Household electrical appliance and refrigerator

Abstract

A back panel (20), in which some of the front-side surface thereof is made of a recycled polypropylene resin material, is provided to the rear-side area in a refrigeration chamber (2) having an opening (2s) on the front side through which a user can see the rear-side area. Shelves (31-35) are arranged between the back panel (20) and the opening (2s). The shelves (31-35) are made of a recycled polypropylene resin material. The concentration of titanium oxide added as an opacifying material to the shelves (31-35) is higher than the concentration of titanium oxide added to the back panel (20).

Description

Home appliances and refrigerators

[0001] The present invention relates to a home appliance and a refrigerator.

[0002] As part of recent environmental measures, there has been a demand to increase the rate of use of recycled materials in home appliances such as refrigerators. Patent Document 1 discloses that when recycled materials are used in home appliances, a resin film is disposed on the surface of a base material made of recycled materials in order to make the appliance more decorative in appearance.

[0003] JP 2012-192637 A

[0004] However, recycled parts often contain foreign matter, such as black dots, that is mixed into the recycled resin used as the raw material, making it difficult to improve the appearance quality. To conceal the foreign matter, additives such as titanium oxide are added to the recycled resin, or decorative films are applied to the recycled parts. However, considering the recyclability of recycled parts, it is not desirable to apply a film made of a different material to the surface of the recycled parts, as described in Patent Document 1.

[0005] The present invention provides a recycled material part, the front surface of which is made of part or all recycled material, at the rear of a room having an opening at the front, in an area visible to a user through the opening.

[0006] Fig. 3 is a front view showing a refrigerator according to a first embodiment; Fig. 4 is a front view showing a state in which a refrigerator compartment door has been removed from the refrigerator; Fig. 5 is a front view showing a rear panel; Fig. 6 is a top view of a shelf; Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment;

[0007] Hereinafter, a mode for carrying out the present invention (the present embodiment) will be described. However, the present embodiment is not limited to the following content and can be implemented with any modifications within the scope of the gist of the present invention. In addition, the following description will be based on the directions shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0008] (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a front view showing a refrigerator according to a first embodiment. The following description will be given using a six-door refrigerator 1 as an example, but the refrigerator is not limited to six doors. As shown in FIG. 1 , the refrigerator 1 has an insulated box 10 equipped with a refrigerator compartment 2, an ice-making compartment 3, an upper freezer compartment 4, a lower freezer compartment 5, and a vegetable compartment 6. The lower freezer compartment 5 and the vegetable compartment 6 may be storage compartments whose temperature ranges can be switched from a refrigeration temperature range (e.g., 1°C to 6°C) to a freezing temperature range (e.g., approximately −20°C to −18°C). The refrigerator compartment 2 is set to the refrigerator temperature range (e.g., 6°C), and the ice-making compartment 3 and the upper freezer compartment 4 are set to the freezing temperature range (e.g., approximately −20°C).

[0009] Refrigerator 1 also includes, on the front of insulated box body 10, refrigerator compartment doors 2a and 2b for opening and closing refrigerator compartment 2, ice-making compartment door 3a for opening and closing ice-making compartment 3, upper freezer compartment door 4a for opening and closing upper freezer compartment 4, lower freezer compartment door 5a for opening and closing lower freezer compartment 5, and vegetable compartment door 6a for opening and closing vegetable compartment 6. Refrigerator compartment doors 2a and 2b are configured to open like double doors. Ice-making compartment door 3a, upper freezer compartment door 4a, lower freezer compartment door 5a, and vegetable compartment door 6a are configured to be able to be pulled out toward the front. Refrigerator compartment doors 2a and 2b, ice-making compartment door 3a, upper freezer compartment door 4a, lower freezer compartment door 5a, and vegetable compartment door 6a are insulated doors.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a front view of a refrigerator with the refrigerator compartment door removed. The area below the ice-making compartment 3 and upper freezer compartment 4 in FIG. 2 has the rear panel and cooling device components removed. As shown in FIG. 2 , the insulated box 10 is formed by filling a space between a steel outer box 11 and a synthetic resin (e.g., ABS resin) inner box 12 with foam insulation (not shown). In addition to the foam insulation, the insulated box 10 also includes multiple vacuum insulation panels between the outer box 10a and inner box 10b, which have lower thermal conductivity (higher insulation performance) than the foam insulation. This minimizes the reduction in internal volume and improves insulation performance. The insulated box 10 may also be constructed solely with vacuum insulation without the foam insulation.

[0011] The refrigerator compartment 2, the ice making compartment 3, and the upper freezer compartment 4 are separated by a heat insulating partition wall 13. The ice making compartment 3, the upper freezer compartment 4, and the lower freezer compartment 5 are separated by a heat insulating partition wall 14. The lower freezer compartment 5 and the vegetable compartment 6 are separated by a heat insulating partition wall 15.

