Abstract:
An embodiment of the present invention relates to a refrigerator comprising: a main body having a storage chamber; a shelf movably provided to the inside of the storage chamber; a guide unit guiding a movement of the shelf; and a transfer means provided at at least one side of the shelf and transferring driving power for moving the shelf. Through such a configuration, it is possible to adjust height of the shelf, without drawing out the shelf to the outside of the storage chamber. 
     Also, an embodiment in another form of the present invention provides a refrigerator characterized in that the guide unit is detachable in the inside of the chilling chamber. Through such a configuration, it is possible to selectively mount the guide unit and shelf on the inside of the storage chamber.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator, a door for a refrigerator, and a dispensing apparatus for a refrigerator that enable to obtain contents easily. 
         [0002]    The present embodiment relates to a refrigerator, and more specifically to a refrigerator having a shelf that partitions an inner space of a chilling chamber. 
         [0003]    Generally, a refrigerator, which is an apparatus for storing foods, generates cooling air using a cycle of compression-condensation-expansion-evaporation. 
         [0004]    Also, the refrigerator includes a plurality of storage chambers receiving foods for storing foods in a freezing state or a cooling state. And, one surface of the storage chamber may be opened to receive and take out foods and one side of the storage chamber is rotatably coupled with a refrigerator door. 
         [0005]    Generally, the storage chamber is partitioned into a cooling chamber and a freezing chamber. And, the refrigerator may be sorted into a top mount type refrigerator wherein the cooling chamber is positioned on a lower side of the freezing chamber, a side by side type wherein the freezing chamber and the cooling chamber are provided left and right, and a bottom freezer type wherein the freezing chamber is positioned on the lower side of the cooling chamber and three doors are provided, according to an installation way of the cooling chamber and the freezing chamber. 
         [0006]    Also, the storage chamber is provided with a plurality of shelves that partition an inner space into a predetermined size and receives foods. 
         [0007]    Generally, the shelf is supported on both walls of the inside of the main body of refrigerator. In this case, the main body of refrigerator is provided with a supporting part supporting both sides of the shelf and the position of the shelf may be defined by the position of the supporting part. A plurality of supporting parts with different heights may be provided. 
         [0008]    And, the position of the shelf may be changed to be supported by the supporting parts positioned at different heights. Therefore, when an interval between the shelves is controlled according to a height of an object received in the inside of the chilling chamber, the shelf should be drawn out to the outside and then be inserted again. 
         [0009]    In the process, there is a risk that the object received on the shelf falls and there is a problem in that it is difficult to accurately control the position of the shelf according to the height of the object. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    It is an object of the present embodiment to provide a shelf whose height is easily controlled by improving a structure of the shelf in a refrigerator according to the present embodiment. 
         [0011]    Also, it is an object of the present embodiment to provide a shelf whose height is easily controlled by moving the shelf along a guide unit in a refrigerator according to the present embodiment. 
         [0012]    Also, it is an object of the present embodiment to provide a shelf whose height is easily controlled by a linear movement of a control part in a refrigerator according to the present embodiment. 
         [0013]    Also, it is an object of the present embodiment to provide a guide unit guiding a movement of a shelf and detachably formed in the inside of a chilling chamber to a refrigerator according to the present embodiment. 
         [0014]    In order to accomplish the objects, there is provided a refrigerator according to the present embodiment, comprising: a main body having a storage chamber; a shelf movably provided to the inside of the storage chamber; a guide unit guiding a movement of the shelf; and a transfer means provided at least one side of the shelf and transferring driving force for moving the shelf. 
         [0015]    Also, there is provided a refrigerator according to another aspect of the present embodiment, comprising: a main body having a storage chamber; a shelf provided movably up and down in the inside of the storage chamber; a guide unit provided at one side of the shelf and including a first gear guiding the movement of the shelf; a second gear engaged and rotated with the first gear; and a power transfer part provided with a rotation axis for rotating the second gear. 
         [0016]    There is provided a refrigerator according to another aspect of the present embodiment, comprising: a main body having a storage chamber; a shelf movably provided to the inside of the storage chamber; a transfer means providing driving force for moving the shelf; a guide unit communicated with the transfer means to guide the movement of the shelf; and a supporting part detachably supporting the guide unit to the main body. 
         [0017]    There is provided a refrigerator according to another aspect of the present embodiment, comprising: a main body having a storage chamber; a shelf provided movably in the inside of the storage chamber; a rack gear guiding the movement of the shelf; a pinion gear engaged and movably rotated with the rack gear; a power transfer part provided with a rotation axis for rotating the pinion gear; and a control part providing driving force to the power transfer part and performing a linear movement. 
