Entrance refrigerator

In order to prevent condensation from forming on a surface of an outer gasket surrounding a rear surface of an outdoor side door of an entrance refrigerator, the entrance refrigerator has a flow passage structure in which a portion of indoor air, whose temperature is increased by heat exchange with a heat sink, flows along the surface of the outer gasket.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefits of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0021867, filed on Feb. 25, 2019, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0086978, filed on Jul. 18, 2019, all of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator installed at an entrance of a building, such as a home or a business.

Recently, delivery services for delivering fresh goods to predetermined places are being utilized. In particular, when the goods are fresh food, a delivery vehicle is provided with a refrigerator or a warmer to store and deliver the food so as to prevent the food from spoiling or cooling.

Generally, the food is packed in a packaging material and delivered so as to keep the food cool or warm, depending on the type of food. The packaging material is often composed of environmental pollutants such as polystyrene foam. The social atmosphere recently has placed an emphasis on a reduction of an amount of packaging material used.

When a user is at home at the time of a delivery, the delivery person may deliver the food to the user in a face-to-face manner. However, when the user is not at home or when the delivery time is too early or too late, it is difficult for the delivery person to deliver the food in a face-to-face manner.

Therefore, there is a need to be able to deliver the food even if the delivery person does not face the user, and to prevent the food from spoiling or cooling until the food is finally delivered to the user.

To solve this problem, in recent years, a product has been introduced in which a refrigerator is installed at an entrance (e.g. a front door) of a predetermined place, so that a delivery person can deliver the food into the refrigerator in order to keep the food fresh until a user can receive the food by accessing the refrigerator at a convenient time.

Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2011-0033394 (Mar. 31, 2011) discloses an entrance refrigerator mounted on a front door.

The entrance refrigerator disclosed in the prior art has several problems.

For example, when the storage compartment of the entrance refrigerator is maintained at a refrigeration temperature or less, a temperature difference occurs between the inside storage compartment of the entrance refrigerator and the outside of the entrance refrigerator. Especially in summer, the temperature difference is significantly large.

If the inside temperature of the storage compartment is lower than the outdoor temperature, condensation formation may occur on the rear edge of the outdoor side door due to the temperature difference. Condensed water formed at the rear edge of the outdoor side door flows down due to gravity, and eventually falls to the floor of the outdoor corridor of the front door.

If the condensed water flows down on the outdoor corridor of the front door, the floor of the corridor will not only get dirty, but there is also a risk of accidental slipping of a person passing through the corridor.

In the case of a general refrigerator installed in a kitchen, a separate heater may be embedded in the cabinet so as to prevent condensation from being formed on the back surface of the refrigerator door, or a hot gas pipe branched from a discharge port of a compressor may be embedded in the cabinet.

However, there is a problem in that power consumption increases when a separate heater is embedded in the entrance refrigerator.

In addition, there is a problem in that a hot gas pipe cannot be embedded in the casing of an entrance refrigerator that uses a thermoelectric module as a cold air supply device, instead of a typical compressor driven refrigeration cycle.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure has been proposed as a solution to the above-described problems.

That is, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an entrance refrigerator capable of minimizing condensation formation on a rear edge of an outdoor side door due to a difference between a temperature of a storage compartment of the entrance refrigerator and an outdoor temperature.

Furthermore, another object of the present disclosure is to provide an entrance refrigerator that may prevent or remove condensation formation without using additional components and without additional power consumption.

In order to prevent condensation from being formed on a surface of an outer gasket surrounding a rear surface of an outdoor side door, an entrance refrigerator according to one embodiment has a flow passage structure in which a portion of indoor air whose temperature is increased by heat exchange with a heat sink flows along the surface of the outer gasket.

The flow passage structure includes an air flow passage interconnecting a housing, in which a cold air supply device is accommodated, and a slot, which is formed at the bottom of the front end of the cabinet of the entrance refrigerator, and an air pocket formed in a band shape along the edge of the outer gasket. The air flow passage and the air pocket are fluidly connected by the slot formed in the bottom of the front end of the cabinet.

In addition, an air hole is formed in the front upper side of the cabinet corresponding to a point where air flowing from the left and right sides of the air pocket join, thereby preventing the air flow inside the air pocket from being stagnant.

The entrance refrigerator configured as described above according to the embodiment has the following effects.

First, since inside air whose temperature is increased by heat exchange with the heat sink of the cold air supply device rises along the outer gasket located at the rear side of the outside side door, the formation of condensation around the outer gasket is minimized or prevented.

