REFRIGERATOR AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING LID OF DRAWER IN REFRIGERATION COMPARTMENT

Abstract

A refrigerator has a refrigeration compartment, a drawer located inside the refrigeration compartment, and a lid adapted to open or close the drawer. The refrigeration compartment includes: a support module, mounted on an inner side wall of the refrigeration compartment, where the support module includes an elastic member; and a motor module, including a motor, a cam, and a connection portion connected to the lid and the cam. The motor drives the cam to generate a first rotation to push the connection portion to move upward, to cause the lid to compress upward the elastic member, so that the lid ascends to a first position. The motor further drives the cam to generate a second rotation to push the connection portion to move downward, to cause the connection portion and the elastic member to push downward the lid, so that the lid descends to a second position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of Chinese Patent Application CN 202110468536.6, filed Apr. 28, 2021; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of household appliance technologies, and in particular, to a refrigerator and a method for adjusting a lid of a drawer in a refrigeration compartment.

With continuous improvement of living standards and diversified development of item storage requirements, functional requirements of a user for a refrigerator also gradually increase. Currently, drawers in refrigeration compartments of many refrigerators are all provided with lids, but adjustment of these lids needs to be improved, resulting in poor user experience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide an improved refrigerator and a method for adjusting a lid of a drawer in a refrigeration compartment.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an improved refrigerator, including: a refrigeration compartment, a drawer located inside the refrigeration compartment, and a lid adapted to open or close the drawer. The refrigeration compartment includes: a support module, mounted on an inner side wall of the refrigeration compartment, where the support module includes an elastic member; and a motor module, including a motor, a cam, and a connection portion connected to the lid and the cam, where the motor is adapted to drive the cam to generate first rotation to push the connection portion to move upward, to cause the lid to compress upward the elastic member, so that the lid ascends to a first position; and is adapted to drive the cam to generate second rotation opposite to a direction of the first rotation to push the connection portion to move downward, to cause the connection portion and the elastic member to push downward the lid, so that the lid descends to a second position; and the first position is higher than the second position.

Optionally, the first position is the highest position to which the lid can ascend under driving of the motor, the second position is a lowest position to which the lid can descend under the driving of the motor, the lid is adapted to open the drawer when being in the first position, and the lid is adapted to close the drawer when being in the second position.

Optionally, both the first position and the second position are located between the highest position to which the lid can ascend and the lowest position to which the lid can descend under the driving of the motor, and the lid is adapted to open the drawer when being in the first position or the second position.

Optionally, the first position is the highest position to which the lid can ascend under the driving of the motor, the second position is located between the highest position and the lowest position to which the lid can descend under the driving of the motor, and the lid is adapted to open the drawer when being in the first position or the second position.

Optionally, the first position is located between the highest position to which the lid can ascend and the lowest position to which the lid can descend under the driving of the motor, the second position is the lowest position, the lid is adapted to open the drawer when being in the first position, and the lid is adapted to close the drawer when being in the second position.

Optionally, the motor module is adapted to drive the lid to vertically move up and down relative to the drawer.

Optionally, the support module includes a support provided with a groove, the groove includes an opening toward the lid, and the elastic member is accommodated in the groove.

Optionally, the support module includes a first support module and a second support module respectively mounted on a left inner side wall and a right inner side wall of the refrigeration compartment. The support includes a first support and a second support. The groove includes a first groove and a second groove, and the elastic member includes a first elastic member and a second elastic member. The first support module includes the first support provided with the first groove and the first elastic member accommodated in the first groove, and the second support module includes the second support provided with the second groove and the second elastic member accommodated in the second groove.

Optionally, the lid includes a first contact portion and a second contact portion respectively disposed on a left-side edge and a right-side edge of the lid, and respectively adapted to be in elastic contact with the first elastic member and the second elastic member.

Optionally, the first contact portion extends leftward from the left-side edge, and the second contact portion extends rightward from the right-side edge.

Optionally, the first elastic member and the second elastic member are adapted to extend out of the respective opening from the first groove and the second groove respectively.

Optionally, the first groove is adapted to completely accommodate the first elastic member and at least partially accommodate the first contact portion, and the second groove is adapted to completely accommodate the second elastic member and at least partially accommodate the second contact portion.

Optionally, the first groove includes two first grooves disposed at the front and the rear, and respectively accommodating two first elastic members, the first contact portion includes two first contact portions disposed at the front and the rear, and respectively adapted to be in elastic contact with the two first elastic members; and the second groove includes two second grooves disposed at the front and the rear, and respectively accommodating two second elastic members. The second contact portion includes two second contact portions disposed at the front and the rear, and respectively adapted to be in elastic contact with the two second elastic members.

Optionally, the lid includes a mounting portion adapted to fix the connection portion, and the mounting portion is disposed in a position equidistant from a left-side edge and a right-side edge of the lid.

Optionally, the motor is adapted to drive the cam to generate the first rotation when a humidity of the drawer is adjusted from a first humidity range to a second humidity range, and is adapted to drive the cam to generate the second rotation when the humidity of the drawer is adjusted from the second humidity range to the first humidity range, where any humidity value in the first humidity range is greater than any humidity value in the second humidity range.

Optionally, the cam includes a cam body and a support portion located on a front end of the cam body, and the support portion is adapted to perform eccentric rotation during the first rotation and the second rotation. The connection portion includes a sleeve portion whose inner surface is partially engaged with an outer periphery of the support portion, and the sleeve portion is adapted to abut against the outer periphery of the support portion only in a vertical direction during the first rotation and the second rotation.

Optionally, the elastic member includes a spring and a slider, and the lid is adapted to be in elastic contact with the spring through the slider.

