JP6607732B2 - Beverage supply device and refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a beverage supply device that supplies beverages such as water, and a refrigerator that includes the beverage supply device.

  Conventionally, a beverage supply device (also called a water dispenser) for supplying a beverage such as water is known. Moreover, the structure which incorporates this drink supply apparatus in a refrigerator and can take out cold water from the cold water tank provided in the refrigerator, without opening the door of a refrigerator is proposed.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a refrigerator having a dispenser portion that supplies cold water at a door. Patent Document 2 discloses a refrigerator that includes a cooling tank that stores water cooled by cold air in a refrigerator compartment, and a water tap that supplies water in the cold water tank to a water supply member. And in the refrigerator of patent document 2, the small door which opens and closes an opening part and this opening part is provided in the refrigerator door, and the cold water tank and the water tap are arrange | positioned in the position corresponding to an opening part.

JP 2010-65962 A JP-A-10-132456

  In the refrigerator described in Patent Document 1, a recess is provided in the freezer compartment door 21, and a dispenser unit 10 (more specifically, a lever 15) is disposed therein (see FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1). The dispenser unit 10 (more specifically, the lever 15) is exposed to the outside. For this reason, dust in the room may adhere to the lever 15 and the like, which is not hygienic.

  On the other hand, the refrigerator described in Patent Document 2 is provided with a small door for a water tap. However, the water tap 4 and the small door 2 are disposed so as to protrude from the refrigerator compartment door 1 (see FIG. 3 of Patent Document 2). As described above, when the beverage supply device is incorporated in another device such as a refrigerator, the appearance shape may deviate from the normal shape of the device, which may impair the aesthetic appearance of the device. Moreover, when the part of a drink supply apparatus protrudes to the front, the convenience at the time of use may fall.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a beverage supply device that can prevent dust and the like from adhering to the water supply port when not in use, and can improve the design of the appearance of the device, and a refrigerator including the beverage supply device.

  A beverage supply device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a tank for storing a beverage, a discharge unit that discharges the beverage in the tank, a door that rotates in a horizontal direction, and the presence or absence of a user who uses the discharge unit. And a control unit for controlling the rotation of the door. When the beverage supply device is not in use, the discharge unit is hidden on the back surface of the door, and when the detection unit detects that there is a user, the control unit rotates the door to expose the discharge unit. It is configured to let you.

  In the beverage supply device according to one aspect of the present invention, the detection unit is disposed beside the door, and when the beverage supply device is used, the control unit is disposed on the side on which the detection unit is disposed. The door may be rotated so that the discharge portion is exposed.

  In the beverage supply apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the door forms a beverage supply chamber, and a drive unit that drives rotation of the door and the beverage supply chamber, and an upper portion and a lower portion of the beverage supply chamber, respectively. A rotation shaft provided, and the rotation shaft provided in the upper part and the drive unit may be connected.

  In the beverage supply device according to one aspect of the present invention, the discharge unit includes a discharge control unit that controls a supply start and a supply stop of the beverage from the discharge unit, and the discharge control unit includes: It may be determined whether or not there is a container under the discharge part, and the discharge of the beverage may be controlled.

  A refrigerator according to another aspect of the present invention includes the beverage supply device according to any one of the above-described present inventions, and a refrigeration chamber containing the tank.

  When the beverage supply device of the present invention is not in use, the discharge portion is hidden on the back surface of the rotary door. Therefore, the beverage supply device of the present invention can suppress dust and the like from adhering to the water supply port when not in use. Moreover, since the discharge part is in an invisible state when not in use, the appearance design of the beverage supply device can be improved. Moreover, since the refrigerator of this invention is equipped with such a drink supply apparatus, it can improve the designability of the external appearance of the refrigerator when not using a drink supply apparatus.

  Furthermore, the beverage supply apparatus of the present invention includes a detection unit that detects the presence or absence of a user who uses the discharge unit, and a control unit that controls the rotation of the door. Therefore, the door can be opened and closed without the user manually rotating the door. Thereby, a more convenient beverage supply apparatus can be provided.

It is a front view which shows the external appearance of the refrigerator which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the state at the time of use of the drink supply apparatus with which the refrigerator which concerns on one embodiment of this invention was equipped. It is a perspective view which shows the state at the time of use of the drink supply apparatus shown in FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of each structural member of the drink supply apparatus shown in FIG. It is AA arrow sectional drawing of the drink supply apparatus shown in FIG. (A)-(e) is a BB arrow directional cross-sectional view of the drink supply apparatus shown in FIG. 2, Comprising: A mode that a water supply chamber rotates is shown. (A) is the top view which looked at the rotating shaft (shaft) of the drink supply apparatus from upper direction. (B) is a side view of the rotating shaft. (C) is the top view which looked at this rotating shaft from the downward direction. It is a top view which shows the internal structure (state at the time of non-use) of the drink supply apparatus shown in FIG. This figure shows the state of the inside of the beverage supply device as seen from the back. It is a top view which shows the internal structure (state at the time of use) of the drink supply apparatus shown in FIG. This figure shows the state which removed the glass panel of the refrigerator door and looked at the inside of a drink supply apparatus from the back. It is the perspective view which looked at the drink supply apparatus shown in FIG. 2 from the back surface side. This figure shows the state at the time of use of a drink supply apparatus (state where a revolving door is opened). It is the perspective view which looked at the drink supply apparatus shown in FIG. 2 from the back surface side. This figure shows the state when the beverage supply device is not used (the state where the revolving door is closed). In the drink supply apparatus shown in FIG. 11, it is a perspective view which shows the state which removed the water injection lever and the lever support member (the side support member and the back support member). (A) is the top view which looked at the upper attachment member of the drink supply apparatus shown in FIG. 2 from upper direction. (B) is the side view which looked at the upper attachment member shown to (a) from the C side. (C) is the side view which looked at the upper attachment member shown to (a) from the A side. (D) is the side view which looked at the upper attachment member shown to (a) from the D side. (E) is the side view which looked at the upper attachment member shown to (a) from the B side. (F) is the top view which looked at the upper attachment member shown to (a) from the downward direction. It is arrow sectional drawing in the CC line of the drink supply apparatus shown in FIG. (A)-(d) is a schematic diagram which shows the other structure of a drink supply apparatus. It is arrow sectional drawing in the BB line of the drink supply apparatus shown in FIG. It is arrow sectional drawing in the DD line | wire of the drink supply apparatus shown in FIG. 2, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the connection state of the front cover of a drink supply apparatus, and the glass panel of the door of a refrigerator main body. It is a figure which expands and shows the left side part of the drink supply apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the other connection method of the front cover of the drink supply apparatus of this invention, and the glass panel of the door of a refrigerator main body. It is a figure which shows the cross-sectional structure in the XX line in the refrigerator shown in FIG. (A) is a figure which shows the other cross-sectional structure in the XX line in the refrigerator shown in FIG. (B) is a figure which shows the state which rotated the drink supply apparatus slightly counterclockwise from the state shown to (a). (A)-(d) is a schematic diagram which shows the other example of the refrigerator of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the front door of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 22, and the rotation door of a drink supply apparatus. (A)-(c) is a schematic diagram which shows a mode that water is supplied from the drink supply apparatus of this invention. It is a front view which shows the external appearance of the drink supply apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the state at the time of use of the drink supply apparatus shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure which controls rotation of a water supply chamber automatically in the drink supply apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure which controls the supply of a drink automatically in the drink supply apparatus of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

<First Embodiment>
<Outline of refrigerator>
This Embodiment demonstrates an example of the structure by which the drink supply apparatus which concerns on this invention was incorporated in the refrigerator. However, the beverage supply device of the present invention does not necessarily have to be built in the refrigerator. First, the outline | summary of the refrigerator 1 in which the drink supply apparatus 10 concerning this Embodiment is mounted is demonstrated. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a refrigerator 1 equipped with a beverage supply device 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 has four doors. The refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment is equipped with a refrigerator compartment at the top and a freezer compartment at the bottom. A handle 3 is provided at each door of the refrigerator. And the drink supply apparatus 10 is mounted in the door 2 of the right side seeing from the front for refrigerator compartments of the refrigerator 1. FIG.

