Damper devices and refrigerators

Abstract

To reduce noise caused by vibration of a damper device which uses a motor as a driving source.SOLUTION: A damper device includes: a frame including an opening which is opened or closed by a baffle; and a case 3 which houses a drive mechanism 6 between itself and a bulkhead plate. The case 3 includes: a bottom part 31 facing the bulkhead plate; and a cylindrical part 32 (a first side plate 321, a second side plate 322, a third side plate 323, and a fourth side plate 324). In the cylindrical part 32, a motor holding part 36 which encloses an outer periphery of the motor 61 and a shaft support part 35 disposed between the motor holding part 36 and the third side plate 323 are provided. The damper device includes: a first rib 37 extending in a Z direction (a second direction) between the motor holding part 36 and the shaft support part 35; and second ribs 38 which intersect with the first rib 37 at both sides as seen in the Z direction of the shaft support part 35 and are connected to the third side plate 323 and the motor holding part 36.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a damper device and a refrigerator.

Background Art

[0002] A damper device disposed in a cold air passage or the like of a refrigerator includes a frame having a frame portion (end plate portion and body portion) provided with an opening, a baffle rotatably supported by the frame, and a drive mechanism for driving the baffle. The drive mechanism is housed inside a case member coupled to a partition plate provided at an end of the frame portion. The drive mechanism includes a stepping motor disposed inside the case member and a gear train for transmitting the rotation of the stepping motor to the baffle. A sector gear provided at the final stage of the gear train is connected to the baffle.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the damper device described in Patent Document 1, a drive mechanism is held inside a case. When driving the damper device, if vibration of the motor is easily transmitted to the case, there is a problem that noise due to the vibration increases.

[0005] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to reduce noise caused by vibration of a damper device using a motor as a drive source.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, the damper device according to the present invention has a frame comprising a frame portion surrounding an opening and a partition plate disposed at the end of the frame portion, a baffle rotatably supported by the frame and opening and closing the opening, a drive mechanism comprising a motor and an output member that transmits the rotation of the motor to the baffle, and a case coupled to the partition plate and housing the drive mechanism between itself and the partition plate, wherein the case has a bottom portion facing the partition plate, a first side plate and a second side plate facing each other in a second direction that intersects the first direction with the direction from the partition plate toward the bottom portion being one side of the first direction, and the first side plate and the second side plate are connected and intersect the first direction and the The motor is characterized by comprising: a third side plate and a fourth side plate facing each other in a third direction intersecting two directions; a motor holding portion that protrudes from the bottom to the other side in the first direction between the first side plate and the second side plate and surrounds the outer circumference of the motor; a shaft support portion that protrudes from the bottom to the other side in the first direction between the motor holding portion and the third side plate and rotatably supports the output member; a first rib that extends in the second direction between the motor holding portion and the shaft support portion and connects to the first side plate and the second side plate; and a second rib that extends in the third direction on both sides of the shaft support portion in the second direction, intersects with the first rib, and connects to the third side plate and the motor holding portion.

[0007] In this invention, the motor is held inside a case that houses the drive mechanism between the partition plate and the motor, with a motor holder that surrounds the outer circumference of the motor. Furthermore, between the shaft support that supports the output member and the motor holder, a first rib extending in a second direction and a second rib extending in a third direction intersect. The first rib connects opposing side plates, and the second rib connects the motor holder to the side plates. Therefore, the space inside the case is subdivided, increasing the rigidity of the case and making it less susceptible to vibration. Thus, motor vibrations are not transmitted to the case. Because it is less prone to vibration, it can suppress noise caused by vibrations in the case.

[0008] In the present invention, it is preferable to provide a third rib that extends in the third direction between the shaft support portion and the motor holding portion and connects the motor holding portion and the shaft support portion. In this way, since the shaft support portion is connected to the motor holding portion, the space inside the case can be further subdivided and the rigidity of the case can be further increased. Therefore, noise caused by vibration of the case can be suppressed.

