Abstract: Disclosed herein are a refrigerator includes a housing, a door rotatably installed at the housing using a hinge, and a door driving system to open or close the housing using the door. The door driving system includes a motor to output power to open or close the door, a sun gear linked with the motor, a planetary gear linked with the sun gear, and provided to be rotated about an axis thereof and to revolve, an internal gear linked with the planetary gear and configured to transfer power generated by the motor to the hinge, and a carrier configured to be rotated linked with the planetary gear and selectively support the planetary gear to be rotated about the axis thereof. When the planetary gear is rotated about the axis thereof, the power of the motor is transferred to the internal gear and thus the door is automatically opened or closed.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a body and a drawer. The body includes a storage compartment. The drawer is insertable or withdrawable into or from the storage compartment. The refrigerator also includes a support configured to supports an item accommodated in the drawer. The refrigerator further includes a lifting device configured to lift the support with respect to the drawer. The lifting device includes a driving part that provides a driving force to the support, a wire that transfers the driving force of the driving part to the support, and at least one pulley which guides the wire.

Abstract: Provided herein is a door opening and closing apparatus capable of reducing torque of a motor required for removing an adhesive force between a door and a housing. The door opening and closing apparatus includes a motor configured to output power for opening and closing a door, a power transmission apparatus configured to transmit the power of the motor to a hinge by rotation of a plurality of driving gears, and an auxiliary apparatus configured to generate an auxiliary force for moving the door at a closing position toward an opening position, where the auxiliary force is generated at the auxiliary apparatus by the power of the motor before the power of the motor is transmitted to the hinge through the power transmission apparatus.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present discloser a refrigerator includes a body and a drawer. The body includes a storage compartment. The drawer is insertable or withdrawable into or from the storage compartment. The refrigerator also includes a support configured to supports an item accommodated in the drawer. The refrigerator further includes a lifting device configured to lift the support with respect to the drawer. The lifting device includes a driving part that provides a driving force to the support, a wire that transfers the driving force of the driving part to the support, and at least one pulley which guides the wire.

Abstract: A product discharging device includes: a lower pedal that is swingably disposed in a base to move forward to and backward from a product storage passage storing input products in a vertical direction; an upper pedal that is swingably disposed in a base to move forward to and backward from the product storage passage in an area above the lower pedal; and a pedal link that links the lower pedal and the upper pedal. The upper pedal moves backward by causing the pedal link to move downward and the lower pedal moves forward to regulate downward movement of the product in a standby state, and the upper pedal moves forward to come in contact with a second lowest product and the lower pedal moves backward to discharge a lowest product downward by causing the pedal link to move upward, in an activated state.

Abstract: A product dispensing system includes: a first product discharging device that is applied to a first product storage passage storing an input product in a vertical direction, regulates downward movement of the product stored in the first product storage passage in a standby state, and discharges a lowest product stored in the first product storage passage downward in an activated state; and a second product discharging device that is applied to a second product storage passage being adjacent to the first product storage passage and storing an input product in the vertical direction thereof, regulates downward movement of the product stored in the second product storage passage in a standby state, and discharges a lowest product stored in the second product storage passage downward in an activated state. The first product discharging device and the second product discharging device are coupled to each other back to back.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a refrigerator includes a housing, a door rotatably installed at the housing using a hinge, and a door driving system to open or close the housing using the door. The door driving system includes a motor to output power to open or close the door, a sun gear linked with the motor, a planetary gear linked with the sun gear, and provided to be rotated about an axis thereof and to revolve, an internal gear linked with the planetary gear and configured to transfer power generated by the motor to the hinge, and a carrier configured to be rotated linked with the planetary gear and selectively support the planetary gear to be rotated about the axis thereof. When the planetary gear is rotated about the axis thereof, the power of the motor is transferred to the internal gear and thus the door is automatically opened or closed.

Abstract: A product dispensing device includes: one product discharging device; and the other product discharging device. The one product discharging device includes: a DC motor serving as a drive source; and a driving force applying unit configured to apply a driving force from the DC motor when a discharge command is issued. The driving force applying unit includes: an output gear configured to rotate about a central axis of the output gear according to a driving state of the DC motor; an arm member configured to rotate in accordance with a rotation direction of the output gear when the output gear is rotated; and a link lever member configured such that the one product discharging device and the other product discharging device are alternatively driven in accordance with a rotation of the arm member.

Abstract: A product discharging device includes: a lower pedal that is swingably disposed to move forward to and backward from a product storage passage storing input products in a vertical direction; an upper pedal that is swingably disposed to move forward to and backward from the product storage passage in an area above the lower pedal; a pedal stopper pin that is coupled to a pedal link linking the lower pedal and the upper pedal and that is movable with movement in the vertical direction of the pedal link; and a rotation stopper of which a tip is linked to the lower pedal and that is swingably disposed to move forward to and backward from the product storage passage along with the lower pedal.

Abstract: A product discharging device includes: a lower pedal swingably arranged with a base in such a manner that a distal end thereof advances into and retreats from a product storage passage storing therein, along an up-and-down direction, products that are input thereto; an upper pedal swingably arranged with the base in a region above the lower pedal, in such a manner that a distal end thereof advances into and retreats from the product storage passage; and a sold-out detection switch configured to detect whether there is any product in the product storage passage by going into an ON state or an OFF state when the lower pedal is in a first standby posture and going into the OFF state or the ON state when the lower pedal is in a second standby posture.