  However, the refrigerator 1 on which the beverage supply device 10 is mounted may have fewer than four doors, may have more than four doors, and the refrigerator compartment may be located in the lower part or the middle part. It may be arranged in.

  In FIG. 1, the state at the time of non-use of the drink supply apparatus 10 is shown. As shown in FIG. 1, the rotating door 18 of the beverage supply device 10 is located on the front side of the refrigerator 1 when not in use. That is, the water supply mechanism of the beverage supply device 10 is disposed on the back side of the rotary door 18 (the door of the beverage supply device) and is in an invisible state. A door opening / closing sensor 100 is provided in the vicinity of the rotary door 18.

  The door opening / closing sensor 100 detects that a user's hand or the like of the beverage supply device 10 has approached or touched the sensor. The door opening / closing sensor 100 may be, for example, a capacitance-type non-contact sensor. Thereby, it can suppress that a hand and a glass contact the surface of the door 2 of the refrigerator 1, and dirt adheres.

  FIG. 2 is a front view of the right door 2 portion for the refrigerator compartment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the right door 2 portion for the refrigerator compartment. In FIG.2 and FIG.3, the state at the time of use of the drink supply apparatus 10 is shown. In addition, although the water tank 120 of the drink supply apparatus 10 is arrange | positioned on the back side of the door 2, and is in the state which cannot be seen from the front, in FIG. 2, the water tank 120 is shown with the broken line for convenience.

  When the door opening / closing sensor 100 detects a user's hand or the like, the beverage supply device 10 is configured such that the rotary door 18 rotates in the horizontal direction and the water supply mechanism appears in the front. When the revolving door 18 rotates, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bottom 15 (water receiver), the back plate 17, the side plate 19, the water injection lever 32, and the like constituting the beverage supply device 10 appear on the front.

  And based on a user's operation, the water in the water tank 120 cooled in the refrigerator compartment is discharged from the water inlet 31 (refer FIG. 4). In the present embodiment, for example, when the user pushes the water injection lever 32 toward the back plate 17 with a container such as a glass (water supply member), water is supplied into the glass.

  The installation location of the door opening / closing sensor 100 is not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, the door opening / closing sensor 100 is disposed on the left side of the beverage supply device 10. And if the door opening / closing sensor 100 detects a user, the rotation door 18 of the drink supply apparatus 10 will rotate counterclockwise, and a water supply mechanism will appear from the left side. As a result, a user holding a glass or the like can easily bring his hand close to the water supply mechanism by moving his / her hand laterally from near the front of the door opening / closing sensor 100 (see FIG. 6).

  According to this structure, the convenience of a drink supply apparatus improves more. In addition, in the case of a configuration in which the rotating door of the beverage supply device rotates clockwise, it is preferable to provide a door opening / closing sensor on the right side of the beverage supply device. Thus, it is preferable that the door opening / closing sensor is arranged according to the rotation direction of the beverage supply device.

  In addition, the arrangement | positioning position of the drink supply apparatus in the refrigerator of this invention is not limited to the example shown in FIG. That is, in this Embodiment, the drink supply apparatus is provided in the door on the right side of the refrigerator, However, The drink supply apparatus may be provided in the door on the left side of the refrigerator. For example, as in the present embodiment, in the case of a refrigerator having two doors that open to the left and right from the center, a door opening / closing sensor may be provided on the side close to the center of the refrigerator, and a beverage supply device may be installed on the outside thereof. it can. In the refrigerator having such a configuration, when the user touches the handle of the refrigerator door, the handle and the door open / close sensor are installed apart so that the door open / close sensor of the beverage supply device does not react. Is preferred. When the beverage supply device is provided on the left door of the refrigerator, a door opening / closing sensor is provided on the right side of the beverage supply device, and the water supply chamber is placed on the right side so that the water supply chamber is exposed from the door opening / closing sensor side. It is better to rotate around.

  According to said structure, a user can approach a drink supply apparatus from the side near the center of a refrigerator, and can enter a water supply attitude | position. Moreover, after a water supply operation | movement is complete | finished, a water supply chamber can be rotated toward the center side of a refrigerator, and it can return to the state at the time of non-use (state in which the rotation door is facing the front). Thereby, it can suppress that rotation of a drink supply apparatus becomes the obstruction of the operation | movement of the other person who exists in the right and left sides of a refrigerator.

  Moreover, the drink supply apparatus may be arranged near either one of the left and right end portions of the refrigerator. Thereby, the storage space of a foodstuff can be ensured in the center part inside a refrigerator. The position of the beverage supply device in the vertical direction is preferably a position that can be easily reached when a person uses it.

  The arrangement position of the beverage supply apparatus in the refrigerator described above is an example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this. Further, the arrangement position of the door opening / closing sensor for opening and closing the revolving door of the beverage supply device is not limited.

<Configuration of beverage supply device>
Next, the structure of the drink supply apparatus 10 concerning this Embodiment is explained in full detail. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of each component constituting the beverage supply apparatus 10. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the beverage supply apparatus 10. In addition, FIG. 5 shows the cross-sectional structure in the AA line of the drink supply apparatus 10 shown in FIG.

  Each component is attached so that the drink supply apparatus 10 may be positioned with respect to the opening part (window) 20a formed in the glass panel 20 provided in the surface of the door 2. As shown in FIG. A resin frame member 11 is attached to the opening 20 a of the glass panel 20. In the present embodiment, the frame member 11 connects the glass panel 20 and the component (front cover 12) of the beverage supply device 10. In the present embodiment, glass is used as the material for the panel on the surface of the door 2, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a resin such as acrylic or a metal such as an iron plate is used as the material for the panel. Also good.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the beverage supply device 10 includes, as main constituent members, in order from the glass panel 20 side, a front cover 12, a water supply unit 13, an upper mounting member 14, a bottom portion 15, a rotary shaft 16 (a lower rotary shaft). ), A back plate 17, a rotary door 18, a side plate 19 (right side plate 19R, left side plate 19L), a back cover 21, a rear support member 22, a heat insulating material 23, and an outer member 24. In addition, the water supply chamber 10a (beverage supply chamber) (refer FIG. 2 etc.) of the beverage supply apparatus 10 is formed of the bottom part 15, the back plate 17, the rotary door 18, and the side plate 19. The water supply part 13 (discharge part) is accommodated in the inside of this water supply chamber 10a.

  The front cover 12 is disposed between the water supply mechanism of the beverage supply device 10 and the glass panel 20 of the door 2. The front cover 12 is provided with a hole (opening) 12a in which the water supply chamber 10a of the beverage supply device 10 is disposed, and a mating recess 12c. A fixing member 71 (see FIG. 8) for fixing the front cover 12 to the door 2 of the refrigerator 1 is attached to the mating recess 12c.

  The water supply part 13 is provided with the water supply mechanism for supplying drinks, such as water, to a user. Specifically, the water supply unit 13 includes a water injection port 31, a water injection lever 32, a pipe 33, and a side support member 34. In the beverage supply device 10 of the present embodiment, when the load is not applied to the water injection lever 32 from the front (the lever is positioned in front), the water injection port 31 is closed. . When a load is applied to the water injection lever 32 from the front (pushing the lever back), the valve of the water injection port 31 is opened, for example, from a water tank (not shown) disposed above the water injection mechanism. Water is injected through the pipe 33. The side support member 34 is a member that supports the water supply unit 13 from the side.

  Drinking water can be supplied from the water injection port 31 by utilizing a natural fall due to the weight of the water by disposing the water tank upward. Alternatively, drinking water may be supplied using a pump. When using a pump, it is preferable to reversely rotate the pump at the end of water injection. Thereby, it is possible to prevent water remaining in the pipe 33 from spilling out from the water injection port 31 after the water injection is completed.