[0009] In the present invention, it is preferable that the shaft support portion is connected to the third side plate. In this case, the motor holding portion is connected to the third side plate via the shaft support portion, which further increases the rigidity of the case. Therefore, noise caused by vibration of the case can be suppressed.

[0010] In the present invention, it is preferable that the motor holding portion is connected to the first side plate and the second side plate. This increases the rigidity of the portion close to the motor. Therefore, motor vibrations are less likely to be transmitted to the case, and noise caused by case vibrations can be suppressed.

[0011] In the present invention, it is preferable that the motor holding portion is connected to the fourth side plate. This increases the rigidity of the portion close to the motor. Therefore, motor vibrations are less likely to be transmitted to the case, and noise caused by case vibrations can be suppressed.

[0012] In the present invention, the bottom portion comprises a bottom plate that closes the end of the motor holding portion opposite to the partition plate, and a partition plate connected to the motor holding portion, the first side plate, the second side plate, the third side plate, and the fourth side plate, and located on the partition plate side relative to the bottom plate, wherein the first rib and the second rib preferably protrude from the partition plate toward the other side in the first direction. In this way, the portion of the motor holding portion shifted in the first direction from the bottom plate is supported via the partition plate, thus increasing rigidity and making it difficult for motor vibrations to be transmitted. Therefore, noise due to vibration of the case can be suppressed.

[0013] In the present invention, the bottom portion preferably comprises a first outer rib and a second outer rib protruding from the partition plate toward one side in the first direction, wherein the first outer rib extends in the second direction and connects to the first side plate and the second side plate, and the second outer rib extends in the third direction, intersects with the second outer rib, and connects to the third side plate and the motor holding portion. By creating a structure in which the bottom portion is partitioned by ribs in this way, it is possible to reduce the weight of the case while ensuring the rigidity of the bottom portion.

[0014] The damper device according to the present invention can be used in a refrigerator, which has a cooling unit and a storage chamber supplied with cold air generated by the cooling unit, and the damper device is positioned at the cold air intake in the storage chamber. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] In this invention, the motor is held inside a case that houses the drive mechanism between the partition plate and the motor, with a motor holder that surrounds the outer circumference of the motor. Furthermore, between the shaft support that supports the output member and the motor holder, a first rib extending in a second direction and a second rib extending in a third direction intersect. The first rib connects the opposing side plates, and the second rib connects the motor holder to the side plates. As a result, the space inside the case is subdivided, increasing the rigidity of the case and making it less susceptible to vibration. Therefore, motor vibrations are less likely to be transmitted to the case, thus suppressing noise caused by case vibration. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a damper device to which the present invention is applied, viewed from the opposite side of the baffle. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the damper device as seen from the baffle side. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the damper device shown. [Figure 4] This is a disassembled perspective view of the bulkhead, drive mechanism, and case. [Figure 5] This is a disassembled perspective view of a geared motor. [Figure 6] It is a plan view of the case and the drive mechanism seen from the side of the partition plate, and a plan view of the case seen from the side of the partition plate. [Figure 7] It is a cross-sectional perspective view of the case (a cross-sectional perspective view cut at the A-A position in FIG. 6(b)). [Figure 8] It is a cross-sectional perspective view of the case (a cross-sectional perspective view cut at the B-B position in FIG. 6(b)). [Figure 9] It is an explanatory view of a refrigerator provided with the damper device shown in FIG. 1.

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a damper device for a refrigerator to which the present invention is applied will be described. In this specification, XYZ are directions orthogonal to each other. The direction along the rotation center axis L of the baffle 4 is defined as the X direction. The opening 20 opened and closed by the baffle 4 faces the Z direction. The X direction is the first direction, the Z direction is the second direction, and the Y direction is the third direction. Also, one side in the X direction is denoted as X1, the other side in the X direction is denoted as X2, one side in the Y direction is denoted as Y1, the other side in the Y direction is denoted as Y2, one side in the Z direction is denoted as Z1, and the other side in the Z direction is denoted as Z2 for description.

