System and method for driving a drawer in a refrigerator
AssigneeLG Electronics Inc.
InventorsMyung Keun Yoo, Yong Hwan Eom, Ok Sun Yu, Hyoun Jeong Shin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for driving a drawer of a refrigerator are provided. This system allows a drawer to be automatically withdrawn from and/or inserted into a main body of the refrigerator. This system also allows a drawer which has been stopped during the withdrawal process to be further withdrawn from the main body so as to complete action on a withdrawal command, or to be re-inserted into the main body, so as to reduce cool air loss.
Claims30
A method of controlling an operation of a drawer in a refrigerator, the method comprising:
- detecting an external force applied to a drawer that is in a prescribed state;
- transmitting an external force detecting signal to a controller;
- determining an application direction of the external force;
- and
- moving the drawer in the application direction of the external force, comprising:
- moving the drawer from a fully open stationary state in response to an external force applied in a first direction corresponding to an insertion direction and inserting the drawer into the refrigerator.
A drawer driving system for a refrigerator, the system comprising:
- a drive motor that transfers a rotational force to a drawer coupled thereto;
- and
- a controller configured to control the drive motor in response to an external force applied to the drawer, wherein the controller is configured to control the drive motor to move the drawer from a fully open stationary state in response to an external force applied in a first direction corresponding to an insertion direction to insert the drawer into the refrigerator, and to control the drive motor to move the drawer from a fully closed stationary state in response to an external force applied in a second direction corresponding to a withdrawal direction to withdraw the drawer from the refrigerator.
A method of controlling a position of a drawer relative to a compartment provided in a refrigerator, the method comprising automatically moving the drawer based on a direction of a force applied to the drawer, comprising:
- moving the drawer from an initial position to a fully opened position in response to application of a first force in a first direction;
- and
- moving the drawer from an initial position to a fully closed position in response to application of a second force in a second direction, the second direction being opposite the first direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.