JP7590177B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a refrigerator.

It is known to provide a touch panel for operation on the door of the storage compartment of a refrigerator. The touch panel and the electrical components required for the operation of the touch panel are subject to failure, so it is preferable that they be easily maintainable.

JP 2018-91623 A International Publication No. 2019/150635 JP 2012-52727 A

The problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a refrigerator that allows easy maintenance of touch panel-related parts housed inside the door.

A refrigerator according to an embodiment has a refrigerator body, a door, and a touch panel. The refrigerator body includes a storage compartment. The door closes the storage compartment in an openable and closable manner. The door has a front member, a rear member, a frame, a cover member, a heat insulating member, and a foam heat insulating material. The front member has a transparent region at least in a portion. The rear member covers the rear of the front member. The rear member has a first opening that opens toward the front member. The frame is fixed to the front member and the rear member. The frame has a second opening facing the first opening. The cover member closes the first opening and the second opening in an openable and closable manner. The heat insulating member is detachably disposed in the frame. The foam heat insulating material is filled between the front member and the rear member. The touch panel is disposed inside the frame inside the door. The touch panel is fixed to the rear surface so as to face the transparent region in a state close to the rear surface of the front member. The touch panel can be operated from the front side of the door. The frame has a first fixing portion, a second fixing portion, a first wall portion, and a second wall portion. The first fixing portion is fixed to the front member in a liquid-tight manner. The second fixing portion is fixed to the rear member in a liquid-tight manner along the edge of the first opening. The first wall portion is connected to the first fixing portion and surrounds the touch panel from the side. The second wall portion is disposed between the first wall portion and the second fixing portion. The second wall portion is connected to the second fixing portion to form a second opening. The frame forms an internal space between the front member and the rear member that is not filled with foam insulation material. The touch panel and the insulation material are disposed in the internal space in a line in the front-rear direction. The internal space and the cover member are disposed in a line in the front-rear direction. The foam insulation material is filled on the outside of the frame. The foam insulation material is filled above or to the side of the touch panel.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a refrigerator according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line F2-F2 in FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a right refrigerator compartment door in the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a right refrigerator compartment door in the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the right refrigerator compartment door with the lid member removed in the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cover member according to the first embodiment. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line F7-F7 in FIG. 2; FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a front member and a frame body in the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion F9 in FIG. FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged view taken from F10 in FIG. 8 . FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a front member and a frame body in the first embodiment. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line F12-F12 in FIG. 3. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a front member and a frame body in a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged view taken along line F14 in FIG. 9 .

Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
In this specification, unless otherwise specified, up, down, left and right are defined based on the direction in which the refrigerator is viewed from a user standing in front of the refrigerator. In addition, the side closer to the user standing in front of the refrigerator as viewed from the refrigerator is defined as the "front," and the side farther away is defined as the "rear." In this specification, the "width direction" refers to the left and right direction as defined above. In this specification, the "depth direction" refers to the front and back direction as defined above. The "up and down direction" refers to the height direction of the refrigerator.
As indicated by arrows in the drawing, the +X direction is the right direction, the -X direction is the left direction, the +Y direction is the rear direction, the -Y direction is the forward direction, the +Z direction is the upward direction, and the -Z direction is the downward direction.
A plane whose normal extends in the +X direction may be referred to as a YZ plane, a plane whose normal extends in the +Y direction may be referred to as a ZX plane, and a plane whose normal extends in the +Z direction may be referred to as an XY plane.
In the description of the components included in the refrigerator door of the embodiment, the description will be based on the arrangement when the door is closed, unless otherwise specified. For example, when describing a revolving door, the above-mentioned ±X directions, ±Y directions, and ±Z directions will be described as directions fixed to the door even when the door is open, unless otherwise specified.

(First embodiment)
A refrigerator according to a first embodiment will be described.
Fig. 1 is a front view showing a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line F2-F2 in Fig. 1.
The overall configuration of a refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment shown in Fig. 1 will be described. However, the refrigerator 1 does not need to have all of the components described below, and some components may be omitted as appropriate.
The refrigerator 1 has, for example, a refrigerator body 5 and a plurality of doors 11.
The refrigerator body 5 includes a housing 10. As shown in Fig. 2, the housing 10 includes, for example, an inner box 10a, an outer box 10b, and a foam insulation material 10c.

The inner box 10a is a member that forms the inner surface of the housing 10, and is made of, for example, synthetic resin.
The outer box 10b is a member that forms the outer surface of the housing 10 and is made of, for example, metal. The outer box 10b is formed to be slightly larger than the inner box 10a and is disposed outside the inner box 10a. The outer box 10b is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped that forms the outer surface of the housing 10 excluding the front surface.
However, a recess is formed on the rear side of the lower end of the outer box 10b to form a machine chamber 26, which will be described later.
The foam insulation material 10c is an insulation material made of a foam such as urethane foam, and is filled between the inner box 10a and the outer box 10b.

As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 10 has an upper wall 21, a lower wall 22, a left side wall 23, a right side wall 24, and a rear wall 25 (see FIG. 2). The upper wall 21 and the lower wall 22 extend substantially horizontally. The left side wall 23 and the right side wall 24 rise upward from the left and right ends of the lower wall 22 and connect to the left and right ends of the upper wall 21. As shown in FIG. 2, the rear wall 25 rises upward from the rear end of the lower wall 22 and connects to the rear end of the upper wall 21.

As shown in FIG. 2, multiple storage compartments 27 are formed inside the housing 10. The multiple storage compartments 27 include, for example, a refrigerator compartment 27A, a vegetable compartment 27B, an ice-making compartment 27C (see FIG. 1), a small freezer compartment 27D, and a main freezer compartment 27E. In this embodiment, the refrigerator compartment 27A is located at the top. The vegetable compartment 27B is located below the refrigerator compartment 27A. The ice-making compartment 27C and the small freezer compartment 27D are located below the vegetable compartment 27B. The main freezer compartment 27E is located below the ice-making compartment 27C and the small freezer compartment 27D. The housing 10 has an opening on the front side of each storage compartment 27 that allows food to be put in and taken out of each storage compartment 27.