Furthermore, since relatively high temperature indoor air is provided to flow around the outer gasket, condensation is rapidly evaporated even when condensation is formed around the outer gasket, thereby preventing the condensation from falling down to the outdoor corridor.

Second, since it is necessary to form only the air flow passage without installing additional components for preventing or removing condensation formation, the manufacturing cost of the entrance refrigerator is reduced.

Third, since there is no need to embed a separate heater in the cabinet of the entrance refrigerator for evaporating condensation, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the entrance refrigerator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an entrance refrigerator10according to an embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG.1is a front view of an entrance refrigerator10according to an embodiment installed at a front door of a building, such as a residence, andFIG.2is a side view of the entrance refrigerator10installed at the front door, according to an embodiment.

Referring toFIGS.1and2, the entrance refrigerator10according to the embodiment may be mounted by passing through a suitably-sized opening in a front door1or a front wall of a house.

In detail, the entrance refrigerator10may be mounted at a point spaced apart from a knob2of the front door1, for example, the entrance refrigerator10may be mounted at the center of the front door1.

In addition, the entrance refrigerator10is preferably installed at a height within two meters from the bottom of the front door1for convenience of a user and for convenience to a delivery person who delivers goods to the entrance refrigerator10. Preferably, the entrance refrigerator10may be installed at a height in a range of 1.5 meters to 1.7 meters from the bottom of the front door1.

One portion of the entrance refrigerator10is exposed to the outside O (outdoors), and another portion of the entrance refrigerator10is exposed to the inside I (indoors). For example, in the entrance refrigerator10, the surface exposed to the outside O may be defined as the front surface (or outdoor portion) at the front side (exterior side) of the door or wall, and the surface exposed to the inside I may be defined as the rear surface (or indoor portion) at the rear side (interior side) of the door or wall. The door or wall provides a barrier in or around a building, such as, but not limited to, a house, apartment, office, hospital, or the like.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the entrance refrigerator10according to the embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG.3is a front perspective view of the entrance refrigerator10according to an embodiment,FIG.4is a rear perspective view of the entrance refrigerator10, andFIG.5is a bottom perspective view of the entrance refrigerator10.

Referring toFIGS.3to5, the entrance refrigerator10according to the embodiment may include a cabinet11, an outdoor side door12, an indoor side door13, and a housing15.

The cabinet11has a front opening provided in a portion of the cabinet11located at the front (exterior) side of the door or exterior wall, and a rear opening provided in a portion of the cabinet11located at the rear (interior) side of the door or interior wall. The cabinet11may have an approximately hexahedral shape with a front wall and a rear wall interconnected by a plurality of side walls. The front opening may be provided in the front wall of the cabinet11, and the rear opening may be provided in the rear wall of the cabinet11, although the embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the front opening and the rear opening may be provided on a same side of the cabinet11depending on the location where the entrance refrigerator10is being installed. The outdoor side door12may be rotatably coupled to the cabinet11so as to selectively open or close the front opening of the cabinet11. The outdoor side door12may be opened by the delivery person in order to store goods in the entrance refrigerator10. In addition, the outdoor side door12may be opened by the user so as to withdraw goods from the entrance refrigerator10.

Here, the term “user” is defined as a person who has ordered goods that are stored in the entrance refrigerator10by the delivery person, or as a person having authority to release the goods from the entrance refrigerator10.

In addition, the indoor side door13may be rotatably coupled to the cabinet11so as to selectively open or close the rear opening of the cabinet11.

A display14may be provided on the outdoor side door12. The display14may display information about an operating state of the entrance refrigerator10, an internal temperature of the entrance refrigerator10, and the presence or absence of goods in the entrance refrigerator10.

In addition, the delivery person who delivers goods may input a password or the like through the display14for opening the outdoor side door12.

A code scanner for recognizing an encryption code provided in a shipping order or a shipping box may be provided on one side of the outdoor side door12.

The indoor side door13is used by the user within the house to take out goods stored in the entrance refrigerator10. That is, the user can open the indoor side door13to withdraw the goods from the entrance refrigerator10and into the house.

A guide light131may be provided at one side of the indoor side door13. The guide light131may be a device for informing a user whether or not goods are currently stored in the entrance refrigerator10. For example, the color of the guide light131may be set differently depending on whether goods are stored in the entrance refrigerator10or whether the entrance refrigerator10is empty. The user may recognize whether there are goods currently being stored even without opening the indoor side door13.