         [0018]    With the refrigerator according to the present embodiment, the height of the shelf can be controlled without being drawn out to the outside of the storage chamber. 
         [0019]    Also, an assembly including the guide unit and the shelf is detachably provided in the refrigerator to selectively use a general shelf and a height controllable shelf. 
         [0020]    Also, a user controls the height of the shelf by moving the control part positioned at the front of the shelf left and right to increase the convenience of use. 
         [0021]    Also, in the process of moving the shelf upwardly, the shelf can easily be raised along the guide unit by the restoring force of an elastic member. 
         [0022]    Also, the shelf according to the present embodiment is provided the elastic member and a bar to prevent the shelf from sliding along the guide unit. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a view showing a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a structure of a shelf according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view showing a coupling structure of a guide unit and the shelf according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a shape that the guide unit and the shelf according to the present embodiment is mounted on the refrigerator. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]      FIG. 1  is a view showing a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a refrigerator  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention is provided with a main body  100  forming an outer appearance. And, the inside of the main body  100  is formed with a storage chamber storing foods, wherein the storage chamber is partitioned into the left and right, that is, a freezing chamber  110  and a cooling chamber  120 . 
         [0030]    And, the front surfaces of the freezing chamber  110  and the cooling chamber  120  are opened and are selectively closed by means of a freezing chamber door  130  and a cooling chamber door  140 , respectively. 
         [0031]    Also, the freezing chamber door  130  is provided with a dispenser  150  for taking out water purified from the outside. The cooling chamber door  140  is selectively provided with a home bar  180  storing foods that are frequently taken out. Also, the rear surfaces of the freezing chamber door  130  and the cooling chamber door  140  includes a plurality of baskets  160  for receiving beverage bottle, can, etc. and a storage space for storing dairy products or eggs, etc. 
         [0032]    Also, the insides of the cooling chamber  140  and the freezing chamber  130  may be provided with a plurality of storage boxes  170  forming a space for storing foods. 
         [0033]    Generally, the storage box  170  is provided at a lower side of the inside of the main body  100  and is provided in a drawer type so that it may be configured to put in and draw out forward/backward from the inside of the main body  110 . 
         [0034]    Meanwhile, the inside of the main body  100  is provided with a plurality of shelves for receiving foods. And, the main body  100  is provided at one side of the shelf  200  and is provided with a guide unit  300  (see  FIG. 2 ) performing a guide to control a height of the shelf  200 . 
         [0035]    Hereinafter, a configuration of the guide unit and a coupling relation of the shelf and the guide unit will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0036]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a structure of a shelf according to the embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view showing a coupling structure of a guide unit and the shelf according to the embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a shelf  200  partitioning the space of the freezing chamber  110  and the cooling chamber  120  to receive foods and a guide unit  300  provided at one side of the shelf to guide up and down movement of the shelf  200 . 
         [0038]    In detail, the shelf  200  includes a frame  210  defining the outer appearance and size of the shelf and a plate  212  fixed by the frame  210  and forming one surface receiving foods. 
         [0039]    And, the shape of the frame  210  and the plate  212  corresponds to the inner space of the freezing chamber  110  and the cooling chamber  120  and generally has a rectangular shape. 
         [0040]    Also, both sides of the rear of the shelf are provided with a connection plate  350  to connect the shelf  200  to the guide unit  300 . And, the connection plate  350  may be coupled with the rear end of the shelf  200  by means of a bonding or an engaging method. Of course, the connection plate  350  may integrally be formed with the shelf  200 . 
         [0041]    In other words, the connection plate  350 , which is a portion of the shelf  200 , provides a connection structure for guiding the shelf  200  by means of the guide unit  300 . 
         [0042]    Also, an outer side of the connection plate  350  on both sides is provided with a cylindrical gear  220  rotated in the course of the movement of the shelf  200 . 
         [0043]    And, as the cylindrical gear  220 , a spur gear, a helical gear, etc. can be applied. any gears capable of performing a role of a pinion engaged and rotated with a rack gear  310  to be described later can be applied. 
         [0044]    Meanwhile, the guide unit  300  includes the rack gear  310  that is provided at an outer side of the connection plate and is engaged with the cylindrical gear  220  to guide the movement of the shelf  200 . And, the rack gear  310  may be provided at a position engaged with the cylindrical gear  220 . 
         [0045]    In other words, the cylindrical gear  220  is engaged and rotated with the rack gear  310  and the shelf  200  rises or falls in a direction corresponding to a rotation direction according to the guide unit  300 . 
         [0046]    Herein, the cylindrical gear  220  and the rack gear  310  may be positioned in a pair at both sides of the shelf  200 . The reason is that the shelf  200  should be supported at more than two places not to be inclined in any one direction so that the object is easily received. 