  The upper mounting member 14 is disposed so as to hold the water supply unit 13 from behind. An upper surface 42 (see FIG. 13) of the upper mounting member 14 is connected to an upper rotating shaft 61 (see FIG. 5) and a drive unit (drive motor) 65 (see FIG. 8) that drives rotation of the water supply chamber. Further, the lower surface 41 (see FIG. 13) of the upper mounting member 14 is connected to the back plate 17, the rotary door 18, and the side plate 19. Details of the upper mounting member 14 will be described later.

  The bottom portion 15 is composed of a water receiver 15a and a bottom plate 15b disposed below the water receiver 15a. The water receiver 15a and the bottom plate 15b are combined with each other to form the bottom portion 15. A plurality of holes are formed in the bottom plate 15b, and the rotating shaft 16 is attached to the holes. The rotation shaft is attached to a base part 51 (see FIG. 5) attached to the back side of the glass panel 20 in a rotatable state. The base part 51 may be configured as a part of the front cover 12 or may be configured by a part different from the front cover 12.

  The back plate 17 constitutes the back surface of the water supply chamber in which the water supply unit 13 is disposed. The revolving door 18 is overlapped with the back plate 17. The surface of the revolving door 18 is located in front of the refrigerator 1 when the beverage supply device 10 is not in use (see FIG. 1). Therefore, the revolving door 18 is preferably formed of the same material as the glass panel 20.

  On the back surface of the glass panel 20 and the revolving door 18, a film for preventing scattering is attached in case the glass is broken. It is difficult to apply decoration such as painting to the film for preventing scattering. Thus, the surface of the back plate 17 can be easily decorated by overlapping the back plate 17 formed of a material that can be easily decorated on the revolving door 18. Thereby, the designability in a water supply chamber can be improved. Alternatively, a film having decorations on both sides and having a glass scattering prevention function may be used. By using such a film, the back plate can be omitted.

  In addition, as a material of the glass panel 20 and the revolving door 18, a material that is relatively difficult to break, such as an acrylic resin, is not necessarily used. In such a case, the back surface of the revolving door 18 may be decorated, and the revolving door 18 may have the function of the back plate 17. Thereby, the number of parts can be reduced.

  The side plate 19 constitutes the side surface of the water supply chamber in which the water supply unit 13 is disposed. The side plate 19 is preferably formed of the same material as the back plate 17 and is decorated with the same decoration as the back plate 17. Thereby, the designability in a water supply chamber can be improved.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the back plate 17 and the rotary door 18 are overlapped and fitted into a groove 41 a (see FIG. 13) formed in the lower surface 41 of the upper mounting member 14. Although not shown, each side plate 19 is also fitted into the upper mounting member 14 in the same manner. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the back plate 17 and the rotary door 18 are erected with respect to the bottom plate 15b. Although not shown, each side plate 19 is also erected with respect to the bottom plate 15b in the same manner. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the water receiver 15a is fitted into the bottom plate 15b from above. Thereby, the external shape of a water supply chamber is formed.

  The back cover 21 is disposed on the back surface of the water supply chamber 10a so as to surround the water supply chamber. The rear support member 22 includes a support portion 22a and a plate-like portion 22b. The plate-like portion 22 b of the rear support member 22 has a curved shape along the curved back surface of the back cover 21.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the plate-like portion 22 b is attached to the back cover 21. The support portion 22a of the rear support member 22 protrudes forward from the plate-like portion 22b. The front end of the support portion 22 a is connected to the side support member 34 of the water supply portion 13. An outer member 24 that forms the outer shape of the beverage supply device 10 is provided on the back side of the back cover 21. A heat insulating material 23 is provided between the back cover 21 and the outer member 24.

  As the heat insulating material 23, conventionally used heat insulating materials such as expanded polystyrene (foamed polystyrene), foamed urethane, and vacuum heat insulating material can be used. By forming the heat insulating material 23 with polystyrene foam, it is possible to easily remove it from the apparatus. Moreover, heat insulation can be improved by forming the heat insulating material 23 with urethane foam. Therefore, the thickness of the heat insulating material 23 can be reduced.

  As described above, the water supply chamber of the beverage supply device 10 is formed by the upper mounting member 14, the back plate 17, the rotary door 18, the side plate 19, and the bottom portion 15. A rotating shaft 16 is attached to the bottom portion 15. Further, an upper rotary shaft 61 is attached to the upper attachment member 14 at the upper part thereof. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the upper rotary shaft 61 is connected to a drive unit (drive motor) 65 via a gear 62.

  With the configuration as described above, the water supply chamber 10 a can rotate around an axis including the rotary shaft 16 and the upper rotary shaft 61. For example, when the door opening / closing sensor 100 detects that the user's hand is approaching, the driving unit 65 can be driven to rotate the water supply chamber. Thereby, the water supply part 13 located in the back surface side of the rotary door 18 appears on the front side of the refrigerator 1 as shown in FIG. 3 at the time of non-use.

  Note that an upper fixing member 63 and a fixing plate 64 are attached above the upper rotary shaft 61 to suppress the vertical movement of the upper rotary shaft 61. The fixing plate 64 can be removed, and the vertical position of the upper fixing member 63 can be adjusted by removing the fixing plate 64.

  In addition, in the drink supply apparatus of this invention, it is also possible to set it as the structure which passes the water supply path | route from a water tank to the water supply part 13 inside the upper rotating shaft 61. FIG. In this case, from the upper surface 42 of the upper mounting member 14 (see FIG. 13A, etc.), the water supply section 13 having the water injection port 31, the water injection lever 32, etc. can be attached to the water supply path through the water supply path. . According to such a configuration, it is not necessary to provide a notch in the side surface 43 of the upper mounting member 14. Therefore, the revolving door can be rotated in the directions of the left and right sides.

  Next, the rotation operation of the beverage supply device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 6, the water supply chamber 10 a of the beverage supply device 10 rotates according to the position of the user's hand (indicated by U in FIG. 6) and the water supply portion appears on the front as (a) to (e). Shown in order.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the user U who wants to drink water holds his hand in front of the door opening / closing sensor 100 with a glass or the like, for example. Then, as shown in FIG. 6B, the beverage supply device 10 starts to rotate counterclockwise around the rotation center C thereof. Thereby, the water supply part 13 which was hidden on the back surface of the rotary door 18 gradually appears on the front side from the left side of the opening 20a of the glass panel 20, as shown in FIGS. The user U can slide his / her hand to the water supply unit 13 in accordance with the exposure of the water supply unit 13. And as shown in FIG.6 (e), when the water injection lever 32 which comprises the water supply part 13 is located in the front, rotation operation stops.

  As described above, in the beverage supply device 10 according to the present embodiment, the door opening / closing sensor 100 is arranged on the left side of the beverage supply device 10 (see FIG. 1), and the beverage supply device 10 rotates counterclockwise. It has become. That is, the beverage supply device 10 is configured such that the water supply unit 13 appears from the side where the door opening / closing sensor 100 is disposed. Therefore, the user U holding the glass in his / her hand can enter the water supply posture by sliding his / her hand to the right as it is from the front of the door opening / closing sensor 100.

  When the water supply operation is completed, the user leaves the water supply unit 13. A sensor 90 (see FIG. 5) that detects the presence or absence of an object near the water supply unit is provided in the vicinity of the water supply unit 13. When this sensor detects that the user and the glass are separated from the water supply unit 13, the beverage supply device 10 rotates in the opposite direction (that is, clockwise) as described above, and finally FIG. ). Note that a configuration may be adopted in which a sensor is provided in the water injection lever 32 and the revolving door 18 is automatically closed after a predetermined time has elapsed since the sensor detected the end of the water supply operation.

