward along the axis of rotation and may be fastened by a hook connection with the hook hooking member 221 on the rear surface of the storage unit 220. That is, the storage unit 220 and the door open module 30 can maintain a connected state when the storage unit 220 is separated from the rear surface 163 of the storage chamber 16 by a predetermined distance. Thus, the hook member 620 of the lock assembly 60 may be connected to the storage unit 220 during the movement of the door 20 forward or backward, and separated from the storage unit 220 when the door 20 is closed. The separation space (CS) between the lower surface of the storage unit 220 and the upper surface of the door open module 30 may be continuously maintained during the movement of the door 20 forward and backward.

[0230] Figure 42 shows a side cross-sectional view of the door 20 and the door open module 30 when the door open module 30 is driven and the door 20 is fully open. After the first gear rack 510 of the rack and pinion assembly 50 pushes the first push portion 215 of the door portion 210, releasing contact between the gasket portion 213 of the door 20 and the cabinet 2, the contact between the first gear rack 510 and the first push portion 215 is released and the distance between them increases. Meanwhile, after the first gear rack 510 of the rack and pinion assembly 50 pushes the first push portion 215 located on the rear surface of the door portion 210, the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 of the rack and pinion assembly 50 can be operated to be pulled further forward than the first gear rack 510.

[0231] Since the slide rack 611 of the lock assembly 60 is connected to the third gear rack 530, the pushing member 630 of the lock assembly 60 may come into contact with the second push-in portion 222 located on the rear surface of the storage portion 220, thereby pushing the second push-in portion 222 forward. That is, as the third gear rack 530 is extended, the lock assembly 60 moves forward while pushing against the rear surface of the storage portion 220. The hook member 620, which is hooked to the hook portion 2212, can also move forward along with the movement of the storage portion 220. When the door 23 moves forward, the hook member 620 does not substantially contribute to the forward movement of the door 23, so the hook member 620 can move forward while maintaining a predetermined distance from the hook portion 2212.

[0232] Figure 43 is a side cross-sectional view showing the door and door open module when the door has been moved a predetermined distance backward by the door open module being driven so that the door closes automatically. When the door 20 is fully open, the hook member 620 of the lock assembly 60 can remain fastened to the hook hook member 221 of the storage compartment 220. When the door 20 closes, the drive assembly 40 may be driven by switching the direction of rotation of the motor so that the gear rack of the rack and pinion assembly 50 is retracted. Therefore, the lock assembly 60, which restrains the movement of the rack and pinion assembly 50, may move backward. At this time, since the hook member 620 of the lock assembly 60 is fastened to the hook portion 2212 of the hook hook member 221 of the storage compartment 220, the lock assembly 60 may pull the storage compartment 220 backward. As a result, the storage compartment 220 may move inward into the storage chamber 16, restrained by the backward movement of the lock assembly 60.

[0233] Therefore, the door open module 30 can move the storage unit 220 forward by pushing its rear surface, and move the storage unit 220 backward by pulling its rear surface. In other words, the door open module 30 can push and pull the storage unit 220 while connected to it.

[0234] Thus, according to the present invention, the door open module 30, which is positioned on the lower surface of the storage chamber 16, can move the door 20 forward and backward by pushing and pulling it. Therefore, the door 20 can be pulled out and retracted even though the gear rack or pinion gear of the door open module 30 is not directly fastened to the door 20.

[0235] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the door open module 30, which is positioned on the lower surface of the storage chamber 16, can move the door 20 forward and backward by pushing and pulling it. As a result, the load of the door 20 is not directly applied to the door open module 30, and the misalignment or play between the gear rack and pinion gear of the door open module 30 can be reduced.

[0236] Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the door open module 30, which is positioned on the lower surface of the storage chamber 16, can move the door 20 forward and backward by pushing and pulling the door 20, even if the door 20 is tilted and the alignment between the door 20 and the door open module 30 is misaligned, it does not affect the operation of the door open module 30, and the door 20 can be stably pulled out and retracted.

[0237] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the pushing member 630 of the door open module 30 pushes the rear surface of the storage compartment 220 located behind the door 20, thereby moving the door 20 forward. Therefore, even without being directly fastened to the door 20, the door open module 30 can move the door 20 forward by simply pushing the rear surface of the storage compartment 220.

[0238] Furthermore, according to the present invention, even if the storage section 220 of the door 20 tilts slightly during its movement in the front-rear direction, this can be resolved by the door open module 30 naturally aligning the storage section 220 during its push-pull operation.

