Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to the field of intelligent household appliances and in particular to a refrigerator with a lifting shelf.

Along with increasing living quality, multi-door refrigerators with features such as high capacity, multiple functions and classified storage have an increasing share on market. Further, people have higher and higher requirements for the intelligence of the refrigerator products.

The shelves of the existing refrigerator products are mostly fixed shelves. Generally, liner ribs are formed on opposing sides of a refrigerator inner liner and the shelves are placed on the liner ribs. In order to help users to adjust, several liner ribs are generally reserved during refrigerator designing to allow adjusting the position of the shelves. However, the height between shelves is not suitable for placing articles with different volumes, bringing limitation to storage space. Further, the space utilization rate of the interior of the refrigerator is low and many foods with large volumes cannot be placed in, affecting the user experiences. In addition, in recent years, the increasing demand for refrigerators with high capacity causes the height of the refrigerator to have a trend to increase. In this case, the difficulty in taking articles from the shelf of the highest level in a refrigerator has become a problem to be solved for users.

In the prior art, there are known some devices as described in their respective documents.

The patent application <CIT> discloses a lifting device for a refrigerator shelf and a refrigerator. The lifting device comprises a separating plate and a driving mechanism, the driving mechanism is used for driving the separating plate to move along the vertical direction; the driving mechanism comprises at least one guide rail and a driving device; the guide rail is equipped with a guide rail chamber and is arranged on the inner side of a refrigerator main body; the driving device is used for driving the separating plate to slide along the guide rail; the separating plate part is arranged in the guide rail chamber and is connected with the driving device through a traction strip.

The patent application <CIT> discloses a refrigerator which allows a height of a shelf to be adjusted without detaching the shelf from a hanger. The refrigerator includes a main body, a storage compartment provided in the main body, a shelf hanger provided at an inner side of the storage compartment, a moving unit coupled to the shelf hanger to be movable in a vertical direction, and a shelf supported by the moving unit. The shelf includes a first shelf detachably coupled to the moving unit, a second shelf slidably coupled to the first shelf, a latch device configured to allow the second shelf to be fixed to or unfixed from the first shelf, and a first elastic member providing an elastic force to allow the second shelf to be withdrawn from the first shelf.

The utility model <CIT> discloses a elevating gear for refrigerator rack, including drivetrain parts, elevating system and leading part, drivetrain parts is used for providing drive power to elevating system, the sliding block set spare that elevating system is arranged in driving leading part reciprocates along the guide rail, leading part, including guide rail and sliding block set spare, sliding block set spare is used for installing the rack, sliding block set spare includes the casing and installs the rotation piece on the casing, rotates the piece and can wind its pivot rotation, and rotation smooth joining in marriage in the guide rail, when sliding block set spare reciprocated along the guide rail, the rotation piece rolled in the guide rail around its pivot.

Further relevant prior art is disclosed in document <CIT>.

There is provided a refrigerator according to claim <NUM> with a lifting shelf, including a storage compartment. A lifting shelf, a shelf driving mechanism for driving the lifting shelf to move up and down and a shelf stroke detection device for detecting a maximum moving stroke of the lifting shelf are disposed in the storage compartment. The shelf driving mechanism includes a driving motor and a gear transmission mechanism, where the gear transmission mechanism includes at least one group of transmission gears, the driving motor outputs a torque by a driving output shaft and a first pulley is disposed on the driving output shaft; a guide rail fixed in the storage compartment, where the guide rail is slidably connected to a support piece on the guide rail, and the lifting shelf is fixedly connected with the support piece; and a traction cable, where the traction cable is wound around the first pulley, and the other end of the traction cable is fixedly connected with the support piece. The shelf stroke detection device includes a stroke switch where a trigger portion is disposed on the stroke switch; and a linkage piece where the linkage piece cooperates with the stroke switch and the transmission gear respectively, a positioning portion is disposed on an inner wheel surface of the transmission gear, and when the driving motor drives the transmission gear to rotate until the positioning portion is in contact with the linkage piece, the linkage piece triggers the trigger portion of the stroke switch.

In order to describe the technical solution of the present disclosure more clearly, the accompanying drawings involved in the examples will be briefly introduced. Apparently, those skilled the art may also obtain other drawings according to these drawings without paying creative work. Further, the accompanying drawings described below can be deemed as illustrative rather than limiting of actual sizes of the products involved in the examples of the present disclosure.

The technical solution of the present disclosure will be fully and clearly described below in combination with the accompanying drawings of the examples of the present disclosure. Apparently, the described examples are merely some of the present disclosure rather than all examples
<FIG> show embodiments according to the present invention, which disclose a refrigerator according to claim <NUM>, whereas <FIG> show examples not being part of the present invention.

In the description of the present disclosure, it is to be understood that orientations or positional relationships indicated by terms such as "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inside", "outside", are based on orientations or positional relationships shown in the drawings and are used only for convenience and simplification of descriptions of the present disclosure, rather than indicate or imply that the indicated apparatus or element shall have a specific orientation and be configured or operated in a specific orientation. Thus, the terms shall not be understood as limiting of the present disclosure. In addition, the terms "first", "second" and "third" are used only for descriptions and shall not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

In the descriptions of the present disclosure, it is noted that the terms "mounting" "connection" and "coupling" shall be understood in a broad sense, for example, it may be a fixed connection, or a detachable connection, or integrated connection; or direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or may be internal communication between two elements. Those skilled in the art may understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present disclosure according to the specific situations.