The housing15is provided at the lower end of the cabinet11, either integrally as part of the cabinet11or as a separate element attached to the cabinet11. A cold air supply device30(cold air supplier), to be described later, is accommodated in the housing15. The front surface of the housing15comes into close proximity with the rear surface of the front door1or the wall when the entrance refrigerator10is mounted on the front door1or the wall, and contact between a portion of the front surface of the housing15and the rear surface of the front door1or the wall cancels the moment due to the eccentric load of the entrance refrigerator10within the opening of the front door1or the wall.

In detail, the entrance refrigerator10according to the embodiment has a structural characteristic in which a volume of a part exposed indoors is larger than a volume of a part exposed outdoors of the front door1. Therefore, the center of gravity of the entrance refrigerator10is formed at a point eccentric rearwardly of the center of the entrance refrigerator10. As a result, the moment is generated by the load of the entrance refrigerator10and the load of goods stored therein. With such an arrangement, it is possible that the entrance refrigerator10could be pulled out of the front door1by the moment.

However, since the front surface of the housing15contacts the rear surface of the front door1or the wall, the moment acting on the entrance refrigerator10is cancelled, thereby preventing the entrance refrigerator10from being separated from the front door1.

A pair of guide ducts16may be provided at left and right edges of the bottom surface of the housing15. A discharge port161is formed at the front end of each guide duct16so that indoor room air, which flows into the cold air supply device30in the housing15and performs a heat dissipation function, may be discharged out of the housing15.

A guide plate18may be provided on an angled surface of the cabinet11formed by the bottom surface of the cabinet11and the front surface of the housing15. The function of the guide plate18will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

An opening for suctioning indoor room air may be formed in the bottom surface of the housing15, and a suction plate17may be mounted at the opening. A plurality of through-holes171may be formed in the suction plate17, and indoor room air is introduced into the housing15through the plurality of through-holes171. At least part of the indoor room air introduced into the housing15is discharged back out of the housing15through the discharge ports161of the guide ducts16.

FIG.6is a front perspective view of the entrance refrigerator10in a state in which the outdoor side door12is removed for clarity of illustration, according to an embodiment, andFIG.7is a rear perspective view of the entrance refrigerator10in a state in which the indoor side door13is removed for clarity of illustration, according to an embodiment.

Referring toFIGS.6and7, a storage compartment111in which goods may be stored is provided within the cabinet11. The storage compartment111may be considered as a main body of the entrance refrigerator10according to the embodiment.

A tray19on which goods are placed may be provided at a lower portion of the storage compartment111.

In addition, a guide rib25may be formed along the rear edge of the cabinet11. The guide rib25may protrude a predetermined distance from the rear surface of the cabinet11and extend along an edge of the cabinet11. The guide rib25is provided to guide some of the air discharged from the housing15upwardly to the area surrounding the indoor side door13so that condensation is prevented from forming on a gasket22surrounding the rear surface of the indoor side door13.

FIG.8is an exploded perspective view of the entrance refrigerator10according to an embodiment,FIG.9is a cross-sectional view of the entrance refrigerator10, taken along line9-9ofFIG.3, andFIG.10is a side cross-sectional view of the entrance refrigerator10, taken along line10-10ofFIG.3.

Referring toFIGS.8to10, as described above, the entrance refrigerator10according to the embodiment may include the cabinet11, the indoor side door13, the outdoor side door12, the housing15, the guide duct16, the suction plate17, and the tray19.

The entrance refrigerator10may further include a base plate20disposed at the bottom portion of the cabinet11. The tray19may be disposed above the base plate20. The bottom surface of the tray19may be spaced apart upward from the base plate20.

The entrance refrigerator10may further include a cold air supply device30accommodated in the housing15.

The cold air supply device30may be a device to which a thermoelectric element (Peltier element) is applied, but the cold air supply device30is not limited thereto. For example, a general cooling cycle may be applied to the cold air supply device30.

When a current is supplied to the thermoelectric element, one surface thereof acts as a heat absorbing surface in which a temperature drops, and the other surface thereof acts as a heat generating surface in which a temperature increases. In addition, when the direction of the current supplied to the thermoelectric element is changed, the heat absorbing surface and the heat generating surface are swapped.

In detail, the cold air supply device30may include a thermoelectric element31, a cold sink32attached to the heat absorbing surface of the thermoelectric element31, a heat absorption fan33disposed above the cold sink32, a heat sink34attached to the heat generating surface of the thermoelectric element31, a heat dissipation fan36disposed below the heat sink34, and an insulation material35for preventing heat transfer between the cold sink32and the heat sink34.

