Refrigerator

A refrigerator comprising:

• a body provided with a storage compartment;
• a door configured to be rotatable with respect to a hinge shaft disposed at the body, the door being configured to open and close the storage compartment;
• and
• a door opening and closing apparatus configured to open and close the door,
• wherein the door opening and closing apparatus comprises:
• a motor configured to generate power;
• a rotary gear restrained by the hinge shaft;
• and
• a driving gear configured to transmit the power generated from the motor to the rotary gear,
• wherein the driving gear comprises a pair of intermittent gears configured to detach from each other, to prevent a load from being applied in a direction opposite to a rotation direction of the motor, or greater than a rotational force of the motor, to the rotary gear.

A refrigerator comprising:

• a body provided with a storage compartment;
• a door configured to open and close the storage compartment;
• and
• a door opening and closing apparatus configured to open and close the door,
• wherein the door opening and closing apparatus comprises:
• a motor configured to generate power;
• a first gear rotated in conjunction with the power generated by the motor;
• a second gear configured to transmit a rotational force to a hinge shaft of the door as the door opens and closes;
• a third gear configured to engage with the first gear;
• and
• a pair of idle gears configured to selectively transmit the rotational force of the third gear to the second gear, through rotation of the third gear,
• wherein the second gear comprises:
• a pair of intermittent gears configured to be moved between a coupling position to transfer the power from the motor to the hinge shaft, and a separated position to prevent a load from the hinge shaft to the motor.