refrigerator

Abstract

To provide a refrigerator that can cool a specific area in a storage chamber by using an adjustment mechanism for controlling an amount of cold air to be supplied to each storage chamber.SOLUTION: A refrigerator 1 comprises: a freezing chamber 11; a refrigerating chamber 12; a cold air passage 20 for guiding cold air cooled by a cooler to the freezing chamber 11 and the refrigerating chamber 12; a first discharge port 41 for discharging the cold air in the cold air passage 20 into the freezing chamber 11; second discharge ports 42a and 42b for discharging the cold air in the cold air passage 20 into the refrigerating chamber 12; and a third discharge port 43 for discharging the cold air in the cold air passage 20 into a specific area in the freezing chamber 11 or the refrigerating chamber 12. The refrigerator 1 comprises an adjustment mechanism 60 for adjusting an amount of the cold air to be discharged from the second discharge ports 42a and 42b and the third discharge port 43.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment. [Background technology]

[0002] Some refrigerators equipped with a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment adjust the temperature inside the compartments by controlling the amount of cold air supplied to each compartment. For such refrigerators, a damper plate has been proposed to open and close the vent of the cold air passage through which the cold air supplied to the refrigerator compartment passes.

[0003] For example, the refrigerator disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a bell mouth to which a blower 9 is attached, a fan grill 21 that is installed to cover the bell mouth and that, when aligned with the bell mouth, forms an air passage 22 between the fan grill 21 and the bell mouth to guide the cool air blown from the blower 9 to the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment, and a sliding shutter 26 that, as an operating unit 25 slides, adjusts the opening area of ​​a storage compartment communication port that connects the inside of the air passage 22 formed between the fan grill 21 and the bell mouth with one of the storage compartments. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-142079 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Furthermore, in each storage compartment of a refrigerator, there are spaces that need to be cooled more than other spaces within the storage compartment, such as the chilled compartment in the refrigerator compartment or the area around the ice tray in the freezer compartment. However, with a refrigerator that only has a simple adjustment mechanism that uses a damper plate to open and close the vent of the cold air passage that supplies the cold air to the refrigerator compartment, it is difficult to cool a specific area within the storage compartment more than other spaces. In such cases, it is necessary to add an adjustment mechanism such as a damper plate.

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a configuration for a refrigerator equipped with an adjustment mechanism for controlling the amount of cold air supplied to each storage compartment, in which the adjustment mechanism can be used to cool a specific area of ​​the storage compartment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A refrigerator according to one aspect of the present invention includes a freezer compartment, a refrigerator compartment, a cold air passage that guides cold air cooled by a cooler to the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment, a first outlet that blows the cold air in the cold air passage into the freezer compartment, a second outlet that blows the cold air in the cold air passage into the refrigerator compartment, a third outlet that blows the cold air in the cold air passage into the freezer compartment or a specific area in the refrigerator compartment, and an adjustment mechanism that adjusts the amount of cold air blown out from the second outlet and the third outlet. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator can be provided that can cool specific areas within storage compartments using an adjustment mechanism that controls the amount of cool air supplied to each storage compartment. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing the internal configuration of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of a cold air passage that supplies cold air to each storage compartment of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 3]3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an operating section provided in the adjustment mechanism shown in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of cool air when the opening / closing plate of the adjustment mechanism is in a first position in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 5] 4 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of cool air when the opening / closing plate of the adjustment mechanism is in a second position in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] 4 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of cool air when the opening / closing plate of the adjustment mechanism is in a third position in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the flow of cool air when the opening / closing plate of the adjustment mechanism is in a fourth position in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining a configuration for supplying cool air to each storage compartment of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the flow of cool air when the opening / closing plate of the adjustment mechanism is in the first position in the refrigerator according to the second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the flow of cool air when the opening / closing plate of the adjustment mechanism is in the second position in the refrigerator according to the second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the flow of cool air when the opening / closing plate of the adjustment mechanism is in a third position in the refrigerator according to the second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the flow of cool air when the opening / closing plate of the adjustment mechanism is in a fourth position in the refrigerator according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. The names and functions of the components are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

[0011] [First embodiment] (Overall configuration of the refrigerator) First, the overall configuration of a refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment will be described.

[0012] The exterior of the refrigerator 1 is formed by an insulated box 50. The insulated box 50 has an insulating structure for insulating each storage compartment from the surroundings. A storage space is formed inside the insulated box 50. The storage space is divided into a plurality of storage compartments (specifically, a freezer compartment 11 and a refrigerator compartment 12) by partitions 55.

[0013] In this embodiment, the freezer compartment 11 is arranged on the upper level, and the refrigerator compartment 12 is arranged on the lower level. This arrangement of the freezer compartment 11 and the refrigerator compartment 12 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. Although not shown, each storage compartment is provided with a door.