[0012] A rear panel 20 is provided on the rear side (back side) of the refrigerator compartment 2. The rear panel 20 is made of recycled materials, such as polypropylene resin. Recycled materials are materials collected from used products or waste materials generated during manufacturing processes and processed so that they can be used as materials for new products or raw materials. The refrigerator 1 uses recycled thermoplastic resin materials, such as PP (polypropylene) resin and ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) resin. The rear panel 20 has a panel made of recycled PP resin on the front surface and a foam insulation material with a cooling air passage on the back side. In other words, the rear panel 20 is constructed by bonding a panel made of recycled material and the foam insulation material together. Alternatively, a separate panel made of recycled material may be provided on the front side of the rear panel 20.

[0013] The rear panel 20 is provided with an air passage through which cooling air passes, and the cooling air is discharged into the refrigerator compartment 2. The rear panel 20 occupies most of the center of the rear surface of the refrigerator compartment 2. In Figure 2, parts of the inner box 12 are located on both the left and right sides of the rear panel 20 at the rear surface of the refrigerator compartment 2. The top surface and the left and right side surfaces of the refrigerator compartment 2 are each entirely made of the synthetic resin (ABS resin) that forms the inner box 12.

[0014] The refrigerator compartment 2 has an opening 2s formed on its front side (near side). In other words, the opening 2s faces sideways, not upward. This allows the user to face the rear of the refrigerator compartment 2, and the rear panel 20 is visible through the opening 2s. The rear panel 20 is also located at the farthest position from the user within the refrigerator compartment 2.

[0015] The refrigerator compartment 2 is also provided with multiple shelves 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35. Shelf 31 is located at the top and is adjustable in height. Shelf 32 is located below shelf 31 and is adjustable in height. Shelf 33 is located in the right half below shelf 32 and is adjustable in height. Supports 41 for hooking and supporting shelves 31 to 33 are provided at multiple locations on the left and right inner boxes 12. Shelf 34 is located in the left half and is supported on one side by support 41 and the other by a vertical partition member 34a. Shelf 35 separates the refrigerator compartment 42 from the chilled compartment 42. A tray 42a is retractably stored between shelf 35 and the insulating partition wall 13. A water tank 43 for the ice maker is provided to the left of tray 42a, separated by a partition. The configuration of the refrigerator compartment 2 shown in FIG. 2 is merely an example and is not limited to this embodiment.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a front view of the rear panel. As shown in FIG. 3, the rear panel 20 includes an upper-stage air-path member 21a extending from the top of the refrigerator compartment 2 to the shelves 33 and 34 (see FIG. 2), a middle-stage air-path member 21b extending between the shelves 34 and 35 (see FIG. 2), and a lower-stage air-path member 21c extending between the shelf 35 and the insulating partition wall 13 (see FIG. 2). The upper-stage air-path member 21a includes multiple outlets 21s for blowing out cooling air. The middle-stage air-path member 21b is wider than the upper-stage air-path member 21a. The lower-stage air-path member 21c is located behind the chilled compartment and includes refrigerator compartment return ports 22a and 22b. Cool air discharged from the outlets 21s of the upper-stage air-path member 21a passes through the front (near side) of the shelves 31 to 35 and returns to the refrigerator compartment return ports 22a and 22b.

[0017] When rear panel 20 is made of recycled materials, rear panel 20 may be made entirely of recycled materials, or only a portion of rear panel 20 may be made of recycled materials. For example, a portion of rear panel 20 may be made of recycled materials, such as upper air passage member 21a and middle air passage member 21b, excluding lower air passage member 21c at the rear of the chilled compartment.

[0018] Furthermore, because the rear panel 20 is made of recycled PP resin, foreign matter m is mixed into the surface. This foreign matter m is large enough to be visible when viewed up close. The size and location of the foreign matter m are completely random.

[0019] 4 is a top view of the shelf. As shown in FIG. 4, the shelf 31 is configured to include a rectangular glass plate 31a and a substantially square frame member 31b that surrounds the periphery of the glass plate 31a. The frame member 31b is made of a recycled material, such as polypropylene resin (PP resin), and has a recess 31c formed in its rear (back) portion into which a protrusion of the rear panel 20 fits. Note that, although the present embodiment has been described using an example in which the shelf 31 is made of a combination of glass and resin, the entire shelf 31 may also be made of synthetic resin.

