JP2001074358A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the number of components in a display device and to eliminate a necessity of designing by providing the device constituted of a board having a light emitting unit and a board cover, and thinning a surface part of the cover opposed to the unit. SOLUTION: As an opaque resin board cover 8, an opaque resin of a resin having good light transmission properties such as, for example, a polystyrene is adopted. A front surface part of a light source 4 is optimized by differentiating light transmittance according to its thickness to form a thin part 8a. When the source 4 does not emit a light, the part 8a of the cover 8 is in an unseen state, and when the source 4 emits the light, an external light emission can be visually recognized by the part 8a. A rib 8b is provided integrally with the cover 8 on a periphery of the source so that, when the source 4 emits the light, the light is not transmitted from a part except the part 8a. A board 9 is fixed by the cover 8 manufactured by integrally molding to constitute a display device. The source 4 emits the light only when a function of the refrigerator is faulted, and the light transmitted from the thin part of the cover 8 can be visually recognized by the emission of the light.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of a light emitting display device of a refrigerator and a structure of providing a space in a heat insulating portion of the refrigerator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS.
It is a figure which shows the display apparatus of the conventional refrigerator indicated by Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2284. In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes an outer box of a refrigerator, 4 denotes a light source, 6 denotes a display panel, 7 denotes a scattering sheet, and a non-transparent printing portion 6b on which characters and patterns are printed and a transparent portion 6a are provided in a part thereof. A scattering sheet 7 is provided between the display panel 6 and the light source 4 for illuminating the display panel.
It is stuck to, configured and placed on the refrigerator body.

FIG. 11 shows, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 56-457.
It is a figure which shows the conventional refrigerator shown in JP-A-98. In the drawing, reference numeral 2 denotes an inner box of a refrigerator, 1 denotes an outer box, 15 denotes a door switch 5, a heat insulating material, 13 denotes a switch case, and 14 denotes a flexible sealing material for disposing the door switch 15 in the inner box 1. A space is provided in the heat insulating material 5, and the switch case 13 is disposed in the space, and the switch case 13 is covered with a sealing material 14 with an adhesive so as to prevent the heat insulating material 5 from entering the inside of the switch case. .

[0004]

Since the display device of the conventional refrigerator is configured as described above, it is necessary to have the same configuration even if it does not function in a normal state such as an abnormal display. However, there is a problem that the design is required. Also, since the switch case that provides a space in the heat insulating material of the conventional refrigerator is configured as described above, even if small parts such as a door switch are directly fixed to the inner box, the gap between the door switch and the inner box is It is difficult to do it, but the substrate consisting of the temperature control and the display device is placed in the refrigerator. The substrate fixing cover is placed in the inner box with a space in the heat insulating material. In the case of directly fixing components that are somewhat large and require design, mounting holes in thin and low-strength inner boxes have large variations, and the positions are not stable. There is a problem that gaps are likely to be formed between the components, and when operating an operation part such as a temperature control dial on the mounting component, deformation occurs due to low strength.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to provide a refrigerator which can reduce the number of parts in a display device and eliminate the need for design. It is another object of the present invention to provide a space in the heat insulating portion to improve the design when arranging the components and to improve the mounting position accuracy.

[0006]

A refrigerator according to the present invention includes a display device including a substrate having a light emitting portion and a substrate cover for fixing the substrate, and the surface of the substrate cover facing the light emitting portion. The part is configured to be thin.

[0007] Further, the periphery of the light emitting section is surrounded by a rib integral with the substrate cover.

A shelf rail in the main body and a space for accommodating the display device are formed, and a heat insulating portion sandwiched between the outer box and the inner box is provided along the direction of the heat insulating member of the inner box. A heat insulating material cover is provided, and the shelf rail and the heat insulating material cover are fixed to the inner box.

In addition, a sealing material is provided between the inner box and the heat insulating material cover around the space.

The fixing is performed simultaneously by screws.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Embodiment 1 FIG. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a component configuration of a light emitting display device in a refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an arrangement of the light emitting display devices in the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a main part detailed view showing the arrangement of the light emitting display devices in the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of attaching the heat insulating material cover to the inner box in the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a mounting direction of the heat insulating material cover to the inner box in the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, an opaque resin substrate cover 8 for fixing a temperature control substrate 9 having a light source 4, a lead wire 17, a terminal 18, an electric resistor 19 and a variable resistor 20, which is an issuer, and a temperature control dial 10 Are attached to the inner box 2. The temperature control dial 10 and the variable resistor 20 constitute a temperature control device. The light source 4 operates as an abnormality display device, for example, when the function of the refrigerator exhibits an abnormal state. The light source 4 opaque resin substrate cover 8 has a thin substrate cover portion 8a on the front surface of the light source 4 and integrally includes a rib 8b surrounding the light source. 2 and 3, a substrate cover 8 for fixing a temperature control substrate 9 provided with the light source 4 is arranged between the shelf rails 3 in the refrigerator.