         [0047]    Also, the rotation axis  230  is provided between the cylindrical gears  220  so that it provides driving force to rotate the cylindrical gears  220 . In other words, the cylindrical gear  220  is provided at both ends of the rotation axis  230 . 
         [0048]    And, the cylindrical gear  220  provided at both sides of the shelf  200  is connected by the rotation axis  230  and may be rotated by the rotation of the rotation axis  230 . 
         [0049]    Also, an outer peripheral surface of the rotation axis  230  is provided with a power transfer part  240  fixed to the rotation axis  230  and providing a rotating force to the rotation axis  230 . In other words, the rotating axis  230  is formed to penetrate through the power transfer part  240 . 
         [0050]    In detail, the power transfer part  240  includes a linear moving driver  242  in a horizontal direction by an operation of a user and a following part  244  connected to the driver  242  and rotated according to the movement of the driver  242 . 
         [0051]    Also, the following part  244  is a hollow cylindrical shape and the rotation axis  230  penetrates through the inside of the following part  244 . And, the following part  244  and the rotation axis  230  is fixed to each other to be rotated together. 
         [0052]    Meanwhile, the outer peripheral surface of the following part  244  is formed with a collapsed spiral groove  243 . Herein, the spiral groove  243  may be formed in a spiral direction from one side end to the other side end. 
         [0053]    And, the driver  242  is movably provided at the outer peripheral surface of the follower  244 . Herein, the driver  242  and the following part  244  may be arranged in a state spaced by a predetermined distance so that the driver  242  could be easily moved. 
         [0054]    Also, the inner peripheral surface of the driver  242  is formed with a projection  245  movably inserted along the spiral groove  243 . And, the plurality of projections  245  may be provided at a position corresponding to the spiral groove  243 . 
         [0055]    Meanwhile, in the coupled state of the projection  245  and the spiral groove  243 , if the driver  242  is linearly moved, the projection  245  is moved along the spiral groove  243 . Then, the following part  244  may be guided and rotated by the projection  245 . 
         [0056]    In other words, the linear movement of the driver  242  is converted into the rotation movement of the following part  244  by the action of the projection  245  and the spiral groove  243 . 
         [0057]    Also, both sides of the driving part  242  is provided with a wire  246  transferring power generated by means of the operation of the user to the driving part  242 . And, the wire  246  is connected to both side ends of the driving part  242  to move in one direction so that the driving part  242  linearly moves. 
         [0058]    Also, four edges of the shelf  200  are provided with a roller  248  turning the moving direction of the wire  246  while the wire  246  moves. Herein, the wire  246  is placed in a manner that it is rolled on the outer peripheral surface of the roller  248 . 
         [0059]    That is, the wire  246  is direction-turned by means of the roller  248  so that the force is transferred to the driving part  242 . And, the roller  248  moves together with the wire  246 , making it possible to minimize loss of the force when turning the direction. 
         [0060]    Meanwhile, the front of the shelf  200  is provided with an control part  250  connected to the wire  246 , and operated by the user for the movement of the shelf  200 . 
         [0061]    More specifically, the wire  246  is connected to both sides of the control part  250 , and allows power to be transferred to the driving part  242  according to the movement of the control part  250 . 
         [0062]    And, the wire  246  is direction-turned by means of the roller  248  at the four edges of the shelf  200  and is connected to the driving part  242  positioned on the rear of the shelf  200 . 
         [0063]    Also, the control part  250  can linearly move in the right and left directions. And, one side of the front surface of the frame  210  is provided with a guide rail  252  guiding the movement of the control part  250 . 
         [0064]    More specifically, the guide rail  252  is positioned on the front of the shelf  200 , and the both ends thereof is fixed to the frame  210 . And, the guide rail  252  is placed to penetrate through the inside of the control part  250  in order that the control part  250  easily moves. And, the control part  250  can move in the right and left directions on the upper side of the guide rail  252 . 
         [0065]    Also, the front surface of the control part  250  is provided with a handle  254  allowing the user to easily operate the control part  250 . Therefore, the control part  250  can move by operating the handle  254 . 
         [0066]    In summary, the cylindrical gear  220 , the power transfer part  240 , the wire  246  and the control part  250  can be considered as a transfer means providing and transferring driving force for the movement of the shelf  200 . 
         [0067]    Hereinafter, the operation of the shelf  200  and the guide unit  300  according to the above configuration will be described. 
         [0068]    First, if the user operates the handle  254  so that the control part  250  moves right, the driving part  242  receives force through the wire  246  to move left. 