The insulation material35is provided to surround the side surface of the thermoelectric element31. The cold sink32comes into contact with the upper surface of the insulation material35, and the heat sink34comes into contact with the lower surface of the insulation material35.

The cold sink32and the heat sink34may include a thermal conductor directly attached to the heat absorbing surface and the heat generating surface, respectively, of the thermoelectric element31, and a plurality of heat exchange fins extending from the surface of the thermal conductor.

The heat absorption fan33is disposed to face the inside of the cabinet11, and the heat dissipation fan36is disposed directly above the suction plate17.

The entrance refrigerator10may further include a mount plate24mounted on the bottom of the cabinet11, and a flow guide23mounted on the upper surface of the mount plate24.

The mount plate24may be formed in a shape in which a rectangular plate is bent a plurality of times to include a bottom portion, a pair of upstanding side portions, and a pair of outwardly extending flange portions. The mount plate24may be formed in a shape in which a flow guide seating portion241, on which the flow guide23is seated, is recessed or stepped to a predetermined depth. A through-hole242is formed at the bottom portion of the mount plate24defining the flow guide seating portion241. A portion of the cold air supply device30may pass through the through-hole242and be mounted to the mount plate24.

In addition, the flow guide23may be understood as a device for forming the flow path of the air inside the storage compartment111which forcibly flows by the heat absorption fan33.

The base plate20may be disposed above the flow guide23to minimize a possibility that foreign substances could fall directly onto the flow guide23.

An outer gasket21is provided on an inner side of the outdoor side door12that faces the cabinet11, and an inner gasket22is provided on an inner side of the indoor side door13that faces the cabinet11. The outer gasket21and the inner gasket22prevent cold air within the storage compartment111from leaking to the outside of the entrance refrigerator10. Alternatively, the outer gasket21may be provided on a portion of the cabinet11that faces an inner side of the outdoor side door12, and the inner gasket22may be provided on a portion of the cabinet11that faces an inner side of the indoor side door13. The portion of the cabinet11may be a contact shoulder115to be described later. The outer gasket21and the inner gasket22prevent cold air within the storage compartment111from leaking to the outside of the entrance refrigerator10.

FIG.11is a perspective view of the cabinet11constituting the entrance refrigerator10, according to an embodiment, andFIG.12is a side cross-sectional view taken along line12-12ofFIG.11.

Referring toFIGS.11and12, the cabinet11constituting the entrance refrigerator10according to the embodiment has a hexahedral shape in which the front side and the rear side are opened.

The cabinet11may include a first portion112(exterior portion) inserted through the front door1or the wall, and a second portion113(interior portion) exposed to the inside.

The lower end of the second portion113may extend downward further than the lower end of the first portion112. In detail, the front surface of the second portion113extending downward from the rear end of the bottom of the first portion112may be defined as a door contact surface114. Like the front surface of the housing15, the door contact surface114prevents the entrance refrigerator10from being separated from the front door1or the wall by the moment.

A contact shoulder115may be formed at a point spaced apart rearward from the front end of the cabinet11by a predetermined distance.

The contact shoulder115may protrude from the inner circumferential surface of the cabinet11by a predetermined height, and may have a rectangular band shape extending along the inner circumferential surface of the cabinet11.

A rectangular opening defined along the inner edge of the contact shoulder115may define an inlet portion for goods entering or exiting the storage compartment111.

A space between the front end of the cabinet11and a front surface of the contact shoulder115may be defined as an outdoor side door accommodation portion into which the outdoor side door12is received.

In a state in which the outdoor side door12is closed, the outer gasket21is in close contact with the front surface of the contact shoulder115to prevent leakage of cold air from the storage compartment111.

The longitudinal cross-section of the storage compartment111defined at the rear of the contact shoulder115may have the same size as the longitudinal cross-section of the inlet portion. That is, the bottom surface of the storage compartment111may be coplanar with the upper edge of the contact shoulder115extending from the inner circumferential surface of the bottom portion of the cabinet11. The bottom surface of the storage compartment111may include the base plate20.

In addition, the left and right side surfaces of the storage compartment111may be coplanar with the inner edges of the contact shoulder115extending from the left inner circumferential surface and the right inner circumferential surface of the cabinet11, respectively.