Optionally, the motor module includes a cam front lid, the cam front lid is located on a front side of the cam and provided with a first hole, and a front surface of the cam is provided with a protrusion extending forward and passing through the first hole.

Optionally, the motor is adapted to drive the cam to generate the first rotation when a set temperature of the refrigeration compartment is adjusted from a first temperature range to a second temperature range, and is adapted to drive the cam to generate the second rotation when the set temperature is adjusted from the second temperature range to the first temperature range, where any temperature value in the first temperature range is greater than any temperature value in the second temperature range.

Optionally, the first temperature range includes a temperature interval from greater than or equal to 0 degrees Celsius to less than or equal to 12 degrees Celsius; and the second temperature range includes a temperature interval from greater than or equal to −20 degrees Celsius to less than 0 degrees Celsius.

Optionally, the first position includes the highest position, and the motor is adapted to cause the lid to ascend to the highest position when the set temperature is adjusted to a third temperature range, where the third temperature range is in the second temperature range.

Optionally, the motor module includes a cam rear lid, the cam rear lid is located on a rear side of the cam, a front surface of the cam rear lid is provided with a blocking portion, and a rear surface of the cam is provided with a motion portion. When the lid ascends to the highest position, one end of the blocking portion abuts against one end of the motion portion to prevent the latter from continuing to move, and when the lid descends to the second position, an other end of the blocking portion abuts against an other end of the motion portion to prevent the latter from continuing to move.

Optionally, the cam rear lid is provided with a second hole, the cam is provided with a third hole, and the motor includes a motor shaft extending forward and passing through the second hole to reach the third hole.

Optionally, the third temperature range includes a temperature interval from greater than or equal to −20 degrees Celsius to less than or equal to −18 degrees Celsius.

Optionally, the first position includes a middle position lower than the highest position, and the motor is adapted to cause the lid to ascend to the middle position when the set temperature is adjusted to a fourth temperature range, where the fourth temperature range is in the second temperature range, and any temperature value in the fourth temperature range is greater than any temperature value in the third temperature range.

Optionally, the fourth temperature range includes a temperature interval from greater than or equal to −12 degrees Celsius to less than or equal to −6 degrees Celsius.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a method for adjusting a lid of a drawer in a refrigeration compartment. The refrigeration compartment includes the foregoing refrigerator. The method includes: determining whether adjustment of the refrigeration compartment belongs to first adjustment or second adjustment; when the adjustment belongs to the first adjustment, driving the cam to generate first rotation, to push the connection portion to move upward, where the lid ascends to a first position based on the upward movement of the connection portion and upward compression of the lid against the elastic member; and when the adjustment belongs to the second adjustment, driving the cam to generate second rotation opposite to a direction of the first rotation, to push the connection portion to move downward, where the lid descends to a second position based on the downward movement of the connection portion and downward push of the elastic member, where the first position is higher than the second position.

Optionally, the first adjustment is that a set temperature of the refrigeration compartment is adjusted from a first temperature range to a second temperature range, the second adjustment is that the set temperature is adjusted from the second temperature range to the first temperature range, and any temperature value in the first temperature range is greater than any temperature value in the second temperature range; or the first adjustment is that a set humidity of the drawer is adjusted from a first humidity range to a second humidity range, the second adjustment is that the set humidity is adjusted from the second humidity range to the first humidity range, and any humidity value in the first humidity range is greater than any humidity value in the second humidity range.

Compared with the prior art, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention have the following beneficial effects.

For example, a lid of a drawer in a refrigeration compartment may automatically ascend or descend under the action of a support module and a motor module, so as to automatically adjust the lid. Moreover, the support module and the motor module have simple structures, are convenient in disassembly and assembly, and are easy to realize, thereby helping to save mounting spaces thereof and a movable space of the lid.

In another example, the lid may be adjusted to cause the drawer to ascend (for example, be opened) or descend (for example, be closed) based on a set humidity of the drawer, so that the drawer may ascend (for example, be opened) at lower humidity, and descend (for example, be closed) at higher humidity, so as to facilitate preservation of items in the drawer.

In another example, the lid may be adjusted to cause the drawer to ascend (for example, be opened) or descend (for example, be closed) based on a set temperature of the refrigeration compartment, so that the drawer may descend (for example, be closed) at higher temperature, so as to facilitate preservation of items in the drawer, and the drawer may ascend (for example, be opened) at lower temperature, so as to prevent the drawer and the lid from being frozen and help cold air in the refrigerator to enter the drawer rapidly to improve refrigeration efficiency of the drawer.

In another example, a mounting portion connected to the motor module and the lid is disposed in a position equidistant from a left-side edge and a right-side edge of the lid, and/or in a position equidistant from a front-side edge and a rear-side edge of the lid. In this way, not only the lid can move upward or downward smoothly, but also various parts of the lid have a same ascending height during upward movement, and the various parts of the lid have a same descending height during downward movement.

In another example, a plurality of elastic members connected to a support and the lid are arranged uniformly, and materials and structures of the plurality of elastic members are set identically. In one aspect, the lid can move upward smoothly; in another aspect, the various parts of the lid can have the same ascending height during upward movement, so that gaps between various positions of edges of the lid and the drawer are the same, and then cold air in the refrigeration compartment can enter the drawer uniformly along a periphery of the lid, to cause refrigeration to be performed rapidly and uniformly in the drawer; and in still another aspect, an upper edge of the drawer can be sealed uniformly, so as to avoid a situation that a certain position of the upper edge of the drawer is not tightly sealed due to a nonuniform force.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a refrigerator and a method for adjusting lid of drawer in refrigeration compartment, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an interior of a refrigeration compartment according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of a lid, a support module, and a motor module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first support module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a front, perspective view of a cam rear lid according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a rear, perspective view of a cam rear lid according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a rear, perspective view of a cam according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a lid opening a drawer according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the lid closing a drawer according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic flowchart of a method for adjusting the lid of the drawer in a refrigeration compartment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the prior art, drawers in refrigeration compartments of many refrigerators are all provided with lids, but these lids cannot be adjusted flexibly, resulting in poor user experience.