[0014] In this embodiment, the surface on which the door is provided is referred to as the front surface of the refrigerator, and the surface opposite to the front surface is referred to as the back surface.

[0015] The interior of refrigerator compartment 12 is divided into multiple areas by one or more partitions (for example, partitions 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d). In the example shown in FIG. 1, the top shelf of refrigerator compartment 12 is chilled compartment 13 (specific area). The bottom shelf of refrigerator compartment 12 is vegetable compartment 14. Although not shown in FIG. 1, a chilled case may be placed in chilled compartment 13.

[0016] Although not shown in Fig. 1, an ice making area may be provided in freezer compartment 11. Ice trays are placed in the ice making area.

[0017] A refrigeration cycle is provided inside the refrigerator 1. The refrigeration cycle is configured by connecting a compressor, a condenser, an expander, a cooler, etc. via a refrigerant pipe through which a refrigerant flows. The cooler is disposed on the rear side of the freezer compartment 11.

[0018] The air (cold air) cooled by the cooler is guided to each storage compartment (for example, freezer compartment 11 and refrigerator compartment 12) through cold air passage 20. Cold air passage 20 is arranged on the rear side of freezer compartment 11 and refrigerator compartment 12, and is connected to the cooling compartment in which the cooler is arranged. Figure 2 shows a schematic configuration of cold air passage 20 provided in refrigerator 1. Vegetable compartment 14 is not shown in Figure 2.

[0019] The cold air passage 20 is equipped with a cooling fan 31 and other components. The cooling fan 31 is provided to circulate air between the cooling compartment and each storage space. The cold air passage 20 branches into multiple paths to guide cold air to each storage compartment and to specific areas within the storage compartment. In this embodiment, the cold air passage 20 has a first cold air passage 21, a second cold air passage 22, and a third cold air passage 23.

[0020] A plurality of outlets that serve as outlets for cold air are provided between the cold air passage 20 and each storage compartment (for example, the freezer compartment 11 and the refrigerator compartment 12). Specifically, a first outlet 41 that is the main outlet for air into the freezer compartment 11 is provided at the upper rear side of the freezer compartment 11. The first outlet 41 blows out the cold air that has passed through the first cold air passage 21 in the cold air passage 20 into the freezer compartment 11.

[0021] Two second outlets 42a and 42b and one third outlet 43 are provided on the rear side of the refrigerator compartment 12. The second outlets 42a and 42b blow out the cold air that has passed through the cold air passage 20 toward the refrigerator compartment 12. More specifically, the second outlets 42a and 42b blow out the cold air that has passed through the second cold air passage 22 in the cold air passage 20 toward the entire refrigerator compartment 12. The third outlet 43 mainly blows out the cold air that has passed through the third cold air passage 23 in the cold air passage 20 toward the chilled compartment 13, which is a specific area within the refrigerator compartment. In this embodiment, the specific area within the refrigerator compartment refers to an area that has a lower temperature (or a lower set temperature) than other areas within the refrigerator compartment 12.

[0022] In this embodiment, second outlet 42a is arranged at the top on the rear side of chilled compartment 13, and second outlet 42b is arranged in the middle on the rear side of refrigerator compartment 12. Furthermore, third outlet 43 is arranged next to second outlet 42a (to the left of second outlet 42a when viewed from the front in the example shown in FIG. 1). Note that the arrangement position and number of each outlet are merely examples, and the arrangement position and number of each outlet in the present invention are not limited to these.

[0023] The refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment is a so-called one-control type refrigerator that controls the operation of the refrigeration cycle and cooling fan 31 based on the value of a temperature sensor (not shown) that detects the temperature inside the refrigerator compartment 12. In a one-control type refrigerator, the temperature of the refrigerator compartment is adequately controlled, but the temperature of other storage compartments is subordinate to the temperature control of the refrigerator compartment, and therefore, it may not be possible to control the temperatures with high precision. Therefore, the refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment is provided with an adjustment mechanism 60 that adjusts the amount of cold air supplied to at least the refrigerator compartment 12.

[0024] (Regarding the adjustment mechanism for adjusting the amount of cold air supplied) The refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment is provided with an adjustment mechanism 60 that adjusts the amount of cool air blown out from the second outlets 42a and 42b and the third outlet 43. The adjustment mechanism 60 has an opening / closing plate 61 and an operating unit 62.

[0025] The opening / closing plate 61 is provided across the second cold air passage 22 and the third cold air passage 23, and slides within each cold air passage as shown by the arrows in Fig. 2. The open / close states of the second cold air passage 22 and the third cold air passage 23 are changed in various ways depending on the position of the opening / closing plate 61. This adjusts the amount of cold air blown out from the second outlets 42a and 42b communicating with the second cold air passage 22 (i.e., the amount of cold air supplied to the refrigerator compartment 12). In addition, the amount of cold air blown out from the third outlet 43 communicating with the third cold air passage 23 (i.e., the amount of cold air supplied to the chilled compartment 13) is adjusted.