Housing 10 has a first partition 28 and a second partition 29. First partition 28 and second partition 29 are, for example, partition walls extending substantially horizontally. First partition 28 is located between refrigerator compartment 27A and vegetable compartment 27B, and separates refrigerator compartment 27A from vegetable compartment 27B.
The second partition 29 is located between the vegetable compartment 27B and the ice making compartment 27C (see Figure 1) and the small freezer compartment 27D, and separates the vegetable compartment 27B from the ice making compartment 27C (see Figure 1) and the small freezer compartment 27D.

The temperature inside the vegetable compartment 27B is maintained higher than that inside the refrigerator compartment 27A. Inside the vegetable compartment 27B, for example, a vegetable compartment container for storing stored items such as vegetables and a guide rail for moving the vegetable compartment container in the front-rear direction are provided.

The temperatures in the ice-making compartment 27C, small freezer compartment 27D, and main freezer compartment 27E are maintained at a temperature at which the stored items can be frozen. Inside the ice-making compartment 27C, small freezer compartment 27D, and main freezer compartment 27E, for example, storage containers for storing the items to be frozen and guide rails for moving the storage containers in the forward and backward directions are provided.

The openings of the storage compartments 27 are openably and closably covered by a plurality of doors 11. As shown in Fig. 1, the plurality of doors 11 include, for example, a left refrigerator compartment door 11Aa, a right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab, a vegetable compartment door 11B, an ice-making compartment door 11C, a small freezer compartment door 11D, and a main freezer compartment door 11E.
The left refrigerator compartment door 11Aa and the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab close the opening of the refrigerator compartment 27A.
A touch panel P, which will be described later, is disposed inside the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab. The detailed configuration of the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab will be described later.
The vegetable compartment door 11B closes the opening of the vegetable compartment 27B. The ice-making compartment door 11C closes the opening of the ice-making compartment 27C. The small freezer compartment door 11D closes the opening of the small freezer compartment 27D. The main freezer compartment door 11E closes the opening of the main freezer compartment 27E.
The left refrigerator compartment door 11Aa and the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab, which are provided adjacent to each other on the left and right, are a pair of doors that open like double doors.
The vegetable compartment door 11B, the ice compartment door 11C (see FIG. 1), the small freezer compartment door 11D, and the main freezer compartment door 11E are, for example, drawer-type doors. A vegetable compartment container is connected to the rear surface of the vegetable compartment door 11B. A storage container is connected to the rear surface of each of the ice compartment door 11C, the small freezer compartment door 11D, and the main freezer compartment door 11E.
Each of the doors 11 includes an appropriate insulating material therein. The appropriate insulating material may include a foam insulating material similar to the foam insulating material 10c described above, a sheet insulating material, a vacuum insulating material, and the like.

Various members that form refrigerator body 5 together with housing 10 are disposed on the rear side of housing 10. Examples of the members that form refrigerator body 5 include pipes through which a refrigerant circulates, cooling units 15A and 15B, flow path forming members 14A and 14B, cooling fans 16A and 16B, and control board 17.
In the refrigerator body 5, a machine room 26 in which, for example, a compressor, a condenser, an evaporating dish, etc. are arranged is provided at the lower rear side of the housing 10.

The cooling unit 15A is disposed behind the refrigerator compartment 27A, and cools the refrigerator compartment 27A and the vegetable compartment 27B.
Cooling unit 15B is disposed behind main freezing compartment 27E and cools ice making compartment 27C, small freezing compartment 27D, and main freezing compartment 27E.
The flow path forming member 14A forms a flow path through which the cold air supplied from the cooling unit 15A flows to the refrigerator compartment 27A and the vegetable compartment 27B.
Flow path forming member 14B forms a flow path through which cold air supplied from cooling unit 15B flows to ice making compartment 27C, small freezing compartment 27D, and main freezing compartment 27E.

Cooling fan 16A blows the cold air formed by cooling unit 15A into a flow path surrounded by flow path forming member 14A, forming a flow of cold air that circulates inside vegetable compartment 27B and refrigerator compartment 27A.
Cooling fan 16B blows the cold air formed in cooling unit 15B through a flow path surrounded by flow path forming member 14B, forming a flow of cold air that circulates inside ice making compartment 27C, small freezer compartment 27D, and main freezer compartment 27E.

The control board 17 controls the entire refrigerator 1. For example, the control board 17 controls the operation of the cooling units 15A, 15B, the cooling fans 16A, 16B, the compressor, etc. based on the detection results of temperature sensors installed in the multiple storage compartments 27. In this embodiment, the control board 17 is located on the rear outer case 10b above the refrigerator compartment 27A.

Next, the detailed configuration of the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab will be described.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a right refrigerator compartment door in the embodiment. Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the right refrigerator compartment door in the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, the right refrigerator door 11Ab has a front member 30, an outer frame 36, a rear member 37, and a cover member 41. Although not shown in FIG. 3, as shown in FIG. 2, the rear side of the right refrigerator door 11Ab is detachably attached with door containers 18A and 18B that are movable in the vertical direction and a door container 19 that is fixed to the lower part.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the front member 30 is located at the front end of the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab. The front member 30 is a plate member extending in the vertical and horizontal directions, and forms the front surface of the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab. The front member 30 is, for example, a glass plate. However, the front member 30 is not limited to a glass plate, and may be formed from materials such as synthetic resin and metal. The front member 30 may be a flat plate or a curved plate. In the following, an example in which the front member 30 is a flat glass plate will be described. As shown in Figure 4, the front member 30 has a front surface 30a on the front side and a rear surface 30b on the rear side.

