US 2026/0234982 A1Published application

Refrigerator and door opening and closing device

AssigneesLG Electronics Inc., Pusan National University Industry-University Cooperation Foundation

InventorsJinho CHANG, Heejun LEE, Sanghu PARK, Yoongho JUNG

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Abstract

A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a door, and a door opening and closing device. The door opening and closing device includes a driver, a power transmission portion, and an operating portion having a link connected to the door. The power transmission portion includes a clutch gear assembly, and the clutch gear assembly is configured to transmit power to the operating portion or block the power transmission. The clutch gear assembly includes a shaft, an input gear through which the shaft passes and which is connected to the driver, an output gear spaced apart from the input gear, and a connection gear configured to move in an axial direction of the shaft when the driver is operated to connect the input gear with the output gear, and move in the axial direction of the shaft to disconnect between the input gear and the output gear when the driver is stopped.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet having a storage space;
a door that opens and closes the storage space;
and
a door opening and closing device to open and close the door,
wherein the door opening and closing device includes:
a driver that generates power,
a power transmission portion that transmits the power of the driver, and
an operating portion that receives the power of the driver and operates to open the door and including a link connected to the door,
wherein the power transmission portion includes a clutch gear assembly,
wherein the clutch gear assembly is configured to transmit power to the operating portion or block power transmission, and
wherein the clutch gear assembly includes:
a shaft,
an input gear connected to the driver and through which the shaft passes,
an output gear spaced apart from the input gear, and
a connection gear that moves in an axial direction of the shaft to connect the input gear to the output gear when the driver is operated, and moves in the axial direction of the shaft to disconnect the input gear and the output gear when the driver is stopped.

12 more elements

A door opening and closing device for opening and closing a door comprising:

a driver that generates power;
a power transmission portion that transmits the power of the driver;
and
an operating portion that receives the power of the driver and operates to open the door,
wherein the operating portion includes:
a first operating portion that operates by receiving the power from the driver, and
a second operating portion that operates by receiving the power from the driver and has a link,
wherein the power transmission portion includes a clutch gear assembly,
wherein the clutch gear assembly transmits power to the second operating portion or block power transmission, and
wherein the clutch gear assembly includes:
an input gear connected to the driver,
an output gear spaced apart from the input gear, and
a connection gear that receives rotational force of the input gear when the driver is operated, moves toward the output gear, connects the input gear to the output gear, and disconnects the input gear and the output gear when the driver is stopped.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.