Finally, the ceiling surface of the storage compartment111may be coplanar with the lower edge of the contact shoulder115extending from the inner circumferential surface of the upper end of the cabinet11.

In summary, it can be understood that the inner circumferential surface of the storage compartment111is coplanar with the inner edges of the contact shoulder115.

However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above configuration. For example, the bottom surface of the storage compartment111may be coplanar with the bottom surface of the outdoor side door accommodation portion.

In detail, the contact shoulder115may be described as including a lower shoulder115a, a left shoulder115b, a right shoulder (seeFIG.6), and an upper shoulder115c, and the bottom surface (floor) of the storage compartment111may be designed to be lower than the upper edge of the lower shoulder115a.

In addition, the left and right side surfaces of the storage compartment111may be designed to be wider than the inner edges of the left shoulder115band the right shoulder.

Finally, the upper surface (ceiling) of the storage compartment111may be designed to be higher than the lower edge of the upper shoulder115c.

According to this structure, the width and height of the storage compartment111may be formed to be larger than the width and height of the inlet portion.

A slot116may be formed at the bottom of the cabinet11corresponding to the bottom of the outdoor side door accommodation portion.

The point where the slot116is formed may be described as a point spaced a predetermined distance rearward from the front end of the cabinet11, or a point spaced a predetermined distance forward from the front surface of the contact shoulder115.

The slot116may be formed at a position closer to the contact shoulder115than to the front end of the cabinet11. As the air that has a relatively high temperature and is discharged from the housing15rises, the air may be introduced into the outdoor side door accommodation portion of the cabinet11through the slot116.

The air flowing through the slot116flows along the edge of the outer gasket21to evaporate any condensation that may form on the outer gasket21.

In detail, an inwardly stepped portion119may be formed in the bottom surface of the cabinet11corresponding to the first portion112and in the front surface of the cabinet11corresponding to the second portion113. The stepped portion119is enclosed by the guide plate18, and an air flow passage119ais formed between the guide plate18and the stepped portion119. The lower end of the air flow passage119acommunicates with the inside of the housing15, and the upper end of the air flow passage119ais connected to the slot116.

Due to this structure, the relatively high-temperature air discharged from the housing15moves along the air flow passage119aand flows into the slot116.

A mount plate seating portion117may be formed at a predetermined depth on the inner bottom surface of the cabinet11, particularly on the bottom surface of the cabinet11corresponding to the second portion113.

A cold air suction hole118may be formed on the bottom of the mount plate seating portion117. The mount plate24is mounted on the mount plate seating portion117such that the through-hole242and the cold air suction hole118are aligned in the vertical direction.

In addition, the flow guide23is disposed above the mount plate seating portion117, particularly on the upper surface of the mount plate24.

FIG.13is a perspective view of the tray19accommodated in the storage compartment111of the entrance refrigerator10, according to an embodiment.

Referring toFIG.13, the tray19according to the embodiment may include a rectangular bottom portion191, an edge wall surrounding the edge of the bottom portion191and extending to a predetermined height, and legs196extending downward from four corners of the bottom portion191.

A plurality of through-holes191amay be formed in the bottom portion191.

The edge wall may include a front portion192, a left side portion193, a right side portion194, and a rear side portion195.

The bottom portion191is spaced apart from the bottom of the storage compartment111by the legs196to form a lower gap g1.

The height of the lower gap g1corresponds to the height of the legs196, and the width of the lower gap g1corresponds to the distance between two adjacent legs.

In addition, the left-to-right width of the bottom portion191is formed to be smaller than the left-to-right width of the storage compartment111, such that the edge wall of the tray19and the sidewall of the storage compartment111are separated by a predetermined distance to form a side gap g2. The front-to-rear width of the bottom portion191may also be formed to be smaller than the front-to-rear width of the storage compartment111to form a side gap.

The side gap g2may be about 5 mm, but the dimension of the gap g2is not limited thereto.

FIG.14is a perspective view of the base plate20disposed on the bottom of the storage compartment111of the entrance refrigerator10, according to an embodiment.

Referring toFIG.14, the base plate20according to the embodiment may be formed to be the same size as the bottom portion191of the tray19. Alternatively, the base plate20may be formed to be the same size as the bottom portion of the storage compartment111.

A plurality of through-holes201may be formed in the base plate20, and the plurality of through-holes201may include circular holes or polygonal holes.

Referring toFIGS.9to11, the base plate20may be spaced apart from the bottom surface of the storage compartment111by a predetermined interval.