Next, the operation will be described. 1 and 2,
In FIG. 3, an opaque resin substrate cover 8 is made of an opaque resin having good light transmittance, for example, polystyrene, and the front portion of the light source 4 is optimized because the light transmittance varies depending on the thickness, so that a thin portion is formed. 8a. When the light source 4 does not emit light, the thin portion 8a of the substrate cover 8 is not visible, and when the light source 4 emits light, the light emission can be visually recognized from the outside through the thin portion 8a. Light source 4
Although the rib 8b is provided integrally with the substrate cover 8 around the light source so that light does not transmit from the portion other than the thin portion 8a at the time of light emission, the rib 8b may not be an integral structure. Further, since the substrate 9 is fixed by the substrate cover 8 manufactured by integral molding, invasion of water or the like from the outside to the substrate 9 can be prevented. Further, ABS may be used as the material of the substrate cover 8.

As described above, in the normal use state, the position of the abnormal display portion can be invisible from the outside due to the thin portion covering the light source 4, the light source 4 emits light only when the function of the refrigerator is abnormal, and the light emission of the substrate cover 8 by the light emission. Light transmitted from the thin portion can be visually recognized. Further, since the thin portion of the substrate cover 8 covers the front surface of the light source 4 and the thin portion is integrated with its surroundings, intrusion of liquid or the like from the outside can be prevented.
Further, the light-emitting display device can be constituted only by the substrate provided with the light source 4 and the cover for fixing the substrate, and the light-emitting display device can be formed at a low cost by eliminating the need for components such as a transparent seal and a cover covering the light source 4, Since the lid is eliminated, the design becomes better.

Further, the thickness of the substrate cover on the surface of the light source is reduced, and a rib 8b is provided around the light source 4 so that light can be transmitted through only the thin portion, thereby improving the display performance.

Next, a configuration in which a space for accommodating, for example, an abnormality display device or the like is provided in the heat insulating material 5 of this embodiment will be described. 1, 4 and 5, a heat insulating material cover 12, which provides a space in a part of the heat insulating material 5 between the inner box 2 and the outer box 1, is formed so as to overlap between the inner box 2 and the heat insulating material 5. The inner box 2 has an inner box concave shape portion 2a, and a shelf rail 3 for mounting a shelf (not shown) in the refrigerator is fitted into the inner box concave shape portion 2a.
And the shelf rail 3 sandwiches the inner box 2 and is fixed with screws 16. Further, in order to prevent the heat insulating material 5 from entering the space 22 of the heat insulating material cover 12, a flexible sealing material 14 is compressed by the pressure of the heat insulating material cover 12 between the heat insulating material cover 12 and the inner box 2. It is arranged. By compressing the sealing material 14, the heat insulating material 5 can be prevented from entering. Furthermore, the peripheral portion 12a of the heat insulating material cover 12
Is brought into contact with the inner box surface, deformation of the inner box 1 due to foaming of the heat insulating material 5 can be suppressed by the heat insulating material cover 12.

Next, the assembling operation of the heat insulating material cover 12 will be described. 4 and 5, the shelf rail 3 is connected to the inner box 1.
The heat insulating material cover 12 is inserted between the two inner box concave portions 2a that are recessed toward the heat insulating material 5 in order to fix the heat insulating material 5, and the end of the screw fixing portion 12b of the heat insulating material cover 12 is inserted into the inner case convex portion 2b. The screws 16 are fixed to the inner box 2 at the same time as the shelf rails 3 after positioning. Further, by disposing a flexible sealing material 14 around the heat insulating material cover 12a, the heat insulating material cover 1
2, the sealing material 14 is compressed to form the inner box recess 2a.
Can be fixed by inserting it between the
There is no need to hold down the heat insulating material cover 12 before tightening the screws.

As described above, the shelf rail 3 and the heat insulating material cover 1
By simultaneously fixing the screws 2 to the inner box 2 with screws, the heat insulating material cover can be firmly fixed with high positional accuracy.
Further, by using the screws used for fixing the shelf rails 2 for fixing the heat insulating material cover 12, the work can be reduced.

Furthermore, since the sealing material 14 for preventing the heat insulating material 5 from entering the inside of the heat insulating material cover 12 can be fixed by compressing the sealing material 14 by the pressure for fixing the heat insulating material cover 12 to the inner box 2 by screwing. Even if the heat insulating material 5 can be prevented from entering even without attaching an adhesive material to the sealing material 14, the cost can be reduced.
Workability for attaching the inner box 2 to the heat insulating material cover 12 is improved.

Further, since the heat insulating material cover 12 can be fixed by compressing the sealing material 14 attached to the periphery of the heat insulating material cover in the inner box recess, there is no need to hold the heat insulating material cover 12 in the inner box before tightening the screws. , Work can be reduced.