[0026] For example, if the position of the opening / closing plate 61 is adjusted so that the second cold air passage 22 is fully open and the amount of cold air supplied to the refrigerator compartment 12 is increased to increase the cooling capacity of the refrigerator compartment 12, the temperature drop in the refrigerator compartment 12 is accelerated, and the operation of the refrigeration cycle and the cooling fan 31 is suppressed. Therefore, the amount of cold air supplied to the freezer compartment 11 can also be suppressed. Furthermore, by adjusting the position of the opening / closing plate 61 so that the second cold air passage 22 is fully closed or partially open, the cooling capacity to the refrigerator compartment 12 can be limited and the operation of the refrigeration cycle and the cooling fan 31 can be increased. This allows the amount of cold air supplied to the freezer compartment 11 to be increased.

[0027] The operation unit 62 is provided, for example, on the rear wall inside the freezer compartment 11 or the refrigerator compartment 12. FIG. 3 shows the operation unit 62 provided on the refrigerator 1 and the configuration of its periphery. The operation unit 62 slides horizontally. The opening / closing plate 61 is configured to slide in conjunction with the sliding movement of the operation unit 62. This allows the user of the refrigerator 1 to adjust the cooling state of the freezer compartment 11 and the chilled compartment 13 by sliding the operation unit 62 and placing it in a predetermined position.

[0028] For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, by arranging the operation unit 62 on the left end side, the cooling state of the freezer compartment 11 can be set to "weak" and the cooling state of the chilled compartment 13 can be set to "extra cool" (a state with higher cooling capacity than normal). Also, in the example shown in FIG. 3, by arranging the operation unit 62 approximately in the center, the cooling state of the freezer compartment 11 can be set to "medium" and the cooling state of the chilled compartment 13 can be set to "normal" (a normal cooling state). Also, in the example shown in FIG. 3, by arranging the operation unit 62 on the right end side, the cooling state of the freezer compartment 11 can be set to "strong" and the cooling state of the chilled compartment 13 can be set to "extra cool" (a state with higher cooling capacity than normal).

[0029] By providing such an adjustment mechanism 60, the amount of cold air supplied to the refrigerator compartment 12 and the chilled compartment 13 can be directly adjusted by the position of the opening / closing plate 61. Furthermore, by using the opening / closing plate 61 to change the amount of cold air supplied to the refrigerator compartment 12 and the chilled compartment 13, the operation rate of the refrigeration cycle and the cooling fan 31 can be controlled, and the amount of cold air supplied to the freezer compartment 11 can also be adjusted.

[0030] 2, in this embodiment, the first cold air passage 21 is located above the cooling fan 31, and the second cold air passage 22 and the third cold air passage 23 are located below the cooling fan 31. The second cold air passage 22 and the third cold air passage 23 are arranged adjacent to each other and extend vertically downward toward the lower discharge outlet (i.e., the second discharge outlets 42a and 42b or the third discharge outlet 43). An opening / closing plate 61 is provided across the second cold air passage 22 and the third cold air passage 23, which are arranged adjacent to each other.

[0031] Here, assuming that the width of the second cold air passage 22 is WA, the width of the third cold air passage 23 is WB, and the width of the opening and closing plate 61 is WC, it is preferable that the following relationship be established among them. (WA+WB)>WC>WB

[0032] As a result, when the opening / closing plate 61 is in a predetermined position (for example, the second position or the third position), the second discharge ports 42a and 42b communicating with the second cold air passage 22 can be opened or partially opened, while the third discharge port 43 communicating with the third cold air passage 23 can be fully closed.

[0033] (Method for controlling the amount of cold air supplied to each storage compartment using an adjustment mechanism) Next, a method for controlling the amount of cool air supplied to each storage compartment (including a specific area) using the adjustment mechanism 60 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 to 7. FIG.

[0034] FIG. 4 schematically shows the flow of cold air when the opening / closing plate 61 of the adjustment mechanism 60 is in a first position in the refrigerator 1. FIG. 5 schematically shows the flow of cold air when the opening / closing plate 61 of the adjustment mechanism 60 is in a second position in the refrigerator 1. FIG. 6 schematically shows the flow of cold air when the opening / closing plate 61 of the adjustment mechanism 60 is in a third position in the refrigerator 1. FIG. 7 schematically shows the flow of cold air when the opening / closing plate 61 of the adjustment mechanism 60 is in a fourth position in the refrigerator 1. In FIGS. 4 to 7, the flow of cold air in the cold air passage 20 is indicated by arrows. The thickness of each arrow indicates the amount of cold air flowing through each cold air passage.