[0239] As described above, in one embodiment, the door open module 30 is described as being located on the underside of the storage chamber 16. However, it is not limited to this, and in other embodiments, the door open module 30 may be located on the side of the storage chamber 16. Below, with reference to Figures 44 to 47, other embodiments in which the door open module 30 is located on the side of the storage chamber 16 will be described. The above-mentioned details regarding the door open module 30 can also be applied to the other embodiments described below, so redundant content will be omitted.

[0240] Figure 44 shows the door open module, rail assembly, and bracket member in the state before they are pulled out according to another embodiment of this specification, and Figure 45 shows the door open module, rail assembly, and bracket member in the state after they are fully pulled out according to another embodiment of this specification.

[0241] A pair of rail assemblies 70 may be arranged on each side of the storage chamber 16. The first rail assembly 71 may be fixed to the first side surface 162a of the storage chamber 16 by a separately provided storage chamber connecting member 18. One side of the storage chamber connecting member 18 may provide a mounting space on which the first rail assembly 71 can be placed and may be fastened to the first rail assembly 71. The other side of the storage chamber connecting member 18 may be fastened to the first side surface 162a of the storage chamber 16. For example, a rail assembly mounting section 18 may be formed on one side of the storage chamber connecting member 18, providing a mounting space on which the first rail assembly 71 can be stored and placed. The rail assembly mounting section 18 may be formed to be open in the inward direction and in front of the storage chamber 16. The storage chamber connecting member 18 may include an adjustment gear rack 182 that forms the lower surface of the rail assembly mounting section 18. The adjustment gear rack 182 may be fixed to the rail assembly mounting portion 18 and include an adjustment gear rack tooth profile 183 formed to extend in the front-rear direction. The adjustment gear rack tooth profile 183 may be formed to extend upward. The adjustment gear rack tooth profile 183 may be configured to mesh with the adjustment pinion gear 85 of the adjustment unit 83.

[0242] In a similar manner, the second rail assembly 72 may be fixed to the second side surface 162b of the storage chamber 16 by a separately provided storage chamber connecting member 18. Alternatively, the second rail assembly 72 may be positioned facing the first rail assembly 71 and formed in a symmetrical shape.

[0243] A first bracket member 81 may be disposed on the first rail assembly 71, and a second bracket member 82 may be disposed on the second rail assembly 72. The first bracket member 81 may include a bracket body portion 810 that extends elongated in one direction. A bracket bent portion 811 may be formed in front of the bracket body portion 810, which is bent downwards and extends. A front extension portion 820 may be formed in front of the bracket bent portion 811, which is bent downwards and extends from the bracket body portion 810. A pressed portion 822 may be disposed on the front extension portion 820. The pressed portion 822 may be positioned so as to overlap each other in the front-rear direction with the first rack and pinion assembly 51 and the second rack and pinion assembly 52, which are attached to the respective first drive assembly 41 and second drive assembly 42. When the gear rack of the rack and pinion assembly 50 is pulled forward, the pressurizing member 532 located on the front part of the gear rack can contact the pressed portion 822 and pressurize and push the pressed portion 822 forward. The pressed portion 822 may be fastened to one side of the front extension 820. The pressed portion 822 may be located on the rear surface of the door portion 210. For example, the pressed portion 822 may be fastened to the bracket member 80 and also to the rear surface of the door portion 210. Alternatively, it may not be fastened to the bracket member 80 and may be fastened to the rear surface of the door portion 210.

[0244] The pressurizing member 532, connected to one of the gear racks of the rack and pinion assembly 50, presses against the rear surface of the door section 210 located in front of the door 20. This allows for a greater force to be transmitted against the rear surface of the door section 210 compared to pressing against other components located far away from the door section 210. The second bracket member 82 may be fastened to the second rail assembly 72 in a similar manner. The second bracket member 82 may also be positioned opposite the first bracket member 81 and formed in a symmetrical shape.

[0245] The bracket member 80 may include a bracket extension bar 840 that extends in the left-right direction of the storage chamber 16, such that one side and the other side are connected to the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82, respectively. The bracket extension bar 840 is formed to be connected to the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82, so that when the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82 move in the front-rear direction, they can synchronize their movement.