  As described above, the usability of the beverage supply device 10 can be improved by matching the position of the door opening / closing sensor 100 with the rotation direction of the beverage supply device 10. In addition, the position of the door opening / closing sensor and the rotation direction of the beverage supply device described in the present embodiment are examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, it is good also as a structure which arrange | positions a door opening / closing sensor on the right side of a drink supply apparatus, and rotates a drink supply apparatus clockwise.

  Moreover, in the drink supply apparatus 10 of this Embodiment, in the state at the time of use shown in FIG.6 (e) etc., the water receiver 15a which comprises the bottom part 15 of an apparatus is ahead of the surface of the door 2 of the refrigerator 1. FIG. It is comprised so that it may protrude. Thus, when the beverage supply apparatus 10 is used, the water receiver 15a protrudes forward from the surface of the door 2, so that the user U can place the glass on the water receiver 15a more easily. In addition, the external shape of the drink supply apparatus 10 becomes a substantially semicircle shape seeing from upper direction. As shown in FIG. 6A and the like, when not in use, the revolving door 18 accommodates the water supply unit 13 on the back surface in a state of being substantially flush with the door 2 of the refrigerator 1.

  With the above configuration, the aesthetic appearance of the refrigerator 1 can be maintained while the beverage supply device 10 is provided. Further, since the water supply unit 13 is exposed to the outside only during use, adhesion of dust and the like can be significantly suppressed as compared to the case where the water supply unit is always exposed. Therefore, the effect on hygiene is also high.

  In addition, in this Embodiment, the drink supply apparatus is demonstrated about the example incorporated in the refrigerator. Therefore, when the beverage supply apparatus 10 is not used, the surface of the rotary door 18 and the surface of the door 2 of the refrigerator 1 are located on the same plane. However, when the beverage supply device of the present invention is used as a single device, when the beverage supply device is not used, the wall of the revolving door of the water supply chamber is flush with the surface provided around the device. It should just be located.

  Next, a more specific configuration of the rotation shaft 16 provided at the rotation center of the beverage supply device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 7A, the rotating shaft 16 is provided with two fastener holes 52. The rotary shaft 16 is connected to the bottom portion 15 by a screw or the like through the hole 52.

  As shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C, the rotary shaft 16 is provided with a central shaft 53 and a rib 54 (auxiliary member). As shown in FIG. 5, the central shaft 53 is attached to the base component 51 and the bottom plate 15b in a rotatable state. For example, the central shaft 53 is inserted into a recess, an opening, or the like formed in the base component 51. A plurality of ribs 54 are provided along the rotational direction of the shaft so as to surround the center shaft 53. A plurality of spherical protrusions 55 are provided at the tips of the ribs 54 so that they can be easily rotated.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the rib 54 passes through the opening provided in the bottom plate 15 b and is attached so that the spherical protrusion 55 contacts the surface of the base component 51. Since the tips of the ribs 54 are spherical, the contact area with the surface of the base part 51 can be kept small. Thereby, when the rotating shaft 16 is rotated, the spherical protrusion 55 slides on the surface of the base part 51, so that a smoother rotating operation is possible. In the present embodiment, the spherical protrusion 55 is fixedly attached to the tip of the rib 54. However, the spherical protrusion 55 may be rotatably attached at the tip of the rib 54.

  The rotating shaft 16 of the present embodiment can stably support the weight of the water supply chamber 10 a by providing the rib 54 as described above around the central shaft 53. The rib 54 also has a function of suppressing the horizontal inclination of the rotating shaft 16. Moreover, the rib 54 also plays a role of determining the position of the water supply chamber 10a in the height direction.

  8 and 9 show an internal configuration of the beverage supply device 10 when the inside of the beverage supply device is viewed from the back side of the device. FIG. 8 shows a state when the beverage supply apparatus 10 is not used (the state shown in FIG. 6A), and FIG. 9 shows a state when the beverage supply apparatus 10 is used (the state shown in FIG. 6E). . In FIG. 9, the illustration of the glass panel 20 is omitted. As can be seen by comparing FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the water supply chamber 10a rotates between when in use and when not in use. Moreover, the upper attachment member 14 has a role which transmits the rotation operation | movement of the upper rotating shaft 61 to the water supply chamber 10a, and rotates between the time of use and the time of non-use similarly to the water supply chamber 10a. On the other hand, the position of the side support member 34 and the water supply unit 13 supported by the side support member 34 is always fixed, and the position does not change between when used and when not used.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 8, the drink supply apparatus 10 of this embodiment has the drive part 65 which has a motor arrange | positioned in the position above the water supply part 13. As shown in FIG. Thereby, when water leaks from the water supply part 13 by any chance, it can suppress that water permeates into the drive part 65. FIG. Moreover, it is preferable that the drive part 65 is installed in the position away from the water supply path from the water tank to the water supply part 13. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a failure in the drive part due to water leakage from the water supply path.

<About automatic rotation control of water supply room>
Next, a method for controlling the rotation of the beverage supply device 10 using the various sensors described above (the door opening / closing sensor 100 and the sensor 90) will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 27, the beverage supply device 10 includes an upper rotary shaft 61, a drive motor 65, a control unit 80, a timer 85, a door opening / closing sensor (detection unit) 100 as a configuration related to the rotation control of the water supply chamber 10 a. And a sensor 90 provided in the vicinity of the water supply unit. In the control unit 80, a rotation control unit 82, a memory 84, and the like are provided.

  In the beverage supply apparatus 10 having such a configuration, for example, when the user holds his / her hand in front of the door opening / closing sensor 100, the door opening / closing sensor 100 detects that there is a user. This detection result is transmitted to the rotation control unit 82 in the control unit 80. The rotation control unit 82 drives the drive motor 65 based on the transmitted detection result to rotate the rotary door 18 (that is, the water supply chamber 10a).

  Thereby, the water supply part 13 which was hidden on the back surface of the rotary door 18 appears gradually from the left side of the opening part 20a of the glass panel 20, as shown in FIG.6 (c) to FIG.6 (d), for example. . And the rotation control part 82 stops the operation | movement of the drive motor 65, when the water injection lever 32 which comprises the water supply part 13 is located in the front. In addition, the rotation control unit 82 stores the current open / closed state of the rotary door 18 in the memory 84.

  According to the above configuration, when the use of the beverage supply device 10 is started, the rotation control unit 82 automatically opens the revolving door 18 without the user manually rotating the revolving door 18. Can do. And a user can enter a water supply body posture by moving a glass to the horizontal direction from the front of the door opening / closing sensor 100. FIG.

  When the beverage supply operation is completed, the user leaves the water supply unit 13. A sensor 90 that detects the presence or absence of an object near the water supply unit is provided in the vicinity of the water supply unit 13. When the sensor 90 detects that the user and the glass are away from the water supply unit 13, the result is transmitted to the rotation control unit 82. The rotation control unit 82 receives this result, and drives the drive motor 65 so as to rotate the rotary door 18 in the direction opposite to the rotation operation at the start of use described above (that is, clockwise). Thereby, the revolving door 18 (namely, water supply chamber 10a) will be in the closed state shown to Fig.6 (a).

  The sensor 90 may be provided on the water injection lever 32 and detect whether or not a water injection operation is being performed. In this case, the configuration may be such that the revolving door 18 is automatically closed after a predetermined time has elapsed since the sensor 90 detected the end of the water supply operation. This elapsed time can be measured using the timer 85.

<Configuration of upper mounting member>
Next, the structure of the upper mounting member 14 interposed between the upper rotating shaft 61 and the water supply chamber 10a will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12 show a state in which the upper mounting member 14 is viewed from the back cover 21 side. FIG. 10 is a state when the beverage supply apparatus 10 is used, and is a state where the water supply unit 13 appears on the front surface of the refrigerator 1. FIG. 11 is a state when the beverage supply device 10 is not used, and is a state where the rotary door 18 is located in front of the refrigerator 1. The state of the beverage supply device 10 shown in FIG. 10 corresponds to the plan view of FIG. 9, and the state of the beverage supply device 10 shown in FIG. 11 corresponds to the plan view of FIG. Moreover, FIG. 12 shows the state which removed the water supply part 13 and the back support member 22 from the drink supply apparatus 10 shown in FIG.