[0018] (Overall Configuration) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the damper device 1 to which the present invention is applied, seen from the side opposite to the baffle 4. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the damper device 1 of FIG. 1, seen from the side of the baffle 4. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the damper device 1 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the partition plate 23, the drive mechanism 6, and the case 3. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the geared motor 60. FIG. 6(a) is a plan view of the case 3 and the drive mechanism 6, seen from the side of the partition plate 23. FIG. 6(b) is a plan view of the case 3, seen from the side of the partition plate 23. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the case 3 (a cross-sectional perspective view cut at the A-A position in FIG. 6(b)). FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the case 3 (a cross-sectional perspective view cut at the B-B position in FIG. 6(b)).

[0019] As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the damper device 1 includes a frame 2 with an opening 20 that opens in the Z direction, a baffle 4 rotatably supported on the frame 2, and a case 3 coupled to the frame 2. The frame 2 and case 3 are made of resin. The baffle 4 rotates around a rotational axis L extending in the X direction to open and close the opening 20.

[0020] Frame 2 comprises a frame portion 21 with an opening 20, a rectangular tubular body portion 22 protruding in the Z1 direction from the outer edge of the frame portion 21, and a partition plate 23 integrally formed with the side plate portion in the X1 direction of the body portion 22. Case 3 faces the partition plate 23 from the X1 direction. Case 3 and the partition plate 23 are connected by engaging a hook 24 extending in the X1 direction from the edge of the partition plate 23 with a projection 30 formed on the side surface of Case 3. The partition plate 23 and Case 3 constitute a rectangular parallelepiped housing that houses the drive mechanism 6 for driving the baffle 4.

[0021] Frame 2 is provided with a side plate 25 positioned at the X2 end of the frame portion 21 and facing the partition plate 23 in the X direction. Frame 2 also includes a rectangular tubular sealing plate portion 26 that protrudes from the edge of the opening 20 toward the side where the baffle 4 is located (Z1 direction) in the frame portion 21. A heater (not shown) is attached to the frame portion 21, surrounding the sealing plate portion 26. The damper device 1 prevents the baffle 4 from becoming immobile due to freezing by energizing the heater and generating heat.

[0022] The baffle 4 is rotatably supported between the partition plate 23 and the side plate 25. The edge of the baffle 4 on the Y2 side has a cylindrical portion 41 projecting towards the X1 side and a cylindrical portion 42 projecting towards the X2 side. At the tip of the cylindrical portion 41, there is a connecting hole (not shown) into which the tip of the shaft portion 691 of the output member 69, which protrudes toward the baffle 4 from a shaft hole 27 that penetrates the partition plate 23, fits. At the tip of the cylindrical portion 42, there is a shaft portion 44 that fits into a shaft hole (not shown) formed in the side plate 25. Thus, the baffle 4 is rotatably supported on the frame 2 with the axis of rotation axis L being the axis connecting the center of the shaft hole 27 in the partition plate 23 and the center of the shaft hole in the side plate 25.

[0023] The baffle 4 has a resin opening / closing plate 45 that is larger than the opening 20, and a sheet-like elastic member 46 made of foamed polyurethane or the like that is attached to the surface of the opening / closing plate 45 that faces the opening 20. The baffle 4 is driven by a drive mechanism 6, which will be described later, to rotate around the rotation axis L and move to a closed position that closes the opening 20 and an open position that opens the opening 20. In the closed position, the elastic member 46 is in contact with the sealing plate portion 26.

[0024] The damper device 1 is placed, for example, inside a duct or the like that constitutes a cold air passage. Cold air flows through the opening 20 from the side opposite to the side where the baffle 4 is located relative to the opening 20. Cold air may also flow through the opening 20 from the side where the baffle 4 is located relative to the opening 20.