The separation distance between the base plate20and the bottom surface of the storage compartment111is set to a dimension in consideration of the height of the lower shoulder115a, so that the upper surface of the base plate20and the lower shoulder115amay form the same plane.

According to this configuration, when the user or the delivery person withdraws the tray19from the storage compartment111or inserts the tray19into the storage compartment111, the lower shoulder115adoes not act as an obstacle that prevents the tray19from being inserted or withdrawn.

That is, there is an advantage that the tray19can be pulled out by sliding the tray19on the base plate20.

In addition, since the separation space is formed between the base plate20and the bottom surface of the storage compartment111, the cold air guided by the flow guide23is evenly distributed throughout the lower portion of the storage compartment111.

The separation distance between the base plate20and the bottom surface of the storage compartment111may be about 15 mm, but the separation distance is not limited thereto.

FIG.15is a perspective view of the flow guide23disposed on the bottom of the entrance refrigerator10, according to an embodiment.

Referring toFIG.15, the flow guide23according to the embodiment may include a bottom portion231, curved portions235extending upward from the left and right edges of the bottom portion231in a rounded form, extension ends234extending downward from the front end and the rear end of the bottom portion231and the curved portions235, and a fan housing232protruding upward from the center of the upper surface of the bottom portion231.

The extension ends234may include a front extension end extending downward from the front end of the bottom portion231and the front ends of the curved portions235, and a rear extension end extending downward from the rear end of the bottom portion231and the rear ends of the curved portions235.

The ends of the curved portions235and the extension ends234define side discharge ports at the left and right edges of the flow guide23, respectively.

In addition, main discharge ports236may be formed at points spaced apart from the fan housing232to the left and the right of the fan housing232by a predetermined distance. The main discharge ports236may be formed by a plurality of slits that extend a predetermined length in the left-to-right direction of the flow guide23and are spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction of the flow guide23. However, the main discharge ports236may also be provided in the form of one or more openings elongated in the front-to-rear direction of the flow guide23.

The fan housing232may protrude a predetermined height from the bottom portion231so as to accommodate the heat absorption fan33. A suction port233may be formed in the upper surface of the fan housing232.

Due to this structure, when the heat absorption fan33is rotated, cold air inside the storage compartment111is guided toward the cold sink32through the suction port233. The cold air cooled while passing through the cold sink32flows in the horizontal direction of the flow guide23. The cold air flowing in the horizontal direction of the flow guide23forms a circulation flow path discharged into the storage compartment111through the main discharge ports236and the side discharge ports237.

Meanwhile, the left end and the right end of the flow guide23are in close contact with the left edge and the right edge of the mount plate seating portion117. As a result, the side discharge ports237are formed on the upper surface of the flow guide23, such that the cold air is discharged upward toward the ceiling of the storage compartment111.

FIG.16is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the housing15constituting the entrance refrigerator10, according to an embodiment.

Referring toFIG.16, the housing15according to the embodiment is coupled to the lower end of the cabinet11, specifically the lower end of the cabinet11defined as the second portion113.

One portion of the cold air supply device30is accommodated in the housing15, and another portion of the cold air supply device30is accommodated in the lower space of the cabinet11corresponding to the second portion113.

In one example, the heat absorption fan33, the cold sink32, and the thermoelectric element31may be accommodated in the lower space of the second portion113of the cabinet11, and the heat sink34and the heat dissipation fan36may be accommodated in the housing15. However, this arrangement may be changed according to design conditions.

The housing15may include a bottom portion151, a front surface portion152extending upward from the front end of the bottom portion151, a rear surface portion153extending upward from the rear end of the bottom portion151, a left surface portion154extending upward from the left end of the bottom portion151, and a right surface portion155extending upward from the right end of the bottom portion151.

A pair of guide ducts16are mounted on the bottom surface of the bottom portion151.

A suction hole151ais formed at the center of the bottom portion151, and a suction plate17is mounted over the suction hole151a.

A left discharge port158and a right discharge port159are formed on the left edge and the right edge of the bottom portion151, respectively. The left discharge port158and the right discharge port159may be composed of an assembly of circular or polygonal holes. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and each of the left discharge port158and the right discharge port159may have a rectangular hole shape having a predetermined width and length.

The guide ducts16are mounted directly below the left discharge port158and the right discharge port159, respectively.