  Moreover, Fig.13 (a)-(f) is the figure which looked at the upper attachment member 14 from each direction. As shown in FIG. 13, the upper mounting member 14 is mainly composed of a lower surface 41, an upper surface 42, and a side surface 43. As shown in FIG. 13A, the lower surface 41 is a plate-like member having a U shape as viewed from above. The upper surface 42 is a plate-like member having a circular shape when viewed from above. In accordance with the shape of the upper surface 42, the side surface 43 has a curved shape. The side surface 43 is formed so as to surround about one third of the circular outer periphery of the upper surface 42. Side surfaces are not provided in the remaining two thirds of the outer periphery of the upper surface 42.

  With the configuration as described above, a fixed space (a depression) is formed on the A side (see FIG. 13A) of the upper mounting member 14. The water supply part 13 is arrange | positioned at the part of this hollow. That is, the upper mounting member 14 has a structure in which the water supply unit 13 is held by the lower surface 41, the upper surface 42, and the side surface 43. Further, the side surface 43 is formed with a notch (notch) 14a on the B side (see FIG. 13A). Further, in the vicinity of the end portion on the B side of the lower surface 41, a groove 41a to be fitted in a state where the back plate 17 and the rotary door 18 are overlapped is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 10, when the beverage supply device 10 is in use, the rear support member 22 is fitted into the cutout portion 14 a of the upper mounting member 14. With such a configuration, the rotation operation of the upper rotating shaft 61 is performed without restricting the rotation of the upper mounting member 14 while reinforcing the support from the back surface of the water supply unit 13 by the rear support member 22. Can tell.

  In the present embodiment, the cutout portion 14a is formed by cutting the side surface 43 into a “U” shape (“U” shape), but the shape of the cutout portion 14a is limited to this. Not. For example, the side support 43 is provided with a “B” -shaped (rectangular) opening on the side surface 43, and when the upper mounting member 14 rotates, the side support member of the water supply unit 13 within the “B” -shaped opening. It is good also as a structure which 34 and the back support member 22 each change a position.

  However, in consideration of workability at the time of assembly, it is preferable to form the notch portion 14a in a “U” shape as in this embodiment. By making the notch 14a into a “U” shape, one end of the notch 14a is in a released state. That is, one end of the notch 14a is an open end. Thereby, attachment and removal of the upper attachment member 14 can be performed in a state where the position of the water supply unit 13 is fixed.

  In FIG. 14, sectional drawing of the drink supply apparatus 10 is shown. FIG. 14 shows a cross-sectional structure of the beverage supply apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 2 when the upper side is viewed along line CC. As shown in FIG. 14, the lower surface 41 of the upper mounting member 14 is located above the water supply chamber 10 a defined by the back plate 17 and the side surfaces 19R and 19L. And the water supply part 13 provided with the water injection port 31, the water injection lever 32, the side support member 34, etc. is arrange | positioned in the space in the upper attachment member 14 mentioned above.

  Further, the water supply unit 13 is supported by the support unit 22 a of the rear support member 22 above the back plate 17 and the rotary door 18. As shown in FIG. 14, the support portion 22a of the rear support member 22 is connected to a curved plate-like portion 22b. The plate-like portion 22b is bonded to the back surface of the back cover 21 having a similarly curved shape. With this configuration, the structural strength of the water supply unit 13 is reinforced.

<Other examples of how to attach the water supply unit>
The attachment mechanism to the apparatus of the water supply part 13 mentioned above is an example of this invention. In this invention, you may attach a water supply part to a drink supply apparatus with another method. 15A to 15D schematically show other configuration examples of the water supply unit.

  A beverage supply device 110a shown in FIG. 15A includes a water supply unit 113, a bottom unit 115, a rotary door 118, an upper surface 121, an upper rotary shaft 161 connected to a drive motor, and the like. The beverage supply device 110a shown in FIG. 15 (a) is not provided with side and back plates, and has a structure in which a water supply portion 113 having a water injection port, a water injection lever, etc. protrudes from the side into the water supply chamber. ing.

  A beverage supply device 110b shown in FIG. 15B includes a water supply unit 213, a bottom 115, a rotary door 118, an upper rotary shaft 161 connected to a drive motor, and the like. The beverage supply device 110b shown in FIG. 15 (b) is not provided with an upper surface, a side surface, and a back plate, and a water supply portion 113 having a water injection port, a water injection lever, etc. It has a structure that extends.

  Moreover, the drink supply apparatus 110c shown in FIG.15 (c) attaches the side surface 119 to the drink supply apparatus 110a shown to Fig.15 (a). Moreover, the drink supply apparatus 110d shown in FIG.15 (d) attaches the side surface 119 to the drink supply apparatus shown in FIG.15 (b).

  In any of these configurations shown in FIG. 15, the water supply unit is arranged so as to avoid the position of the upper rotating shaft 161. In contrast, in the beverage supply device 10 of the first embodiment, the water supply chamber 10a is formed by the side surface 19 and the back plate 17, and then the water is supplied to the upper mounting member 14 disposed above the water supply chamber 10a. The part 13 is accommodated. Thereby, when the water supply part 13 appears on the front surface at the time of use, it can be set as the structure by which the water supply mechanism is hard to be visually recognized from the outside. Therefore, the beauty of the beverage supply device 10 can be enhanced.

  In addition, all the attachment mechanisms of the water supply part mentioned above are examples in case the drive part for driving rotation is arrange | positioned above the water supply part. However, the drive unit is not necessarily provided above the water supply unit, and may be provided below the water supply unit. In this case, the upper rotating shaft is unnecessary. Therefore, the degree of freedom of the attachment position of the water supply unit is increased, and for example, the water supply unit can be disposed above the position overlapping the position of the rotation shaft. In addition to this, there is no mechanical restriction on the rotation direction of the rotation shaft, and the rotation door can be opened from both the left and right directions. Even in such a configuration, an upper rotating shaft may be provided for the purpose of stabilizing the rotation. In this case, for example, the configuration of the upper rotating shaft 61 as described in the present embodiment can be applied.

  In the above-described embodiment, the door is opened and closed by automatic control using a motor and a sensor. However, the beverage supply device of the present invention can be manually opened and closed without using a motor or the like. In this case, the rotating shaft should just be connected only to the bottom part of the drink supply apparatus. Therefore, an upper mounting member that connects the upper rotating shaft and the water supply chamber is also unnecessary. Therefore, in the beverage supply device that manually opens and closes the door, the revolving door can be rotated in both the left and right directions.

<Insulation on the back side of the beverage supply device>
Then, the heat insulating material provided in the backmost surface of the drink supply apparatus 10 is demonstrated. As shown in FIG. 16, the heat insulating material 23 is disposed further on the back side of the back cover 21. By providing the heat insulating material 23, the heat insulating property between the water supply chamber 10 a of the beverage supply device 10 and the storage portion of the refrigerator 1 can be enhanced. Thereby, it can suppress more effectively that external warm air enters into the refrigerator 1 via the water supply chamber 10a.

  In the present embodiment, foamed polystyrene (foamed polystyrene) is used as the heat insulating material 23. By forming the heat insulating material 23 with polystyrene foam, the heat insulating material 23 can be easily formed. Therefore, it becomes possible to easily remove the heat insulating material 23 from the apparatus.

  Thereby, it becomes possible to attach each component of the beverage supply apparatus 10 to the refrigerator 1 more easily. Moreover, it becomes possible to access each component of the drink supply apparatus 10 from the outer side member 24 side even after completion of an apparatus by forming the heat insulating material 23 with a polystyrene foam. Therefore, the workability at the time of replacement and repair of each part is improved.