As shown in FIG. 1, the front member 30 has an opaque portion 30A and a transparent portion 30B (transparent region).
The opaque portion 30A is an area in which the inside of the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab is difficult to see due to a low visible light transmittance in the front member 30. In this embodiment, the opaque portion 30A is formed by forming a coating film that reduces the visible light transmittance on the surface of the front member 30. The coating film may be formed on the front surface 30a or the rear surface 30b, but in this embodiment, it is formed on the rear surface 30b.
The transparent portion 30B is a transparent region in the front member 30. The transparent portion 30B is formed in a portion of the front member 30 where no coating film is formed. In this embodiment, the transparent portion 30B is formed to a size equal to or smaller than the display area of the touch panel P described below. In the example shown in Fig. 1, the transparent portion 30B is a rectangle that is slightly narrower than the display screen of the touch panel P. The transparent portion 30B is formed in a position that overlaps with the display screen of the touch panel P when viewed from the front side.

As shown in Fig. 4, the outer frame 36 is a substantially rectangular frame when viewed from the -Y direction. The outer shape of the outer frame 36 when viewed from the rear side is substantially the same as the outer shape of the front member 30. In this specification, "viewing an object from the rear side" means viewing the object from behind in the -Y direction, unless otherwise specified. Similarly, "viewing an object from the front side" means viewing the object from in front of the object in the +Y direction, unless otherwise specified.
The outer frame 36 has an upper surface portion 36a disposed in the +Z direction and extending in the width direction, and a lower surface portion 36b disposed in the -Z direction and extending in the width direction. A right surface portion 36c extending in the vertical direction is connected to the ends of the upper surface portion 36a and the lower surface portion 36b in the +X direction. A left surface portion 36d extending in the vertical direction is connected to the ends of the upper surface portion 36a and the lower surface portion 36b in the -X direction.
A hinge mounting portion 36e that connects a hinge provided in refrigerator body 5 is provided at an end portion in the +X direction of upper surface portion 36a. A hinge mounting portion 36f that connects a hinge provided in refrigerator body 5 is provided at an end portion in the +X direction of lower surface portion 36b.
The −Y direction end of the outer frame 36 is fixed to the rear surface 30 b of the front member 30 .
The outer frame 36 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin.

The rear member 37 is attached to the outer frame 36 from the opposite side to the front member 30, and is located at the rear end of the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab. The front member 30 and the rear member 37 are fixed to the outer frame 36, sandwiching the outer frame 36 in the depth direction.
The outer shape of the rear member 37 as viewed from the rear side is a rectangle that conforms to the outer frame 36. The rear member 37 forms the rear surface of the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab, i.e., the inner surface. The rear member 37 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin.
The rear member 37 has a first flat portion 37 a , a second flat portion 37 b , an inclined portion 37 c , and a rib 38 .

The first flat portion 37a is a flat surface extending along the front member 30. In the example shown in FIG.
4, the first flat portion 37a has a first opening O1 that is a substantially rectangular through-hole when viewed from the rear side. The first opening O1 opens toward the front member 30.
The first flat portion 37a covers the frame body 35 (described later) from the rear.

The second flat portion 37b is disposed in the -Z direction from the first flat portion 37a, and is a flat surface extending along the front member 30. In the example shown in Figures 3 and 4, the second flat portion 37b is disposed in the -Y direction from the first flat portion 37a, and is a flat surface similar to the first flat portion 37a, except that no opening is formed.
The inclined portion 37c is a flat surface or a curved surface that extends obliquely from the end of the first flat portion 37a in the -Z direction to the end of the second flat portion 37b in the +Z direction. In the example shown in Figures 3 and 4, the inclined portion 37c is a surface that inclines toward the -Y direction as it advances in the -Z direction.

The first flat portion 37a, the inclined portion 37c, and the second flat portion 37b as a whole have a rectangular periphery that is slightly smaller than the outer shape of the outer frame 36 when viewed from the rear side.
The rib 38 is a convex portion that protrudes rearward from the peripheral edges of the first flat portion 37a, the inclined portion 37c, and the second flat portion 37b. When viewed from the rear side, the rib 38 has a rectangular shape that follows the outer shape of the rear member 37.
The rib 38 protrudes in the +Y direction further than the outer frame 36 and the first flat portion 37a. Therefore, the rib 38 extends to the inside of the refrigerator compartment 27A when the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab closes the opening of the refrigerator compartment 27A.
In this specification, the term "rib" is used for the convenience of explanation and broadly refers to a portion of the rear member 37 that protrudes rearward, and is not limited to a specific shape or function.

The rib 38 has ribs 38U, 38D, 38R, and 38L.
The rib 38U extends in the width direction along the upper surface portion 36a of the outer frame 36.
The rib 38D extends in the width direction along the lower surface portion 36b of the outer frame 36.
The rib 38R extends in the vertical direction along the right surface portion 36c of the outer frame 36.
The rib 38L extends in the vertical direction along the left surface portion 36d of the outer frame 36.
On each side surface of the ribs 38R, 38L facing each other in the width direction, there are provided rail portions 38a for movably engaging the door containers 18A, 18B, and engaging portions 38b for engaging the door container 19.
An outer edge 37e that is parallel to the XZ plane is formed between the outer edge of the rib 38 and the outer shape of the rear surface member 37.

A gasket attachment groove 37f for attaching a gasket (not shown) is formed in the outer edge portion 37e along the outer shape of the rear member 37.
The gasket attached to the gasket attachment groove 37f comes into close contact with the front end of the housing 10 and the rotating partition plate arranged at the end of the left refrigerator compartment door 11Aa in the +X direction when the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab is closed. The gap between the front end of the housing 10, the rotating partition plate, and the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab is sealed. When the left refrigerator compartment door 11Aa and the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab, which have similar gaskets, are closed, leakage of cold air from the front opening of the refrigerator compartment 27A is prevented.