One or more flow guide plates150may be disposed on the upper surface of the bottom portion151corresponding to four corner portions of the suction hole151a. In detail, a plurality of flow guide plates150may be disposed at the four corner portions of the suction hole151a. A portion of outside air introduced into the housing15through the suction plate17that exchanges heat with the heat sink34may be guided to the left discharge port158and the right discharge port159by the flow guide plate150.

A front discharge port156and a rear discharge port157may be formed at the centers of the front surface portion152and the rear surface portion153, respectively. A portion of the outside air introduced through the suction plate17may exchange heat with the heat sink34and may be discharged to the outside through the front discharge port156and the rear discharge port157.

The front discharge port156and the rear discharge port157may also be defined as an assembly of a plurality of holes, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. However, since the discharge ports156,157,158and159are composed of a plurality of holes having a small diameter, it is possible to minimize the introduction of foreign substances into the housing15.

The guide plate18may be coupled to the cabinet11as an independent member, or may be a part of the housing15extending upward from the upper end of the front surface portion152and bent forward.

The left surface portion154and the right surface portion155may extend upward from the left and right edges of the bottom portion151in a rounded form.

FIG.17is a view showing the circulation of cold air inside the storage compartment111in a state in which goods are absent from the tray19, andFIG.18is a view showing the circulation of cold air inside the storage compartment111in a state in which goods are placed on the tray19.

First, air circulation by the cold air supply device30will be described.

An example will be described where a constant voltage is applied to the thermoelectric element31such that the upper surface acts as the heat absorbing surface and the lower surface acts as the heat generating surface, and the storage compartment111is kept in a refrigerating or freezing state.

When a voltage is applied to the thermoelectric element31, the temperature of the cold sink32attached to the heat absorbing surface of the thermoelectric element31is lowered, and the temperature of the heat sink34attached to the heat generating surface of the thermoelectric element31is raised.

When the heat absorption fan33rotates, air inside the storage compartment111is guided to the cold sink32through the heat absorption fan33. The air guided to the cold sink32exchanges heat with the cold sink32to lower the temperature of the air.

The air whose temperature is lowered flows in the left and right edge directions of the storage compartment111along the cold air flow path formed between the flow guide23and the mount plate24.

The air flowing to the left and right sides of the storage compartment111along the flow guide23flows into the storage compartment111through the main discharge port236and the side discharge port237formed in the flow guide23.

The cold air discharged to the storage compartment111through the main discharge ports236and the side discharge ports237passes through the base plate20and the bottom portion of the tray19and rises to the ceiling of the storage compartment111. The air rising to the ceiling of the storage compartment111descends again to form a circulation flow path that returns back to the heat absorption fan33.

Meanwhile, when the heat dissipation fan36rotates, the air outside of the entrance refrigerator10, that is, the air of the indoor side (I), is introduced into the housing15through the suction plate17.

The indoor air introduced into the housing15exchanges heat with the heat sink34to increase the temperature of the air. That is, the heat is absorbed from the heat sink34to increase the temperature of the air. The indoor air whose temperature has risen is discharged in the front-to-rear direction and the horizontal direction of the entrance refrigerator10through the discharge ports156,157,158and159.

A portion of the air flowing toward the front discharge port156is guided to the slot116along the air flow passage119ashown inFIG.12.

The air guided to the left discharge port158and the right discharge port159flows forward of the housing15along the guide duct16and is then discharged to the outside of the housing15through the discharge ports161. Since the discharge ports161are disposed close to the rear surface of the front door1or the wall in which the entrance refrigerator10is mounted, that is, the surface exposed to the inside, the air discharged to the discharge ports161may form a flow path that descends along the rear surface of the front door1or the wall.

Referring toFIG.17, when there are no goods stored in the storage compartment111and thus the tray19is empty, the air guided through the cold sink32toward the storage compartment111rises vertically through the base plate20and the bottom portion191of the tray19.

Referring toFIG.18, when a large amount of goods or bulky goods are put in the tray19, the air guided toward the storage compartment111encounters flow resistance caused by the goods located in the tray.

The air that encounters the flow resistance is dispersed horizontally in all directions and flows toward the edges of the tray19along the bottom surfaces of the goods. The cold air flowing toward the edges of the tray19passes through the lower gap g1formed by the legs196of the tray19. The cold air passing through the lower gap g1rises through the side gap g2formed between the four side edges of the tray19and the four side surfaces of the storage compartment111.

As such, since the bottom portion191of the tray19is spaced apart from the bottom of the storage compartment111by the length of the legs196and the lower gap g1is formed, it is possible to prevent a blockage of the discharge flow path of the cold air guided to the storage compartment111by the flow guide23.

