Domestic refrigeration appliance

Abstract

A domestic refrigeration appliance includes a heat-insulated inner container delimiting a coolable interior for foodstuffs, a refrigeration device cooling the interior, a door leaf articulated by hinges for opening and closing the interior and an opening aid. At least one hinge is self-closing for automatically closing the door leaf up to a first opening angle. The opening aid includes an actuator and a tappet moving back and forth by the actuator between first and second positions. The opening aid enables the door leaf to be closed if the tappet is in the first position, to move the tappet from the first to the second position to push open the closed door leaf using the tappet up to a second opening angle smaller than the first opening angle, and to automatically move the tappet into the first position immediately or with a time delay after reaching the second position.

Claims

1. A domestic refrigeration appliance, comprising: a heat-insulated inner container delimiting a coolable interior for storing foodstuffs; a refrigeration device for cooling said coolable interior; a door leaf for opening and closing said coolable interior; hinges mounting said door leaf along an axis in an articulated manner relative to said inner container, at least one of said hinges being a self-closing hinge acting on said door leaf up to a first opening angle of said door leaf for automatically closing said door leaf; and an opening aid device including an actuator, a tappet being movable at least indirectly back and forth by said actuator between a first position and a second position, a sensor for identifying pushing on and pulling on said door leaf, and an electronic control device being activated by said sensor and being configured to operate said actuator: to enable said door leaf to be closed if said tappet is in said first position, to move said tappet from said first position to said second position to push open said closed door leaf through a second opening angle being smaller than said first opening angle by using said tappet, to move said tappet automatically into said first position immediately or with a time delay after reaching said second position, to automatically move said tappet immediately from said first position into said second position upon pulling on said closed door leaf, and to automatically move said tappet from said first position into said second position with a time delay after said sensor identifies a pushing on said closed door leaf, in order to prevent said opening aid device from pushing said door leaf open during said pushing on said closed door leaf.

2. The domestic refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, wherein said opening aid device moves said tappet over a time period, and said time period in which said opening aid device moves said tappet from said first position into said second position by pulling on said closed door leaf is shorter than said time period in which said opening aid device moves said tappet from said first position into said second position by pushing on said closed door leaf.

3. The domestic refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, wherein said opening aid device automatically moves said tappet immediately from said second position into said first position after pulling on said closed door leaf.

4. The domestic refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, wherein said opening aid device automatically moves said tappet for a time period, in a time-delayed manner, from said second position into said first position after pushing on said closed door leaf.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown by way of example in the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a domestic refrigeration appliance in a perspective view,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the domestic refrigeration appliance,

(4) FIG. 3 shows an opening aid device of the domestic refrigeration appliance,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a diagram for illustrating the operation of the opening aid device, and

(6) FIG. 5 shows a plan view of a further domestic refrigeration appliance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) FIG. 1 shows a domestic refrigeration appliance 1 in a perspective view and FIG. 2 shows the domestic refrigeration appliance 1 in a plan view.

(8) The domestic refrigeration appliance 1 comprises a body 2 with a heat-insulated inner container 3 which defines a coolable interior 4. The coolable interior 4 is provided for storing foodstuffs, not shown in more detail.

(9) In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, the domestic refrigeration appliance 1 has a door leaf 5 mounted in an articulated manner for closing the coolable interior 4. The door leaf 5 is mounted in an articulated manner, in particular, relative to a vertically extending axis, not shown. When the door leaf 5 is open, as shown in FIG. 1, the coolable interior 4 is accessible. The door leaf 5 is mounted in an articulated manner by means of hinges relative to the heat-insulated inner container 2. The hinges are fastened, for example, to the body 2.

(10) On the side of the door leaf 5 oriented in the direction of the coolable interior 4, in the case of the present exemplary embodiment a plurality of door compartments 6 are arranged for storing foodstuffs. In particular, a plurality of shelves 7 are arranged in the coolable interior 4 for storing foodstuffs and, in particular, a drawer 8 is arranged in the lower region of the coolable interior 4, foodstuffs also being able to be stored therein.

(11) The domestic refrigeration appliance 1 further comprises a door seal 5a fastened to the side of the door leaf 5 oriented in the direction of the coolable interior 4.

(12) The domestic refrigeration appliance 1 comprises a device 18 having a refrigerant circuit for cooling the coolable interior 4. In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, the refrigerant circuit comprises a compressor, a condenser arranged downstream of the compressor, a throttle device which is arranged downstream of the condenser and which is designed, in particular, as a throttle tube or capillary tube, and an evaporator which is arranged between the throttle device and the compressor.