In addition, the technical features involved in the different examples described below may be combined with each other as long as they do not constitute conflict.

<FIG> is a refrigerator with an automatic lifting shelf according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a driving mechanism of an automatic lifting shelf according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, a mechanism for driving a shelf to ascend and descend includes a screw rod <NUM> and a nut <NUM>. A power part drives the screw rod <NUM> to rotate so as to realize rectilinear up and down movement of the nut <NUM>. The nut <NUM> is connected with a housing <NUM> of a sliding block assembly <NUM> to drive the sliding block assembly <NUM> to move up and down along a guide rail <NUM>. The power part includes a motor <NUM>, a first rotary shaft <NUM>, and a second rotary shaft <NUM>. An output shaft of the motor <NUM> is connected with the first rotary shaft <NUM> through a belt <NUM> to bring the first rotary shaft <NUM> to rotate. A side of the first rotary shaft <NUM> transmits rotational movement to the screw rods <NUM> of one group of lifting mechanisms through a worm gear pinion transmission mechanism. Such automatic shelf-lifting device is converted into rectilinear movement by driving the worm gear mechanism and the screw rod nut mechanism using a motor. The device is complex in structure, and the worm gear mechanism and the screw rod nut mechanism both occupy a larger space, thereby affecting the effective storage space of the storage compartment.

<FIG> is a perspective diagram of a refrigerator with an automatic lifting shelf according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the refrigerator <NUM> in accordance with claim <NUM> has an approximate cuboid box shape, and its external appearance is defined by a storage compartment <NUM> defining a storage space and a plurality of doors <NUM> disposed in the storage compartment <NUM>. The storage compartment has an open box body which is formed by a storage compartment inner liner, a storage compartment housing and a foaming layer therebetween. The storage compartment <NUM> is vertically divided into a lower freezing compartment 100A and an upper cold storage compartment 100B. Each of the partitioned spaces has an independent storage space.

In an example, the freezing compartment 100A is defined at a lower side of the storage compartment <NUM> and selectively covered by a drawer-type freezing compartment door 200A. The space defined above the freezing compartment 100A is divided into left and right sides to respectively define the cold storage compartment 100B. The cold storage compartment 100B may be opened or closed selectively by a cold storage compartment door 200B pivotably mounted on the cold storage compartment 100B.

In the examples of the present disclosure, the storage compartment <NUM> includes a storage drawer <NUM> at a lower side. The storage drawers are arranged in two levels, including two dry and wet preservation drawers at the lower level and a wide storage drawer that is at the upper side of the dry and wet preservation drawers and used for storing longer food materials. The storage compartment <NUM> further includes a shelf on the storage drawer <NUM>. The shelf includes a fixed shelf <NUM> and a lifting shelf <NUM>. The fixed shelf is a shelf that cannot be moved up and down after being mounted. Generally, liner ribs are formed on inner walls of two sides of the storage compartment <NUM>, and the fixed shelf <NUM> is placed on the liner ribs. The lifting shelf <NUM> is a shelf adjustable up and down after being mounted. The lifting shelf <NUM> is moved up and down under the drive of a shelf driving mechanism <NUM>.

The relative positions of the lifting shelf <NUM> and the fixed shelf <NUM> are not fixed, that is, the fixed shelf <NUM> may be at the upper side or the lifting shelf <NUM> is at the upper side. In this example, the lifting shelf <NUM> is preferably at the upper side. In this case, when the height of the refrigerator is high and a user cannot place food materials on the shelf of the highest level, the user may store food materials by moving down the lifting shelf <NUM>, facilitating user operation.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of three-dimensional structure of a shelf driving mechanism of a lifting shelf according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a schematic diagram of mounting structure of a driving motor according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the shelf driving mechanism <NUM> includes a guide rail <NUM> fixed in the storage compartment <NUM>, and a support piece <NUM> slidably connected to the guide rail <NUM>. The lifting shelf <NUM> and the support piece <NUM> are fixed connected. The shelf driving mechanism <NUM> further includes a motor assembly for driving the support piece to ascend and descend. The motor assembly includes a driving motor <NUM> and a gear transmission mechanism. The driving motor <NUM> outputs a driving torque by a driving output shaft <NUM> after being reduced by the gear transmission mechanism. A traction cable <NUM> is wound around the driving output shaft <NUM>, and the other end of the traction cable <NUM> is connected with the support piece <NUM>. When the lifting shelf needs to move down, an output shaft <NUM> of the driving motor <NUM> is controlled to rotate in a first direction, the traction cable <NUM> extends out, and the lifting shelf <NUM> moves down under the action of gravity. When the lifting shelf <NUM> needs to move up, the output shaft of the driving motor <NUM> is controlled to rotate in a second direction (opposite to the first direction), the traction cable <NUM> is gradually wound, and the lifting shelf <NUM> moves up. Compared with the existing manner of the worm gear mechanism and the screw rod nut mechanism being converted into rectilinear movement, the transmission manner of the shelf driving mechanism using the traction cable is simple in structure and small in occupation space.

In order to help the user to control the lifting shelf <NUM> to ascend and descend, as shown in <FIG>, a shelf lifting control button <NUM> is disposed on a side wall of the storage compartment <NUM>, and the user may control the driving motor to perform forward and reverse rotations by using the shelf lifting control button <NUM>.

