Refrigerator

Abstract

A movement structure for a drawer of a refrigerator is provided that allows a storage box to be automatically withdrawn from or inserted into a main body of the refrigerator. The structure may include a rolling mechanism that rolls along a guide mechanism coupled to the storage box to facilitate and guide the movement of the storage box and maintain alignment relative to the main body of the refrigerator. A drive motor may provide a rotational force to the rolling mechanism to automate the movement of the storage box.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A refrigerator, comprising:
 at least one compartment;   an evaporator that supplies cold air to the at least one compartment;   a drawer provided for the at least one compartment;   a shaft that extends from a first lateral side of the drawer to a second lateral side of the drawer along a rear portion of the drawer;   at least one rolling member connected to an end of the shaft;   at least one guide member extending from a front portion to a rear portion of the at least one compartment, wherein the at least one rolling member is received in the at least one guide member; and   a motor connected to the shaft, wherein the motor rotates the shaft and the at least one rolling member connected thereto such that the at least one rolling member moves along the at least one guide member, wherein the shaft, the motor and the at least one rolling member move integrally with the drawer.   
     
     
       2. The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is a variable speed drive motor. 
     
     
       3. The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one rolling member comprises at least one pinion coupled to the end of the shaft and the at least one guide member comprises at least one guide rack that engages the at least one pinion. 
     
     
       4. The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one pinion comprises a pair of pinions respectively coupled to opposite ends of the shaft, and the at least one guide rack comprises a pair of guide racks respectively positioned on opposite lateral side surfaces of the at least one compartment so as to respectively engage the pair of pinions. 
     
     
       5. The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising a switch electrically coupled to the motor to selectively drive the motor and withdraw the drawer from or insert the drawer into the at least one compartment. 
     
     
       6. The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the switch comprises an input button provided on an outer portion of the refrigerator, wherein actuation of the input button drives the motor to rotate at least one pinion coupled to an end of the shaft and withdraw the drawer from or insert the drawer into the at least one compartment based on a direction of rotation of the motor. 
     
     
       7. The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the switch comprises a switch that senses an external force applied to a predetermined portion of the drawer and drives the motor in response thereto. 
     
     
       8. The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the external force comprises an impact to the drawer that drives the motor to automatically move the drawer from a closed state to an open state, or from an open state to a closed state. 
     
     
       9. The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the drawer is configured to be manually withdrawn or inserted by one of a pulling force or a pushing force. 
     
     
       10. The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one rolling member comprises a roller that is rotated by the motor and a first friction member that surrounds an outer periphery of the roller, and wherein the at least one guide member comprises a member that contacts the rolling member so as to generate friction therebetween. 
     
     
       11. A refrigerator, comprising:
 a main body having at least one storage compartment; 
 an evaporator that supplies cold air to the at least one storage compartment; 
 a drawer provided with within the at least one storage compartment; 
 a movement apparatus that allows movement of the drawer relative to the at least one storage compartment, the movement apparatus comprising:
 a motor that generates a driving force in response to an input, and moves together with the drawer; and 
 a driving force transmitter that transfers the driving force into a movement of the drawer, the driving force transmitter comprising:
 a shaft that extends from a first lateral side of the drawer to a second lateral side of the drawer, along a rear portion of the drawer; and 
 at least one rolling member connected to an end of the shaft so as to receive the driving force from the motor via the shaft and move the drawer in a corresponding direction. 
 
 
 
     
     
       12. The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the motor comprises a variable speed drive motor capable of forward and reverse rotation. 
     
     
       13. The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one rolling member of the driving force transmitter comprises a pair of rolling members respectively provided at opposite ends of the shaft, the pair of rolling members comprising:
 a pair of pinions respectively coupled to opposite ends of the shaft; and 
 a pair of rack guides that extend from a front portion to a rear portion of the at least one compartment, positioned along opposite inner lateral sides of the at least one compartment corresponding to the pair of pinions so as to engage the pair of pinions. 
 
     
     
       14. The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the motor generates a rotational force that rotates at least one of the pair of pinions, and wherein the pair of pinions rotate along the pair of rack guides so as withdraw the drawer from or insert the drawer into the at least one compartment based on a direction of rotation of the pair of pinions. 
     