[0025] (Drive mechanism 6) As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the drive mechanism 6 is housed between the case 3 and the partition plate 23. The drive mechanism 6 comprises a geared motor 60 and an output member 69 driven by the geared motor 60. The output member 69 comprises a shaft portion 691 that fits into a shaft support portion 35 provided in the case 3, and a sector gear 692 that protrudes radially from the shaft portion 691. The output member 69 is rotatably supported by the shaft support portion 35 of the case 3. As described above, the tip of the shaft portion 691 of the output member 69 extends in the X2 direction and passes through a shaft hole 27 provided in the partition plate 23, connecting to the baffle 4.

[0026] As shown in Figure 5, the geared motor 60 comprises a motor 61 and a gear transmission mechanism 62 that transmits the rotation of the motor 61 to an output member 69. The motor 61 is a stepping motor composed of a motor case 63, a bottomed cylindrical metal motor case 63, an end plate 64 that closes the open end of the motor case 63, a cylindrical stator 65 arranged inside the motor case 63, a rotor (not shown) arranged inside the stator 65, and a partition member 66 arranged between the end plate 64 and the stator 65.

[0027] The gear transmission mechanism 62 comprises a gear train 621 consisting of multiple gears arranged between a partition member 66 and an end plate 64, and an output wheel 622 driven via the gear train 621. The rotation of the rotor is reduced by the gear train 621 and transmitted to the output wheel 622. The output wheel 622 has a gear 623 that meshes with the last gear of the gear train 621, a shaft portion 624 extending in the X2 direction from the center of the gear 623, and a gear 625 (see Figure 2) connected to the tip of the shaft portion 624 that protrudes in the X2 direction through a shaft support portion 641 provided on the end plate 64. The gear 625 meshes with the sector gear 692 of the output member 69.

[0028] The motor 61 includes a terminal block 67 positioned in a notch 631 of the motor case 63, and a terminal cover 68 covering the terminal block 67. The terminal block 67 is positioned radially outward of the insulator 652 around which the stator coil 651 is wound, and is integrally formed with the insulator 652. The terminal block 67 holds a plurality of connector terminals 70. The plurality of connector terminals 70 are bent in the X1 direction radially outward of the terminal block 67, and in the gap between the terminal block 67 and the terminal cover 68. It extends in the X1 direction. The stator coil 651 is electrically connected to the connector terminal 70.

[0029] (case) Case 3 has a bottom portion 31 that faces the partition plate 23 from the opposite side (X1 direction) from the frame portion 21, and a rectangular cylindrical portion 32 that protrudes from the bottom portion 31 toward the partition plate 23 (X2 direction). When viewed from the X direction, the bottom portion 31 and the cylindrical portion 32 are rectangles with their longer sides extending in the Y direction and their shorter sides extending in the Z direction. As shown in Figures 3 and 6, the cylindrical portion 32 has a first side plate 321 and a second side plate 322 that face each other in the Z direction, and a third side plate 323 and a fourth side plate 324 that face each other in the Y direction. The third side plate 323 connects the Y2 side ends of the first side plate 321 and the second side plate 322. The fourth side plate 324 connects the Y1 side ends of the first side plate 321 and the second side plate 322. The projections 30 that engage with the hooks 24 of the partition plate 23 are formed on the first side plate 321 and the second side plate 322.

[0030] Case 3 is provided with a connector insertion opening 33 that exposes the connector terminals 70 of the motor 61 facing away from the partition plate 23. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the connector insertion opening 33 has a structure in which the corner where the fourth side plate 324 and the bottom 31 connect is cut out. By inserting the mating connector into the connector insertion opening 33, the connector terminals 70 of the motor 61 can be connected to the external wiring connected to the mating connector, thereby supplying a drive signal to the motor 61.