In FIG. 1, the light source 4 uses a monochromatic light-emitting diode having a high light intensity, so that the light transmitted through the thin portion 8a of the substrate cover 8 is attenuated even if the light is attenuated. The strength is sufficient to be viewed. Further, since the light emission color is determined by the light emitting diode itself, it is not necessary to pass the light through a component such as a color film to convert the light into monochromatic light. When a lamp is used as the light source 4, light is irradiated to a thin portion through a color film or the like, so that the light can be made a single color to give a contrast with the color of the substrate cover 8. Further, the colors of the light source 4 and the substrate cover 8 are combinations such as red and white, green and white, white and blue, orange and white, and blue and red, and a display device with high contrast can be configured.

In FIG. 1, the substrate cover 8 is formed of a resin containing a coloring material, and the light transmittance is adjusted by the thickness of the thin portion 8a of the substrate cover. Thin part 8 of board cover
The thickness of a is set to 0.7 mm, and the thickness around it is set to 2 mm.
Thus, the light emission cannot be confirmed in the surrounding portion having a thickness of 2 mm, and the light emission can be confirmed only in the thin portion 8a. Further, when the color of the substrate cover 8 is set to white and the color of the light source 4 is red light which is a warning color, the light emission display can be easily confirmed by the contrast between white and red, and the abnormal display can be further easily recognized.

Next, the configuration for mounting the board cover 8 to the inner box 2 will be described. In FIG. 1, a shape 8c to be inserted into the inner box 2 is provided on the near side of the board cover 8, and a claw 8d is provided on the board cover 8 on the back side, and the hook is fixed to a surface 12c of the heat insulating material cover 12 which is in contact with the inner box. By doing so, the heat insulating material cover 12 having high strength can be firmly fixed to the inner box 2. By inserting the front claw shape 8c into the inner box 2, the inner box 2 is lifted up and brought into contact with the substrate cover 8, thereby eliminating the gap between the inner box 2 and the substrate cover 8. In order to position the substrate cover 8, the ribs 12d of the front heat insulating material cover and the rear surface 1 are used.
At 2c, the position is fixed by contacting with the substrate cover 12.
Since the heat insulating material cover 12 is fixed to the shelf rail 3 with screws as described above, the positional accuracy is high and there is no variation in assembly.

In FIG. 3, by disposing the temperature control device on the front side of the rail portion 3a of the shelf rail 3, the temperature control device is disposed before the shelf on which the food is placed. The temperature can be adjusted without the influence of the food to be stored. In addition, the temperature control device should be
By arranging at a height of 00 mm or more, the temperature control device can be operated without bending the waist, and the operation surface is easy to see because it is arranged near the eyes.

In FIG. 1, the substrate 9 is
Since it is fixed only by the plurality of claws 8e integrally formed with the fixing member, the fixing can be performed without using a screw or the like, the fixing operation can be facilitated, and the number of parts can be reduced. In addition, even when disassembling, since the substrate 9 can be removed by removing the claw portions 8e, a tool is not required for removal and the disassembly is excellent. Further, by deforming the claw portion 8d, the substrate cover 8 constituting the temperature control device comes off the surface 12c of the heat insulating material cover 12, and the temperature control device can be removed from the inner box 1. By making the material of the substrate cover 8 and the material of the temperature control dial 10 the same, the temperature control device is removed from the refrigerator body at the time of disassembly, and the substrate 9 containing copper, glass, etc. is removed. And the temperature adjusting dial 10 can be collected as the same material, so that the time and effort for sorting can be omitted.

In FIG. 1, when urethane is used as the heat insulating material 5 by using ABS as the material of the heat insulating material cover 12, the urethane and the ABS easily adhere to each other, so that the heat insulating material cover 12 is cracked by urethane shrinkage. Does not occur. Also, since the ABS material has a high strength, it has sufficient strength against the pressure at the time of urethane foaming, so that there is little deformation due to the foaming pressure to provide a space in the urethane,
It is not necessary to provide a space for mounting parts, and it is possible to make the wall of the refrigerator thin while sufficiently securing the thickness of the heat insulating material.

1, 4 and 5, a polyethylene foam material or a urethane foam material is used for the seal material 14, and the seal material is compressed by 50% or more in the above-described configuration, so that the heat insulating material 5 is formed. Does not pass through the sealing material 14 and enter the space of the heat insulating material cover 12. In addition, by using a rubber-based foam material for the seal member 14, it is possible to prevent the heat-insulating material 5 from entering by a compression of 30% or more.