Furthermore, since the side gap g2is formed between the horizontal edge of the tray19and the inner wall of the storage compartment111, the cold air flowing below the stored goods can flow to the upper side of the storage compartment111without hovering only on the lower side of the tray19.

FIG.19is a front cross-sectional view of the entrance refrigerator10, taken along line19-19ofFIG.3, showing the flow passage structure for preventing condensation formation around the outdoor side door12, andFIG.20is a cutaway perspective view of the entrance refrigerator10, taken along line20-20ofFIG.19.

Referring toFIGS.19and20, the slot116is formed at the bottom of the front end of the cabinet11, as described with reference toFIG.11.

The stepped portion119is inwardly formed on the front surface of the second portion113of the cabinet11and the bottom surface of the first portion112. The stepped portion119is enclosed by the guide plate18. The guide plate18may be formed as an extension of the front surface portion of the housing15, or the guide plate18may be provided as a separate member coupled to the cabinet11.

In addition, the air flow passage119ais formed between the stepped portion119and the guide plate18. One end of the air flow passage119acommunicates with the inside of the housing15, and the other end of the air flow passage119acommunicates with the slot116.

With this structure, when the cold air supply device30is operated, indoor air is introduced into the housing15by the driving of the heat dissipation fan36. The indoor air introduced into the housing15absorbs heat to increase a temperature of the air while passing through the heat sink34.

A portion of the indoor air whose temperature has risen flows to the slot116along the air flow passage119a. Another portion of the air inside the housing15whose temperature has risen is discharged to the outside of the entrance refrigerator10through the front discharge port156.

The air passing through the slot116moves along the space between the rear edge of the outdoor side door12and the front end of the cabinet11.

Since the outer gasket21surrounds the rear edge of the outdoor side door12, the high temperature air passing through the slot116hits the outer circumferential surface of the outer gasket21and flows left and right along the lower side of the outer gasket21at the lower end of the outdoor side door12.

The air reaching the left and right edges of the outer gasket21then rises along the left and right sides of the outer gasket21along the left and right sides, respectively, of the outdoor side door12.

The air reaching the upper end of the left and right sides of the outer gasket21then flows inwardly in the central direction of the front end of the cabinet and then merges together.

In a state in which the outdoor side door12is completely closed, four side edges of the outdoor side door12are in very close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the cabinet11defining the outdoor side door accommodation portion.

In addition, the outer gasket21is attached to a point spaced apart from the four side edges of the outdoor side door12by a predetermined distance in the central direction.

Therefore, a rectangular band-shaped air pocket110is formed by the inner circumferential surface of the cabinet11, the front surface of the contact shoulder115, the rear edge of the outdoor side door12, and the outer surface of the outer gasket21.

The center of the lower end of the rectangular band-shaped air pocket110communicates with the slot116, and the slot116communicates with the inner space of the housing15by way of the air flow passage119a.

Since the air pocket110is filled with air having a temperature higher than the outdoor air temperature, condensation formation typically will not occur around the outer gasket21. In addition, even if condensation formation occurs, the formed condensation quickly evaporates due to the flow of air around the outer gasket21.

An air hole110amay be formed in the cabinet11to permit the air within the air pocket110to be discharged out of the air pocket at the center of the upper end of the air pocket110.

Various problems may occur when the indoor air does not smoothly flow in the air pocket110and becomes stagnant.

For example, when air whose humidity is high is not discharged to the outside of the air pocket110by evaporating the condensation formed on the outer gasket21, the air inside the air pocket110may not properly remove the condensation formed on the outer gasket21.

Therefore, in order to prevent these possible problems in advance, the air hole110amay be formed in the upper region of the cabinet11defining the outdoor side door accommodation portion, that is, the front end region of the cabinet11corresponding to the point where two air flows, flowing inwardly along the upper portion of the air pocket110from the right side and the left side, join together. In addition, gaps may be provided between the outer periphery of the outdoor side door12and the inner periphery of the outdoor side door accommodation portion of the cabinet11, as shown in the upper enlargement inFIG.20, to permit air in the air pocket110to escape in order to prevent stagnation of the air in the air pocket110. The gaps may be provided together with the air hole110a, or instead of the air hole110a.

The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments, which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Thus, the technical spirit of the present disclosure is not limited to the foregoing embodiment.

Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure is defined not by the detailed description of the invention but by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the present disclosure.