[0031] As shown in Figures 3 and 6, the case 3 is provided with a cylindrical boss portion 34 that extends in the Z direction along the inner surfaces of the first side plate 321 and the second side plate 322. The boss portion 34 protrudes from the bottom portion 31 in the X2 direction and is connected to the first side plate 321 and the second side plate 322. When the partition plate 23 and the case 3 are joined, a protrusion 28 (see Figure 4) that protrudes from the partition plate 23 in the X1 direction fits into the boss portion 34.

[0032] Case 3 includes a cylindrical shaft support portion 35 and a motor holder portion 36 located inside the cylindrical portion 32. The shaft support portion 35 and the motor holder portion 36 protrude from the bottom portion 31 toward the side where the partition plate 23 is located (X2 direction). The shaft support portion 35 and the motor holder portion 36 are located in the center of Case 3 in the Z direction. The shaft support portion 35 is located at the end of Case 3 toward the third side plate 323 (Y2 side). The motor holder portion 36 is located at the end of Case 3 toward the fourth side plate 324.

[0033] As shown in Figures 6(a) and 6(b), the motor holder 36 comprises an arc-shaped portion 361 surrounding the outer circumference of the motor case 63 and a pair of straight portions 362 surrounding both sides of the terminal cover 68 in the circumferential direction. The pair of straight portions 362 extend in the Y1 direction from a notch in the arc-shaped portion 361 and connect to both sides of the connector insertion opening 33 in the fourth side plate 324 in the circumferential direction. The arc-shaped portion 361 is connected to the inner surface of the first side plate 321 and the inner surface of the second side plate 322.

[0034] When assembling the geared motor 60 into the case 3, the motor case 63 is positioned inside the substantially cylindrical motor holder 36, as shown in Figure 6(a). Ribs 363 extending in the Z direction are formed on the inner surface of the arc portion 361 of the motor holder 36 (see Figure 8). The motor case 63 is lightly press-fitted into the motor holder 36, with its outer circumferential surface in contact with the tip of the rib 363.

[0035] As shown in Figure 4, the partition plate 23 is provided with a retaining portion 29 that protrudes in the X1 direction from a position facing the end plate 64 of the geared motor 60. When the partition plate 23 and the case 3 are joined, the retaining portion 29 comes into contact with the end plate 64 of the geared motor 60 from the X2 side.

[0036] (Case reinforcement structure) Inside case 3, as described above, a roughly cylindrical rib shape is provided as a motor holding portion 36. As shown in Figures 3 and 6, the motor holding portion 36 is located at the end of case 3 on the fourth side plate 324 side and is separated from the third side plate 323. Therefore, a first rib 37 extending in the Z direction and a second rib 38 and a third rib 39 extending in the Y direction are arranged between the motor holding portion 36 and the third side plate 323, providing a rib-based reinforcing structure. The first rib 37, the second rib 38, and the third rib 39 protrude from the bottom 31 of case 3 in the X2 direction. The tips of the first rib 37, the second rib 38, and the third rib 39 are located X1 side further than the tip of the shaft support portion 35 (see Figure 7).

[0037] The first rib 37 is positioned between the motor holder 36 and the shaft support 35 and connects to the first side plate 321 and the second side plate 322. The second rib 38 is positioned at two locations on the Z1 and Z2 sides of the shaft support 35 and intersects with the first rib 37. The two second ribs 38 connect to the motor holder 36 and the third side plate 323, respectively. The third rib 39 extends in the Y direction between the motor holder 36 and the shaft support 35 and connects the motor holder 36 and the shaft support 35. The shaft support 35 is connected to the third side plate 323 via the fourth rib 40, which extends on the opposite side from the third rib 39.