As shown in FIG. 4, the cover member 41 opens and closes a first opening O1 and a second opening O2 formed in the rear end of a frame 35, which will be described later.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the right refrigerator door with the cover member removed in the first embodiment. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cover member in the first embodiment. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line F7-F7 in Fig. 2.

As shown in FIG. 5, the cover member 41 has a cover plate 41a and a fitting frame 41b.
The cover plate 41a is a flat plate that is detachably fitted inside the edge of the first opening O1.
The thickness of the cover plate 41a is not particularly limited. It is more preferable that the cover plate 41a be flush with the first flat portion 37a on the edge of the first opening O1 when the cover plate 41a is fitted into the first opening O1.
The cover plate 41a has a generally rectangular outer shape similar to that of the first opening O1, and is formed at its periphery with an upper side portion 41U, a lower side portion 41D, a left side portion 41L, and a right side portion 41R.

The upper side portion 41U extends in the width direction at the end portion in the +Z direction of the cover plate 41a. However, a fixing plate portion 41d that protrudes in the +Z direction is formed in the center of the upper side portion 41U in the width direction.
The outer shape of the fixing plate portion 41d is not particularly limited, but for example, is semicircular when viewed from the rear side. An insertion hole 41d1 for inserting the screw 39 penetrates the fixing plate portion 41d in the thickness direction.
The lower side portion 41D extends in the width direction at the end portion in the -Z direction of the cover plate 41a.
The left side portion 41L extends in the vertical direction at the end of the cover plate 41a in the -X direction.
The right side portion 41R extends in the vertical direction at the end of the cover plate 41a in the +X direction.

The fitting frame 41b protrudes from inside the periphery of the cover plate 41a toward the front side (−Y direction) of the cover plate 41a. When viewed from the front, the fitting frame 41b has a rectangular shape that is smaller than the outer shape of the cover plate 41a.
A protruding edge 41f extends outward from the fitting frame 41b and is formed by the peripheral edge of the cover plate 41a protruding outward beyond the fitting frame 41b.
The outer peripheral surface of the fitting frame 41b is fitted into a second opening O2 of the frame 35, which will be described later. A heat insulating member 43 (see FIG. 4), which will be described later, can be fitted into the inside of the fitting frame 41b.
A plurality of first engagement portions 41c for detachably engaging with a frame body 35 described later are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the fitting frame 41b. The shape and number of the first engagement portions 41c are not particularly limited as long as the cover member 41 can be detachably engaged with the frame body 35.
For example, when the frame 35 is formed with a concave second engagement portion, the first engagement portion 41c may be a protrusion that protrudes outward from the fitting frame 41b. When the second engagement portion is convex, the first engagement portion 41c may be a recess that is recessed inward from the fitting frame 41b. An example of the detailed shape of the first engagement portion 41c will be described later.
In the present embodiment, as an example, as shown in Fig. 5, three first engagement portions 41c are provided on the fitting frame 41b along the lower side 41D, and three first engagement portions 41c are provided on the fitting frame 41b along the left side 41L. As shown in Fig. 6, two first engagement portions 41c are provided on the fitting frame 41b along the upper side 41U, and three first engagement portions 41c are provided on the fitting frame 41b along the right side 41R.

An index 41e is provided on the surface of the cover plate 41a in the +Y direction to indicate the position where the first engagement portion 41c is provided.
The method and shape of the indicator 41e are not particularly limited as long as the indicator 41e can be visually recognized at a position close to the first engagement portion 41c. For example, the indicator 41e may be formed as a triangular step portion that protrudes slightly from the cover plate 41a when viewed from the rear side.

The lid member 41 can be formed from a resin molded product. It is more preferable that the material of the lid member 41 is a resin material that is easily elastically deformed so that the lid member 41 can be bent to a certain extent when it is removed.

The front member 30, outer frame 36, rear member 37 and cover member 41 described above form the outer surface of the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab.
Next, the internal structure of the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab will be described.
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line F7-F7 in Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a front member and a frame body in the first embodiment. Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of a portion F9 in Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a partial enlarged view taken as viewed from F10 in Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a front member and a frame body in the first embodiment. Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line F12-F12 in Fig. 2.

As shown in FIG. 7, inside the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab, a touch panel P, a circuit board 33, a circuit board 34 (see FIG. 8), a frame 35, an inner lid 44 (partition member), an insulating member 43, and a foam insulating material 40 are arranged.

The touch panel P has a panel body 31 and a fixing member 32 .
The panel body 31 has a display section 31a that displays an image, and a detection section 31b that detects a user's operation.
The type of the display unit 31a is not particularly limited as long as it can display an image based on an image signal. For example, a liquid crystal panel may be used as the display unit 31a. The liquid crystal panel is a light-transmitting display device including two polarizing filters with different polarization directions, a liquid crystal in which pixel electrodes are arranged, and a backlight. For example, a self-luminous display device such as an organic EL element may be used as the display unit 31a.
The display images on the display unit 31a include operation images that indicate areas where the user performs operation input, and other images that display characters, pictures, and the like.
The detection unit 31b detects that an operating tool approaches or comes into contact with the front surface 30a of the front member 30, which faces the position of the image for operation displayed on the display unit 31a. The detection method of the detection unit 31b is not particularly limited as long as it can detect an operation by an appropriate operating tool. For example, the detection unit 31b may be a sensor of a capacitance type, an optical type, or the like.
7, a capacitive sensor having a transparent electrode is used as the detection unit 31b. In this case, the transparent electrode is formed on a transparent substrate that covers the entire effective display screen of the display unit 31a from the front side.
The detection unit 31 b detects the position of an operating tool, such as a user's finger, that is in proximity to or in contact with the front surface 30 a of the front surface member 30 .

The panel body 31 extends along the front member 30 and has a rectangular flat plate shape when viewed from the front side, as shown in FIG. 1. For example, a tablet input device may be used as the panel body 31.