  In addition, the heat insulating material 23 can also be formed with heat insulating materials, such as foaming urethane, for example. Heat insulation can be improved by using urethane foam as the heat insulating material. Therefore, the thickness of the heat insulating material 23 can be reduced, and the volume of the beverage supply apparatus 10 as a whole can be reduced. Alternatively, the heat insulating material may be produced by spraying urethane foam onto a hollow case molded into a predetermined shape. According to the urethane foam heat insulating material thus obtained, the heat insulating property can be improved and the removal can be easily performed.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 16, the water supply chamber 10a (room divided by the side surfaces 19R and 19L and the back plate 17) of the beverage supply device 10 is a circle formed with a radius L from the rotation center C of the water supply chamber 10a. The size is adjusted so as to be within the range (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 16). The size of the radius L is preferably as small as possible as long as the operability during use of the beverage supply device 10 is not hindered. Thereby, the whole magnitude | size of the drink supply apparatus 10 can be made small. Further, a relatively large space for arranging the heat insulating material 23 can be secured.

  Then, the side surfaces 19R and 19L forming the outer shape of the water supply chamber 10a are circles in which the four corners of the water supply chamber 10a (portions surrounded by broken-line circles in FIG. 16) are formed with the radius L described above ( In FIG. 16, it is preferably chamfered so as to be within the range (indicated by a two-dot chain line). Thereby, the volume of the water supply chamber 10a can be secured as large as possible without hindering the rotation operation of the water supply chamber 10a. Further, the bottom portion 15 may have a curved shape that protrudes forward within a range that fits within a circle formed by the radius L.

<Positioning of the beverage supply device with respect to the opening of the glass panel>
Then, the attachment method of the drink supply apparatus 10 to the door 2 of the refrigerator 1 is demonstrated, referring FIGS. 17-19. FIG. 17 shows a cross-sectional configuration of the refrigerator 1 to which the beverage supply device 10 is attached, taken along line DD in FIG. FIG. 17 shows in particular the lower part of the beverage supply device 10. FIG. 18 is an enlarged view showing a boundary portion between the glass panel 20 of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 16 and the side surface 19L of the beverage supply device 10.

  The beverage supply device 10 of the present embodiment is attached so that the front cover 12 is positioned with respect to a window (opening) 20 a formed in the glass panel 20. And the water supply chamber 10a (the bottom part 15, the side surface 19, the back plate 17, the rotary door 18, etc.) which comprises the drink supply apparatus 10 with respect to the opening part (hole) 12a provided in the front cover 12 is positioned. . Further, a mechanism for attaching the rotating shaft 16 is formed in the base part 51 integrated with the front cover 12. By attaching the rotation shaft 16 to the attachment mechanism of the base component 51, the rotation shaft 16 can be accurately arranged at the center of the opening 20a of the glass panel 20.

  The front cover 12 positioned in the opening 20a of the glass panel 20 as described above is fixed to the glass panel 20 by the frame member 11 formed of a material having elasticity such as resin. For example, as shown in FIG. 17, the frame member 11 and the front cover 12 are formed by fitting the claws (projections) 11 a formed in the frame member 11 into the holes 12 b formed in the front cover 12. Connected. The frame member 11 is also formed with a groove into which the glass panel 20 is fitted. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 17, the front cover 12 is fixed to the glass panel 20 via the frame member 11.

  FIG. 19 shows another example of how the front cover 12 is fixed to the glass panel 20. As shown in FIG. 19, the front cover 12 may be bonded and fixed to the glass panel 20 with an adhesive 81. Further, a double-sided tape may be used in place of the adhesive 81.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, the front cover 12 of the beverage supply device 10 is fixed to the outer frame 2 a of the door 2 of the refrigerator 1 by a fixing member 71. The fixing member 71 is attached to the mating recess 12 c provided in the front cover 12. Thereby, the drink supply apparatus 10 is stably fixed with respect to a door main body.

  Moreover, the drink supply apparatus 10 of this embodiment has a predetermined clearance gap between the base component 51 comprised as a part of the front cover 12, and the baseplate 15b, as shown in FIG. Is preferred. With this configuration, for the front cover 12 attached to the door 2 of the refrigerator 1, first, the water supply chamber 10 a composed of the side surface 19, the back plate 17, the rotary door 18, and the bottom plate 15 b is replaced with the base component 51. It can be once placed below the actual position so as to make contact. Next, the upper rotary shaft 61 is passed through the opening 12a of the front cover 12 and installed at a predetermined position. Finally, the water supply chamber 10a is lifted upward, and the rotary shaft 16 can be attached in a state where a predetermined gap is formed between the water supply chamber 10a and the base part 51.

  According to such a configuration, when the water supply chamber 10a of the beverage supply apparatus 10 is removed for the purpose of repair or the like after the product is completed, the rotary shaft 16 attached to the bottom 15 is removed to remove the front of the refrigerator 1. The water supply chamber 10a can be easily removed from the side. Such a configuration is preferably adopted when, for example, the heat insulating material 23 is formed of a spray material such as urethane foam.

  In addition, when a foamed polystyrene is used as the heat insulating material 23, for example, it becomes possible to remove each component from the back surface (side on which the outer member 24 is provided) of the beverage supply device 10. In this case, the water supply chamber 10a may be attached to the front cover 12 with both the lower rotary shaft 16 and the upper rotary shaft 61 previously attached to the water supply chamber 10a. Thereafter, the upper fixing member 63 and the fixing plate 64 are attached to the back surface of the upper rotating shaft 61 to fix the upper rotating shaft 61. According to such a structure, each component of the drink supply apparatus 10 can be removed more easily from the back side.

<About the shape of the frame member and the gap between the revolving door and the frame member>
In FIG. 20, the frame member 11 attached around the opening 20a of the glass panel 20 and the corners of the water supply chamber 10a (the back plate 17, the rotary door 18, and the side surface 19) of the beverage supply device 10 are enlarged. Show. In FIG. 20, the beverage supply device 10 is in a non-use state, and the revolving door 18 is located in the front. As shown in FIG. 20, the back plate 17 is fitted in a groove 19 a formed on the side surface 19. The revolving door 18 is attached to the back plate 17 with an adhesive or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 20, in the present embodiment, at the corner portion of the water supply chamber 10 a, the end portion of the side surface 19 has an inclined portion 19 b that is inclined inside the rotary door 18. Thereby, the lateral width (width from the side surface 19R to the side surface 19L) of the water supply chamber 10a becomes narrower toward the surface side of the rotary door 18.

  In this embodiment, by having such an inclined portion 19b, the corner portion of the water supply chamber 10a is a glass panel during rotation while maintaining the lateral width of the water supply chamber 10a (the width from the side surface 19R to the side surface 19L) as large as possible. It can avoid contacting the 20 edge part (frame member 11). By increasing the width of the water supply chamber 10a (the width from the side surface 19R to the side surface 19L) as much as possible, when the refrigerator 1 is viewed from the front, the gap (x1) between the door 2 and the revolving door 18 of the beverage supply device 10 is reduced. It can be made smaller (see FIG. 21A).

  Further, since the revolving door 18 has such an inclined portion 19b, the shape of the water supply chamber 10a is made to follow a rotating arc (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 16) having a radius L around the rotation center C. be able to.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 20, the frame member 11 has the protrusion part 11b extended in the same direction as the surface of the glass panel 20, when the glass panel 20 is inserted. And as shown with a broken line in FIG. 20, the front-end | tip of the protrusion part 11b is comprised so that it may overlap with the outermost end surface of the side surface 19 in the front view of the refrigerator 1. FIG.

  By doing in this way, when the refrigerator 1 is seen from the front side, the clearance gap between the door 2 and the drink supply apparatus 10 can be made inconspicuous, and the aesthetics of the refrigerator 1 can be improved more. By providing such a frame member 11, for example, the gap between the door 2 and the beverage supply device 10 can be reduced by about 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm compared to a case where the frame member 11 described later is not provided. it can.