In FIG. 2, an abnormality display device is provided in the temperature control device. When the door 11 is opened, a magnet is brought into contact with a switch 21 for judging whether the door is open or closed, and it is determined that the door 11 is closed. By operating the temperature adjusting dial 10 at the upper and lower limits of the operating range, the function of the refrigerator is self-diagnosed, and the display of the determination is made by using the light source 4 for abnormal display. Further, by providing a push-type switch for self-diagnosis in the temperature control device, the refrigerator can perform self-diagnosis by pressing the switch, and the same effect can be obtained even if a light source for abnormal display is used to display the judgment. can get.

In FIG. 1, by providing a mark, a character, or the like in a convex shape on the light source 4 side of the thin portion 8a of the substrate cover 8, a thin portion other than the mark and the character shines, and the convex portion is formed. Be able to recognize from the surface. In addition, by forming the thin portion 8a on the light source side in a concave shape and making the character shape thin, the light source is illuminated as a mark or character shape when the light source emits light, and can be recognized as a mark or character.

In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in the case where the light emitting display device is mounted between the shelf rails 3 has been described. However, the interior, the ceiling, the floor, or
The same effect as in the above-described embodiment can be obtained even when it is arranged on the outer surface of the door 11.

Embodiment 2 In the first embodiment,
The configuration in the case where the display device is used as an abnormal display has been described. However, as shown in FIG. 6, the function is displayed on the surface of the thin portion 8a of the substrate cover by printing or engraving, and when the power is turned on and the compressor is operated. , Defrosting operation, fan operation, door opening, when indicating the switched temperature zone in the switching room,
It can be used as a display device at the time of rapid freezing, rapid cooling, etc., and has the same effect. Also, as shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of light sources 4 and thin portions 8a can be arranged and used for timer display, strength display, and the like.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, a display device including a substrate having a light emitting portion and a substrate cover for fixing the substrate is provided, and the surface of the substrate cover facing the light emitting portion is provided. In the normal use state, the light emitting unit emits light as necessary, and the light transmitted through the thin portion of the substrate cover by the light emission can be visually recognized by being configured to be thin. Further, the display device can be constituted only by a substrate having a light emitting portion and a cover for fixing the substrate, and a transparent seal covering the light emitting portion, components such as a lid are unnecessary and the display panel can be inexpensive.
Since the lid is eliminated, there is an effect that the design becomes good.

In addition, since the periphery of the light emitting portion is surrounded by the ribs integral with the substrate cover, light can be transmitted only to the thin portion, and the display performance can be improved.

Further, a shelf rail in the main body and a space for accommodating the display device are formed, a heat insulating material portion sandwiched between the outer case and the inner case, and a heat insulating member provided along the heat insulating member of the inner case. The display device can be compactly stored in a space by providing a material cover and fixing the shelf rail and the heat insulating material cover to the inner box.

Further, by disposing a sealing material between the inner box and the heat insulating material cover around the space, the penetration of the heat insulating material can be prevented.

Further, by simultaneously fixing the heat insulating material cover, the heat insulating material cover can be firmly fixed with high positional accuracy. Further, by using the screws used for fixing the shelf rails for fixing the heat insulating material cover, the work can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a component configuration of a light emitting display device in a refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an arrangement of a light emitting display device in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a main part detailed view showing an arrangement of the light emitting display devices in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of attaching the heat insulating material cover to the inner box in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a mounting direction of the heat insulating material cover to the inner box in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a light emitting display device in a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a main part detailed view showing a light emitting display device in a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of a display device using a conventional refrigerator.

FIG. 9 is a detailed view showing a main part of a display device using a conventional refrigerator.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating an arrangement of a display device in a conventional refrigerator.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of attaching a switch cover to an inner box in a conventional refrigerator.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 outer box, 2 inner box, 3 shelf rails, 4 light sources, 5 heat insulating material, 8 substrate cover, 8a thin portion, 8b rib, 8
c claw (front), 8d claw (rear), 8e claw (board fixed), 9 board, 10 temperature adjustment dial, 11
Door, 12 insulation cover, 12a around the insulation cover, 12c surface of the insulation cover in contact with the inner box, 12
d Positioning rib, 14 sealing material, 17 lead wire, 18 terminal, 19 electric resistance, 20 variable resistor, 21 door switch, 22 space.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A display device comprising a substrate having a light emitting portion and a substrate cover for fixing the substrate, wherein a surface portion of the substrate cover facing the light emitting portion is configured to be thin. A refrigerator characterized by the following. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a periphery of the light emitting section is surrounded by a rib integral with the substrate cover. 3. A shelf rail in the main body and a space for accommodating a display device, a heat insulating material portion sandwiched between an outer box and an inner box,
The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a heat insulating material cover provided along the heat insulating member direction of the inner box, wherein the shelf rail and the heat insulating material cover are fixed to the inner box. 4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein a sealing material is provided between the inner box and the heat insulating material cover around the space. 5. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the fixing is performed simultaneously by screws.