The fastener 32 holds the panel body 31 and is fixed to the rear surface 30 b of the front member 30 .
The shape of the fixture 32 is not particularly limited as long as it can be fixed to the rear surface 30b while holding the panel main body 31. In the example shown in Fig. 7, the fixture 32 is a box-shaped fixture that has a recess for accommodating the panel main body 31 therein and is open in the -Y direction.
The panel main body 31 accommodated in the recess of the fixing device 32 is fixed to the fixing device 32 by, for example, screws, double-sided tape, adhesive, etc. This fixes the relative position of the panel main body 31 with respect to the fixing device 32 in the width direction and the up-down direction.
The recess in the fixture 32 is formed by being surrounded by a rear surface portion 32a, a side surface portion 32b, and a protruding edge portion 32c.
The rear surface portion 32a is a flat plate that covers the rear surface of the touch panel P from the rear side.
As shown in FIG. 7, the side surface portion 32b is a flat plate that protrudes from the periphery of the rear surface portion 32a along the side surface of the touch panel P in the -Y direction.
A protruding edge 32c is formed around the entire periphery of the end of the side surface 32b in the -Y direction, extending to the outside of the recess in the fastener 32 along the rear surface 30b.
In the fastener 32 , the depth of the recess from the protruding edge 32 c to the rear surface 32 a is approximately equal to the thickness of the panel main body 31 .

The protruding edge portion 32c is fixed to the rear surface 30b by double-sided tape T1 interposed between the surface of the protruding edge portion 32c in the -Y direction and the rear surface 30b of the front surface member 30. As a result, the detection portion 31b of the panel main body 31 in the fixing device 32 faces the front surface member 30 with the distance from the rear surface 30b being fixed.
The effective display area of the display portion 31a is aligned so as to overlap with the transparent portion 30B.

8, the circuit board 33 has a board 33a and a circuit formed on the board 33a that mainly controls images and sound sources in the panel body 31. Various components that form the circuit are mounted on the board 33a of the circuit board 33. For example, an IC 33b that is likely to generate heat during operation is mounted on the board 33a.
The position of the circuit board 33 is not particularly limited, but the position of the circuit board 33 as viewed from the rear is closer to the +X direction in the width direction and slightly closer to the +Z direction from the center in the up-down direction. In the depth direction, as shown in Fig. 7, the circuit board 33 is disposed above the surface on the +Y direction side of the rear surface 32a of the fixture 32. The board 33a is fixed to a board fixing portion provided on the rear surface 32a of the fixture 32 with a screw.
The circuit board 33 is electrically connected to the panel body 31 by a flexible board 33c on which wiring is formed.
The circuit board 33 is electrically connected to the control board 17 (see FIG. 2 ) in the refrigerator body 5 via a wiring cable 45 indicated by a two-dot chain line. However, in FIG. 8 , for ease of viewing, the connection portion between the wiring cable 45 and the circuit board 33 is omitted from the illustration.

8, the circuit board 34 has a board 34a and a circuit formed on the board 34a for converting an external sound source into an electric signal in the panel body 31. Various components forming the circuit are mounted on the board 34a of the circuit board 34. For example, an IC 34b that is likely to generate heat during operation is mounted on the board 34a.
8, the circuit board 34 is disposed in the +Y direction of the rear surface portion 32a of the fixture 32 in the same manner as the circuit board 33. The circuit board 34 is disposed so as to be aligned in the -Z direction of the circuit board 33 in the vertical direction.
The circuit board 34 is connected to the circuit board 33 by a wiring cable (not shown), and, like the circuit board 33, is electrically connected to the control board 17 (see FIG. 2) through a wiring cable 45. However, for ease of viewing, the connection portion between the wiring cable 45 and the circuit board 34 is not shown in FIG. 8.

The frame 35 covers the fixing device 32 from the side in a state in which the frame 35 surrounds the outer periphery of the fixing device 32 as seen from the rear side. Here, the outer periphery of the fixing device 32 as seen from the rear side is formed by the periphery of the protruding edge portion 32c of the fixing device 32.
7, the frame 35 has a cylindrical shape extending in the depth direction as a whole, with openings formed at both ends in the depth direction. The frame 35 has a first fixing portion 35c, a first wall portion 35b, a step portion 35a, a second wall portion 35f, a second fixing portion 35g, and a support portion 35d.

As shown in FIG. 8, the first fixing portion 35c is a flat plate having an opening formed therein large enough to surround the outer periphery of the fixing device 32 when viewed from the rear side.
9, the first fixing portion 35c is fixed to the rear surface 30b of the front member 30 by double-sided tape T2 interposed between the first fixing portion 35c and the rear surface 30b of the front member 30. The double-sided tape T2 is provided around the entire periphery of the first fixing portion 35c. As a result, the first fixing portion 35c is fixed to the front member 30 in a liquid-tight manner.
In this specification, when the fixing portion is "liquid-tightly fixed," it means that, unless otherwise specified, the fixing portion is fixed so that the foaming liquid that forms the foam insulation material 40 described below cannot pass through the fixing portion when it flows and foams.
9, a single-sided tape T4 is further affixed across the surface of the first fixing portion 35c in the +Y direction and the rear surface 30b adjacent to the first fixing portion 35c on the outside of the frame body 35. This increases the fixing strength of the first fixing portion 35c and prevents the foaming liquid from entering between the first fixing portion 35c and the front surface member 30 from the outside of the frame body 35, further improving the liquid-tightness between the first fixing portion 35c and the front surface member 30.

The first wall portion 35b is a rectangular cylindrical frame extending in the +Y direction from the entire periphery of the inner edge of the first fixed portion 35c.
The height of the end of the first wall portion 35b in the +Y direction from the rear surface 30b is greater than the height of the contents inside the frame 35, such as the fixture 32 and the circuit boards 33, 34, from the rear surface 30b.
As shown in FIG. 8, a wiring insertion portion 35j through which the wiring cable 45 is inserted is provided at the end portion in the +X direction of the first wall portion 35b disposed in the +Z direction.