  Moreover, the inner side inclination part 11c is provided in the front-end | tip of the protrusion part 11b. The inner inclined portion 11c is provided at a position facing the outer corner of the water supply chamber 10a when the beverage supply device 10 is not used. The inner inclined portion 11c is inclined in the same direction as the inclined portion 19b.

  The frame member 11 can be removed. When the frame member 11 is removed, a gap is formed between the end portion of the glass panel 20 and the side surface 19. That is, the maximum width of the water supply chamber 10a of the beverage supply device 10 is smaller than the width of the opening 20a of the glass panel 20 with the frame member 11 removed. Thereby, taking-out of the water supply chamber 10a from the front of the refrigerator 1 can be performed more easily, and workability | operativity improves.

  FIG. 21A shows a modification of the side surface 19. The side surface 19 shown in FIG. 21A has a bent portion 19c that extends to the surface side of the rotary door 18 and is formed so as to hold the rotary door 18 from the outside. By providing such a bent portion 19c, it is possible to avoid the end of the rotary door 18 from being exposed. In addition, by providing the bent portion 19c, the gap (x1) between the door 2 and the beverage supply device 10 when the rotary door 18 rotates can be made less noticeable (see 21 (a)). . Furthermore, by providing the bent portion 19c, the gap Y (see FIG. 20) between the rotary door 18 and the side surface 19 can be made inconspicuous.

  Further, similarly to the side surface shown in FIG. 20, an inclined portion 19b is also formed on the side surface 19 shown in FIG. By having such an inclined portion 19b, when the water supply chamber 10a of the beverage supply device 10 rotates, for example, as shown in FIG. 21 (b), water supply is provided with a predetermined gap (x2). The corner portion of the chamber 10a can pass the end portion (frame member 11) of the glass panel 20. Therefore, it can avoid that the corner | angular part of the water supply chamber 10a contacts the edge part (frame member 11) of the glass panel 20. FIG.

<Summary of First Embodiment>
As described above, the beverage supply device 10 is mounted on the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment. The beverage supply apparatus 10 includes a beverage supply chamber 10a that rotates in the horizontal direction. And the drink supply apparatus 10 has the water supply part 13 concealed in the back surface of the rotation door 18 of the drink supply chamber 10a in the non-use state, and the drink supply chamber 10a rotates in the use state. The portion 13 is exposed to the front.

  Therefore, according to the configuration of the beverage supply device 10 of the present embodiment, the water supply unit 13 is not exposed to the outside in a non-use state, so that dust, dirt, and the like are prevented from adhering to the water inlet 31. be able to. Therefore, a more hygienic beverage supply device can be provided.

  Moreover, in the state which the drink supply apparatus 10 is not in use, since the water supply mechanism of the water supply unit 13 is not exposed to the outside, the design of the appearance of the apparatus can be improved. In particular, in the beverage supply device 10 of the present embodiment, the door 2 of the refrigerator 1 and the revolving door 18 of the beverage supply device 10 are located on substantially the same plane, so the aesthetic appearance of the refrigerator 1 when not in use is further improved. be able to.

  In addition, the rotation structure of the water supply chamber in the drink supply apparatus mentioned above is not only a drink supply apparatus, but provides a small revolving door in a part of the main door of the refrigerator, and a refrigerator having a small storage on the back of the revolving door. It can also be applied to configurations. In such a small storage, for example, one or several drinks (milk pack, drink pack, PET bottle tea or soft drink, etc.) can be stored.

  If a beverage with higher usage frequency is stored in such a small storage, the desired beverage can be taken out from the rotary door without opening the main door of the refrigerator. Thus, by taking out a drink from a rotation door, the temperature rise in a refrigerator can be suppressed compared with the case where a main door is opened and a drink is taken out. Further, by providing the revolving door of the small storage box at a relatively low position, even a small child can easily take out the beverage from the revolving door.

<Modification: Configuration example in which no frame member is provided>
In FIG. 22, the other example of a refrigerator provided with a drink supply apparatus is shown. A refrigerator 201 illustrated in FIG. 22A includes a door 202 for a refrigerator compartment. The door 202 of the refrigerator 201 is provided with a beverage supply device 210. FIG. 22A shows a state when the beverage supply device 210 is not used. Similar to the beverage supply device 10 according to the first embodiment described above, the rotating door 218 of the beverage supply device 210 is located on the front side of the refrigerator 201 when not in use. The refrigerator 201 shown in FIGS. 22A to 22D is different from the refrigerator 1 of the first embodiment in that a frame member is not provided at the opening of the door 202.

  About the other point, it has the structure fundamentally the same as the refrigerator 1. FIG. That is, in the beverage supply device 210, when a door opening / closing sensor (not shown) detects a user's hand or the like, the rotary door rotates in the horizontal direction so that the water supply unit 231 including the water injection lever 232 appears on the front. It is configured. FIG.22 (b) shows the state in the middle of the water supply chamber of the drink supply apparatus 210 rotating. FIG.22 (c) shows the state at the time of use of the drink supply apparatus 210, ie, the state where the water supply part 231 has appeared in the front.

  In FIG. 23, the glass panel of the door 202 provided in the front of the refrigerator 201 and the rotation door 218 of the drink supply apparatus 210 are shown typically. As shown in FIG. 23, the opening 202a formed in the glass panel of the door 202 is not provided with a frame member. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 23, when the revolving door 18 is closed, the glass panel of the door 202 and the revolving door 218 of the beverage supply device 210 are flush with each other. Thus, the refrigerator 201 can eliminate the unevenness | corrugation of the surface of a door as much as possible when the drink supply apparatus 210 is a non-use state. Therefore, the design of the refrigerator 201 can be improved.

  In addition, as shown in FIG.22 (d), the rotation door 218 can be rotated from both the counterclockwise direction and the clockwise direction by providing the attachment mechanism of the water supply part 231 in the position which does not interfere with rotation of a water supply chamber. Can be made. Therefore, the water supply part 231 can be exposed to the front from the left side or the right side of the beverage supply device 210.

<Example of automatic water injection based on sensor>
In the beverage supply apparatus 10 of the first embodiment described above, water injection is performed using the water injection lever 32. However, in the present invention, water injection is controlled using the water injection sensor and the water injection control unit (discharge control unit). You may go. 24A to 24C show an example in which drinking water is poured into the glass G (container) using the water filling sensor 390.

  The beverage supply device shown in FIG. 24A is provided with a water injection sensor 390 that detects the presence of an object such as a user or a glass in the vicinity of the water supply unit 313. When the user U and the glass G approach or contact the vicinity of the water inlet of the water supply unit 313, the water injection sensor 390 detects it. Then, the water injection control unit opens the valve of the water supply unit 313 based on the detection result of the water injection sensor 390. Thereby, water is supplied to the glass G from the water supply part 313, as shown in FIG.24 (b).

  Moreover, as shown in FIG.24 (c), when the user U and the glass G leave | separate from the water supply part 313, the sensor 390 for water injection will detect it. The water injection control unit closes the valve of the water supply unit 313 based on the detection result of the water injection sensor 390. Thereby, the supply of water from the water supply unit 313 is stopped.

  In FIG. 28, the structure of the drink supply apparatus which performs water injection control using the sensor for water injection and a water injection control part is shown. In addition, in FIG. 28, the structure relevant to rotation control of the water supply chamber 10a is also shown collectively.

  As shown in FIG. 28, the beverage supply apparatus 10 includes an upper rotary shaft 61, a drive motor 65, a control unit 80, a timer 85, a door opening / closing sensor (detection unit) 100 as a configuration related to the rotation control of the water supply chamber 10 a. , And a water injection sensor 390 and the like. In addition, the beverage supply device 10 includes a water injection sensor 390, a control unit 80, a water supply unit 313, and the like as components related to water injection control. In the control unit 80, a rotation control unit 82, a water injection control unit 83, a memory 84, and the like are provided.