     
       15. The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the input is provided through a button provided on an outer portion of the main body, wherein actuation of the button activates the motor. 
     
     
       16. The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the input is provided through a switch that senses an external force applied to a predetermined portion of the drawer and activates the motor. 
     
     
       17. The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the drawer is configured to move automatically by an operation of the movement apparatus or to move manually by a force applied thereto. 
     
     
       18. The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one storage compartment comprises a plurality of vertically stacked compartments, each having a drawer movably coupled thereto, and each having a movement apparatus that provides for automatic or manual movement of each drawer relative to its respective storage compartment. 
     
     
       19. A refrigerator comprising:
 a housing having a first compartment; 
 an evaporator to provide cold air; 
 a first drawer for the first compartment; 
 a door provided on the first drawer; 
 a first pinion and a first guide rack provided between the first compartment and the first drawer, the first pinion being movable along the first guide rack, the first pinion having a plurality of first teeth, and the first guide rack having a plurality of second teeth along a prescribed length of the first guide rack; and 
 a first motor coupled to the first pinion, wherein, based on an operation of the motor, the first drawer is moved from a first position to a second position relative to the first compartment by movement of the first pinion along the first guide rack, wherein the first pinion and the first motor move integrally with the first drawer, and wherein the motor is activated or deactivated by at least one of an input provided on a panel of the housing, a vibration detected on the door, or a remote control. 
 
     
     
       20. The refrigerator of  claim 19 , wherein in the first position, an interior of the first compartment is inaccessible, and in the second position, access to the interior of the first compartment is allowed. 
     
     
       21. The refrigerator of  claim 19 , wherein the first position is a fully closed position and the second position is one of a partially open position or a fully open position. 
     
     
       22. The refrigerator of  claim 19 , further comprising a second pinion and a second guide rack provided between the first compartment and the first drawer, the second pinion being movable along the second guide rack. 
     
     
       23. The refrigerator of  claim 22 , further comprising a shaft coupled to the first pinion and connected to the second pinion. 
     
     
       24. The refrigerator of  claim 23 , wherein the first guide rack is provided on a first lateral side of the first compartment, and the second guide rack is provided on a second lateral side of the first compartment, the first and second lateral sides being opposite sides. 
     
     
       25. The refrigerator of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of first and second teeth are formed by a plurality of grooves. 
     
     
       26. A refrigerator, comprising:
 at least one compartment;   an evaporator that supplies cold air to the at least one compartment;   a drawer provided for the at least one compartment, the drawer including:
 a door that forms a front exterior of the drawer, 
 a storage box located behind the door and configured to receive food items, 
 a first frame extending rearward from a rear of the door, and 
 a second frame extending rearward from the rear of the door; 
   a shaft that extends from a first lateral side of the drawer to a second lateral side of the drawer along a rear portion of the storage box of the drawer;   at least one rolling member connected to an end of the shaft;   at least one guide member extending from a front portion to a rear portion of the at least one compartment and including a guide rack configured to guide movement of the at least one rolling member, wherein the at least one rolling member is received in the at least one guide member; and   a motor connected to the shaft, wherein the motor is located at one side of the shaft at a side of the first frame of the door, and wherein the motor includes a motor shaft that is aligned with the shaft and an axis of the at least one rolling member,   wherein the motor rotates the shaft and the at least one rolling member connected thereto such that the at least one rolling member moves along an upper surface of the guide rack of the at least one guide member,   wherein the shaft, the motor and the at least one rolling member move integrally with the drawer.    
     
     
       27. The refrigerator of claim 26, wherein the shaft includes a first end connected to the motor and a second end opposite to the first end.  
     
     
       28. The refrigerator of claim 27:
 wherein the motor includes a stator, a rotor connected to the motor shaft, and a housing configured to protect the rotor and the stator,   wherein the at least one rolling member includes a first rolling member, and   wherein the motor shaft includes a first motor shaft connected to the shaft and a second motor shaft connected to the first rolling member.    
     