In a possible example, the shelf lifting control button <NUM> includes an up button, a down button and a stop button. The up button is at an upper side and provided with a mark of arrow up, the stop button is at the middle and provided with a mark of stop, and the down button is at a lower side and provided with a mark of arrow down. In another example, the shelf lifting control button <NUM> includes two buttons, which are an up/stop button and a down/stop button. The up/stop button is used to control the lifting shelf <NUM> to ascend or stop ascending and the down/stop button is used to control the lifting shelf <NUM> to descend or stop descending.

In the shelf driving mechanism <NUM>, one guide rail <NUM> and one support piece <NUM> are disposed. The guide rail <NUM> is mounted at a rear side wall of the storage compartment <NUM>, and the support piece <NUM> is fixedly connected to a middle rear position of the lifting shelf <NUM>. The driving motor <NUM> is disposed at an upper side of the guide rail <NUM>. In this way, the traction cable <NUM> will be shorter in traction distance, and thus the structure is simpler and production costs are lower. However, in this example, the lifting shelf <NUM> is supported and fixed only on the middle position. If the articles placed on both sides differ greatly in weight, the lifting shelf <NUM> is likely to tilt.

As shown in <FIG>, in order to enable the lifting shelf <NUM> to move up and down more stably, two guide rails <NUM> are disposed, including a first guide rail 301A and a second guide rail 301B, which are at two opposing sides of the storage compartment <NUM>. The first guide rail 301A is slidably connected with a first support piece 302A, and the second guide rail 301B is slidably connected with a second support piece 302B. The driving motor <NUM> is disposed at a rear side of the storage compartment <NUM>, and a first pulley <NUM> is fixed on the driving output shaft <NUM>. A second pulley <NUM> for switching the traction direction of the traction cable is disposed at left and right sides of the storage compartment <NUM> respectively. Ends of the two traction cables <NUM> are fixed on the first pulley <NUM> respectively, and the middle positions of the two traction cables <NUM> circumvent the second pulleys <NUM> respectively, and the other ends of the two traction cables <NUM> are fixed on the first support piece 302A and the second support piece 302B respectively.

Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, two annular pulley grooves <NUM> are formed on a wheel surface of the first pulley <NUM>, and the traction cables <NUM> for pulling the support pieces <NUM> at left and right sides respectively are wound into the pulley grooves <NUM> respectively.

The traction cable <NUM> and the first pulley <NUM> are fixed in accordance with claim <NUM>. In order to facilitate mounting and dismounting of the traction cable <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, an inserting groove <NUM> for fixing an end of the traction cable is preferably disposed on an end surface of the first pulley <NUM>. The traction cable <NUM> includes a cable body <NUM> and a limiting block <NUM> at a side end of the cable body. The inserting groove <NUM> includes a limiting groove 3051A mated with the limiting block <NUM> and a connection groove 3051B mated with the cable body <NUM>. An outer end of the connection groove 3051B extends to the pulley groove of the first pulley <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of connection relationship of a traction cable, a first pulley and a motor mounting box according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. In some examples, the traction cable is a steel wire rope and a cross section area of the limiting block <NUM> is greater than that of the cable body <NUM>. Illustratively, as shown in <FIG>, the limiting block <NUM> adopts a rectangular block structure with a large cross section area and is integrally welded with the cable body.

In some examples, the limiting groove 3051A is matched in shape and size with the limiting block <NUM>. A width of the connection groove 3051B is matched with a diameter size of the cable body <NUM>. The connection groove 3051B extends along an arc on the end surface of the first pulley <NUM>.

The driving motor <NUM> is mounted into the motor mounting box <NUM>, the driving output shaft <NUM> protrudes out of a front side of the motor mounting box <NUM>, and the first pulley <NUM> is fixedly connected with the driving output shaft <NUM> through a screw.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of connection relationship of a covering housing and a motor mounting box according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a sectional view of connection relationship of a covering housing and a motor mounting box according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, a covering housing <NUM> covering on the first pulley <NUM> is disposed at an outer side of the motor mounting box <NUM>, the covering housing <NUM> is thread-connected to the motor mounting box <NUM>, a mounting hole for inserting the traction cable <NUM> is disposed on the covering housing <NUM>. In this case, the limiting block <NUM> of the traction cable <NUM> is limited by the covering housing <NUM> and a front end surface of the motor mounting box <NUM> respectively along a back and forth direction, and thus will not slide out.

<FIG> is a structural schematic diagram of a guide rail structure according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the guide rail <NUM> is a steel ball slide rail, and the steel ball slide rail includes an outer rail <NUM>, an inner rail <NUM>, and a rolling ball <NUM> therebetween. The outer rail <NUM> is fixed at a side wall of the storage compartment <NUM>, and the support piece <NUM> is fixedly connected with the inner rail <NUM>. When the above steel ball slide rail is adopted, it is only required to overcome rolling resistance during up and down movement of the lifting shelf <NUM>. Under the same load, only a smaller driving force is required to move up and down the lifting shelf <NUM>.

The lifting shelf <NUM> may be fixed on the support piece <NUM> in several ways, for example, may be fixed by thread fixing or buckling connection. <FIG> is a structural schematic diagram of a lifting shelf according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the lifting shelf <NUM> includes a shelf body <NUM> and a shelf support frame1032 for supporting the shelf body <NUM>. The shelf support frame <NUM> is fixedly connected to both sides of a lower portion of the shelf body <NUM>, and a hook <NUM> is disposed at a rear side of the shelf support frame <NUM>. A hooking hole <NUM> is disposed on the support piece <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the hook <NUM> of the shelf support frame <NUM> is hooked on the hooking hole <NUM> of the support piece <NUM>. Such hooking manner is highly reliable and convenience is provided for the user to dismount the lifting shelf <NUM> for cleaning.