(13) The domestic refrigeration appliance 1 is, for example, a domestic refrigeration appliance and/or may be designed as a so-called No Frost domestic refrigeration appliance.

(14) In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, the domestic refrigeration appliance 1 comprises an electronic control device 9 which is designed to activate the refrigerant circuit, in particular the compressor thereof, in a manner generally known by the person skilled in the art, such that the coolable interior 4 has at least approximately a predetermined or predeterminable set temperature. The electronic control device 9 is preferably designed such that it controls the temperature of the coolable interior 4. In order to maintain the actual temperature of the coolable interior 4, if required, the domestic refrigeration appliance 1 may comprise at least one temperature sensor which is not shown in more detail and which is connected to the electronic control device 9.

(15) At least one of the hinges of the domestic refrigeration appliance 1 is configured as a self-closing hinge 10. The self-closing hinge 10 comprises a pretensioned spring, not shown in more detail, which acts on the hinge 10 up to a first opening angle ? by which the door leaf 5 is opened, and which automatically moves the door leaf 5 into its closed position due to the spring force exerted by the spring. The door leaf 5 opened by the first opening angle ?, is shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2. The first opening angle ? is, in particular, less than or equal to 45? preferably approximately 30?.

(16) The domestic refrigeration appliance 1 further comprises an opening aid device 11, not shown in more detail, in FIG. 3. The opening aid device 11 of the domestic refrigeration appliance 1 is provided to assist an opening of the door leaf 5. The opening aid device 11, in the case of the domestic refrigeration appliance 1 shown in FIG. 1, is thus a door opening aid device.

(17) In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, the opening aid device 11 is fastened in or on the body 2, preferably centrally relative to the door leaf 5. The opening aid device 11 comprises a tappet 12 which is able to be moved back and forth at least indirectly by means of an actuator, for example an electric motor 13, between a first position and a second position. In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, the opening aid device 11 comprises a gear mechanism 14 arranged between the tappet 12 and the electric motor 13. The electric motor 13 and the gear mechanism 14 are arranged inside a housing 17 and the tappet 12 protrudes, at least in the second position thereof, at least partially from the housing 17.

(18) The opening aid device 11 is provided to push open the door leaf 5 automatically from its closed position to a second opening angle ? by means of the tappet 12, so that from there the door leaf 5 is able to be opened manually in a simpler manner in order to be opened fully. The door leaf 5 in the position opened by means of the tappet 12 to the second opening angle ? is shown in FIG. 5 by solid lines.

(19) In the first position thereof, the tappet 12 is retracted and enables the door leaf 5 to be closed. In the second position thereof, the tappet 12 is extended by a predetermined distance l, of for example 35 mm, and pushes the door leaf 5 ajar to the second opening angle ?. The tappet 12 in the first position thereof is shown in FIG. 3 by solid lines and in the second position thereof by dashed lines.

(20) The self-closing hinge 10 and the opening aid device 11 are adapted to one another such that the second opening angle ?, by which the tappet 12 opens the door leaf 5, is smaller, preferably substantially smaller, than the first opening angle ? within which the self-closing hinge 10 is able to close the door leaf 5 automatically.

(21) In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, the opening aid device 11 is activated by means of a separate electronic control device 15. The electronic control device 15 is arranged, in particular, inside the housing 17. It is, however, also possible that the opening aid device 11 is activated by the electronic control device 9 activating the refrigerant circuit. It may also be provided that both electronic control devices 9, 15 are able to communicate with one another.

(22) In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, it is provided that if the electronic control device 15 identifies that a person wishes to open the door leaf 5, the electronic control device 15 activates the electric motor 13, such that the tappet 12 moves from the first position thereof into the second position thereof in order to open the door leaf 5 to the second opening angle ?. After the tappet 12 is in the second position thereof and the door leaf 5 has been pushed ajar, the electronic control device 15 activates the electric motor 13 again after a predetermined time period or immediately so that the tappet 12 moves from the second position thereof into the first position thereof. If the person now does not wish to open the door leaf 5 further, the door leaf 5 closes automatically due to the self-closing hinge 10.

(23) In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, the desire of the person to open the door leaf 5 may be manifested by pushing or pulling on the closed door leaf 5.