  The water injection sensor 390 is provided in the vicinity of the water supply unit 313 and detects the presence of an object such as a user or a glass. The water injection control unit 83 opens or closes the valve of the water supply unit 313 based on the detection result of the water injection sensor 390.

  For example, when a glass is placed below the water inlet of the water supply unit 313, the water injection sensor 390 detects it. Then, the detection result is transmitted to the water injection control unit 83 in the control unit 80. The water injection control unit 83 opens the valve of the water supply unit 313 based on the transmitted detection result. Thereby, water is supplied to the glass G from the water supply part 313, as shown in FIG.24 (b).

  And if a glass leaves | separates from the downward direction of the water supply part 313, the sensor 390 for water injection will detect it. Then, the detection result is transmitted to the water injection control unit 83 in the control unit 80. The water injection control unit 83 closes the valve of the water supply unit 313 based on the transmitted detection result. Thereby, the supply of water from the water supply unit 313 is stopped.

  The water injection control unit 83 may perform control so that the valve of the water supply unit 313 is closed after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of water supply. This elapsed time can be measured using the timer 85.

  The same method as the method described with reference to FIG. 27 can be applied to the rotation control of the revolving door 18 (that is, the water supply chamber 10a) in the beverage supply apparatus 10 having the above configuration. The water injection sensor 390 is also used as a sensor for detecting the end of the water supply operation, like the sensor 90. That is, when the water injection sensor 390 detects that the user and the glass are separated from the water supply unit 313, the rotation control unit 82 closes the rotary door 18 (that is, the water supply chamber 10a) to the water supply chamber. Rotate 10a.

  As described above, by pouring the beverage using the water injection sensor 390 and the water injection control unit, it is possible to smoothly pour the desired amount into the glass. The water injection sensor 390 may be a contact reaction sensor or a non-contact type sensor. When a non-contact type sensor is used, it is desirable to use a sensor with the shortest possible reaction distance.

  As the water injection control method by the water injection control unit, the user's hand or glass is detected as an obstacle, the beverage supply is automatically started or stopped, the glass liquid level or weight is detected, and discharge is performed depending on the time. Various methods such as a method of adjusting the amount can be adopted. For example, the amount of water can be adjusted at the user's will by using a control method in which water is discharged only when the user's hand and glass are very close (or in contact). Therefore, convenience is high.

<Second Embodiment>
Subsequently, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In 1st Embodiment mentioned above, the drink supply apparatus was demonstrated to the example incorporated in the refrigerator. However, the beverage supply device of the present invention does not necessarily have to be built in the refrigerator, and may be installed alone, for example, in a facility such as a gymnasium, a sports facility, or a hospital. Therefore, in this embodiment, an example in which a beverage supply device is installed alone will be described.

  FIG. 25 and FIG. 26 show an external configuration of the beverage supply device 110 according to the present embodiment. About the structure inside the drink supply apparatus 110 of this Embodiment, the same structure as the drink supply apparatus 10 which concerns on the above-mentioned 1st Embodiment is applicable. Therefore, in the present embodiment, only points different from the first embodiment will be described.

  In FIG. 25, the external appearance of the drink supply apparatus 110 concerning this embodiment is shown. As shown in FIG. 25, the beverage supply device 110 has the rotary door 18 positioned on the front side of the device 110. The water supply mechanism and the water tank (tank) 120 of the beverage supply device 110 are arranged on the back side of the rotary door 18 and are not visible. In FIG. 25, the water tank 120 is indicated by a broken line for convenience. Thus, when the beverage supply device 110 is not in use, the revolving door 18 and the surface 200 of the beverage supply device 110 main body (the outer surface of the beverage supply device around the revolving door 18) are positioned on substantially the same plane. To do.

  As shown in FIG. 25, a door opening / closing sensor 100 is provided in the vicinity of the rotary door 18. The door opening / closing sensor 100 detects that the user's hand etc. of the drink supply apparatus 110 approached the circumference | surroundings, or the hand touched the said sensor.

  In FIG. 26, the state at the time of use of the drink supply apparatus 110 is shown. When the door opening / closing sensor 100 detects a user's hand or the like, the beverage supply device 110 is configured such that the rotary door 18 rotates in the horizontal direction and the water supply mechanism appears in the front.

  As described above, the beverage supply apparatus 110 according to the present embodiment includes the beverage supply chamber 10a that rotates in the horizontal direction. And the drink supply apparatus 110 has the water supply part concealed in the back surface of the rotation door 18 of the drink supply chamber 10a in the state of non-use, and the drink supply chamber 10a rotates in the state of use, and the water supply part Is exposed to the front.

  Therefore, according to the configuration of the beverage supply device 110 of the present embodiment, the water supply portion is not exposed to the outside in a non-use state, and thus it is possible to suppress dust and dirt from adhering to the water inlet 31. Can do. Therefore, a more hygienic beverage supply device can be provided.

  In addition, when the beverage supply device 110 is not in use, the water supply mechanism of the water supply unit is not exposed to the outside, so that the design of the device appearance can be improved. In particular, in the beverage supply device 110 of the present embodiment, the surface 200 of the beverage supply device 110 main body and the rotary door 18 are located on substantially the same plane, so that the aesthetics of the beverage supply device 110 in a non-use state can be obtained. It can be improved further.

  In addition, the drink supply apparatus 110 which concerns on the above-mentioned 2nd Embodiment may be installed in the wall surface of facilities, such as a gymnasium, a sports facility, and a hospital, for example. In this case, a predetermined installation space is formed behind the wall where the beverage supply device 110 is installed. And what is necessary is just to install the drink supply apparatus 110 in the said space. In this case, by making the material and color of the surface of the revolving door of the beverage supply device the same material and color as the wall surface of the facility, the presence of the beverage supply device becomes inconspicuous when not in use, and the aesthetics of the facility can be enhanced. . It is also possible to prevent the beverage supply device from obstructing the passage of people in the facility.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims. Further, configurations obtained by combining the configurations of the different embodiments described in this specification with each other are also included in the scope of the present invention.

1: Refrigerator 2: Door (of refrigerator) 10: Beverage supply device 10a: Water supply room (beverage supply room)
11: Frame member 13: Water supply part (discharge part)
14: Upper mounting member 14a: Notch portion 15 (of upper mounting member): Bottom portion 16 (of water supply chamber): Rotating shaft 17 (of lower portion): Back plate 18 (of water supply chamber): Revolving door (of beverage supply chamber) door)
19: Side plate 20 (of water supply chamber): Glass panel (outer surface around door)
23: Insulating material 31: Water injection port 32: Water injection lever 53: Center axis (center of rotation axis)
54: Rib (auxiliary member)
61: Upper rotating shaft 65: Drive unit 51: Base component 100: Door open / close sensor (detection unit)
110: Beverage supply device 120: Water tank (tank)
200: Surface (outside of beverage supply device main body) (outer surface of beverage supply device around door)
390: Water injection sensor

Claims (4)

A tank for storing beverages;
A discharge part for discharging the beverage in the tank;
A water supply chamber that houses the discharge part and has a door that rotates in a horizontal direction;
A detection unit that is arranged beside the door and detects the presence or absence of a user who uses the discharge unit;
A control unit for controlling the rotation of the door,
When not in use, the discharge part is hidden on the back of the door,
When the detection unit detects that there is a user, the control unit rotates the door so that the water supply chamber is exposed from the side where the detection unit is disposed . The door forms a beverage supply chamber;
A drive unit for driving rotation of the door and the beverage supply chamber;
Rotating shafts provided at the upper and lower parts of the beverage supply chamber,
With
The beverage supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a rotation shaft provided on the upper part and the drive unit are connected. The discharge unit is provided with a discharge control unit for controlling supply start and supply stop of the beverage from the discharge unit,
The beverage supply device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the discharge control unit determines whether or not a container is present under the discharge unit, and controls the discharge of the beverage. The beverage supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
A refrigerator comprising a refrigerator compartment containing the tank.

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