The support piece <NUM> and the traction cable <NUM> may be fixed in several ways. In one example, a connection hole is formed on an upper side of the support piece <NUM>, and the traction cable <NUM> is directly connected to the connection hole. In this manner, the support piece <NUM> fixes the lifting shelf <NUM> and the traction cable <NUM> at the same time, thus requiring high supporting capability. <FIG> is a schematic diagram of connection relationship of a lifting shelf and a support piece according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. In some examples of the present disclosure, as shown in <FIG>, a traction cable fixing piece <NUM> is disposed at an upper side of the support piece <NUM>, and the traction cable fixing piece <NUM> is fixedly connected to the inner rail <NUM>. The traction cable fixing piece <NUM> and the support piece <NUM> are independent from each other and support the lifting shelf <NUM> and the traction cable <NUM> respectively. In this way, the supporting performance can be guaranteed and the manufacturing assembly is made easy at the same time.

During the up and down movement of the lifting shelf <NUM>, it is possible that an article blocks the lifting shelf <NUM>. At this time, it is necessary to stop the lifting shelf <NUM> immediately to prevent toppling of the articles on the lifting shelf <NUM> due to the sideway tilt of the lifting shelf <NUM>. Therefore, the shelf driving mechanism <NUM> further includes an obstruction-encountering emergency stop device for controlling the driving motor to stop when the lifting shelf <NUM> encounters resistance during its ascent or descent. In order to guarantee the safety of up and down movement of the lifting shelf <NUM>, the obstruction-encountering emergency stop device includes a down obstruction-encountering emergency stop device and an up obstruction-encountering emergency stop device. The down obstruction-encountering emergency stop device is used to ensure that the lifting shelf <NUM> stops moving down upon encountering resistance during down movement and the up obstruction-encountering emergency stop device is used to ensure that the lifting shelf <NUM> stops moving up upon encountering resistance during up movement. Specifically, The down obstruction-encountering emergency stop device and the up obstruction-encountering emergency stop device both operate by detecting a current of the driving motor <NUM>. Specifically, a current sensor for detecting a current magnitude is disposed on the driving motor <NUM>. When the lifting shelf <NUM> encounters resistance during up or down movement, the current of the driving motor <NUM> will change suddenly. At this time, the controller will control the driving motor to stop running. In the obstruction-encountering emergency stop device, the driving motor is controlled to start and stop by a change threshold of the current. If the threshold is set improperly, for example, the threshold is set to be excessively large, the lifting shelf <NUM> will not stop in time, and if the threshold is set to be excessively small, the lifting shelf <NUM> will stop at a position where it shall not stop.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a shelf driving mechanism with an obstruction-encountering emergency stop device in a case of normal operation according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a shelf driving mechanism with an obstruction-encountering emergency stop device in a case that a shelf is obstructed according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. In some examples of the present disclosure, in order to provide an obstruction-encountering emergency stop device that can more accurately control the lifting shelf <NUM> to stop in a case that the lifting shelf <NUM> encounters resistance, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the down obstruction-encountering emergency stop device includes a microswitch <NUM>, the microswitch <NUM> is fixed on a rear wall of the cold storage compartment 100B, an annular sleeve <NUM> is disposed on a detection arm <NUM> of the microswitch <NUM> and sleeved on the traction cable <NUM>. Preferably, the annular sleeve <NUM> is sleeved on the section of the traction cable located between the first pulley <NUM> and the second pulley <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, under normal circumstances, the traction cable <NUM> is in a tensioned state due to gravity of the lifting shelf <NUM>, the detection arm <NUM> of the microswitch <NUM> keeps consistent in position during normal operation, and the circuit is in a normally-closed state. When the lifting shelf <NUM> encounters an obstruction during down movement as shown in <FIG>, the traction cable <NUM> is changed from the tensioned state into a relaxed state. At this time, the detection arm <NUM> of the microswitch <NUM> changes in position and the circuit is changed from normally closed state to normally-open state. At this time, a control unit cuts off the circuit, the driving motor <NUM> stop rotating, and the lifting shelf <NUM> stops moving down. Because the traction cable will have a position change immediately upon encountering an obstruction, the response speed can be increased by detecting the position of the traction cable using the microswitch <NUM>, thereby improving the detection reliability.

<FIG> is a circuit diagram of power source switching signal of an obstruction-encountering emergency stop device according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. A power source switching chip <NUM> is included to switch polarity of an output end according to signal input information. A first microswitch 601Aand a second microswitch 601B at both sides of the traction cable <NUM> are series-connected with each other and then parallel-connected with a diode <NUM>, and then series-connected with the driving motor <NUM> and then connected to two output ends of the power source switching chip <NUM>, where a positive pole of the diode <NUM> is connected with the driving motor <NUM> and a negative pole of the diode <NUM> is connected with the power source switching chip <NUM>.

Specifically, an input end of the power source switching chip <NUM> includes a +24V power interface and a GND end connecting the positive and negative poles of 24V DV power source respectively and a signal input end connecting with I/O port of a single-chip machine sending a switching signal. The two output ends of the power source switching chip are series-connected in the circuit to provide a power signal to the obstruction-encountering emergency stop device. After the signal input end receives a switching signal from the single-chip machine, the power polarities of the two output ends will be exchanged up and down (for example, changing from upper end +24V lower end GND into upper end GND lower end +24V).