[0038] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the bottom 31 of the case 3 includes a bottom plate 311 that closes the X1 end of the motor holder 36 and a partition plate 312 located on the partition plate 23 side (X2 side) relative to the bottom plate 311. In this embodiment, the partition plate 312 is located approximately in the center of the case 3 in the X direction. The bottom plate 311 and the partition plate 312 are plate-shaped with the X direction as their normal direction. The partition plate 312 connects the outer surface of the motor holder 36 to the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 32 (first side plate 321, second side plate 322, third side plate 323, fourth side plate 324). Therefore, on the outer circumference side of the motor holder 36, the space housing the drive mechanism 6 is partitioned from the outside space by the partition plate 312. The first rib 37, the second rib 38, the third rib 39, and the fourth rib 40 are connected to the partition plate 312 and protrude from the partition plate 312 in the X2 direction.

[0039] The bottom 31 of case 3 is reinforced by a first outer rib 313 and a second outer rib 314 that project from the partition plate 312 in the X1 direction. As shown in Figure 4, the first outer rib 313 extends in the Z direction between the motor holder 36 and the third side plate 323 and connects to the first side plate 321 and the second side plate 322. The second outer rib 314 extends in the Y direction and intersects with the first outer rib 313. Three second outer ribs 314 are arranged at equal intervals and connect the motor holder 36 and the third side plate 323. The X1-direction end faces of the first outer rib 313 and the fourth outer rib 314, the X1-direction end face of the cylindrical portion 32, and the bottom plate 311 are located on the same plane.

[0040] (refrigerator) Figure 9 is an explanatory diagram of a refrigerator 100 equipped with the damper device 1 shown in Figure 1. In the refrigerator 100 shown in Figure 9, the refrigerator body 110 is equipped with a plurality of storage compartments 111 and a cold air duct 112 that supplies cold air to the plurality of storage compartments 111. A damper device 1 to which the present invention is applied is provided at a cold air intake 113 that connects the cold air duct 112 and the storage compartments 111. The refrigerator body 110 is also equipped with a cooling unit 114 that generates cold air, a fan 115 located in the cold air duct 112, and a control device 120. The control device 120 controls the opening and closing operation of the damper device 1 based on signals from a sensor (not shown) provided in the storage compartment 111, thereby adjusting the timing and amount of cold air supplied to the storage compartment 111.

[0041] (Main effects and benefits of this form) As described above, the damper device 1 of this embodiment comprises a frame 2 having a frame portion 21 surrounding the opening 20 and a partition plate 23 positioned at the end of the frame portion 21, a baffle 4 rotatably supported by the frame 2 and opening and closing the opening 20, a drive mechanism 6 having a motor 61 and an output member 69 that transmits the rotation of the motor 61 to the baffle 4, and a drive mechanism 6 coupled to the partition plate 23 and between the partition plate 23 The device comprises a case 3 housing the drive mechanism 6. The case 3 has a bottom portion 31 facing the partition plate 23 in the X direction (first direction), a first side plate 321 and a second side plate 322 facing each other in the Z direction (second direction), a third side plate 323 and a fourth side plate 324 connecting the first side plate 321 and the second side plate 322 and facing each other in the Y direction (third direction), a motor holding portion 36 protruding from the bottom portion 31 in the X2 direction (first direction) between the first side plate 321 and the second side plate 322 and surrounding the outer circumference of the motor 61, and a shaft support portion 35 protruding from the bottom portion 31 in the X2 direction (first direction) between the motor holding portion 36 and the third side plate 323 and rotatably supporting the output member 69. Furthermore, case 3 includes a first rib 37 that extends in the Z direction (second direction) between the motor holding portion 36 and the shaft support portion 35 and connects to the first side plate 321 and the second side plate 322, and a second rib 38 that extends in the Y direction (third direction) on both sides of the shaft support portion 35 in the Z direction, intersects with the first rib 37, and connects to the third side plate 323 and the motor holding portion 36.