[0035] In Figure 3, numbers "1" to "4" are written at each position of the operating unit 62 corresponding to each position (first position, second position, third position, and fourth position) of the opening and closing plate 61 described above.

[0036] When the operating part 62 is located near the left end, the opening / closing plate 61 is in the first position. At this time, as shown in Fig. 4, the opening / closing plate 61 is located away from the second cold air passage 22 and the third cold air passage 23, and the second outlet ports 42a and 42b and the third outlet port 43 are both fully open.

[0037] As a result, cool air is supplied from the third outlet 43 to the chilled compartment 13, and the cooling state of the chilled compartment 13 becomes "Extra Cool" (a state with higher cooling capacity than normal). In addition, the relatively large amount of cool air blown out from the second outlets 42a and 42b increases the cooling capacity of the refrigerator compartment 12, and the operation rate of the refrigeration cycle and cooling fan 31 is reduced based on the measurement value of the temperature sensor in the refrigerator compartment 12. As a result, the cooling state of the freezer compartment 11 becomes "Weak." In one example, the temperatures of the freezer compartment 11, chilled compartment 13, and refrigerator compartment 12 at this time are freezer compartment 11: -15°C, chilled compartment 13: 0°C, and refrigerator compartment 12: 3°C, respectively.

[0038] When the operating part 62 is positioned slightly left of the center, the opening / closing plate 61 is in the second position. At this time, as shown in Fig. 5, the opening / closing plate 61 is positioned so as to block only the third cool air passage 23. Therefore, the second outlet ports 42a and 42b are fully open, and the third outlet port 43 is fully closed.

[0039] This blocks the supply of cold air from the third outlet 43 to the chilled compartment 13. Meanwhile, the supply of cold air from the second outlets 42a and 42b to the refrigerator compartment 12 is the same as when the plate 61 is in the first position. In this embodiment, the cold air blown out from the second outlet 42a is mainly supplied to the chilled compartment 13, so the cooling state of the chilled compartment 13 is "normal" (normal cooling state). Furthermore, the relatively large amount of cold air blown out from the second outlets 42a and 42b increases the cooling capacity of the refrigerator compartment 12, and the operation of the refrigeration cycle and the cooling fan 31 is reduced based on the measurement value of the temperature sensor in the refrigerator compartment 12. However, because the cooling state of the chilled compartment 13 is "normal," the cooling capacity of the refrigerator compartment 12 is slightly reduced compared to when the plate 61 is in the first position. Therefore, the cooling state of the freezer compartment 11 is "weak." In one example, the temperatures of freezer compartment 11, chilled compartment 13, and refrigerator compartment 12 at this time are freezer compartment 11: -16°C, chilled compartment 13: 2°C, and refrigerator compartment 12: 3°C, respectively.

[0040] When the operating part 62 is positioned slightly to the right of the center, the opening / closing plate 61 is in the third position. At this time, as shown in Fig. 6, the opening / closing plate 61 is positioned so as to partially block the second cool air passage 22 and completely block the third cool air passage 23. Therefore, the second outlet ports 42a and 42b are partially open, and the third outlet port 43 is fully closed.

[0041] This blocks the supply of cold air from the third outlet 42a to the chilled compartment 13. Meanwhile, the amount of cold air supplied from the second outlets 42a and 42b to the refrigerator compartment 12 is slightly less than in the first and second positions. In this embodiment, the cold air blown out from the second outlet 42a is mainly supplied to the chilled compartment 13. Furthermore, since the chilled compartment 13 has a smaller volume than the refrigerator compartment 12, it is less affected by the amount of cold air passing through the second chilled air passage 22. Therefore, the cooling state of the chilled compartment 13 is "normal" (normal cooling state). Meanwhile, the relatively small amount of cold air blown out from the second outlets 42a and 42b limits the cooling capacity of the refrigerator compartment 12, and the operation of the refrigeration cycle and cooling fan 31 is increased based on the temperature sensor reading in the refrigerator compartment 12. Therefore, the cooling state of the freezer compartment 11 is "slightly strong." In one example, the temperatures of freezer compartment 11, chilled compartment 13, and refrigerator compartment 12 at this time are freezer compartment 11: -21°C, chilled compartment 13: 2°C, and refrigerator compartment 12: 3°C, respectively.

[0042] When the operating part 62 is located near the right end, the opening-closing plate 61 is in the fourth position. At this time, as shown in Fig. 7, the opening-closing plate 61 is in a position that partially blocks both the second cool air passage 22 and the third cool air passage 23. Therefore, the second outlet ports 42a and 42b are partially open, and the third outlet port 43 is also partially open.