The wiring insertion portion 35j has a cylindrical shape protruding from the first wall portion 35b in the +Z direction, and a through hole penetrating the first wall portion 35b in the thickness direction is formed in the center. The outer shape of the wiring insertion portion 35j and the shape of the through hole are not particularly limited as long as the wiring cable 45 can be inserted liquid-tightly.
10, the wiring insertion portion 35j is generally cylindrical with a circular through hole formed in the center. The end of the through hole on the first fixing portion 35c side on the inner circumferential surface 35j1 is formed at substantially the same position as the surface of the first fixing portion 35c in the +Y direction. Therefore, the wiring insertion portion 35j is generally cylindrical with a part of the outer periphery formed by the first fixing portion 35c.

The wiring cable 45 inserted into the wiring insertion portion 35j is inserted into the inner circumferential surface 35j1 with its outer periphery covered by the sealing material 46.
The sealant 46 is made of an appropriate material that can liquid-tightly seal the gap between the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface 35j1 of the distribution cable 45. For example, the sealant 46 may be a soft tape including a flexible foam.

7, the step portions 35a are flat plates extending inward from the +Y direction ends of the first wall portions 35b that face each other in the width direction. Each step portion 35a extends parallel to the first fixing portion 35c.
The height of the step 35a from the rear surface 30b of the front member 30 is set so as not to interfere with the fixture 32 and the items contained within the frame 35, such as the circuit boards 33 and 34.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 11, the step portion 35a is not formed at the end in the +Y direction of the first wall portions 35b that face each other in the vertical direction.

The second wall portion 35f is disposed between the first wall portion 35b and a second fixing portion 35g described later in the depth direction. The second wall portion 35f has an end portion in the +Y direction connected to the second fixing portion 35g to form a second opening O2 facing the first opening O1 when viewed from the front side (see FIG. 9).
The second opening O2 is shaped to detachably fit with the outer peripheral surface of the fitting frame 41b of the cover member 41 when viewed from the front side.
The shape of the second wall portion 35f as viewed from the rear side may be the same as or different from the shape of the first wall portion 35b as viewed from the rear side.
8 and 11, the walls forming the ends of the second wall portion 35f in the width direction extend in the +Y direction from the inner ends of the steps 35a. Therefore, the width of the outer shape of the second wall portion 35f in the width direction is narrower than the width of the outer shape of the first wall portion 35b in the width direction.
In contrast, the walls forming the vertical ends of the second wall portion 35f extend in the +Y direction from the +Y direction ends of the walls forming the vertical ends of the first wall portion 35b. Therefore, the width of the outer shape of the second wall portion 35f in the vertical direction is equal to the width of the outer shape of the first wall portion 35b in the vertical direction. In this case, the walls forming the vertical ends of the second wall portion 35f and the first wall portion 35b are continuous flat plates.
With this configuration, in the example shown in FIGS. 8 and 11, the second wall portion 35f has a rectangular shape with a narrower width than the first wall portion 35b when viewed from the rear side.

As shown in FIG. 7, the +Y-direction tips of the walls that face each other in the width direction in the second wall portion 35f are located inside the first opening O1, and extend in the +Y direction up to the height of the -Y-direction surface of the first flat portion 37a that forms the edge of the first opening O1. Although not shown in the figure, the same is true for the tips of the walls that face each other in the vertical direction in the second wall portion 35f.

As shown in FIG. 9, a second engaging portion 35h that engages with the first engaging portion 41c of the cover member 41 is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the second wall portion 35f.
The shape and number of the second engagement portions 35h are not particularly limited as long as they can be detachably engaged with the first engagement portions 41c.
For example, when the first engaging portion 41c is a protrusion that protrudes outward from the fitting frame 41b, the second engaging portion 35h is formed as a recess that engages the protrusion of the first engaging portion 41c. For example, when the first engaging portion 41c is a recess that is recessed inward from the fitting frame 41b, the second engaging portion 35h is formed as a protrusion that engages the recess of the first engaging portion 41c.
In the example shown in Figure 9, the first engagement portion 41c is a claw-shaped protrusion having an engagement surface 41h formed on the +Y direction side and an inclined surface 41g that slopes toward the fitting frame 41b as it moves from the tip of the engagement surface 41h in the -Y direction.
In this case, the second engagement portion 35h may be a groove recessed outward from the inner surface of the second wall portion 35f. A locking surface 35i that engages with the locking surface 41h is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the groove in the +Y direction.
When the second engaging portion 35h is a groove, the groove is formed without penetrating the second wall portion 35f. In the example shown in Fig. 9, in order to form the bottom surface of the groove, a protrusion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the second wall portion 35f at a position corresponding to the second engaging portion 35h, the protrusion protruding outward by approximately the same height as the depth of the groove. However, the second engaging portion 35h may be formed within the thickness range of the second wall portion 35f.

The second engagement portion 35h may be formed so as to be able to engage multiple first engagement portions 41c, but in the example shown in Figures 8 and 11, the second engagement portion 35h engages the first engagement portions 41c one by one. For this reason, the second engagement portions 35h are provided in the same number as the first engagement portions 41c at positions corresponding to them.

As shown in FIG. 11, a screw fixing portion 35k for fixing the screw 39 inserted into the insertion hole 41d1 is provided on the outer side of the second wall portion 35f that faces the fixing plate portion 41d of the cover member 41 in the depth direction.
A screw hole 35k1 into which the screw 39 is screwed is formed at the end of the screw fixing portion 35k in the +Y direction. The screw hole 35k1 is a bottomed hole portion that opens in the +Y direction, extends in the -Y direction, and has a closed end at the end in the -Y direction.
Note that, since Figure 12 is a schematic diagram, it is shown as if there is a gap between the +Y end face of the screw fixing portion 35k and the fixing plate portion 41d, but by screwing the screw 39, the fixing plate portion 41d is brought into close contact with the +Y end face of the screw fixing portion 35k.
By screwing the screw 39 in this manner, the gap between the fixing plate portion 41d and the end face of the screw fixing portion 35k in the +Y direction is liquid-tightly sealed.