     
       29. The refrigerator of claim 28, wherein the first motor shaft protrudes outward from the housing in a first protruding direction and the second motor shaft protrudes outward from the housing in a second protruding direction opposite to the first protruding direction.  
     
     
       30. The refrigerator of claim 28, wherein the first motor shaft is inserted in the first end of the shaft.  
     
     
       31. The refrigerator of claim 30, further comprising a coupling member configured to couple the first motor shaft and the first end of the shaft.  
     
     
       32. The refrigerator of claim 28, wherein the at least one rolling member further includes a second rolling member to which the second end of the shaft is connected.  
     
     
       33. The refrigerator of claim 28, wherein the first rolling member includes a pinion having gear teeth that are located on an outer peripheral surface of the pinion, and a connection portion extended from the pinion and connected to the second motor shaft.  
     
     
       34. The refrigerator of claim 33, wherein the second motor shaft is inserted in the connection portion of the first rolling member.  
     
     
       35. The refrigerator of claim 33, wherein a cross section of each of the first and second motor shafts is non-circular.  
     
     
       36. The refrigerator of claim 26, further comprising a bracket configured to connect the motor to the first frame.  
     
     
       37. The refrigerator of claim 36, wherein the motor is spaced apart from the first frame in a first direction crossing a longitudinal direction of the first frame.  
     
     
       38. The refrigerator of claim 37, wherein the bracket is disposed between the first frame and at least a portion of the motor.  
     
     
       39. The refrigerator of claim 37, wherein the first frame includes a fastening mount extended from the first frame in the first direction, and
 wherein the bracket includes a first part connected to the fastening mount and a second part bent from the first part and connected to the motor.    
     
     
       40. The refrigerator of claim 39, further comprising a coupling member configured to couple the fastening mount and the first part in the longitudinal direction of the first frame.  
     
     
       41. The refrigerator of claim 39, wherein the first part is disposed between an upper rear end of the drawer and the motor shaft of the motor.  
     
     
       42. The refrigerator of claim 39, wherein the second part surrounds at least a portion of the motor shaft of the motor.  
     
     
       43. The refrigerator of claim 36, wherein a signal wire and a power wire are connected to the motor.  
     
     
       44. The refrigerator of claim 26, wherein the storage box includes an upper rear end and a lower rear end,
 wherein a distance between the upper rear end of the storage box and the door is greater than a distance between the lower rear end of the storage box and the door, and   wherein the shaft is located closer to the upper rear end of the storage box than the lower rear end of the storage box.    
     
     
       45. The refrigerator of claim 44, wherein a distance between the shaft and the door is greater than the distance between the upper rear end of the storage box and the door.  
     
     
       46. The refrigerator of claim 44, wherein the upper rear end of the drawer is positioned higher than the shaft.  
     
     
       47. The refrigerator of claim 26, further comprising a rail assembly positioned to correspond to the first and second frames to allow the storage box to be inserted into and withdrawn from the at least one compartment,
 wherein the rail assembly, the first and second frames and the at least one rolling member are positioned higher than the guide rack.    
     
     
       48. The refrigerator of claim 47, wherein the at least one rolling member moves forward and rearward based on the at least one rolling member interacting with gear teeth provided on the upper surface of the guide rack.  
     
     
       49. The refrigerator of claim 47, wherein the motor shaft is positioned higher than the guide rack and lower than an upper surface of the first frame.  
     
     
       50. The refrigerator of claim 47, wherein the at least one guide member includes a rail mounting recess configured to receive the rail assembly, and
 wherein the guide rack extends from a bottom of the rail mounting recess in a horizontal direction.    
     
     
       51. The refrigerator of claim 26, further comprising an additional door provided at an upper side of the door, and an input button provided on a front side of the additional door to input a command for withdrawing or inserting the storage box.  
     
     
       52. The refrigerator of claim 26, wherein the motor rotates the at least one rolling member such that the at least one rolling member moves rearward in the at least one compartment along the upper surface of the guide rack based on a determination that an external force is applied to the door in a state in which the storage box is withdrawn from the at least one compartment.