[0020] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 5, a first evaporator chamber 51a in which a first evaporator 51 is disposed is provided at the rear of the refrigerator compartment 2. A first fan 52 is provided above the first evaporator 51 in the first evaporator chamber 51a. The cooled air sent out by the first fan 52 is blown into the refrigerator compartment 2 via the refrigerator compartment air duct 21t and the air outlet 21s (see FIG. 3) provided in the rear panel 20, thereby cooling the interior of the refrigerator compartment 2. Here, the first fan 52 is configured, for example, as a turbofan (rearward-facing fan), which is a centrifugal fan. The air blown into the refrigerator compartment 2 returns to the first evaporator chamber 51a through the refrigerator compartment return ports 22a, 22b (see FIG. 3) and again exchanges heat with the first evaporator 51.

[0021] However, when refrigerator parts are made from recycled materials, the recycled parts contain foreign matter. Therefore, if recycled parts are used in various locations, the foreign matter becomes conspicuous and causes discomfort to users. Therefore, recycled parts have traditionally been used in locations that are not visible to users. However, this limits the locations where recycled parts can be used. Meanwhile, there is also a demand for increasing the rate at which recycled parts are used.

[0022] Furthermore, when a refrigerator is discarded, it is returned to a recycling plant, where the materials are separated, crushed, and separated into steel and plastic for recycling. If a decorative film is attached to the plastic, it cannot be removed cleanly, so the film remains and is recycled as plastic material. When plastic is reborn as recycled material, foreign matter must be removed to produce a clean recycled material. Until now, plastic has been used in parts that do not require various requirements such as appearance or strength, but this approach makes it impossible to adapt to a recycling-oriented society, so there has been a demand to increase the rate at which recycled material parts are used.

[0023] Therefore, in this embodiment, recycled materials are used for the rear panel 20, which is provided on the exterior of the refrigerator compartment 2 and occupies a large area on the back side. This rear panel 20 is visible to the user, but is the farthest part of the refrigerator compartment 2 from the user. Furthermore, the living space in which the refrigerator 1 is installed typically has lighting installed on the ceiling. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5 , even if light from lighting installed on the ceiling enters the refrigerator compartment 2, it is difficult for the light to reach the rear panel 20, and the light reflected from the rear panel 20 is unlikely to enter the user's eyes. As a result, foreign objects on the rear panel 20 are less noticeable, making it less likely for the user to feel uncomfortable.

[0024] Also, as shown in Figure 5, an interior light 60 is usually provided on the ceiling surface of the refrigerator compartment 2. However, the interior light 60 is located on the opening 2s side (the front side) of the refrigerator compartment 2, and is not directional or located to directly shine light onto the back panel 20. For this reason, the light from the interior light 60 has difficulty reaching the back panel 20, and reflected light from the back panel 20 is less likely to enter the user's eyes. As a result, foreign objects on the back panel 20 become less noticeable, and the user does not feel uncomfortable.

[0025] 5, shelves 31 to 35 are arranged between the rear panel 20 and the opening 2s. This reduces the possibility that a user will get close to the rear panel 20 and look at it, making any foreign matter on the rear panel 20 less noticeable.

[0026] Furthermore, titanium oxide is mixed into the rear panel 20 and the frame member 31b of the shelf 31 as a concealing material to make the foreign object m less noticeable. By adding titanium oxide to the recycled material, the surface of the foreign object m is covered with titanium, making the foreign object m appear whitish and less noticeable. Therefore, the concentration of titanium oxide added to the frame member 31b of the shelf 31 is higher than the concentration of titanium oxide added to the rear panel 20. In other words, since the shelf 31 is a component located in the foreground, it is necessary to add a larger amount of titanium oxide to enhance the concealment of the foreign object m. On the other hand, since the rear panel 20 is a component located in the background, adding less titanium oxide to reduce the concealment of the foreign object m does not cause any problems. In this way, by varying the amount of titanium oxide added between the rear panel 20 and the shelf 31, the concealment of the foreign object m can be improved and the sense of discomfort felt by the user can be reduced.

[0027] As described above, the refrigerator 1 of the first embodiment has a rear panel 20 made of recycled materials at the rear of the refrigeration compartment 2 (storage compartment, interior) that has an opening 2s formed in the front, in an area visible to the user through the opening 2s. This makes the rear panel 20 farther from the opening 2s, making it difficult for light from the front of the ceiling to reach the rear panel 20. Therefore, even if the rear panel 20 is made of recycled materials, foreign matter m is less noticeable. As a result, recycled materials can be used even for the rear panel 20 that is located in a position visible to the user, and the rate at which recycled materials are used in the refrigerator 1 can be increased.

[0028] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, shelves 31 to 35 are disposed between the rear panel 20 and the opening 2s. This allows the shelves 31 to 35 to increase the distance from the rear panel 20 that the user can see, making it possible to make foreign matter m that gets mixed into the rear panel 20 less noticeable. That is, as described in the background art, it is not particularly necessary to add an additive such as titanium oxide or to provide a decorative film in order to make the foreign matter m less noticeable.