[0042] In this embodiment, the drive mechanism 6 is housed inside the case 3, which is coupled to the partition plate 23 of the frame 2. The motor 61 is held in place by a roughly cylindrical rib-shaped motor holder 36 that surrounds the outer circumference of the motor 61. Furthermore, between the shaft support 35 that supports the output member 69 and the motor holder 36, a first rib 37 extending in the Z direction (second direction) and a second rib 38 extending in the Y direction (third direction) intersect. The first rib 37 connects the opposing first side plate 321 and second side plate 322, and the second rib 38 connects the motor holder 36 to the third side plate 323. As a result, the space inside the case 3 is subdivided, increasing the rigidity of the case 3. This makes the case 3 less prone to vibration, and vibrations from the motor 61 are less likely to be transmitted to the case 3. Therefore, noise caused by vibrations of the case 3 can be suppressed.

[0043] In this embodiment, case 3 has a third rib 39 extending in the Y direction (third direction) between the shaft support portion 35 and the motor holding portion 36, in addition to the first rib 37 and second rib 38 described above, so that the motor holding portion 36 and the shaft support portion 35 are connected. Furthermore, a fourth rib 40 is provided that connects the shaft support portion 35 and the third side plate 323, so that the motor holding portion 36 and the third side plate 323 are connected via the shaft support portion 35. Therefore, the rigidity of the part of case 3 that supports the motor 61 and the output member 69 is increased, so that case 3 is less prone to vibration. Thus, noise caused by vibration of case 3 can be suppressed.

[0044] In this embodiment, case 3, the motor holder 36 is connected to the first side plate 321 and the second side plate 322, and also to the fourth side plate 324. Therefore, the rigidity of the part close to the motor 61 is high, and vibrations from the motor 61 are less likely to be transmitted to case 3, thus suppressing noise caused by vibrations of case 3.

[0045] The bottom 31 of case 3 in this embodiment includes a bottom plate 311 that closes the X1 side (opposite side from the partition plate 23) end of the motor holder 36, and a partition plate 312 that is connected to the motor holder 36, the first side plate 321, the second side plate 322, the third side plate 323, and the fourth side plate 324, and is located on the X2 side (partition plate 23 side) relative to the bottom plate 311. The first rib 37 and the second rib 38 protrude from the partition plate 312 in the X2 direction (first direction). Therefore, since the portion of the motor holder 36 that is shifted from the bottom plate 311 in the X2 direction (first direction) is supported via the partition plate 312, the rigidity of the motor holder 36 is high and it is less prone to vibration. As a result, vibrations from the motor 61 are less likely to be transmitted to case 3, and noise caused by vibrations in case 3 can be suppressed.

[0046] In this embodiment, the bottom portion 31 is provided with a first outer rib 313 and a second outer rib 314 that protrude from the partition plate 312 in the X1 direction. The first outer rib 313 extends in the Z direction and is connected to the first side plate 321 and the second side plate 322, while the second outer rib 314 extends in the Y direction, intersects with the second outer rib 314, and is connected to the third side plate 323 and the motor holding portion 36. By making the bottom portion 31 a structure partitioned by ribs in this way, it is possible to reduce the weight of the case 3 while ensuring the rigidity of the bottom portion 31.

[0047] The damper device 1 according to this embodiment can be used in a refrigerator 100, which has a cooling unit 114 and a storage chamber 111 to which cold air generated by the cooling unit 114 is supplied, and the damper device 1 is positioned at the cold air intake 113 in the storage chamber 111.