The second fixing portion 35g extends from the end of the second wall portion 35f in the +Y direction toward the outside of the second wall portion 35f. The second fixing portion 35g is a flat plate parallel to the first fixing portion 35c. The second fixing portion 35g is a rectangular frame extending outward from the end of the second opening O2 in the +Y direction.
As shown in an enlarged cross section in FIG. 9, the second fixing portion 35g extends from the +Y direction to a position facing the first flat portion 37a that forms the edge of the first opening O1.
The portion of the second fixing portion 35g facing the first flat portion 37a is fixed liquid-tight to the surface of the first flat portion 37a in the -Y direction by the double-sided tape T3. However, the double-sided tape T3 is not attached to the portion of the second fixing portion 35g facing the inside of the first opening O1.
As shown in Fig. 8, the double-sided tape T3 is similarly attached to the second fixing portion 35g substantially all around except the screw fixing portion 35k. Although Fig. 8 shows an example in which the double-sided tape T3 is a continuous C-shape, the double-sided tape T3 may be divided in the circumferential direction. For example, the double-sided tape T3 may be formed by combining a plurality of pieces extending linearly.

7, the support portion 35d protrudes inward from the second wall portion 35f and supports the periphery of an inner lid 44 (described later) from the front side. The shape of the support portion 35d is not particularly limited as long as it can support the inner lid 44. For example, the support portion 35d may be formed of a plurality of veneers spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the second wall portion 35f as viewed from the rear side, or may be formed of a frame plate protruding inward over the entire periphery.
8 and 11, the support portion 35d is a frame plate formed around the entire periphery of the second wall portion 35f. The support portion 35d in this case will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
The support portion 35d has a base end plate 35d1 extending parallel to the ZX plane from the second wall portion 35f, and a tip plate 35d2 bending in the -Y direction from the tip of the tip plate 35d2 and then extending inward parallel to the base end plate 35d1.
A step 35e recessed in the -Y direction from the base end plate 35d1 is formed at each connecting portion on the surface in the +Y direction of the base end plate 35d1 and the tip end plate 35d2.
A rectangular third opening O3 that is narrower than the second opening O2 when viewed from the rear side is formed at the tip of the tip plate 35d2.

The size and position of third opening O3 are set to allow maintenance of parts arranged inside frame 35. Here, the maintenance of the parts includes, for example, any of adjustment, inspection, and replacement for repair of the parts. The maintenance of the parts includes a case where it is performed after refrigerator 1 is delivered and a case where it is performed during the manufacturing process of refrigerator 1.
The parts to be maintained are parts related to the touch panel P (including the touch panel P itself) and are housed inside the frame 35.
Examples of parts to be maintained include the touch panel P, the circuit boards 33, 34, the electrical components of the circuit boards 33, 34, the flexible board 33c, and the wiring cable 45. The electrical components on the circuit boards 33, 34 may be removable from the fixture 32 together with the circuit boards 33, 34, or may be removable individually from the circuit boards 33, 34. Examples of electrical components that can be removable individually include ICs, LSIs, non-volatile memories, microphones, speakers, antennas, and reset switches that are attached to sockets.
In this embodiment, since the touch panel P cannot be easily removed from the front member 30, maintenance of the touch panel P is limited to adjustment and inspection through the circuit boards 33, 34.

The third opening O3 must be formed so that at least the part to be maintained can be seen through the third opening O3. It is preferable that the third opening O3 allows the part to be seen from the rear side, but it may also allow the part to be seen from an oblique direction relative to the -Y direction.
It is more preferable that the third opening O3 is formed in a size and position that allows the operation of switches, volumes, etc. used to adjust the parts that are the subject of maintenance.
More preferably, the third opening O3 is formed in a size and position that allows an inspection device to be connected to an inspection terminal used to inspect the component that is the target of maintenance.
It is more preferable that the third opening O3 is of a size and located so that a part to be maintained can be removed and taken out to the outside.

It is more preferable that the first opening O1 and the second opening O2 are close in size to the third opening O3. This allows the size of the cover member 41 to be close to the size of the third opening O3, which is the size required for maintenance.

In the example shown in FIG. 8, the third opening O3 is formed in a size and position that allows most of the rear surface 32a of the fixture 32 to be seen. This allows the maintenance personnel to see the circuit boards 33, 34, the flexible board 33c, the wiring cable 45, etc., and perform the work required for maintenance of each of them.

As shown in FIG. 9, the step portion 35e and the tip plate 35d2 as a whole form a rectangular recess that is larger than the third opening O3 and smaller than the second opening O2 when viewed from the rear side.
The depth of the step portion 35e is not particularly limited, but may be equal to the thickness of the inner lid 44 described below, for example.

7, in the frame body 35, the first fixing portion 35c is liquid-tightly fixed to the rear surface 30b, and the second fixing portion 35g is liquid-tightly fixed to the first flat portion 37a. In the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab, the frame body 35 liquid-tightly divides the internal space surrounded by the rear surface member 37, the outer frame 36, and the front surface member 30 into a first space S1 outside the frame body 35 and a second space S2 inside the frame body 35.
The wiring insertion portion 35j forming an opening in the first wall portion 35b is liquid-tightly sealed by the wiring cable 45 and the sealant 46 after the wiring cable 45 is attached.
The second space S2 is a space that extends to the first opening O1 on the sides and rear of the fixture 32, and is in communication with the third opening O3, the second opening O2, and the first opening O1.
Therefore, the second space S2 formed by the frame body 35 is an internal space in which the foam insulation material 40 is not filled between the front member 30 and the rear member 37 when the foam insulation material 40 described later is filled in the first space S1.