[0029] Second Embodiment Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment. Fig. 6 shows the storage compartments of the lower freezer compartment 5 and the vegetable compartment 6, which are located below the refrigerator compartment 2. As shown in Fig. 6, the refrigerator 1 has a lower freezer compartment container 5b (storage compartment container) provided in the lower freezer compartment 5 (storage compartment), and a vegetable compartment container 6b (storage compartment container) provided in the vegetable compartment 6 (storage compartment).

[0030] Furthermore, the refrigerator 1 is provided with a rear panel 50 on the rear side (back surface) of the lower freezer compartment 5 and the vegetable compartment 6, spanning the lower freezer compartment 5 and the vegetable compartment 6. This rear panel 50 is provided in an area visible to the user through the opening 5s of the lower freezer compartment 5. The rear panel 50 is also provided in an area visible to the user through the opening 6s of the vegetable compartment 6. The rear panel 50 is formed from, for example, recycled polypropylene resin material.

[0031] A second evaporator chamber 53a, in which a second evaporator 53 is disposed, is provided behind the rear panel 50. A second fan 54 is provided above the second evaporator 53 in the second evaporator chamber 53a. The lower freezer compartment container 5b and the vegetable compartment container 6b are formed, for example, from recycled polypropylene resin. The cooled air sent out by the second fan 54 is sent to the lower freezer compartment 5 and the vegetable compartment 6 through a cooling air duct (not shown) and an outlet (not shown) provided in the rear panel 50, thereby cooling the lower freezer compartment 5 and the vegetable compartment 6.

[0032] Furthermore, titanium oxide is mixed into the rear panel 50 and the lower freezer container 5b (vegetable container 6b) as a concealing material to make foreign matter m less noticeable. The concentration of titanium oxide added to the lower freezer container 5b (vegetable container 6b) is higher than the concentration of titanium oxide added to the rear panel 50. In other words, since the lower freezer container 5b (vegetable container 6b) is the front component, a larger amount of titanium oxide is added to enhance the concealment of foreign matter m. On the other hand, since the rear panel 50 is the back component, a smaller amount of titanium oxide is added to reduce the concealment of foreign matter m. In this way, by varying the amount of titanium oxide added between the rear panel 50 and the lower freezer container 5b (vegetable container 6b), the concealment of foreign matter m can be improved and the sense of discomfort felt by the user can be reduced.

[0033] In this way, in the refrigerator of the second embodiment, a rear panel 50 whose entire front surface is made of recycled materials is provided behind the lower freezer compartment 5 (vegetable compartment 6) which has an opening 5s (6s) formed on its front side, in an area visible to the user through the opening 5s (6s). In this way, the rear panel 50 is farther from the opening 5s (6s), making it difficult for light from the front of the ceiling to reach the rear panel, so that foreign matter m is not noticeable even if the rear panel 50 is made of recycled materials.

[0034] Although the above-described embodiment has been described using a refrigerator 1 as an example, the present invention is not limited to the refrigerator 1. For example, the present invention can be applied to home appliances such as microwave ovens, washing machines, and dishwashers. In the case of a microwave oven, the present invention can be configured by providing a back panel (recycled material component) whose entire front surface is made of recycled materials in an area behind the heating chamber (interior) having an opening at the front, where the user can see through the opening. In the case of a washing machine, the present invention can be configured by providing a bottom surface (recycled material component) whose entire front surface is made of recycled materials in an area behind the washing tub having an opening at the front, where the user can see through the opening, in a drum-type washing machine.

[0035] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator 2 Refrigerating compartment (storage compartment) 5 Lower freezer compartment (storage compartment) 6 Vegetable compartment (storage compartment) 2s Opening 5b Lower freezer compartment container (storage compartment container) 6b Vegetable compartment container (storage compartment container) 10 Insulated box body 11 Outer box 12 Inner box 20 Back panel (recycled material part) 21a Upper air duct member 21b Middle air duct member 21c Lower air duct member 21s Air outlet 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 Shelf 31a Glass plate 31b Frame member 50 Back panel (recycled material part) 60 Interior light m Foreign object

Claims

1. A home appliance having a recycled material part, all or part of its front surface made from recycled materials, located at the rear of the room with an opening at the front and in an area visible to the user through the opening.

2. A refrigerator having a rear panel, part or all of whose front surface is made from recycled materials, at the rear of a storage compartment having an opening at the front, in an area visible to the user through the opening.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein a shelf or a storage compartment container is disposed between the rear panel and the opening.

4. A refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the shelf or the storage compartment container is formed from recycled materials, and the concentration of the concealment material added to the shelf or the storage compartment container is higher than the concentration of the concealment material added to the rear panel.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the concealing material is titanium oxide.

Images