Different from the prior art, embodiments of the present invention provide an improved refrigerator and a method for adjusting a lid of a drawer in a refrigeration compartment. The refrigerator includes a refrigeration compartment, a drawer located inside the refrigeration compartment, and a lid adapted to open or close the drawer. The refrigeration compartment includes: a support module, mounted on an inner side wall of the refrigeration compartment, where the support module includes an elastic member; and a motor module, including a motor, a cam, and a connection portion connected to the lid and the cam, where the motor is adapted to drive the cam to generate first rotation to push the connection portion to move upward, to cause the lid to compress upward the elastic member, so that the lid ascends to a first position; and is adapted to drive the cam to generate second rotation opposite to a direction of the first rotation to push the connection portion to move downward, to cause the connection portion and the elastic member to push downward the lid, so that the lid descends to a second position; and the first position is higher than the second position.

Compared with the prior art, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention have the following beneficial effects.

For example, a lid of a drawer in a refrigeration compartment may automatically ascend or descend under the action of a support module and a motor module. Moreover, the support module and the motor module have simple structures, are convenient in disassembly and assembly, and are easy to realize, thereby helping to save mounting spaces thereof and a movable space of the lid.

To make the objectives, features, and beneficial effects of the embodiments of the present invention more comprehensible, the specific embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It may be understood that specific embodiments described below are only used to explain the present invention, but not to limit the present invention. In addition, for ease of description, the accompanying drawings only show parts relevant to the present invention rather than the entire structure.

To facilitate description of the refrigerator provided in the embodiments of the present invention, some accompanying drawings provided in the embodiments of the present invention show four directions that are front, rear, left, and right. The “front” indicates a direction of the refrigerator facing a user, the “rear” indicates a direction opposite to the “front”, the “right” indicates a direction of a right side of the user when facing the refrigerator, and the “left” indicates a direction opposite to the “right”. It should be understood that, from another perspective of the refrigerator, there are also directions of front, rear, left, and right corresponding to the corresponding perspective. The directions of front, rear, left, and right shown in some accompanying drawings provided in the embodiments of the present invention are merely used for ease of description of the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present invention, but do not limit description of the solutions.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, embodiments of the present invention provide a refrigerator 10, including: a refrigeration compartment 100, a drawer 110 located inside the refrigeration compartment 100, and a lid 120 adapted to open or close the drawer 110.

Specifically, the refrigeration compartment 100 may include a refrigerating compartment or a variable-temperature compartment. The variable-temperature compartment may be used as a conventional freezing compartment or chilling compartment based on difference in temperature. Moreover, humidity in the refrigerating compartment or the variable-temperature compartment may also be adjusted.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the refrigeration compartment 100 further includes support modules 130 and 140 and a motor module 150.

Specifically, the support modules 130 and 140 are mounted on an inner side wall of the refrigeration compartment 100, and include elastic members 133, 134, 143, and 144. The motor module 150 includes a motor 151, a cam 152, and a connection portion 153 connected to the lid 120 and the cam 152.

During specific implementation, the motor 151 is adapted to drive the cam 152 to generate first rotation to push the connection portion 153 to move upward, to cause the lid 120 to compress upward the elastic members 133, 134, 143, and 144, so that the lid 120 ascends to a first position; and is adapted to drive the cam 152 to generate second rotation to push the connection portion 153 to move downward, to cause the connection portion 153 and the elastic members 133, 134, 143, and 144 to push downward the lid 120, so that the lid 120 descends to a second position.

In some embodiments, the first position is the highest position to which the lid 120 can ascend under driving of the motor 151, the second position is a lowest position to which the lid 120 can descend under the driving of the motor 151, the lid 120 is adapted to open the drawer 110 when being in the first position, and the lid 120 is adapted to close the drawer 110 when being in the second position.

In some other embodiments, both the first position and the second position are located between the highest position and the lowest position to which the lid 120 can ascend and descend under the driving of the motor 151, and the lid 120 is adapted to open the drawer 110 when being in the first position or the second position.

In still other embodiments, the first position is the highest position to which the lid 120 can ascend under the driving of the motor 151, the second position is located between the highest position and the lowest position to which the lid 120 can descend under the driving of the motor 151, and the lid 120 is adapted to open the drawer 110 when being in the first position or the second position.

In yet other embodiments, the first position is located between the highest position and the lowest position to which the lid 120 can ascend and descend under the driving of the motor 151, the second position is the lowest position, the lid 120 is adapted to open the drawer 110 when being in the first position, and the lid 120 is adapted to close the drawer 110 when being in the second position.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the support modules 130 and 140 include supports 132 and 142 provided with grooves 131 and 141, and the elastic members 133, 134, 143, and 144. The grooves 131 and 141 include openings 131a and 141a that open toward the lid 120, and the elastic members 133, 134, 143, and 144 are accommodated in the grooves 131 and 141.

In some embodiments, the support modules 130 and 140 include a first support module 130 mounted on a left inner side wall of the refrigeration compartment 100 and a second support module 140 mounted on a right inner side wall of the refrigeration compartment 100.

The supports 132 and 142 include a first support 132 and a second support 142, the grooves 131 and 141 include a first groove 131 and a second groove 141, and the elastic members 133, 134, 143, and 144 include first elastic members 133 and 134 and second elastic members 143 and 144.