[0246] On the other hand, the bracket member 80 may include an adjustment unit 83 extending in the left-right direction of the storage chamber 16 such that one side and the other side are connected to the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82, respectively. The adjustment unit 83 may include a rod-shaped adjustment shaft 84 that extends substantially in one direction, and a pair of adjustment pinion gears 85 formed at both ends of the adjustment shaft 84. The adjustment pinion gears 85 may be connected to the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82 so as to be rotatable with respect to a rotation axis extending in the left-right direction. Each adjustment pinion gear 85 is arranged to mesh with an adjustment gear rack tooth profile 183 formed on the adjustment gear rack 182 of the storage chamber connecting member 18, so that the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82 can move in the front-rear direction along the adjustment gear rack 182 by a rack and pinion drive system. Thus, the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82 may be synchronized in their forward and backward movements by a rack and pinion drive system using the adjustment unit 83.

[0247] The lock assembly 60 may be connected to the first rack and pinion assembly 51 and the second rack and pinion assembly 52 on one side and the other side, respectively. The lock assembly 60 may include a lock assembly extension bar 610 that extends in the left-right direction of the storage chamber 16. A pair of slide racks 611 that fasten to the first rack and pinion assembly 51 and the second rack and pinion assembly 52 may be connected to one side and the other side of the lock assembly extension bar 610, respectively. In this way, by connecting the lock assembly 60 to the first rack and pinion assembly 51 and the second rack and pinion assembly 52, the lock assembly 60 can move together with the first rack and pinion assembly 51 and the second rack and pinion assembly 52, while being constrained to their movement in the front-rear direction.

[0248] The lock assembly extension bar 610 may have one or more pushing members 630 that push the door 20 forward. In this way, the pushing members 630 of the lock assembly 60 push the door 20 forward, so that the storage unit 220 can move forward in accordance with the forward movement of the lock assembly 60, while being constrained to the forward movement of the lock assembly 60. For example, the pushing member 630 can push the rear surface of the bracket extension bar 840 forward. As mentioned above, since the bracket extension bar 840 is connected to the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82 on one side and the other side, respectively, when the pushing member 630 pushes the rear surface of the bracket extension bar 840 forward, the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82 are also pushed forward in accordance with it. Therefore, the door 20 fixed to the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82 may move forward. Therefore, the pushing member 630 can indirectly push the door 20 by pushing the rear surface of the bracket member 80, without directly pushing the door 20.

[0249] Furthermore, the lock assembly extension bar 610 may be equipped with a hook member 620 that can be switched to connect and disconnect the bracket member 80 and the lock assembly 60. For example, the hook member 620 may be connected to and disconnected from the bracket extension bar 840 of the bracket member 80. When the hook member 620 of the lock assembly 60 is connected to the bracket extension bar 840, the storage unit 220 supported by the bracket member 800 can move together with the lock assembly 60, while being constrained to move not only forward but also backward. Also, when the hook member 620 of the lock assembly 60 is disconnected from the bracket extension bar 840, the storage unit 220 can move freely independently of the lock assembly 60, even when the lock assembly 60 is not being driven.

[0250] Figure 46 is a side cross-sectional view and a magnified view of a portion of the door and door open module before the door open module according to another embodiment of this specification is driven, and Figure 47 is a side cross-sectional view and a magnified view of a portion of the door and door open module when the door open module according to another embodiment of this specification is driven and the door is fully open.

[0251] In the following, with further reference to Figures 46 and 47, the operation of the door open module 30 and the pulling out and pulling in of the door 20 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0252] Figure 46 shows the state in which the door 20 is completely closed and the storage unit 220 is also completely stored inside the storage chamber 16. Since the lock assembly 60 is fully retracted to the rear, the rear surface of the hook member 620 maintains its retracted position by making close contact with the stopper 166 formed on the rear surface 163 of the storage chamber 16. As a result, the hook member 620 of the lock assembly 60 can maintain a state in which it is disconnected from the bracket extension bar 840. Therefore, when the door 20 is completely closed and the storage unit 220 is completely stored inside the storage chamber 16, the bracket extension bar 840 and the door open module 30 maintain a state in which they are disconnected from each other.

[0253] Thus, with the connection between the bracket extension bar 840 and the door open module 30 released, the user can easily pull out and retract the door 20 in manual door open mode. In other words, according to the present invention, when the storage section 220 is retracted, the connection between the hook member 620 and the bracket extension bar 840 can be automatically released, so the user does not need to perform any additional operation to switch to manual door open mode. Therefore, in manual door open mode, the door 20 may be able to move in the front-rear direction along the rail assembly 70 by the user, even when the door open module 30 is not being driven.