         [0069]    Then, the following part  244  rotates by means of the movement of the driving part  242 . Herein, a rotation direction of the following part  244  becomes clockwise when viewed from the right side of the shelf  200 . And, the rotation axis  230  and the cylindrical gear  220  can rotate in the same direction as a rotation direction of the following part  244 . 
         [0070]    And, while the cylindrical gear  220  is rotated, it can be engaged with the rack gear  310  to be raised. As a result, the shelf  200  can be raised in the movement direction of the cylindrical gear  220   
         [0071]    Meanwhile, since the control part  250  linearly moves in the right and left directions, the user can easily predict a degree of the movement of the shelf  200  in a process of controlling the height of the shelf  200 . Therefore, the height of the shelf  200  can be easily adjusted. 
         [0072]    Also, between any one of the connecting plates  350  on both sides and the driving part  242  is provided an elastic member  260  through which a predetermined elastic force acts in order to allow the shelf  200  to be easily raised or lowered according to the movement of the driving part  242 . 
         [0073]    More specifically, the elastic member  260  can be installed so that the movement direction of the driving part  242  allowing the shelf  200  to be raised and the action direction of the restoring force of the elastic member  260  coincide. 
         [0074]    For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , when considering a connecting position of a spiral groove  243  of the following part  244  and the driving part  242 , the shelf  200  is raised in a process that the driving part  242  moves left. 
         [0075]    At this time, the elastic member  260  can be a tension spring installed between the driving part  242  and the connecting plate  350 . 
         [0076]    With the above configuration, the elastic member  260  not only helps the shelf to be able to be easily raised, but also performs a role preventing the shelf from being easily lowered. 
         [0077]    In summary, since the movement direction (a raising direction) of the shelf  200  by means of the restoring force of the elastic member  260  is opposite to the direction of gravity, the shelf  200  and at least a portion of weight of food and drink received in the shelf  200  can be offset. 
         [0078]    In addition to this, if a configuration of the elastic member  260  is a configuration in which the raising direction of the shelf  200  and an action direction of the restoring force coincide, it can be variously modified. 
         [0079]    Meanwhile, the guide unit  300  includes a guide groove  320  provided spaced by a predetermined distance in a direction parallel with the rack gear  310  on the one side of the rack gear  310  and guiding the movement of the shelf  200  and the cylindrical gear  220  in a process that the shelf  200  moves. 
         [0080]    Also, the inside of the guide groove  320  is provided with a guide bar  270  capable of moving in the up and down direction in the state where it is inserted into the guide groove  320 . Herein, the guide bar  270  is provided in a transverse direction of the shelf  200 , and penetrates through the connecting plates  350  of both sides to be inserted into the guide groove  320 . 
         [0081]    And, the guide bar  270  can be arranged in the up and down direction with regard to the rotation axis. 
         [0082]    And, the guide bar  270  moves along the guide groove  320  in a process that the shelf  200  moves in the up and down direction. 
         [0083]    As a result, the guide groove  320  and the guide bar  270  perform a role guiding movement of the shelf  200 , together with the cylindrical gear  220  and the rack gear  310 . 
         [0084]    Also, the lower end of the guide unit  300  is provided with a locking bar  330  setting a minimum range within which the shelf  200  can move downwardly and preventing the shelf  200  from being separated from the guide unit  300 . And, the locking bar  330  can be fixed between both ends of the guide unit  300 . 
         [0085]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a shape that the guide unit and the shelf according to one embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the refrigerator. 
         [0086]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the guide unit  300  is formed with a locking unit  340  allowing the shelf  200  to be detachable to the storage chamber R of the refrigerator in the state where the shelf  200  is coupled to the guide unit  300 . 
         [0087]    More specifically, the locking unit  340  is provided to both sides of the upper of the guide unit  300 , and is protruded toward the rear of the guide unit  300 . And, an end of the locking unit  340  is bent downwardly, wherein the bent portion thereof can be locked to the storage chamber R. 
         [0088]    Also, the both sides of the inside of the storage chamber R are provided with a supporting unit  400  supporting the guide unit  300 . And, the supporting unit  400  is formed with a locking groove  410  formed in a position corresponding to the locking unit  340  of the guide unit  300  to be locked to the locking unit  340 . 
         [0089]    And, a plurality of locking grooves  410  can be formed in the state where they are spaced from each other in a length direction of the storage chamber R. Therefore, height of the shelf  200  can be adjusted according to a position of the locking groove  410  into which the locking unit  340  is locked. 
         [0090]    Meanwhile, the shelf  200  can be provided to a variety of positions according to selection of the locking groove  410  into which the locking unit is locked. Accordingly, an internal space of the storage chamber R can be partitioned into a various sizes.