Cooling and/or freezing device

Abstract

A refrigerator and/or freezer is described having at least one body that encloses at least one cooled interior space, and with at least one first and one second door opening in opposite directions, which doors are articulated to the body, wherein the interior space can be closed, wherein one or both doors include one or more seals that in the closed condition of the doors are disposed in the gap between the doors, wherein the at least one seal is in its closed end position when the doors are closed, characterized in that the appliance includes at least one door opening sensor and at least one drive unit communicating with the same, which is configured to move the at least one seal of a door away from the other door into an open end position, wherein the drive unit furthermore is configured such that the same is activated when the door opening sensor detects the opening of a door or the touching of the door by a user.

Claims

1. A refrigeration unit which is a refrigerator, a freezer or a refrigerator-freezer-combination, the refrigeration unit having: a body that encloses an interior space; a first door and a second door hinged to the body and opening in opposite directions, the first door and the second door covering an opening to the interior space; a first seal mounted to the first door such that when the doors are closed the first seal protrudes into a gap between the doors, thereby assuming a closed position relative to the first door; a first door opening sensor; and a first drive unit communicating with the first door opening sensor; wherein the first drive unit is configured to withdraw, when activated, the first seal from the closed position into an open position relative to the second door, where the first seal is further removed from the second door and retracted towards the first door; wherein the first drive unit communicates with the first seal via a mechanism comprising an eccentric; and wherein the first drive unit is configured to be activated if the first door opening sensor detects that a first door is opened or that the first door is touched by a user.

2. The refrigeration unit according to claim 1, wherein the first drive unit is configured as an electric motor or as a pneumatic, hydraulic or electromagnetic drive unit.

3. The refrigeration unit according to claim 1, wherein the first door opening sensor is a door ajar switch or a touch sensor.

4. The refrigeration unit according to claim 1, wherein the first drive unit is configured to hold the first seal in the open position as long as the first door is detected to be open.

5. The refrigeration unit according to claim 1, wherein the first drive unit is configured to return the first seal into the closed position only if the first door is detected to be closed.

6. The refrigeration unit according to claim 1, wherein the first seal is a magnetic seal or is a seal without magnets.

7. The refrigeration unit according to claim 1, further comprising a second seal mounted to the second door such that when the doors are closed the second seal protrudes into the gap between the doors, thereby assuming a closed position relative to the second door; a second door opening sensor; and a second drive unit communicating with the second door opening sensor; wherein the second drive unit is configured to withdraw, when activated, the second seal from its closed position into an open position relative to the second door, where the second seal is further removed from the first door and retracted towards the second door; wherein the second drive unit communicates with the second seal via a mechanism comprising an eccentric; and wherein the second drive unit is configured to be activated if the second door opening sensor detects that the second door is opened or that the appliance is touched by a user.

8. The refrigeration unit according to claim 7, wherein the second drive unit is configured as an electric motor or as a pneumatic, hydraulic or electromagnetic drive unit.

9. The refrigeration unit according to claim 7, wherein the second door opening sensor is a door ajar switch or a touch sensor.

10. The refrigeration unit according to claim 7, wherein the second drive unit is configured to hold the second seal in its open position as long as the second door is detected to be open.

11. The refrigeration unit according to claim 7, wherein the second drive unit is configured to return the second seal into its closed position only if the second door is detected to be closed.

12. The refrigeration unit according to claim 7, wherein the second seal is a magnetic seal or is a seal without magnets.

Description

(1) Further details and advantages of the invention will be explained in detail with reference to an exemplary embodiment described below.

(2) The only FIGURE shows the mutually facing portion of two doors of a French-door appliance.

(3) The exemplary embodiment relates to a French-door appliance that includes two doors which can be opened in opposite directions. With their one side region, the doors each are articulated to the appliance body by hinges or bearings etc. On the other side of the doors seals are disposed, which seal the gap between the doors.

(4) The only FIGURE by way of example shows a cross-sectional view of the region of the two doors 10, 10 in which the same rest against each other in the closed condition. In the FIGURE, the door 10 shown on the left is slightly open.

(5) The doors each consist of an outer door or of an outer region 12, 12, which for example can be designed as a metal sheet, and of an inner door or an inner region 14, 14, which for example can be made of plastic material. As can be taken from the FIGURE, webs are located on this inner region, to which one or more door shelves can be attached.

(6) The reference numeral 200, 200 in the FIGURE designates door seals which can be magnetic or non-magnetic door seals by means of which the doors sealingly rest against a counter-surface of the body.

(7) In the regions of the doors 10, 10 facing each other, i.e. in the region of the vertically extending narrow door sides facing each other, the same are provided with seals 20, 20 that perform a sealing between the doors when both doors 10, 10 are closed.

(8) Reference numeral A, A each designates an arbitrary drive unit which for example can be configured as a servo motor or electric motor and which has the task to move the seal 20, 20 away from the respective door (direction of arrow 1) or to move it towards the door (direction of arrow 2).

(9) On the body of the appliance or also on the door at least one door ajar switch (or door opening sensor) is disposed 50 and 50.

(10) This door ajar switch detects whether or not the door is open.

(11) In the example shown in the FIGURE the left door 10 is open, which is detected by the corresponding door ajar switch. As soon as the door ajar switch reports the opening of the door, this signal is transmitted to the drive unit A for example via an electronic unit or a control or regulation unit. Said drive unit then is activated and pulls the door seal 20 away from the door 10 remaining closed, so that the gap or distance between the doors 10, 10 is increased.

(12) Thus, the door 10 can easily be opened or also be closed again without colliding with parts of the counter-door. The seal 20 then can remain in this position until the door 10 is closed again, which is detected by the door ajar switch 50 or 50. As soon as the door 10 is closed again, the seal 20 is moved back again (according to the direction of arrow 1) and then again sealingly rests against the counter-surface of the door 10.

(13) This counter-surface likewise can represent a seal 20 or also simply only the front side or narrow side of the door 10 without seal.

(14) By the present invention, a reliable movement of the door seal is achieved. As explained, the drive of the door seal preferably is effected electromechanically, i.e. for example by an electric motor or servo motor, which via a mechanism acts on the seal and deflects or retracts the same in the desired way.