The first support module 130 includes the first support 132 provided with the first groove 131 and the first elastic members 133 and 134 accommodated in the first groove 131. The second support module 140 includes the second support 142 provided with the second groove 141 and the second elastic members 143 and 144 accommodated in the second groove 141.

In some embodiments, the first support 132 may be mounted on the left inner side wall of the refrigeration compartment 100 by using screws, and the second support 142 may be mounted on the right inner side wall of the refrigeration compartment 100 by using screws.

During specific implementation, the first support 132 is provided with a first mounting hole 135, so that the first support 132 is mounted on the left inner side wall of the refrigeration compartment 100 by using the screws to pass through the first mounting hole 135 and fixing the screws to the left inner side wall of the refrigeration compartment 100.

The second support 142 is provided with a second mounting hole 145, so that the second support 142 is mounted on the right inner side wall of the refrigeration compartment 100 by using the screws to pass through the second mounting hole 145 and fixing the screws to the right inner side wall of the refrigeration compartment 100.

During specific implementation, the first groove 131 is provided with a first opening 131a that opens toward the lid 120. The second groove 141 is provided with a second opening 141a that opens toward the lid 120.

In some embodiments, the first elastic members 133 and 134 are adapted to extend out of the first opening 131a from the first groove 131, and the second elastic members 143 and 144 are adapted to extend out of the second opening 141a from the second groove 141.

In some embodiments, the lid 120 includes a first contact portion 123 disposed on a left-side edge 121 of the lid and a second contact portion 124 disposed a right-side edge 122 of the lid. The first contact portion 123 is adapted to be in elastic contact with the first elastic members 133 and 134, and the second contact portion 124 is adapted to be in elastic contact with the second elastic members 143 and 144.

In some embodiments, the first contact portion 123 extends leftward from the left-side edge 121 of the lid 120, and the second contact portion 124 extends rightward from the right-side edge 122 of the lid 120.

In some embodiments, the first groove 131 is adapted to completely accommodate the first elastic members 133 and 134 and at least partially accommodate the first contact portion 123, and the second groove 141 is adapted to completely accommodate the second elastic members 143 and 144 and at least partially accommodate the second contact portion 124.

In some embodiments, the first support module 130 includes two first elastic members 133 and 134, the first groove 131 includes two first grooves 131 disposed at the front and the rear, and the two first grooves 131 are configured to respectively accommodate the two first elastic members 133 and 134.

Correspondingly, the first contact portion 123 includes two first contact portions 123 disposed at the front and the rear, and the two first contact portions 123 are adapted to be in elastic contact with the two first elastic members 133 and 134 respectively.

The second support module 140 includes two second elastic members 143 and 144, the second groove 141 includes two second grooves 141 disposed at the front and the rear, and the two second grooves 141 are configured to respectively accommodate the two second elastic members 143 and 144.

Correspondingly, the second contact portion 124 includes two second contact portions 124 disposed at the front and the rear, and the two second contact portions 124 are adapted to be in elastic contact with the two second elastic members 143 and 144 respectively.

In some embodiments, the elastic members 133, 134, 143, and 144 include springs 133 and 143 and sliders 134 and 144, and the lid 120 is adapted to be in elastic contact with the springs 133 and 143 through the sliders 134 and 144.

During specific implementation, the first elastic members 133 and 134 include a first spring 133 and a first slider 134, and the first contact portion 123 of the lid 120 is in elastic contact with the first spring 133 through the first slider 134.

The second elastic members 143 and 144 include a second spring 143 and a second slider 144, and the second contact portion 124 of the lid 120 is in elastic contact with the second spring 143 through the second slider 144.

During specific implementation, both the first spring 133 and the second spring 143 are in a compressed state when being in a working state.

During specific implementation, the motor module 150 may be mounted on a top inner side wall of the refrigeration compartment 100.

Still referring to FIG. 3, the motor module 150 may include the motor 151, the cam 152, the connection portion 153, a cam front lid 160, and a cam rear lid 170.

During specific implementation, the cam front lid 160 is provided with a first depressed portion (not shown) extending forward along a rear end of the cam front lid, the cam rear lid 170 is provided with a second depressed portion 170a extending rearward along a front end of the cam rear lid, and the cam front lid 160 and the cam rear lid 170 are engaged with each other and cause the first depressed portion and the second depressed portion 170a to be opposed to form a space adapted to accommodate the cam 152 and a part of the connection portion 153.

Referring to FIG. 3, and FIGS. 5 to 7, the cam rear lid 170 is located on a rear side of the cam 152 and provided with a second hole 173, and the cam 152 is provided with a third hole 159.

During specific implementation, the motor 151 is located on a rear side of the cam rear lid 170, and includes a motor shaft (not shown) extending forward and being adapted to pass through the second hole 173 to reach the third hole 159.

During specific implementation, the motor shaft passes through the second hole 173 to be connected to the third hole 159 of the cam 152, so that the motor 151 may drive the cam 152 to generate the first rotation or the second rotation through the motor shaft. Rotation directions of the first rotation and the second rotation are opposite.

In some embodiments, the motor 151 may be mounted on the cam rear lid 170 by using screws.

Specifically, the motor 151 may be provided with a motor screw (not shown), and a rear end of the cam rear lid 170 may be provided with a third mounting hole 173 adapted to mount the motor screw, so that the motor 151 is connected to the cam rear lid 170 through the motor screw and the third mounting hole 173.

During specific implementation, at least two groups of motor screws and third mounting holes 173 may be set, so that the motor 151 is stably connected to the cam rear lid 170.