[0254] As a result, according to the present invention, the lock assembly 60 includes a hook member 620 to which is attached, which is connected to the bracket member 80 when the door 20 is moving forward or backward, and separated from the bracket member 80 when the door 20 is closed. Therefore, when the door 20 is closed, a manual pull-out mode can be quickly and easily implemented without any additional operation. In another embodiment, the hook member 620 may be hook-coupled to the rear surface of a storage section 220 other than the bracket member 80. Thus, the lock assembly 60 to which the hook member 620 is attached may be connected to the storage section 220 when the door 20 is moving forward or backward, and separated from the storage section 220 when the door 20 is closed. In this case, the storage section 220 and the bracket member 80 can move together in synchronous motion, so the same forward and backward movement mechanism can be obtained by hook-coupling with the storage section 220 or the bracket member 80.

[0255] When the door open module 30 is not activated, the storage unit 220 and the door open module 30 can maintain a state where they are not in contact with each other. That is, the door open module 30 does not support the load of the storage unit 220, and the load of the storage unit 220 may be supported by the rail assembly 70. For example, a pair of rail assemblies 70 positioned on both sides of the storage unit 220 can support the lower surfaces of the side frames of the storage unit 220. Therefore, the bottom surface 164 of the storage chamber 220 does not have to be in contact with the bottom surface of the storage unit 220. The bottom surface of the storage unit 220 and the bottom surface 164 of the storage chamber 220 may be separated by a predetermined distance of clearance space (CS).

[0256] Referring to Figure 47, when the user activates the automatic door open mode, the door 20 can move back and forth along the rail assembly 70 by the drive of the door open module 30. The refrigerator 1 may be equipped with a separate button to activate the automatic door open mode, but is not limited to this, and may be activated in various ways, such as by a sensor such as a motion sensor or a sound sensor, by a voice command from the user, or by input from a mobile device such as a mobile phone or remote control.

[0257] When the door open module 30 is driven, the lock assembly 60 moves forward, causing the pushing member 630 of the lock assembly 60 to contact the rear surface of the bracket extension bar 840 and push the bracket extension bar 840 forward. As the lock assembly 60 moves forward, the hook member 620 in the lock assembly 60 also moves forward, and the hook member 620 can release contact with the rear surface 163 of the storage chamber 16. When the contact between the hook member 620 and the rear surface 163 of the storage chamber 16 is released in this way, the hook member 620 rotates forward along its axis of rotation and may be fastened to the bracket extension bar 840 by a hook connection.

[0258] When the door 20 is open, the hook member 620 of the lock assembly 60 can maintain the state of being fastened to the bracket extension bar 840. At this time, when the door 20 closes, the drive assembly 40 may be driven with the rotation direction of the motor switched so that the gear rack of the rack and pinion assembly 50 is retracted. Therefore, the lock assembly 60 that restrains the movement of the rack and pinion assembly 50 may be retracted backward. At this time, since the hook member 620 of the lock assembly 60 is in a state of being fastened to the bracket extension bar 840 of the bracket member 80, the lock assembly 60 may pull the bracket extension bar 840 backward. As a result, the storage part 220 connected to the bracket member 80 may be restrained by the backward movement of the lock assembly 60 and move inside the storage chamber 16.

[0259] As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the exemplary drawings. However, the present invention is not limited by the embodiments and drawings disclosed herein, and it is clear that various modifications can be made by those of ordinary skill within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. In addition, in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, even if the effects of the present invention's configuration are not explicitly described, it is natural that the effects predictable by the configuration should also be recognized.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0260] 1 Refrigerator 2 Cabinet 11 Inner case 12 Outer case 13 Dispenser section 14 First storage chamber (refrigerator compartment) 15 Second storage chamber (switching chamber) 16 Third storage chamber (freezer compartment)

Claims

1. Cabinet containing one or more storage compartments, A drawer assembly for opening and closing the front of the storage chamber, and A door open module is provided in the storage room for opening the drawer assembly. Includes, The aforementioned door open module is A multi-stage rack and pinion assembly including multiple gear racks that are pulled out and retracted along a first direction, and Includes a gear assembly that transmits the driving force of the drive unit to the rack and pinion assembly, The gear assembly is positioned on one side of the rack and pinion assembly corresponding to a second direction intersecting the first direction. refrigerator.

2. The first direction is the front-to-back direction of the storage chamber. The second direction is the left-right direction of the storage chamber. The refrigerator according to claim 1.

3. The gear assembly is located between the front and rear stages of the rack and pinion assembly. The refrigerator according to claim 1.

4. The gear assembly includes a contact gear that meshes with the rack and pinion assembly. The contact gear meshes with one side of the rack and pinion assembly. The refrigerator according to claim 1.