[0043] As a result, cool air is supplied from the third outlet 43 to the chilled compartment 13, and the cooling state of the chilled compartment 13 becomes "Extra Cool" (a state with higher cooling capacity than normal). Also, because the amount of cool air blown out from the second outlets 42a and 42b becomes relatively small, the cooling capacity of the refrigerator compartment 12 is limited, and the operation rate of the refrigeration cycle and cooling fan 31 is increased based on the measurement value of the temperature sensor in the refrigerator compartment 12. As a result, the cooling state of the freezer compartment 11 becomes "Strong." In one example, the temperatures of the freezer compartment 11, chilled compartment 13, and refrigerator compartment 12 at this time are freezer compartment 11: -21°C, chilled compartment 13: 0°C, and refrigerator compartment 12: 3°C, respectively.

[0044] In this embodiment, the width WA of the second cold air passage 22 is larger than the width WB of the third cold air passage 23. The width WC of the opening / closing plate 61 is smaller than the width WA of the second cold air passage 22. With this configuration, the opening / closing plate 61 does not completely block the second cold air passage 22, preventing poor cooling of the refrigerator compartment 12. Furthermore, because the opening / closing plate 61 can fully close the third cold air passage 23, it is possible to freely set the temperature in the chilled compartment 13 from approximately the same temperature as the refrigerator compartment 12 to a lower temperature.

[0045] In addition, in the adjustment mechanism 60 according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 , the temperature adjustment for the freezer compartment 11 is located in the center, with the “Extra Cool” mode setting for the chilled compartment 13 located on both sides. The temperature adjustment for the freezer compartment 11 is generally set based on the outside temperature. For example, in winter when the outside temperature is low, the freezer compartment is set to “High” to prevent the temperature of the freezer compartment 11 from rising. On the other hand, the “Extra Cool” mode for the chilled compartment 13 is a mode that is likely to be changed depending on the items stored in the chilled compartment 13, and is expected to be switched more frequently than the temperature setting for the freezer compartment 11. Therefore, by adopting the above-described arrangement (i.e., locating the “Extra Cool” mode for the chilled compartment 13 on both sides of the temperature setting for the freezer compartment 11), the adjustment mechanism 60 according to this embodiment can turn the “Extra Cool” mode for the chilled compartment 13 on and off without changing the temperature setting for the freezer compartment 11. This prevents the user from accidentally changing the temperature setting for the freezer compartment 11 when switching the “Extra Cool” mode for the chilled compartment 13 on and off.

[0046] In this way, in the refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment, the opening / closing plate 61 can be changed in sequence from the first position to the fourth position by sliding the operating part 62 of the adjustment mechanism 60 horizontally (specifically, from the left end to the right end).

[0047] (Summary of the first embodiment) As described above, the refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment includes the freezer compartment 11, the refrigerator compartment 12, the cold air passage 20 that guides the cold air cooled by the cooler to the freezer compartment 11 and the refrigerator compartment 12, the first outlet 41 that blows the cold air in the cold air passage 20 into the freezer compartment 11, the second outlets 42a and 42b that blow the cold air in the cold air passage 20 into the refrigerator compartment 12, and the third outlet 43 that blows the cold air in the cold air passage 20 into the chilled compartment 13 (specific area) in the refrigerator compartment 12. The refrigerator 1 includes an adjustment mechanism 60 that adjusts the amount of cold air blown out from the second outlets 42a and 42b and the third outlet 43.

[0048] The adjustment mechanism 60 has an opening / closing plate 61 and an operating unit 62. The cold air passage 20 includes a first cold air passage 21, a second cold air passage 22, and a third cold air passage 23. The opening / closing plate 61 is provided across the second cold air passage 22 and the third cold air passage 23 and slides within each of the cold air passages 22 and 23 (see FIG. 2). The open / closed states of the second cold air passage 22 and the third cold air passage 23 change depending on the position of the opening / closing plate 61. This adjusts the amount of cold air blown out from the second outlets 42a and 42b communicating with the second cold air passage 22 (i.e., the amount of cold air supplied to the refrigerator compartment 12), and also adjusts the amount of cold air blown out from the third outlet 43 communicating with the third cold air passage 23 (i.e., the amount of cold air supplied to the chilled compartment 13).

[0049] According to the above configuration, the amount of cold air supplied to chilled compartment 13 can be controlled using adjustment mechanism 60, which adjusts the amount of cold air supplied to freezer compartment 11 and refrigerator compartment 12. In other words, the cooling state of a specific area, such as chilled compartment 13, can be made different from that of other areas of the storage compartment without adding a separate adjustment mechanism.

[0050] For example, when the opening / closing plate 61 is in the first position or the fourth position, the third outlet 43 is fully or partially open. This allows cool air to be supplied from the third outlet 43 to the chilled compartment 13, making the temperature of the chilled compartment 13 lower than the temperatures in other areas of the refrigerator compartment 12.