When the lifting shelf descends normally, the two output ends of the power source switching chip <NUM> are upper end+24V lower end GND. At this time, the current of the circuit runs clockwise through the first microswitch 601A and the second microswitch 601B on the two traction cables <NUM>, and then through the driving motor <NUM>, and the driving motor <NUM> rotates to drive the lifting shelf <NUM> to descend. At this time, the lifting shelf <NUM> encounters an obstruction during down movement, thus causing the traction cable <NUM> to be relaxed. One or two of the first microswitch 601A and the second microswitch 601B will be disconnected, and thus the original circuit will be cut off. In this case, the driving motor <NUM> stops rotating and the lifting shelf <NUM> stops descending. At this time, if the down button is depressed again, the lifting shelf <NUM> will not act, but the lifting shelf <NUM> can be moved up by depressing the up button. When the up button is depressed, the single chip machine will receive the depressing information and then send a power source switching signal to the power source switching chip <NUM> through the signal input end. The two output ends of the power source switching chip <NUM> is switched to upper end GND lower end +24V. At this time, the current of the circuit is counterclockwise. Although the microswitch <NUM> (the first microswitch 601A and/or the second microswitch 601B) is disconnected, the current can be conducted again through the diode <NUM> after running through the driving motor <NUM>. Therefore, the driving motor <NUM> rotates reversely and the lifting shelf <NUM> ascends. After the lifting shelf <NUM> ascends a distance, the two microswitches 601A/601B restore to on state, and the down button also restores to normal. At this time, the up and down movements of the lifting shelf can be freely controlled again by the up and down buttons.

In order to further accurately control the movement position of the lifting shelf <NUM>, the refrigerator further includes a shelf stroke detection device <NUM>. The shelf stroke detection device <NUM> is used to detect the highest and lowest movement strokes of the lifting shelf. The control device is used to control the driving motor to start and stop based on a detection signal of the shelf stroke detection device <NUM>. In order to facilitate assembly mounting, the driving motor <NUM>, the gear transmission mechanism and the shelf stroke detection device <NUM> are mounted into the motor mounting box <NUM> in an integrated manner. A driving output shaft <NUM> for outputting the torque of the driving motor <NUM> protrudes out of the motor mounting box <NUM>. The gear transmission mechanism may be disposed as a gear transmission mechanism of two or three levels according to a reduction ratio, and the gear transmission mechanism is provided with several transmission gears <NUM>.

<FIG> is a structural schematic diagram of a motor mounting box in an opened state according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a sectional view of a motor mounting box according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the shelf stroke detection device <NUM> includes a stroke switch <NUM> and a linkage piece <NUM>. A trigger portion <NUM> is disposed on the stroke switch <NUM>, the linkage piece <NUM> cooperates with the stroke switch <NUM> and the transmission gear <NUM> respectively, and a positioning portion <NUM> is disposed on an inner wheel surface of the transmission gear <NUM>. When the driving motor <NUM> drives the transmission gear <NUM> to rotate to an extent that the positioning portion <NUM> is in contact with the linkage piece <NUM>, the linkage piece <NUM> triggers the trigger portion <NUM> of the stroke switch <NUM>.

Specifically, the transmission gear <NUM> may be any one transmission gear <NUM> of the gear transmission mechanism that rotates no more than one turn in a maximum stroke range of the lifting shelf <NUM>. But, subjected to the size of the stroke switch and the arrangement of the motor mounting box, for ease of mounting, the stroke switch is cooperated with the last level of output gears where the driving output shaft is located so as to realize triggering of the highest and lowest strokes of the shelf.

Specifically, the stroke switch <NUM> is snap-fitted on one side surface of the motor mounting box <NUM> with its trigger portion <NUM> facing the other side surface of the motor mounting box <NUM>. The linkage piece <NUM> includes a middle hinging portion <NUM> through which the linkage piece <NUM> is swingably connected to the motor mounting box. The linkage piece <NUM> further includes a first extension arm <NUM>, a second extension arm <NUM> and a third extension arm <NUM> extending from the middle hinging portion <NUM>. The second extension arm <NUM> and the third extension arm <NUM> are on the same straight line and the first extension arm <NUM> is disposed perpendicular to the second extension arm <NUM> and the third extension arm <NUM>. The linkage piece <NUM> is entirely T-shaped. The first extension arm <NUM> is used to cooperate with the transmission gear <NUM>, and the second extension arm <NUM> is used to cooperate with the stroke switch <NUM>. A reset spring <NUM> is disposed between the linkage piece <NUM> and the motor mounting box <NUM>, and an elastic force of the reset spring <NUM> is applicable to abutting the linkage piece <NUM> against the trigger portion <NUM> of the stroke switch <NUM>. More specifically, a positioning protrusion 70234A is formed on a surface of the second extension arm <NUM> opposed to a cooperating surface of the stroke switch <NUM>, one end of the reset spring <NUM> is sleeved on the positioning protrusion 70234A and the other end of the reset spring <NUM> is sleeved on a protrusion rib of the motor mounting box <NUM>.