5. The contact gear is located in the central region with reference to the front-rear direction of the rack and pinion assembly. The refrigerator according to claim 4.

6. The aforementioned plurality of gear racks include a first gear rack, a second gear rack, and a third gear rack. The first gear rack is located closest to the contact gear, The third gear rack is located furthest from the contact gear, The refrigerator according to claim 4.

7. One side of the contact gear meshes with the first gear rack, The refrigerator according to claim 6.

8. The first gear rack includes a first pinion gear, one side of which meshes with the second gear rack. The second gear rack includes a second pinion gear, one side of which meshes with the first gear rack and the third gear rack, respectively. The first pinion gear and the second pinion gear are positioned so as to be biased to one side of the rack and pinion assembly adjacent to the contact gear. The refrigerator according to claim 6.

9. The door open module further includes a support gear rack that meshes with the other side of the first pinion gear, The support gear rack is located in front of the contact gear. The refrigerator according to claim 8.

10. The first pinion gear and the second pinion gear are located in front of the contact gear. The refrigerator according to claim 8.

11. The first pinion gear and the second pinion gear are arranged so as to overlap each other in the second direction. The refrigerator according to claim 8.

12. At least a portion of the contact gear is located in the same layer vertically as the first pinion gear and the second pinion gear. The refrigerator according to claim 8.

13. The contact gear, the first pinion gear, and the second pinion gear are arranged so as to overlap each other in the second direction. The refrigerator according to claim 8.

14. The contact gear is arranged in different layers in the vertical direction from the first pinion gear. At least a portion of the contact gear is located in the same layer vertically as the second pinion gear. The refrigerator according to claim 8.

15. Cabinet containing one or more storage compartments, A drawer assembly for opening and closing the front of the storage chamber, and A door open module is provided in the storage room for opening the drawer assembly. Includes, The door open module includes a multi-stage rack and pinion assembly comprising a first gear rack, a second gear rack, and a third gear rack that are pulled out and retracted in the front-rear direction. The first gear rack includes a first pinion gear that meshes with one side of the second gear rack. The second gear rack includes a second pinion gear that meshes with one side of the first gear rack and one side of the third gear rack. refrigerator.

16. The first pinion gear and the second pinion gear are each provided as a single unit. The refrigerator according to claim 15.

17. The second gear rack includes a second tooth profile formed only on one side of the second gear rack that meshes with the first pinion gear. The third gear rack includes a third tooth profile formed only on one side of the third gear rack that meshes with the second pinion gear. The refrigerator according to claim 15.

18. A portion of the second pinion gear is arranged to overlap the third gear rack in the vertical direction. The refrigerator according to claim 15.

19. The aforementioned door open module is Drive unit, A contact gear that transmits the driving force of the drive unit to the rack and pinion assembly, and Support gear rack that meshes with the first pinion gear, It further includes, The contact gear meshes with one side of the first gear rack, The refrigerator according to claim 15.

20. The maximum extension distance increases in the order of the first gear rack, the second gear rack, and the third gear rack. The refrigerator according to claim 19.

21. The length of the rack and pinion assembly in the first direction is With the gear rack fully extended, the first distance (A) between the downstream section of the first gear rack and the center of the contact gear, With the gear rack not extended, the second distance (B) between the center of the contact gear and the center of the first pinion gear, With the gear rack fully extended, the third distance (C) between the front of the support gear rack and the center of the first pinion gear is, Corresponding to the sum of twice the maximum movable distance (L) of the first gear rack (L2), The refrigerator according to claim 19.

22. The maximum movable distance (L) of the first gear rack is the same as the first extension distance (S1) of the first gear rack. The refrigerator according to claim 21.

23. When the rack and pinion assembly is not driven, and the front stages of the first gear rack, the second gear rack, and the third gear rack are aligned, When the gear rack is fully extended, the second extension distance (S2) of the second gear rack, which is extended further than the preceding stage of the first gear rack, is the same as the first extension distance (S1). The refrigerator according to claim 22.

24. When the gear rack is fully extended, the third extension distance (S3) of the third gear rack, which is extended further than the preceding stage of the second gear rack, is the same as the first extension distance (S1). The refrigerator according to claim 23.

25. When the rack and pinion assembly is not driven, the front stage of the first gear rack and the front stage of the second gear rack are positioned behind the front stage of the third gear rack. The refrigerator according to claim 22.

26. When the rack and pinion assembly is not driven, the contact gear is located in the central region of the first gear rack with respect to the front-rear direction. The refrigerator according to claim 19.

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