[0051] Like the chilled compartment 13 in this embodiment, the specific area from which cold air is blown out from the third outlet 43 is preferably an area with a lower set temperature than other areas in the refrigerator compartment 12.

[0052] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, a configuration in which the third outlet 43 communicating with the third cold air passage 23 blows out cold air to a specific area in the refrigerator compartment 12 has been described. However, the specific area may be provided on the freezer compartment 11 side. Therefore, in the second embodiment, a configuration example in which the third outlet 43 communicating with the third cold air passage 23 blows out cold air to a specific area in the freezer compartment 11 will be described. In the second embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0053] Fig. 8 shows the configuration of each storage compartment of the refrigerator 1 according to the second embodiment. Fig. 8 also shows a schematic configuration of the cold air passage 20 provided in the refrigerator 1.

[0054] As in the first embodiment, the refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment has a freezer compartment 11 on the upper level and a refrigerator compartment 12 on the lower level. Although the chilled compartment 13 and the vegetable compartment 14 are not shown in Fig. 8, the chilled compartment 13 and the vegetable compartment 14 may be provided in the refrigerator compartment 12 as in the first embodiment.

[0055] In this embodiment, ice making area 113 is provided in freezer compartment 11. Ice making trays (not shown) are placed in ice making area 113. A third outlet 143 is provided on the wall on the rear side of ice making area 113. Third outlet 143 mainly blows out cold air that has passed through third cold air passage 23 in cold air passage 20 toward ice making area 113, which is a specific area in the freezer compartment.

[0056] As will be described later, in refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment, the user can increase the amount of cold air supplied to ice making area 113 by operating operation unit 62 of adjustment mechanism 60. This allows ice making area 113 to be cooled preferentially compared to other areas in freezer compartment 11.

[0057] As in the first embodiment, the cold air passage 20 has a first cold air passage 21, a second cold air passage 22, and a third cold air passage 23. A difference from the first embodiment is that a third outlet 143 communicating with the third cold air passage 23 is provided on the freezer compartment 11 side.

[0058] As in the first embodiment, the refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment includes an adjustment mechanism 60. The adjustment mechanism 60 includes an opening / closing plate 61 and an operating unit 62.

[0059] Next, a method for controlling the amount of cool air supplied to each storage compartment (including a specific area) using the adjustment mechanism 60 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0060] FIG. 9 schematically shows the flow of cold air when the opening / closing plate 61 of the adjustment mechanism 60 is in a first position in the refrigerator 1. FIG. 10 schematically shows the flow of cold air when the opening / closing plate 61 of the adjustment mechanism 60 is in a second position in the refrigerator 1. FIG. 11 schematically shows the flow of cold air when the opening / closing plate 61 of the adjustment mechanism 60 is in a third position in the refrigerator 1. FIG. 12 schematically shows the flow of cold air when the opening / closing plate 61 of the adjustment mechanism 60 is in a fourth position in the refrigerator 1. In FIGS. 9 to 12, the flow of cold air in the cold air passage 20 is indicated by arrows. The thickness of each arrow indicates the amount of cold air flowing through each cold air passage.

[0061] When the operating part 62 is located near the left end (see FIG. 3), the opening / closing plate 61 is in the first position. At this time, as shown in FIG. 9, the opening / closing plate 61 is located away from the second cool air passage 22 and the third cool air passage 23, and the second outlet ports 42a and 42b and the third outlet port 143 are both fully open.

[0062] As a result, cold air is supplied from third outlet 143 to ice making area 113, and the amount of cold air supplied to ice making area 113 increases. This increases the speed of ice making. In addition, the relatively large amount of cold air blown out from second outlets 42a and 42b increases the cooling capacity of refrigerator compartment 12, and reduces the operation rate of the refrigeration cycle and cooling fan 31 based on the measurement value of the temperature sensor in refrigerator compartment 12. As a result, the cooling state of freezer compartment 11 becomes "weak."

[0063] When the operating part 62 is positioned slightly left of the center (see FIG. 3), the opening / closing plate 61 is in the second position. At this time, as shown in FIG. 10, the opening / closing plate 61 is positioned so as to block only the third cool air passage 23. Therefore, the second outlets 42a and 42b are fully open, and the third outlet 143 is fully closed.