Specifically, the positioning portion <NUM> is a groove formed on the inner wheel surface of the transmission gear <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, when the first extension arm <NUM> is mated with the groove, the linkage piece swings around the middle hinging portion <NUM> until the second extension arm <NUM> is abutted against the trigger portion <NUM>, so that the stroke switch <NUM> is triggered. As shown in <FIG>, when the first extension arm <NUM> is mated with other region of the transmission gear <NUM> than the groove, the linkage piece <NUM> swings around the middle hinging portion <NUM> until the second extension arm <NUM> separates from the trigger portion <NUM>.

Two shelf stroke detection devices are disposed which are triggered respectively when the lifting shelf moves to the highest and lowest positions. For example, when the transmission gear <NUM> rotates in the first direction, the lifting shelf <NUM> moves up. When one of the stroke detection devices is triggered by the transmission gear <NUM>, the control device controls the driving motor <NUM> to stop and the lifting shelf <NUM> stops moving. When the transmission gear <NUM> rotates in a second direction contrary to the first direction, the lifting shelf moves down. When the other of the stroke detection devices is triggered by the transmission gear <NUM>, the control device controls the driving motor <NUM> to stop and the lifting shelf <NUM> stops moving.

In order to reduce the space of the storage compartment <NUM> occupied by the shelf driving mechanism <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, a motor mounting groove <NUM> is formed on a rear wall of the storage compartment <NUM>, a motor reinforcing iron <NUM> is disposed at an inner side of the rear wall of the storage compartment <NUM>, and the motor mounting box <NUM> is fixed in the motor mounting groove <NUM>.

Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, a connection lug is disposed on the motor mounting box <NUM>, and the motor mounting box <NUM> is connected with the motor reinforcing iron <NUM> through a bolt inserted through the connection lug. The output shaft <NUM> of the driving motor <NUM> is parallel to the rear wall of the storage compartment <NUM>, so that the size of the motor mounting box <NUM> along a thickness direction can be reduced further.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a cold storage compartment cut along a horizontal direction according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. <FIG> is another schematic diagram of a cold storage compartment cut along a horizontal direction according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a guide rail mounting groove <NUM> is formed on the left and right side walls of the storage compartment <NUM> respectively. A guide rail reinforcing iron <NUM> is disposed at inner sides of the left and right side walls of the storage compartment <NUM> respectively. The guide rail <NUM> mounted into the guide rail mounting groove <NUM> is connected with the guide rail reinforcing iron <NUM> through a bolt. In this case, two large parts in the shelf driving mechanism <NUM>, i.e. the driving motor <NUM> and the guide rail <NUM>, are both embedded into the mounting grooves at the inner sides of the inner walls of the storage compartment. Thus, the entire shelf driving mechanism <NUM> occupies a very small space.

In order to guarantee entire aesthetics of the interior of the storage compartment <NUM>, a decoration structure covering the above shelf driving mechanism <NUM> is included. Specifically, when the refrigerator is a direct cooling refrigerator, no air duct structure is disposed at the inner side of the storage compartment <NUM>, and one integral panel may be adopted to cover the entire region where the shelf driving mechanism <NUM> is located. Openings are disposed at both sides of the panel, and the lifting shelf <NUM> may move up and down along the openings.

In some examples of the present disclosure, the refrigerator <NUM> is an air cooling refrigerator. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, an air duct assembly is disposed at a rear inner wall of the storage compartment <NUM>, the air duct assembly includes an air duct cover plate <NUM> and air duct foam (not shown). The air duct foam is located at a rear side of the air duct assembly <NUM>, and is connected with a buckle at the rear wall of the cold storage compartment through the air duct cover plate <NUM>. An air duct structure is formed inside the air duct foam. Several air outlets are disposed at both sides of the air duct foam respectively, and the air duct assembly supplies air to the cold storage compartment 100B through the air outlets <NUM>.

The decoration structure covering the above shelf driving mechanism <NUM> includes two parts. One part of the decoration structure is the air duct cover plate <NUM> covering upper parts of the driving motor <NUM> and the traction cable <NUM>. Because the driving motor <NUM> is mounted at the rear wall of the cold storage compartment 100B, the upper parts of the driving motor <NUM> and the traction cable <NUM> can be skillfully covered with the air duct cover plate <NUM> so that the external entirety in the cold storage compartment is made better. The other part of the decoration structure is a decoration plate <NUM> covering a region where the guide rail <NUM> is located. The decoration plate <NUM> is located at left and right sides of the air duct cover plate <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, one end of the decoration plate <NUM> is fitted into the guide rail mounting groove <NUM>, the other end is fixed on the rear wall of the cold storage compartment 100B through two screws, and both sides of the air duct cover plate <NUM> can cover a part of the decoration plate <NUM>. In this way, the entirety in the storage compartment is maintained, and the problems of external exposure of the guide rail and the pulley assembly and the like and impact of the stored articles on ascent and descent of the lifting shelf and so on are avoided.

The decoration plate <NUM> has an air guide surface <NUM> disposed at the air outlet <NUM> of the air duct assembly <NUM> to guide the air supply direction of the air duct assembly. Specifically, the air guide surface <NUM> is an inclined surface or an inwardly-recessed arc surface. By disposing the air guide surface <NUM> at the air outlet <NUM>, the decoration plate <NUM> is prevented from blocking the air supply of the air duct assembly <NUM>, thus maintaining the cold storage effect of the cold storage compartment.