Abstract: Provided herein is a door opening and closing apparatus capable of reducing torque of a motor required for removing an adhesive force between a door and a housing. The door opening and closing apparatus includes a motor configured to output power for opening and closing a door, a power transmission apparatus configured to transmit the power of the motor to a hinge by rotation of a plurality of driving gears, and an auxiliary apparatus configured to generate an auxiliary force for moving the door at a closing position toward an opening position, where the auxiliary force is generated at the auxiliary apparatus by the power of the motor before the power of the motor is transmitted to the hinge through the power transmission apparatus.

Abstract: A product storage device includes: a product rack including a plurality of product storage columns, the product storage column having a product storage path; a main gate member provided the product storage columns to be rotatable in a form of moving into or out of the product storage path; and a restraining unit including a guide member extending along a direction of arranging the product storage columns, and a plurality of piece members slidably housed in a housing region of the guide member. The restraining unit in a normal state restrains all the main gate members from being retreated from the product storage path. The restraining unit allows any one main gate member to be retreated from the product storage path and restrain the other main gate members from being retreated from the product storage path when extraction of a product in the product rack is allowed.

Abstract: A commodity storage device has commodity storage columns defining respective commodity storage passages, in each of which commodities are stored upright in a line. The commodity storage device includes first gate members, each of which is provided turnably in such a manner as to enter and retreat from the corresponding commodity storage passage; second gate members, each of which is provided so as to be able to turn in conjunction with the corresponding first gate member in such a manner as to enter and in conjunction with the corresponding first gate member in such a manner as to enter and retreat from the corresponding commodity storage passage; and flapper members, each of which is provided turnably on a side wall forming the corresponding commodity storage passage in such a manner as to enter and retreat form the commodity storage passage.

Abstract: A product discharging device includes: a lower pedal that is swingably disposed in a base to move forward to and backward from a product storage passage storing input products in a vertical direction; an upper pedal that is swingably disposed in a base to move forward to and backward from the product storage passage in an area above the lower pedal; and a pedal link that links the lower pedal and the upper pedal. The upper pedal moves backward by causing the pedal link to move downward and the lower pedal moves forward to regulate downward movement of the product in a standby state, and the upper pedal moves forward to come in contact with a second lowest product and the lower pedal moves backward to discharge a lowest product downward by causing the pedal link to move upward, in an activated state.

Abstract: A product discharging device includes: a lower pedal that is swingably disposed to move forward to and backward from a product storage passage storing input products in a vertical direction; an upper pedal that is swingably disposed to move forward to and backward from the product storage passage in an area above the lower pedal; a pedal stopper pin that is coupled to a pedal link linking the lower pedal and the upper pedal and that is movable with movement in the vertical direction of the pedal link; and a rotation stopper of which a tip is linked to the lower pedal and that is swingably disposed to move forward to and backward from the product storage passage along with the lower pedal,

Abstract: A product dispensing system includes: a first product discharging device that is applied to a first product storage passage storing an input product in a vertical direction, regulates downward movement of the product stored in the first product storage passage in a standby state, and discharges a lowest product stored in the first product storage passage downward in an activated state; and a second product discharging device that is applied to a second product storage passage being adjacent to the first product storage passage and storing an input product in the vertical direction thereof, regulates downward movement of the product stored in the second product storage passage in a standby state, and discharges a lowest product stored in the second product storage passage downward in an activated state. The first product discharging device and the second product discharging device are coupled to each other back to back.

Abstract: A product dispensing device includes: one product discharging device; and the other product discharging device. The one product discharging device includes: a DC motor serving as a drive source; and a driving force applying unit configured to apply a driving force from the DC motor when a discharge command is issued. The driving force applying unit includes: an output gear configured to rotate about a central axis of the output gear according to a driving state of the DC motor; an arm member configured to rotate in accordance with a rotation direction of the output gear when the output gear is rotated; and a link lever member configured such that the one product discharging device and the other product discharging device are alternatively driven in accordance with a rotation of the arm member.

Abstract: A product discharging device includes: a lower pedal swingably arranged with a base in such a manner that a distal end thereof advances into and retreats from a product storage passage storing therein, along an up-and-down direction, products that are input thereto; an upper pedal swingably arranged with the base in a region above the lower pedal, in such a manner that a distal end thereof advances into and retreats from the product storage passage; and a sold-out detection switch configured to detect whether there is any product in the product storage passage by going into an ON state or an OFF state when the lower pedal is in a first standby posture and going into the OFF state or the ON state when the lower pedal is in a second standby posture.

Abstract: A product storage device includes: a product rack including a plurality of product storage columns, the product storage column having a product storage path; a main gate member provided the product storage columns to be rotatable in a form of moving into or out of the product storage path; and a restraining unit including a guide member extending along a direction of arranging the product storage columns, and a plurality of piece members slidably housed in a housing region of the guide member. The restraining unit in a normal state restrains all the main gate members from being retreated from the product storage path. The restraining unit allows any one main gate member to be retreated from the product storage path and restrain the other main gate members from being retreated from the product storage path when extraction of a product in the product rack is allowed.

Abstract: An automatic vending machine for vending a product selected by a user includes: an automatic vending machine cabinet having an opening that is opened and closed by a door: a plurality of product racks that is provided in the automatic vending machine cabinet, each product rack including a plurality of product storage columns each storing products ordered in a line; and a product storage device that allows a user to take out one product at a time by holding a body of the product, when the door is opened to open the opening.