[0064] As a result, the supply of cold air from third outlet 143 to ice making area 113 is blocked, and ice making area 113 is cooled in the same way as freezer compartment 11. Meanwhile, cold air is supplied from second outlets 42a and 42b to refrigerator compartment 12 in the same way as in the first position. A relatively large amount of cold air is blown out from second outlets 42a and 42b, which increases the cooling capacity of refrigerator compartment 12 and reduces the operation rate of the refrigeration cycle and cooling fan 31 based on the measurement value of the temperature sensor in refrigerator compartment 12. In this embodiment, the cold air not supplied to ice making area 113 is supplied to freezer compartment 11 from first outlet 41, so the cooling state of freezer compartment 11 becomes "weak," just like in the first position.

[0065] When the operating part 62 is positioned slightly to the right of the center (see FIG. 3), the opening / closing plate 61 is in the third position. At this time, as shown in FIG. 11, the opening / closing plate 61 is positioned so as to partially block the second cool air passage 22 and completely block the third cool air passage 23. Therefore, the second outlets 42a and 42b are partially open, and the third outlet 143 is fully closed.

[0066] This blocks the supply of cold air from third outlet 143 to ice making area 113. Meanwhile, the amount of cold air supplied from second outlets 42a and 42b to refrigerator compartment 12 is slightly less than when in the first or second position. Because the amount of cold air blown out from second outlets 42a and 42b is relatively small, the cooling capacity of refrigerator compartment 12 is limited, and the operation rate of the refrigeration cycle and cooling fan 31 is increased based on the measurement value of the temperature sensor in refrigerator compartment 12. As a result, the cooling state of freezer compartment 11 becomes "strong."

[0067] When the operating part 62 is located near the right end, the opening-closing plate 61 is in the fourth position. At this time, as shown in Fig. 12, the opening-closing plate 61 is in a position that partially blocks both the second cool air passage 22 and the third cool air passage 23. Therefore, the second outlet ports 42a and 42b are partially open, and the third outlet port 143 is also partially open.

[0068] As a result, cold air is supplied from third outlet 143 to ice making area 113, and the amount of cold air supplied to ice making area 113 is relatively large. This increases the speed of ice making. In addition, the amount of cold air blown out from second outlets 42a and 42b is relatively small, which limits the cooling capacity of refrigerator compartment 12 and increases the operation rate of the refrigeration cycle and cooling fan 31 based on the measurement value of the temperature sensor in refrigerator compartment 12. As a result, the cooling state of freezer compartment 11 becomes "strong."

[0069] As described above, in refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment, a portion of freezer compartment 11 (specifically, ice making area 113) is the specified area. Cool air is supplied to ice making area 113 from third outlet 143. The amount of cool air blown out from third outlet 143 toward ice making area 113 is adjusted using adjustment mechanism 60.

[0070] According to the above configuration, the amount of cold air supplied to ice making area 113 can be controlled using adjustment mechanism 60, which adjusts the amount of cold air supplied to freezer compartment 11 and refrigerator compartment 12. In other words, the cooling state of a specific area, such as ice making area 113, can be made different from that of other areas in the storage compartment without adding a separate adjustment mechanism. This allows, for example, the amount of cold air supplied to ice making area 113 to be increased, thereby shortening the ice making time.

[0071] It is preferable that ice making area 113, which is a specific area within the freezing compartment, is separated from freezing compartment 11 using a partition or the like.

[0072] Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment described above, the specific area in freezer compartment 11 is ice making area 113. However, the specific area in freezer compartment 11 is not limited to ice making area 113. In the third embodiment, the specific area is a quick freezing area in freezer compartment 11. Other configurations can be applied that are similar to those in the second embodiment.

[0073] According to the above configuration, in the refrigerator 1 that uses one adjustment mechanism 60 to control the amount of cold air supplied to the freezer compartment 11 and the refrigerator compartment 12, this adjustment mechanism 60 can be used to control the amount of cold air supplied to the quick-freezing area.

[0074] It is preferable that the quick freezing area, which is a specific area within the freezing compartment, is separated from the freezing compartment 11 using a partition or the like.

[0075] (summary) A refrigerator (e.g., refrigerator 1) according to one aspect of the present invention includes a freezer compartment (e.g., freezer compartment 11), a refrigerator compartment (e.g., refrigerator compartment 12), a cold air passage (e.g., cold air passage 20) that guides cold air cooled by a cooler to the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment, a first outlet (e.g., first outlet 41) that blows the cold air in the cold air passage into the freezer compartment, second outlets (e.g., second outlets 42a and 42b) that blow the cold air in the cold air passage into the refrigerator compartment, a third outlet (e.g., third outlet 43, 143) that blows the cold air in the cold air passage into the freezer compartment or a specific area in the refrigerator compartment (e.g., chilled compartment 13, ice making area 113, quick freezing area), and an adjustment mechanism (e.g., adjustment mechanism 60) that adjusts the amount of cold air blown out from the second outlet and the third outlet.