[0048] (Other embodiments) The above embodiments are examples of preferred embodiments of the present invention, but are not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the position of the partition plate 312 in the X direction at the bottom 31 of case 3 can be changed as appropriate. Furthermore, although the damper device 1 in the above embodiments is for a refrigerator, it is not necessarily limited to damper devices used in refrigerators. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 1...Damper device, 2...Frame, 3...Case, 4...Baffle, 6...Drive mechanism, 20...Opening, 21...Frame part, 22...Body part, 23...Bulkhead plate, 24...Hook, 25...Side plate, 26...Seal plate part, 27...Shaft hole, 28...Protrusion, 29...Pressing part, 30...Projection, 31...Bottom part, 32...Cylinder part, 33...Connector insertion port, 34...Boss part, 35...Shaft support part, 36...Motor holding part, 37...First rib, 38...Second rib, 39...Third rib, 40...Fourth rib, 41, 42...Cylindrical part, 44...Shaft part, 45...Opening / closing plate, 46...Elastic member, 60...Geared motor, 61...Motor, 62...Gear transmission mechanism, 63...Motor case, 64...End plate, 65...Stator, 66...Partition member, 67...Terminal block, 6 8…Terminal cover, 69…Output component, 70…Connector terminal, 100…Refrigerator, 110…Refrigerator body, 111…Storage compartment, 112…Cold air duct, 113…Cold air intake, 114…Cooler, 115…Fan, 120…Control device, 311…Bottom plate, 312…Partition plate, 313…First outer rib, 314…Second outer rib, 321…First side plate, 322…Second side plate, 323…Third side plate, 324…Fourth side plate, 361…Arch section, 362…Straight section, 363…Rib, 621…Gear train, 622…Output wheel, 623…Gear, 624…Shaft section, 625…Gear, 641…Shaft support section, 651…Stator coil, 652…Insulator, 691…Shaft section, 692…Sector gear, L…Rotational axis

Claims

1. A frame comprising a frame portion surrounding an opening and a partition plate positioned at the end of the frame portion, A baffle rotatably supported on the frame and opening and closing the opening, A drive mechanism comprising a motor having a bottomed cylindrical motor case and an output member that transmits the rotation of the motor to the baffle, It has a case that is coupled to the partition plate and houses the drive mechanism between it and the partition plate, The aforementioned case is, The bottom portion facing the partition plate, The first side plate and the second side plate face each other in a second direction that intersects the first direction, with the direction from the partition plate toward the bottom being one side of the first direction. The first side plate and the second side plate are connected, and the third and fourth side plates face each other in a third direction that intersects with the first direction and intersects with the second direction, A motor holding portion that protrudes from the bottom outwards in the first direction between the first side plate and the second side plate, and surrounds the outer circumference of the motor case, Between the motor holding portion and the third side plate, a shaft support portion protrudes from the bottom portion toward the other side in the first direction and rotatably supports the output member, Between the motor holding portion and the shaft support portion, a first rib extends in the second direction and is connected to the first side plate and the second side plate, The shaft support portion comprises a second rib that extends in the third direction on both sides in the second direction, intersects with the first rib, and is connected to the third side plate and the motor holding portion, The motor holding portion is connected to the first side plate and the second side plate, The bottom is, A bottom plate that closes the end of the motor holding section opposite to the partition plate, The motor holding portion comprises an outer surface, a partition plate connected to the inner surface of the first side plate, the inner surface of the second side plate, the inner surface of the third side plate, and the inner surface of the fourth side plate, and positioned on the partition plate side relative to the bottom plate, A damper device characterized in that the first rib and the second rib protrude from the partition plate toward the other side in the first direction.

2. Between the shaft support portion and the motor holding portion, extending in the third direction, the motor is held. The damper device according to claim 1, characterized by comprising a third rib connected to the shaft support portion.

3. The damper device according to claim 2, characterized in that the shaft support portion is connected to the third side plate.

4. The damper device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the motor holding portion is connected to the fourth side plate.

5. The bottom is, The partition plate is provided with a first outer rib and a second outer rib that protrude from one side in the first direction, The first outer rib extends in the second direction and is connected to the first side plate and the second side plate. The damper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second outer rib extends in the third direction and intersects with the first outer rib, and is connected to the third side plate and the motor holding portion.

6. A refrigerator equipped with a damper device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, It has a cooling unit and a storage room to which the cold air generated by the cooling unit is supplied, The refrigerator is characterized in that the damper device is positioned at the cold air intake in the storage chamber.

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