<FIG> is a perspective diagram of a decoration plate according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a rear view of a decoration plate according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a diagram of mating of a decoration plate and a blocking plate according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, a first opening <NUM> extending up and down is disposed on the decoration plate <NUM>, the shelf support frame <NUM> of the lifting shelf <NUM> is inserted through the first opening <NUM>, and the lifting shelf <NUM> may move up and down along the first opening <NUM>. In order to avoid that the lifting shelf <NUM> generates sliding friction with the first opening <NUM> during up and down movement, an area of the first opening <NUM> is set as slightly larger to prevent contact between the lifting shelf <NUM> and the first opening <NUM>. In this case, the shelf driving mechanism disposed insides are exposed through the first opening <NUM>. When foods in the storage compartment of the refrigerator enter the shelf driving mechanism, the reliability of the shelf driving mechanism will be affected. Therefore, a blocking plate <NUM> is disposed at a side of the decoration plate <NUM> away from the lifting shelf <NUM>, a second opening <NUM> matched in size with the shelf support frame is disposed at the blocking plate <NUM>, the shelf support frame is inserted into the second opening <NUM>, and the blocking plate <NUM> may move along with the lifting shelf <NUM> and cover at least part of the first opening <NUM>.

In this case, the blocking plate <NUM> may block most area of the first opening <NUM>. When the lifting shelf <NUM> moves up and down, the blocking plate <NUM> may move along, and thus will not affect the movement of the lifting shelf. The above blocking structure can avoid the risk that the foreign matters enter due to inside-outside communication. At the same time, the lifting reliability of the lifting shelf <NUM> is guaranteed.

The blocking plate may be fixed and mounted in several manners, for example, it may be independently and slidably connected to the guide plate at the rear side of the decoration plate. In this manner, entry of foreign matters cannot be thoroughly avoided due to a clearance existing between the blocking plate <NUM> and the decoration plate <NUM>. Therefore, in this example, the blocking plate is slidably connected to a rear surface of the decoration plate <NUM>. Specifically, a guide portion <NUM> is disposed on the decoration plate <NUM> and the blocking plate may be longitudinally slidably connected to the guide portion <NUM>.

The structure of the guide portion <NUM> may be in other forms as long as the blocking plate <NUM> can longitudinally slide thereon. As shown in <FIG>, the guide portion <NUM> is preferably several L-shaped guide ribs formed on the decoration plate <NUM>. The L-shaped guide ribs are arranged longitudinally in two rows. The blocking plate <NUM> is located between the two rows of L-shaped guide ribs. In this manner, when the blocking plate <NUM> is mounted, the mounting can be completed by outwardly moving the L-shaped guide ribs, thereby bringing convenience to the whole mounting process. Further, the blocking plate <NUM> can slide more smoothly due to less slide friction area.

In an example, the blocking plate <NUM> is an integral plate structure with its length greater than about two folds of height of the first opening. In this case, the blocking plate <NUM> always covers the first opening <NUM> when the lifting shelf <NUM> is at the lowest or highest positions.

Because the lifting shelf <NUM> has a large lifting distance, if the blocking plate <NUM> is designed as an integral plate, when the lifting shelf moves down to the lowest position, the lower end of the blocking plate <NUM> protrude much downwardly, affecting the fixing of the fixed shelves <NUM> of lower level, or when the lifting shelf moves up to the highest position, the upper end of the blocking plate <NUM> protrude much upwardly, abutting against the top wall of the storage compartment. As shown in <FIG>, the blocking plate <NUM> includes a first blocking plate <NUM> and a second blocking plate <NUM> mutually slidably connected, the second opening <NUM> is disposed on the first blocking plate <NUM>, and the second blocking plate <NUM> is located at the upper side and/or the lower side of the second opening <NUM>. When the second blocking plate <NUM> is at the upper side of the second opening <NUM>, a high position limiting portion (not shown) for limiting the highest position of the second blocking plate <NUM> is disposed at the decoration plate <NUM>. When the second blocking plate <NUM> is at the lower side of the second opening <NUM>, a low position limiting portion for limiting the lowest position of the second blocking plate <NUM> is disposed at the decoration plate <NUM>.

In this case, by disposing the first blocking plate <NUM> and the second blocking plate <NUM> that are mutually slidable, the high position limiting portion limits the highest position of the second blocking plate <NUM> when the lifting shelf <NUM> moves up. The second blocking plate <NUM> slides to the inner side of the first blocking plate <NUM>, avoiding the risk that the second blocking plate <NUM> continues moving up to be abutted against the top wall of the storage compartment. When the lifting shelf <NUM> moves down, the low position limiting portion limits the lowest position of the second blocking plate <NUM>. The second blocking plate <NUM> slides to the inner side of the first blocking plate <NUM>, avoiding the risk that the second blocking plate <NUM> continues moving down to interfere with the support device of the lower fixed shelves.

In one possible example, the high position limiting portion or the low position limiting portion <NUM> is a limiting rib formed on the decoration plate <NUM>.

<FIG> is an exploded view of a blocking plate according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a diagram of a state of a blocking plate when a shelf is at the lowest position according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a diagram of a state of a blocking plate when a shelf is at the highest position according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. <FIG> is front and back views of a decoration plate and a blocking plate when a shelf is at the lowest position according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. <FIG> is front and back views of a decoration plate and a blocking plate when a shelf is at a middle position according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. <FIG> is front and back views of a decoration plate and a blocking plate when a shelf is at the highest position according to one or more examples of the present disclosure.

In some examples of the present disclosure, as shown in <FIG>, the relationship and working process are described with the second blocking plate <NUM> being at the lower side of the second opening <NUM> as an example. It is apparent for those skilled in the art that there is the same working principle with the second blocking plate <NUM> being at the upper side of the second opening <NUM>. Thus the descriptions will not be repeated herein.