(24) In order to identify the pulling or pushing on the door leaf 5, in the case of the present exemplary embodiment the domestic refrigeration appliance 1, in particular the opening aid device 11 thereof, comprises a pressure sensor 16, the electronic control device 15 of the opening aid device 15 accordingly being able to evaluate the output signals thereof. If the person pulls on the door leaf 5 in order to open said door leaf, the air pressure inside the coolable interior 4 is reduced. This is identified by the electronic control device 15 due to the output signals produced by the pressure sensor 16. If, however, the person pulls on the closed door leaf 5 the pressure inside the coolable interior 4 increases. This is also identified by the electronic control device 15 due to the output signals produced by the pressure sensor 16.

(25) In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, it is provided that the electronic control device 15 variously activates the electric motor 13 depending on the identified pulling or pushing on the door leaf 5. The time curves of this activation and/or the movement sequences of the tappet 12 resulting therefrom are shown in FIG. 4. This figure shows a first curve 41 which is assigned to the movement of the tappet 12 by pulling on the closed door leaf 5 and a second curve 42 which is assigned to the movement of the tappet 12 by pushing on the closed door leaf 5.

(26) If the electronic control device 15 identifies pulling on the closed door leaf 5 at the time t.sub.o the tappet 12 is instantly moved from the first position thereof into the second position thereof, which it reaches at the time t.sub.1. After reaching the second position at the time t.sub.1 the tappet 12 is then immediately moved again into the first position thereof which it reaches at the time t.sub.2.

(27) The time period which the tappet 12 requires until it has reached the second position thereof at the time t.sub.1, is preferably less than 0.4 s, preferably approximately 0.2 s. The time period which the tappet 12 requires for its movement between the second position and the first position is, in particular, longer than the time period for the movement from the first position into the second position. The time period for the movement of the tappet 12 from the second position into the first position is, for example, 0.5 s.

(28) If the electronic control device 15 identifies pushing on the closed door leaf 5 at the time t.sub.o the tappet 12 is time-delayed, i.e. is automatically moved only after a time period of, for example, approximately 0.5 s at the time t.sub.3 from the first position thereof into the second position thereof which it reaches at the time t.sub.4.

(29) The time period which the tappet 12 requires, after pushing on the door leaf 5 has been identified, until it has reached the second position thereof, at the time t.sub.4, starting from the first position thereof at the time t.sub.3, is longer than the corresponding time period when pulling on the door leaf 5 has been identified and is, for example, 1.0 s.

(30) Before the tappet 12 is moved again from the second position thereof into the first position thereof, after pushing on the door leaf 5 has been identified, the tappet 12 pauses for a predetermined time period of, in particular, several seconds, for example 3.0 s in the second position thereof in order to be moved automatically at the time t.sub.5 from the second position thereof into the first position thereof. The tappet 12 reaches the first position thereof at the time t.sub.6. The time period for the movement of the tappet 12 from the second position into the first position is, for example, 0.5 s.

(31) FIG. 5 shows a plan view of a further domestic refrigeration appliance 51. When not described differently, components of the domestic refrigeration appliance 51, shown in FIG. 5, which are structurally and functionally the same as components of the domestic refrigeration appliance 1, shown in FIG. 1, are provided with the same reference numerals.

(32) The domestic refrigeration appliance 51 shown in FIG. 5 differs substantially from the domestic refrigeration appliance 1, shown in FIG. 1, in that it does not have a door leaf for opening and closing the coolable interior 4 but at least one self-closing drawer 52, which may be at least partially pulled out from the coolable interior 4 for loading with foodstuffs and may be pushed into the coolable interior 4 for storing the foodstuffs.

(33) The self-closing drawer 52 comprises a pretensioned spring, which is not shown in more detail, which acts on the self-closing drawer 52 up to a first distance L1 by which the self-closing drawer 52 may be pulled out of the coolable interior 4 and due to the spring force exerted by the spring moves the self-closing drawer 52 automatically into its closed position where the drawer 51 is pushed fully into the coolable interior 4. The self-closing drawer 52, pulled out to the first distance L1 from the coolable interior 4, is shown in FIG. 5 in dashed lines. The self-closing drawer 52 is designed such that it is possible to pull it out further than the first distance L1 from the coolable interior 4.

(34) The domestic refrigeration appliance 51 shown in FIG. 5 also comprises the opening aid device 11 which, however, is provided for the domestic refrigeration appliance 51, to push the self-closing drawer 51 automatically out of the coolable interior 4 from its closed position to a second distance L2 by means of the tappet 12, in order to facilitate pulling out the drawer 51 fully by hand. The drawer 52 pushed out to the second distance L2 is shown in FIG. 5 by solid lines.