The motor 151 may be further provided with a fourth mounting hole (not shown), and the rear end of the cam rear lid 170 may be further provided with a rear lid screw 177 adapted to fit into the fourth mounting hole, so that the motor 151 is connected to the cam rear lid 170 through the rear lid screw 177 and the fourth mounting hole.

During specific implementation, at least two groups of rear lid screws 177 and fourth mounting holes may alternatively be set, so that the motor 151 is stably connected to the cam rear lid 170.

In some embodiments, the cam rear lid 170 may be fixedly connected to the cam front lid 160 by using screws.

Specifically, the cam rear lid 170 may be provided with a fifth mounting hole 175. Correspondingly, the cam front lid 160 may be provided with a sixth mounting hole (not shown) matching the fifth mounting hole 175. The cam rear lid 170 may be fixedly connected to the cam front lid 160 by using the screws to sequentially pass through the fifth mounting hole 175 and the sixth mounting hole that match each other from rear to front.

In some embodiments, four fifth mounting holes 175 may be located on edges of the cam rear lid 170, and may be arranged uniformly. Correspondingly, four sixth mounting holes may alternatively be located on edges of the cam front lid 160, and may be arranged uniformly. Moreover, the fifth mounting holes 175 correspond to the sixth mounting holes one by one. In this way, the cam rear lid 170 may be more stably connected to the cam front lid 160.

Still referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9, the cam front lid 160 is located on a front side of the cam 152 and provided with a first hole 161, and a front surface 155 of the cam 152 is provided with a protrusion 154 extending forward and matching the first hole 161. The protrusion 154 is adapted to be inserted into the first hole 161, and rotate synchronously in the first hole 161 when the cam 152 generates the first rotation or the second rotation.

Specifically, when the cam 152 generates the first rotation, the protrusion 154 is adapted to perform rotation whose rotation speed and direction are the same as those of the first rotation in the first hole 161; and when the cam 152 generates the second rotation, the protrusion 154 is adapted to perform rotation whose rotation speed and direction are the same as those of the second rotation in the first hole 161.

In this way, the cam 152 may be supported on the cam front lid 160 when generating the first rotation or the second rotation, so that the cam 152 may keep stable when generating the first rotation or the second rotation.

Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9, the cam 152 includes a cam body 152a and a support portion 152b located on a front end of the cam body 152a.

The support portion 152b is located in a space formed by the cam front lid 160 and the cam rear lid 170, and is adapted to perform eccentric rotation during the first rotation and the second rotation.

In some embodiments, the cam body 152a may be made of a uniform material and provided with a regular shape, for example, a circle, and a rotation center of the cam body 152a during the first rotation and the second rotation coincides with a geometric center of the cam body.

The support portion 152b may also be made of a uniform material and provided with a regular shape, for example, a circle, and a geometric center of the support portion 152b does not coincide with the geometric center of the cam body 152a.

In this way, during the first rotation and the second rotation, the support portion 152b may generate the eccentric rotation because a rotation center of the support portion does not coincide with the geometric center of the support portion.

In some embodiments, when the lid 120 is located in the first position, the geometric center of the support portion 152b is located above the geometric center of the cam body 152a; and when the lid 120 is located in the second position, the geometric center of the support portion 152b is located under the geometric center of the cam body 152a.

Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9, the connection portion 153 includes a sleeve portion 158 whose inner surface is partially engaged with an outer periphery of the support portion 152b.

In some embodiments, the sleeve portion 158 is adapted to abut against the outer periphery of the support portion 152b only in a vertical direction during a process that the support portion 152b generates the first rotation and the second rotation.

During specific implementation, the support portion 152b is adapted to move upward when the cam 152 generates the first rotation, to drive the sleeve portion 158 sleeved on the outer periphery of the support portion to move upward, so as to drive the connection portion 153 to move upward.

The support portion 152b is further adapted to move downward when the cam 152 generates the second rotation, to drive the sleeve portion 158 sleeved on the outer periphery of the support portion to move downward, so as to drive the connection portion 153 to move downward.

Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9, the lid 120 includes a mounting portion 125 adapted to fix the connection portion 153.

In some embodiments, the mounting portion 125 is fixed to a top part of the lid 120, and is connected to the connection portion 153 in a mutually nested manner, so that the connection portion 153 is mounted on the top part of the lid 120.

During specific implementation, the connection portion 153 may drive the lid 120 to move upward or downward synchronously. In some embodiments, the mounting portion 125 may be disposed in a position equidistant from the left-side edge 121 and the right-side edge 122 of the lid 120.

In some embodiments, the mounting portion 125 may be further disposed in a position equidistant from a front side edge and a rear side edge of the lid 120.

In this way, not only the lid 120 can move upward or downward smoothly, but also various parts of the lid 120 have a same ascending height during upward movement, and the various parts of the lid 120 have a same descending height during downward movement.

During specific implementation, when the cam 152 generates the first rotation, the connection portion 153 moves upward, so as to drive the lid 120 to move upward to the first position, so that cold air in the refrigeration compartment 100 enters the drawer 110 rapidly, thereby improving refrigeration efficiency of the drawer 110.

During a process that the lid 120 moves upward, the first contact portion 123 of the lid 120 may compress upward the first elastic members 133 and 134, and the second contact portion 124 of the lid 120 may compress upward the second elastic members 143 and 144.

During specific implementation, materials and structures of the first elastic members 133 and 134 and the second elastic members 143 and 144 are identical.

In this way, not only the lid 120 can move upward smoothly, but also the various parts of the lid 120 have the same ascending height during upward movement, so that gaps between various positions of edges of the lid 120 and the drawer 110 are the same, and then cold air in the refrigeration compartment 100 can enter the drawer 110 uniformly along a periphery of the lid 120, to cause refrigeration to be performed rapidly and uniformly in the drawer 110.