[0076] In the refrigerator (e.g., refrigerator 1) according to one aspect of the present invention described above, the cold air passage (e.g., cold air passage 20) includes a second cold air passage (e.g., second cold air passage 22) to the second outlet (e.g., second outlets 42a and 42b) and a third cold air passage (e.g., third cold air passage 23) to the third outlet (e.g., third outlets 43, 143), and the adjustment mechanism (e.g., adjustment mechanism 60) may be provided across the second cold air passage and the third cold air passage and may have an opening / closing plate (e.g., opening / closing plate 61) that slides and moves within each cold air passage.

[0077] In a refrigerator (e.g., refrigerator 1) according to one aspect of the present invention, when the width of the second cold air passage (e.g., second cold air passage 22) is WA, the width of the third cold air passage (e.g., third cold air passage 23) is WB, and the width of the opening / closing plate (e.g., opening / closing plate 61) is WC, the relationship may be (WA+WB)>WC>WB.

[0078] In the refrigerator (e.g., refrigerator 1) according to one aspect of the present invention described above, the opening / closing plate (e.g., opening / closing plate 61) may be movable among a first position in which the second outlet (e.g., second outlet 42a and 42b) and the third outlet (e.g., third outlet 43, 143) are open, a second position in which the second outlet is open and the third outlet is closed, a third position in which the second outlet is partially open and the third outlet is closed, and a fourth position in which the second outlet is partially open and the third outlet is partially open.

[0079] In the refrigerator (e.g., refrigerator 1) according to one aspect of the present invention described above, the temperature of the specific area (e.g., chilled compartment 13, ice making area 113, quick freezing area) may be lower than the temperature of the refrigerator compartment (e.g., refrigerator compartment 12).

[0080] In the refrigerator (e.g., refrigerator 1) according to one aspect of the present invention described above, the specific area may be a chilled compartment (e.g., chilled compartment 13) provided in the refrigerator compartment (e.g., refrigerator compartment 12).

[0081] In the refrigerator (e.g., refrigerator 1) according to one aspect of the present invention described above, the specific area may be an ice-making area (e.g., ice-making area 113) provided in the freezer compartment (e.g., freezer compartment 11).

[0082] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. Furthermore, configurations obtained by combining the configurations of the different embodiments described in this specification are also included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 1: Refrigerator 11: Freezer 12: Refrigerator compartment 13: Chilled room (special area) 20: Cold air aisle 21: First cold air aisle 22: Second cold air aisle 23: 3rd cold air aisle 31: Cooling fan 41: 1st discharge port 42a: 2nd discharge port 42b: 2nd discharge port 43:Third discharge port 60:Adjustment mechanism 61: Opening and closing plate 62:Operation unit 113: Ice making area (specific area) 143:Third outlet WA: Width of second cold aisle WB: Width of the third cold air aisle WC: Width of opening and closing plate

Claims

1. A freezer and A refrigerator compartment and a cold air passageway that guides the cold air cooled by the cooler to the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment; a first outlet for blowing out the cold air in the cold air passage into the freezing compartment; a second outlet port for blowing out the cold air in the cold air passage into the refrigerating compartment; a third outlet for blowing the cold air in the cold air passage into a specific area in the freezer compartment or the refrigerator compartment; an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the amount of cool air blown out from the second outlet and the third outlet; Equipped with the cold air passage includes a second cold air passage to the second outlet and a third cold air passage to the third outlet, The adjustment mechanism includes: an opening / closing plate provided across the second cold air passage and the third cold air passage and sliding within each cold air passage; When the width of the second cold air passage is WA, the width of the third cold air passage is WB, and the width of the opening and closing plate is WC, (WA+WB)>WC>WB And the refrigerator.

2. A freezer compartment, A refrigerator compartment and a cold air passageway that guides the cold air cooled by the cooler to the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment; a first outlet for blowing out the cold air in the cold air passage into the freezing compartment; a second outlet port for blowing out the cold air in the cold air passage into the refrigerating compartment; a third outlet for blowing the cold air in the cold air passage into a specific area in the freezer compartment or the refrigerator compartment; an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the amount of cool air blown out from the second outlet and the third outlet; Equipped with the cold air passage includes a second cold air passage to the second outlet and a third cold air passage to the third outlet, The adjustment mechanism includes: an opening / closing plate provided across the second cold air passage and the third cold air passage and sliding within each cold air passage; The opening and closing plate is a first position in which the second outlet and the third outlet are open; a second position in which the second outlet is open and the third outlet is closed; a third position in which the second outlet is partially open and the third outlet is closed; and a fourth position in which the second outlet is partially open and the third outlet is partially open; A refrigerator that can be moved between the two.

3. The temperature of the specific area is lower than the temperature of the refrigerator compartment. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The specific area is a chilled compartment provided within the refrigerated compartment. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The specific area is an ice-making area provided within the freezer compartment. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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