(35) In the first position thereof, the tappet 12 is retracted and permits the drawer 51 to be closed. In the second position thereof, the tappet 12 is extended by the predetermined distance l of, for example 35 mm, and pushes the drawer 51 by the second distance L2 out of the coolable interior 4.

(36) The self-closing drawer 52 and the opening aid device 11 are adapted to one another such that the second distance L2 is shorter than the first distance L1.

(37) In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, it is provided that when the electronic control device 15 identifies that a person wishes to pull out the drawer 51 from the coolable interior 4, the electronic control device 15 activates the electric motor 13 such that the tappet 12 moves from the first position thereof into the second position thereof in order to push the drawer 52 to the second distance L2 out of the coolable interior 4.

(38) After the tappet 12 is in the second position thereof and the drawer 52 is pushed to the second distance L2 out of the coolable interior 4, the electronic control device 15 activates the electric motor 13 in a time-delayed manner or even immediately again so that the tappet 12 moves from the second position thereof into the first position thereof. If the person now does not wish to pull the drawer 52 out of the coolable interior 4, the drawer 52 automatically moves fully into the coolable interior 4 due to its self-closing feature.

(39) In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, the desire of the person to pull the drawer 52 out of the coolable interior 4 may be manifested by pushing or pulling on the closed drawer 52.

(40) In order to identify pulling or pushing on the drawer 52, in particular the pressure change inside the coolable interior 4 is evaluated by means of the electronic control device 15. If the person pushes on the closed drawer 52, the pressure increases inside the coolable interior 4. If the person pulls on the drawer 52, the pressure reduces inside the coolable interior 4.

(41) In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, it is provided that the electronic control device 15 variously activates the electric motor 13 depending on the identified pulling or pushing on the drawer 52. The time curves of this activation and/or the resulting movement sequences of the tappet 12 correspond to the time curves 41, 42 for the opening of the door leaf 5 of the domestic refrigeration appliance 1.

(42) If the electronic control device 15 identifies pulling on the closed drawer 52 at the time t.sub.o the tappet 12 is moved instantly from the first position thereof into the second position thereof which it reaches at the time t.sub.1. After reaching the second position at the time t.sub.1, the tappet 12 is immediately moved into the first position thereof which it reaches at the time t.sub.2.

(43) The time period which the tappet 12 requires until it has reached the second position thereof at the time t.sub.1, is preferably less than 0.4 s, preferably approximately 0.2 s. The time period which the tappet 12 requires for its movement between the second position and the first position is, in particular, longer than the time period for the movement from the first position into the second position. The time period for the movement of the tappet 12 from the second position into the first position is, for example, 0.5 s.

(44) If the electronic control device 15 identifies pushing on the closed drawer 52 at the time t.sub.o the tappet 12 is moved in a time-delayed manner after a time period of approximately 0.5 s at the time t.sub.3, from the first position thereof into the second position thereof, which it reaches at the time t.sub.4.

(45) After pushing on the drawer 52 has been identified, the time period which the tappet 12 requires until it has reached the second position thereof at the time t.sub.4, starting from the first position thereof at the time t.sub.3, is longer than the corresponding time period when pulling on the drawer 52 is identified and is, for example, 1.0 s.

(46) Before the tappet 12 is moved again from the second position thereof into the first position thereof, after pushing on the drawer 52 has been identified, the tappet 12 pauses for a predetermined time period of, in particular, several seconds, for example 3.0 s, in the second position thereof in order then to be moved at the time t.sub.5 automatically from the second position thereof into the first position thereof. The tappet 12 reaches the first position thereof at the time t.sub.6. The time period for the movement of the tappet 12 from the second position into the first position is, for example, 0.5 s.

(47) It is also possible that the domestic refrigeration appliance 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a further coolable interior which is provided with a self-closing drawer and an opening aid 11 for this drawer, corresponding to the self-closing drawer 52 of the domestic refrigeration appliance 51 shown in FIG. 5.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(48) 1 Domestic refrigeration appliance 2 Body 3 Inner container 4 Coolable interior 5 Door leaf 5a Door seal 6 Door compartment 7 Shelves 8 Drawer 9 Electronic control device 10 Self-closing hinge 11 Opening aid device 12 Tappet 13 Electric motor 14 Gear mechanism 15 Electronic control device 16 Pressure sensor 17 Housing 41 First curve 42 Second curve 51 Domestic refrigeration appliance 22 Self-closing drawer l, L1, L2 Distance ?, ? Opening angle