During specific implementation, when the cam 152 generates the second rotation, the connection portion 153 moves downward, so as to drive the lid 120 to move downward to the second position, thereby being more conducive to moisturizing and preservation of an interior of the drawer 110.

During a process that the lid 120 moves downward, the first elastic members 133 and 134 may push downward the first contact portion 123 of the lid 120 due to an elastic function, and the second elastic members 143 and 144 may push downward the second contact portion 124 of the lid 120 due to the elastic function.

During specific implementation, materials and structures of the first elastic members 133 and 134 and the second elastic members 143 and 144 are identical.

In this way, not only the lid 120 can move downward smoothly, but also the various parts of the lid 120 have the same descending height during downward movement, and when the lid 120 moves downward, a force applied to various positions of which an upper edge of the drawer 110 is in contact with the lid 120 can be uniform.

In some embodiments, a sealing ring may be further disposed between the drawer 110 and the lid 120, so that the drawer 110 may be sealed when the lid 120 closes the drawer 110. In this case, a force applied to various positions of which the upper edge of the drawer 110 is in contact with the sealing ring is uniform, and a force applied to various positions of which the sealing ring is in contact with the lid 120 is also uniform.

In this way, the upper edge of the drawer 110 can be sealed uniformly, so as to avoid a situation that a certain position of the upper edge of the drawer 110 is not tightly sealed due to a nonuniform force.

Still referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, a front surface 171 of the cam rear lid 170 is provided with a blocking portion 172, and a rear surface 156 of the cam 152 is provided with a motion portion 157 matching the blocking portion 172.

In some embodiments, the blocking portion 172 may be located on an upper part of the front surface 171 of the cam rear lid 170, and the motion portion 157 may be located on a left side part of the rear surface 156 of the cam 152 (if it is viewed from a rear view of the cam 152, the motion portion 157 is located on a right side part of the rear surface 156 of the cam 152, as shown in FIG. 7). In this case, for a direction of the first rotation and a direction of the second rotation of the cam 152, reference may be made to FIG. 7.

During specific implementation, when the cam 152 performs the first rotation, the blocking portion 172 is adapted to prevent the motion portion 157 from continuing to move by using one end of the blocking portion to abut against one end of the motion portion 157, so that the lid 120 moves upward to the highest position.

Specifically, the blocking portion 172 includes a first blocking end 172a, and the motion portion 157 includes a first motion end 157a. When the cam 152 performs the first rotation, the first blocking end 172a is adapted to abut against the first motion end 157a to prevent the motion portion 157 from continuing to move, so that the lid 120 moves upward to the highest position.

When the cam 152 performs the second rotation, the blocking portion 172 is further adapted to prevent the motion portion 157 from continuing to move by using an other end of the blocking portion to abut against an other end of the motion portion 157, so that the lid 120 moves downward to the lowest position.

Specifically, the blocking portion 172 includes a second blocking end 172b, and the motion portion 157 includes a second motion end 157b. When the cam 152 performs the second rotation, the second blocking end 172b is adapted to abut against the second motion end 157b to prevent the motion portion 157 from continuing to move, so that the lid 120 moves downward to the lowest position.

In some embodiments, the motor module 150 is adapted to drive the lid 120 to vertically move up and down relative to the drawer 110.

In some other embodiments, the motor module 150 is also adapted to drive the lid 120 to non-vertically move up and down relative to the drawer 110.

Anyhow, the motor module 150 drives the lid 120 to vertically or non-vertically move up and down relative to the drawer 110, as long as the lid 120 can move downward or upward.

In some embodiments, the refrigerator 10 may further include a humidity input unit and a controller. The humidity input unit is configured to receive a set humidity of the drawer 110 inputted by a user. The controller is configured to control the motor 151 to drive the cam 152 to generate the first rotation when the set humidity of the drawer 110 is adjusted from a first humidity range to a second humidity range, to cause the lid 120 to ascend to the first position, and control the motor 151 to drive the cam 152 to generate the second rotation when the set humidity of the drawer 110 is adjusted from the second humidity range to the first humidity range, to cause the lid 120 to descend to the second position.

During specific implementation, the humidity input unit may include a first touch panel. The first touch panel is adapted to sense an input operation of the user to obtain a corresponding set humidity. For example, when the user enters “60% RH” through the first touch panel, the first touch panel may sense the input operation of the user and obtain “60% RH” as the set humidity of the drawer 110. RH represents an abbreviation of relative humidity.

In the embodiments of the present invention, a humidity in the drawer 110 is adjusted to the set humidity by using a conventional technical means in the art.

During specific implementation, the set humidity may be a specific humidity value, or a humidity range.

During specific implementation, any humidity value in the first humidity range is greater than any humidity value in the second humidity range.

In some embodiments, the first humidity range may include a humidity interval from greater than or equal to 50% RH to less than or equal to 95% RH, and the second humidity range may include a humidity interval from greater than or equal to 25% RH to less than 50% RH.

During specific implementation, the humidity in the drawer 110 is adjusted to the first humidity range to be adapted to store ingredients such as fruits and vegetables, so as to keep these ingredients lastingly moist and fresh. The humidity in the drawer 110 is adjusted to the second humidity range to be adapted to store ingredients such as seafood and chilled meat, so as to reduce loss of nutrients of these ingredients and keep the meat fresh and tender.