In order to further limit the sliding position of the second blocking plate <NUM>, a first limiting portion and a second limiting portion are disposed on the first blocking plate <NUM> and the second blocking plate <NUM> respectively. As shown in <FIG>, when the first blocking plate <NUM> moves close to the second blocking plate <NUM>, the first limiting portion cooperates with the low position limiting portion to limit the second blocking plate <NUM> to a first position; as shown in <FIG>, when the first blocking plate <NUM> moves away from the second blocking plate <NUM>, the second limiting portion limits the second blocking plate <NUM> to a second position.

Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, a sliding rib <NUM> is disposed at the lower side of the second opening <NUM> of the first blocking plate <NUM>, and a sliding groove <NUM> mated with the sliding rib is disposed at the second blocking plate <NUM>. The first limiting portion includes a limiting protrusion <NUM> at an upper end of the sliding rib. When the lower end surface of the second blocking plate <NUM> cooperates with the low position limiting portion <NUM>, the limiting portion <NUM> cooperates with the upper end surface of the second blocking plate <NUM> to limit the second blocking plate <NUM> to the first position as shown in <FIG>. The second limiting portion includes a first stop <NUM> disposed at a lower end of the sliding rib <NUM> and a second stop <NUM> at an upper end of the sliding groove <NUM>. The first stop <NUM> and the second stop <NUM> cooperate to limit the second blocking plate <NUM> to the second position as shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> are structural diagrams of front and back sides of a decoration plate <NUM> when a lifting shelf <NUM> moves from the lowest position to the middle position and to the highest position. As shown in <FIG>, when the lifting shelf <NUM> is at the lowest position, the second opening <NUM> is at the lowest position, the second blocking plate <NUM> slides to the inner side of the first blocking plate <NUM>, the lower end surface of the second blocking plate <NUM> and the low position liming portion <NUM> are cooperated and the limiting protrusion <NUM> and the upper end surface of the second blocking plate <NUM> are cooperated so that the second blocking plate <NUM> is limited to the first position. As shown in <FIG>, when the lifting shelf <NUM> is at the middle position, the second opening <NUM> is at the middle position, the first blocking plate <NUM> slides relative to the second blocking plate <NUM> so that the second blocking plate <NUM> is at an outer side of the first blocking plate <NUM> and the first stop <NUM> and the second stop <NUM> cooperate to limit the second blocking plate <NUM> to the second position. As shown in <FIG>, when the lifting shelf <NUM> is at the highest position, the second opening <NUM> is at the highest position, and the first blocking plate <NUM> brings the second blocking plate <NUM> upward to the highest position.

Specifically, two T-shaped sliding grooves <NUM> are disposed on the second blocking plate <NUM>, and two T-shaped sliding ribs <NUM> are disposed correspondingly on the first blocking plate <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A refrigerator with a lifting shelf, comprising: a storage compartment (<NUM>), wherein a lifting shelf (<NUM>), a shelf driving mechanism (<NUM>) for driving the lifting shelf (<NUM>) to move up and down and a shelf stroke detection device (<NUM>) for detecting a maximum moving stroke of the lifting shelf (<NUM>) are disposed in the storage compartment (<NUM>),
the shelf driving mechanism (<NUM>) comprises: a driving motor (<NUM>) and a gear transmission mechanism, wherein the gear transmission mechanism comprises at least one group of transmission gears (<NUM>), the driving motor (<NUM>) outputs a torque by a driving output shaft (<NUM>) and a first pulley (<NUM>) is disposed on the driving output shaft (<NUM>); a guide rail (<NUM>) fixed in the storage compartment (<NUM>), wherein the guide rail (<NUM>) is slidably connected to a support piece (<NUM>) on the guide rail (<NUM>), and the lifting shelf (<NUM>) is fixedly connected with the support piece (<NUM>); and a traction cable, where the traction cable is wound around the first pulley (<NUM>), and the other end of the traction cable is fixedly connected with the support piece (<NUM>);
the shelf stroke detection device (<NUM>) comprises: a stroke switch (<NUM>) wherein a trigger portion (<NUM>) is disposed on the stroke switch (<NUM>); and a linkage piece (<NUM>) wherein the linkage piece (<NUM>) cooperates with the stroke switch (<NUM>) and the transmission gear (<NUM>) respectively, a positioning portion (<NUM>) is disposed on an inner wheel surface of the transmission gear (<NUM>), and when the driving motor (<NUM>) drives the transmission gear (<NUM>) to rotate until the positioning portion (<NUM>) is in contact with the linkage piece (<NUM>), the linkage piece (<NUM>) triggers the trigger portion (<NUM>) of the stroke switch (<NUM>),
wherein the driving motor (<NUM>), the gear transmission mechanism and the shelf stroke detection device (<NUM>) are mounted in a motor mounting box (<NUM>),
characterized in that, the stroke switch (<NUM>) is fitted at a side surface of the motor mounting box (<NUM>), the linkage piece (<NUM>) is swingably connected to the motor mounting box (<NUM>), a reset spring (<NUM>) is disposed between the linkage piece (<NUM>) and the motor mounting box (<NUM>), and an elastic force of the reset spring (<NUM>) is applicable to abutting the linkage piece (<NUM>) against a trigger portion (<NUM>) of the stroke switch (<NUM>).