Door opening and closing device for refrigerator and method of controlling the same

• US 10,197,326 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2015
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Son, Changwoo, Han, Cholok, Kang, Myoungju
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US15/508,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20170261252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 318264-266, 318272, 318275, 318277, 318282, 318286, 318466-469, 318626
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/614 operated by meshing gear wheels, one of which being mounted at the wing pivot axis; operated by a motor acting directly on the wing pivot axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/619 using flexible or rigid rack-and-pinion arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/214 Disengaging means
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/22 Locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/244 by manual operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/426 for the initial opening movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/00 Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/11 Manual wing operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/31 for refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/00 Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/024 Door hinges
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/02 Sensors detecting door opening
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 6/182 using back-emf in windings

Abstract

A door opening and closing device for a refrigerator includes a door coupled to a main body, an opening and closing unit including a drive unit for generating rotational force by means of a motor and a door rotating mechanism for opening or closing the door, a device for measuring a back electromotive force generated from the motor, a power circuit connected for supplying power to the motor, a circuit for transmitting back electromotive force of the motor to the device, a control switch for selectively connecting the motor to the circuit or the power circuit, and a control unit for connecting the control switch to the power circuit when the motor is activated, and connecting the control switch to the circuit and opening or closing the door when the motor is deactivated, wherein the control unit closes the door when a predetermined back electromotive force is input to the device.

Claims

1. A door opening and closing device for a refrigerator, comprising:

a door coupled by means of a hinge unit to a main body including a storage compartment defined therein;

an opening and closing unit including a drive unit for generating rotational force by means of a motor and a door rotating mechanism for rotating the door using the rotational force of the drive unit so as to open or close the door;

a back electromotive force measuring device for measuring a back electromotive force value generated in the motor;

a power circuit connected to a power supply to supply power to the motor;

a back electromotive force circuit for transmitting back electromotive force of the motor to the back electromotive force measuring device;

a control switch for selectively connecting the motor to one of the back electromotive force circuit and the power circuit; and

a control unit for controlling the control switch to be connected to the power circuit when the motor is activated, and controlling the control switch to be connected to the back electromotive force circuit and controlling the motor to open or close the door when the motor is deactivated,

wherein the control unit controls the door to be rotated in a closing direction when a predetermined back electromotive force is input to the back electromotive force measuring device in a state in which the motor is deactivated.

2. The door opening and closing device for a refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a door switch for detecting that the door is opened to a predetermined angle with respect to the main body,

wherein the control unit controls the door to be rotated in an opening direction when opening of the door is detected by the door switch.

3. The door opening and closing device for a refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the open and closing unit includes a synchronizer for connecting the door rotating mechanism to the drive unit when the door is opened with respect to the main body to the predetermined angle.

4. The door opening and closing device for a refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the door rotating mechanism is disconnected from the drive unit when the door is closed.

5. The door opening and closing device for a refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the door rotating mechanism comprises:

a rotational pinion gear for transmitting the rotational force of the drive unit; and

a rotational rack engaging with the rotational pinion gear and moving linearly,

wherein the rotational rack engages with a hinge gear formed on an outer surface of the hinge unit.

6. The door opening and closing device for a refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the synchronizer comprises:

a lever body rotatably coupled to the door or the main body; and

an elastic member for supplying an elastic restoring force to the lever body,

wherein the lever body is rotated by the elastic restoring force of the elastic member to cause the rotational rack to engage with the rotational pinion gear.

7. The door opening and closing device for a refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the rotational rack and the hinge gear are maintained spaced apart from each other when the lever body is rotated by the elastic restoring force of the elastic member.

8. The door opening and closing device for a refrigerator according to claim 7, further comprising:

a gasket disposed between the door and the main body to provide a hermetic seal therebetween; and

a gasket separation mechanism for pushing the main body using the rotational force of the drive unit to separate the gasket from the main body or the door,

wherein the gasket separation mechanism is spaced apart from a hinge shaft of the hinge unit by a predetermined distance.

9. The door opening and closing device for a refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the gasket separation mechanism comprises:

a push pinion gear for transmitting the rotational force of the drive unit; and

a push rack engaging with the push pinion gear to increase a distance between the main body and the door.

10. The door opening and closing device for a refrigerator according to claim 9, further comprising a rack guide provided on a front surface of the main body so as to guide the push rack,

wherein the rack guide progressively protrudes in a direction of the door as it moves away from the hinge unit.

11. The door opening and closing device for a refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the synchronizer connects the door rotating mechanism to the drive unit after the gasket has been separated from the main body or the door by the gasket separation mechanism during an operation of opening the door.

12. The door opening and closing device for a refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the door rotating mechanism is operated after the gasket has been separated from the main body or the door by the gasket separation mechanism during an operation of opening the door.

13. The door opening and closing device for a refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the back electromotive force circuit includes a back electromotive force distributor for distributing a back electromotive force input from the motor.

14. The door opening and closing device for a refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a load detector for detecting a load of the motor,

wherein the control unit halts operation of the motor when a load value input through the load detector during operation of the motor exceeds a predetermined load value.

15. A door opening and closing device for a refrigerator, comprising:

a door coupled by means of a hinge unit to a main body including a storage compartment defined therein;

an opening and closing unit for opening or closing the door with respect to a main body using rotational force of a motor;

a back electromotive force measuring device for measuring a back electromotive force value generated in the motor;

a door switch for detecting that the door is opened to a predetermined angle with respect to the main body; and

a control unit for controlling the motor to open or close the door,

wherein the control unit controls the door to be opened when it is detected by the door switch that the door is opened, and controls the door to be closed when a back electromotive force is detected by the back electromotive force measuring device.

16. The door opening and closing device for a refrigerator according to claim 15, further comprising a memory unit for storing an operation mode of the door, wherein the control unit controls a drive unit in accordance with the operation mode stored in the memory unit.

17. The door opening and closing device for a refrigerator according to claim 15 , further comprising an input unit through which a user'"'"'s opening or closing command is input,

wherein the control unit controls the door to be opened or closed in response to the opening or closing command input through the input unit.

18. A method of controlling an opening and closing device for a refrigerator, comprising:

detecting that operation of a motor is halted;

disconnecting the motor from a power circuit and connecting the motor to a back electromotive force circuit when operation of the motor is halted;

disconnecting the motor from the back electromotive force circuit and connecting the motor to the power circuit when a predetermined back electromotive force value is detected; and

activating the motor to rotate the door in a closing direction.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising halting operation of the motor when a load value exceeding a predetermined load value is detected during operation of the motor.

20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising activating the motor to rotate the door in an opening direction when the door is opened to a predetermined angle by an external force.