In some embodiments, the refrigerator 10 may further include a temperature input unit and a controller. The temperature input unit is configured to receive a set temperature of the refrigeration compartment 100 inputted by the user. The controller is configured to control the motor 151 to drive the cam 152 to generate the first rotation when the set temperature of the refrigeration compartment 100 is adjusted from a first temperature range to a second temperature range, to cause the lid 120 to ascend to the first position, and control the motor 151 to drive the cam 152 to generate the second rotation when the set temperature of the refrigeration compartment 100 is adjusted from the second temperature range to the first temperature range, to cause the lid 120 to descend to the second position.

During specific implementation, the temperature input unit may include a second touch panel. The second touch panel is adapted to sense an input operation of the user to obtain a corresponding set temperature. For example, when the user enters “−18 degrees Celsius” through the second touch panel, the second touch panel may sense the input operation of the user and obtain “−18 degrees Celsius” as the set temperature of the refrigeration compartment 100.

In the embodiments of the present invention, a temperature in the refrigeration compartment 100 is adjusted to the set temperature by using a conventional technical means in the art.

During specific implementation, the set temperature may be a specific temperature value, or a temperature range.

During specific implementation, any temperature value in the first temperature range is greater than any temperature value in the second temperature range.

In some embodiments, the first temperature range includes a temperature interval from greater than or equal to 0 degrees Celsius to less than or equal to 12 degrees Celsius, and the second temperature range includes a temperature interval from greater than or equal to −20 degrees Celsius to less than 0 degrees Celsius.

During specific implementation, when the set temperature of the refrigeration compartment 100 is adjusted to the first temperature range, the refrigeration compartment 100 is adapted to be used as a conventional refrigerating compartment, and when the set temperature of the refrigeration compartment 100 is adjusted to the second temperature range, the refrigeration compartment 100 is adapted to be used as a conventional freezing compartment or chilling compartment.

In some embodiments, the first position of the lid 120 may include the highest position to which the lid may move upward. The motor 151 is adapted to cause the lid 120 to ascend to the highest position when the set temperature is adjusted to a third temperature range.

During specific implementation, the third temperature range is in the second temperature range.

In some embodiments, the third temperature range includes a temperature interval from greater than or equal to −20 degrees Celsius to less than or equal to −18 degrees Celsius.

During specific implementation, when the set temperature of the refrigeration compartment 100 is adjusted to the third temperature range, the refrigeration compartment 100 is adapted to be used as the conventional freezing compartment.

In some other embodiments, the first position of the lid 120 includes a middle position between the highest position and the lowest position of the lid. The motor 151 is adapted to cause the lid 120 to ascend to the middle position when the set temperature is adjusted to a fourth temperature range.

During specific implementation, the fourth temperature range is in the second temperature range, and any temperature value in the fourth temperature range is greater than any temperature value in the third temperature range.

In some embodiments, the fourth temperature range includes a temperature interval from greater than or equal to −12 degrees Celsius to less than or equal to −6 degrees Celsius.

During specific implementation, when the set temperature of the refrigeration compartment 100 is adjusted to the fourth temperature range, the refrigeration compartment 100 is adapted to be used as the conventional chilling compartment.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a method for adjusting a lid of a drawer in a refrigeration compartment. A refrigeration compartment 100 is included in a refrigerator 10 provided by the embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10, the method for adjusting a lid 120 of a refrigeration compartment 100 includes:

S1. Determine whether adjustment of the refrigeration compartment 100 belongs to first adjustment or second adjustment. When the adjustment belongs to the first adjustment, step S2 is performed; and when the adjustment belongs to the second adjustment, step S3 is performed.

S2. Drive a cam 152 to generate first rotation, to push a connection portion 153 to move upward, where the lid 120 ascends to a first position based on the upward movement of the connection portion 153 and upward compression of the lid against elastic members 133, 134, 143, and 144.

S3. Drive the cam 152 to generate second rotation opposite to a direction of the first rotation, to push the connection portion 153 to move downward, where the lid 120 descends to a second position based on the downward movement of the connection portion 153 and downward push of the elastic members 133, 134, 143, and 144.

During specific implementation, the first position is higher than the second position.

In some embodiments, the first adjustment is that a set temperature of the refrigeration compartment 100 is adjusted from a first temperature range to a second temperature range, and the second adjustment is that the set temperature of the refrigeration compartment 100 is adjusted from the second temperature range to the first temperature range. Any temperature value in the first temperature range is greater than any temperature value in the second temperature range.

In some embodiments, the first adjustment is that a set humidity of a drawer 110 is adjusted from a first humidity range to a second humidity range, and the second adjustment is that the set humidity of the drawer 110 is adjusted from the second humidity range to the first humidity range. Any humidity value in the first humidity range is greater than any humidity value in the second humidity range.

During specific implementation, the adjustment of the lid 120 may be implemented based on the technical solutions of the refrigerator 10 disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention, and details are not described herein again.

Although specific implementations are described above, the implementations are not intended to limit the scope disclosed in the present invention, even if only a single implementation is described relative to a specific feature. The feature examples provided in the present invention are intended to be illustrative rather than limiting, unless different expressions are made. During specific implementation, according to an actual requirement, in a technically feasible case, the technical features of one or more dependent claims may be combined with the technical features of the independent claims, and the technical features from the corresponding independent claims may be combined in any appropriate way instead of using just specific combinations listed in the claims.

Although the present invention is disclosed above, the present invention is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention should be subject to the scope defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, comprising:

a refrigeration compartment;

a drawer disposed inside said refrigeration compartment;

a lid adapted to open or close said drawer;

said refrigeration compartment, containing: an inner side wall; a support module mounted on said inner side wall, said support module having an elastic member; and a motor module having a motor, a cam, and a connection portion connected to said lid and said cam, wherein said motor is adapted to drive said cam to generate a first rotation to push said connection portion to move upward, to cause said lid to compress upward said elastic member, so that said lid ascends to a first position, and is adapted to drive said cam to generate a second rotation opposite to a direction of the first rotation to push said connection portion to move downward, to cause said connection portion and said elastic member to push downward said lid, so that said lid descends to a second position, and the first position is higher than the second position.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first position is a highest position to which said lid ascends under driving of said motor, the second position is a lowest position to which said lid descends under the driving of said motor, said lid is adapted to open said drawer when being in the first position, and said lid is adapted to close said drawer when being in the second position.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said motor module is adapted to drive said lid to vertically move up and down relative to said drawer.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said support module has a support with a groove formed therein, said groove defines an opening toward said lid, and said elastic member is accommodated in said groove.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein:

said inner side wall of said refrigeration compartment includes a left inner side wall and a right inner side wall;

said support module has a first support module and a second support module respectively mounted on said left inner side wall and said right inner side wall of said refrigeration compartment;

said support includes a first support and a second support;

said groove includes a first groove and a second groove;

said elastic member includes a first elastic member and a second elastic member;

said first support module includes said first support provided with said first groove and said first elastic member accommodated in said first groove; and

said second support module includes said second support provided with said second groove and said second elastic member accommodated in said second groove.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein said lid contains a first contact portion and a second contact portion respectively disposed on a left-side edge and a right-side edge of said lid, and respectively adapted to be in elastic contact with said first elastic member and said second elastic member.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein said first elastic member and said second elastic member are adapted to extend out of a respective said opening from said first groove and said second groove respectively.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein said first groove is adapted to completely accommodate said first elastic member and at least partially accommodate said first contact portion, and said second groove is adapted to completely accommodate said second elastic member and at least partially accommodate said second contact portion.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein:

said first groove contains two first grooves disposed at a front and a rear of said first support, and respectively accommodating two said first elastic members, said first contact portion contains two first contact portions disposed at said front and said rear of said first support, and respectively adapted to be in elastic contact with said two first elastic members; and

said second groove contains two second grooves disposed at a front and a rear of said second support, and respectively accommodating two said second elastic members, said second contact portion contains two second contact portions disposed at said front and said rear of said second support, and respectively adapted to be in elastic contact with said two second elastic members.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said lid contains a mounting portion adapted to fix said connection portion, and said mounting portion is disposed in a position equidistant from a left-side edge and a right-side edge of said lid.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said motor is adapted to drive said cam to generate the first rotation when a set humidity of said drawer is adjusted from a first humidity range to a second humidity range, and is adapted to drive said cam to generate the second rotation when the set humidity is adjusted from the second humidity range to the first humidity range, wherein any humidity value in the first humidity range is greater than any humidity value in the second humidity range.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

said cam contains a cam body and a support portion located on a front end of said cam body, said support portion is adapted to perform eccentric rotation during the first rotation and the second rotation; and

said connection portion contains a sleeve portion whose inner surface is partially engaged with an outer periphery of said support portion of said cam, said sleeve portion is adapted to abut against an outer periphery of said support portion of said cam only in a vertical direction during the first rotation and the second rotation.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said elastic member has a spring and a slider, and said lid is adapted to be in elastic contact with said spring through said slider.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said motor module has a cam front lid, said cam front lid is disposed on a front side of said cam and has a first hole formed therein, and said cam has a front surface with a protrusion extending forward and passing through said first hole.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said motor is adapted to drive said cam to generate the first rotation when a set temperature of said refrigeration compartment is adjusted from a first temperature range to a second temperature range, and is adapted to drive said cam to generate the second rotation when the set temperature is adjusted from the second temperature range to the first temperature range, wherein any temperature value in the first temperature range is greater than any temperature value in the second temperature range.

16. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

said motor module contains a cam rear lid, said cam rear lid is disposed on a rear side of said cam, said the cam rear lid has a front surface with a blocking portion, said cam has a rear surface with a motion portion; and

when said lid ascends to a highest position, one end of said blocking portion abuts against one end of said motion portion to prevent said motion portion from continuing to move, and when said lid descends to the second position, an other end of said blocking portion abuts against an other end of said motion portion to prevent said motion portion from continuing to move.

17. The refrigerator according to claim 16, wherein said cam rear lid has a second hole formed therein, said cam has third hole formed therein, and said motor includes a motor shaft extending forward and passing through said second hole to reach said third hole.

18. A method for adjusting a lid of a drawer in a refrigeration compartment of the refrigerator according to claim 1, which comprises the steps of:

determining whether an adjustment of the refrigeration compartment belongs to a first adjustment or a second adjustment;

when the adjustment belongs to the first adjustment, driving the cam to generate the first rotation, to push the connection portion to move upward, wherein the lid ascends to the first position based on the upward movement of the connection portion and the upward compression of the lid against the elastic member; and

when the adjustment belongs to the second adjustment, driving the cam to generate the second rotation opposite to the direction of the first rotation, to push the connection portion to move downward, wherein the lid descends to the second position based on the downward movement of the connection portion and the downward push of the elastic member, wherein the first position is higher than the second position.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein:

the first adjustment is that a set temperature of the refrigeration compartment is adjusted from a first temperature range to a second temperature range and the second adjustment is that the set temperature is adjusted from the second temperature range to the first temperature range, and any temperature value in the first temperature range is greater than any temperature value in the second temperature range; or

the first adjustment is that a set humidity of the drawer is adjusted from a first humidity range to a second humidity range, the second adjustment is that the set humidity is adjusted from the second humidity range to the first humidity range, and any humidity value in the first humidity range is greater than any humidity value in the second humidity range.