The frame 35 is formed by molding a synthetic resin. The material of the frame 35 is not particularly limited as long as it has excellent adhesiveness to the double-sided tapes T2, T3 and the single-sided tape T4.
Since the frame 35 contains electrical components such as the touch panel P and the circuit boards 33 and 34 inside, it is more preferable that the frame 35 be made of a flame-retardant resin material.

4, the inner lid 44 covers the third opening O3 from the rear side. It is more preferable that the inner lid 44 covers the third opening O3 so as to close it. However, an opening may be formed in a part of the inner lid 44 as long as the inner lid 44 has a rigidity that allows a change in the distance from the rear surface 30b when the heat insulating member 43 described later is disposed.
9, the inner lid 44 is a flat plate that can be disposed on the tip plate 35d2 inside the step 35e of the support portion 35d and has no opening in the thickness direction. In this case, the outer shape of the inner lid 44 as viewed from the rear side is a rectangle that detachably fits into the step 35e.
When the inner lid 44 is positioned inside the step portion 35e, the second space S2 is divided by the inner lid 44 into a front space S2f including the touch panel P and the circuit boards 33, 34, and a rear space S2r located rearward of the front space S2f.

The thickness of the inner lid 44 is not particularly limited, but in the example shown in FIG. 9, it has a thickness equal to the depth of the step portion 35e so as to be disposed flush with the base end plate 35d1 of the support portion 35d.
However, the inner lid 44 may have a protrusion on the surface in the +Y direction to make it easier to hook a finger or the like when attaching or removing the inner lid 44.
A locking projection that locks with the tip plate 35d2 may protrude from the surface in the -Y direction of the inner lid 44. In this case, the inner lid 44 is less likely to fall off when the heat insulating member 43 described later is removed.
Since the inner lid 44 is disposed parallel to the ZX plane inside the frame 35, it does not bend due to gravity and is not subjected to the foaming pressure of the foam insulation material 40 described later, so its rigidity may be low. Therefore, the necessary rigidity can be easily obtained even if the inner lid 44 is a flat plate. If the inner lid 44 is a flat plate, the volume of the rear space S2r can be increased, thereby improving the insulating performance of the foam insulation material 40 described later disposed in the rear space S2r.
However, if the required heat insulating performance can be obtained, the inner cover 44 may have ribs formed on at least one of the surfaces in the +Y direction and the -Y direction in order to improve rigidity.

There are no particular limitations on the material of the inner lid 44 as long as the necessary rigidity is obtained. For example, from the viewpoint of easily insulating the heat from the circuit boards 33 and 34, a resin material with low thermal conductivity may be used.
For example, since the inner lid 44 is disposed near the circuit boards 33 and 34, it is more preferable that the material of the inner lid 44 be a flame-retardant resin material.

7, the heat insulating member 43 is disposed in the rear space S2r within the frame 35, which is surrounded by the support portion 35d, the inner lid 44, the second wall portion 35f, and the lid member 41. The heat insulating member 43 is disposed to prevent heat generated in the touch panel P and the circuit boards 33, 34 from being transmitted through the lid member 41 into the refrigerator compartment 27A.
The heat insulating member 43 is formed in a plate shape that can be fitted inside the fitting frame 41b of the cover member 41. The outer shape of the heat insulating member 43 seen from the rear side is substantially the same as the shape of the inner peripheral surface of the fitting frame 41b.
The heat insulating member 43 is arranged removably on the frame 35 either alone or together with the cover member 41 .
In particular, by providing the heat insulating member 43 independently in a detachable manner on the frame body 35, it can be removed independently from the frame body 35 after the cover member 41 is deflected and removed. In this case, there are advantages in that the thickness of the heat insulating member 43 has a greater degree of freedom and a material that is difficult to deflect or that is easily damaged when deflected can be used.
Examples of materials for the heat insulating member 43 include vacuum heat insulating material, polystyrene foam board, and urethane board.

The foam insulation material 40 is filled in the first space S1 inside the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab. The foam insulation material 40 is a heat insulating material made of a foam such as urethane foam. The foam insulation material 40 may be made of the same material as the foam insulation material 10c.
The second space S2 does not communicate with the first space S1 because the frame 35 is fixed liquid-tight to the front member 30 and the rear member 37 and the wiring insertion portion 35j is also liquid-tightly closed. Therefore, the foam insulation material 40 is not filled in the second space S2.

Next, an example of a manufacturing method for the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab will be described.
The panel body 31 is housed in the fixture 32, and the panel body 31 and the fixture 32 are fixed to each other to assemble the touch panel P. Circuit boards 33 and 34 are fixed to the rear surface portion 32a. The flexible board 33c extending from the panel body 31 is bent along the rear surface of the fixture 32 and connected to the connector of the circuit board 33.
Thereafter, the touch panel P is fixed to the rear surface 30b of the front member 30 to which the outer frame 36 is fixed. For example, a double-sided tape T1 with a separator is attached to the protruding edge portion 32c in advance, and the separator is peeled off to fix the touch panel P to the rear surface 30b.
At this time, it is more preferable that the front surface member 30 is disposed horizontally with the rear surface 30b facing upward.

Thereafter, the first fixing portion 35c of the frame body 35 is fixed to the rear surface 30b.
For example, when using double-sided tape T2 for fixing, double-sided tape T2 with a separator is attached to first fixing portion 35c in advance, and the separator is peeled off to fix first fixing portion 35c to rear surface 30b. When using single-sided tape T4, the single-sided tape T4 is attached to first fixing portion 35c and rear surface 30b, straddling the outer periphery of first fixing portion 35c.
If there is not enough space between the outer frame 36 and the touch panel P and the frame body 35 for attaching the single-sided tape T4, the outer frame 36 may be fixed to the front member 30 after the touch panel P and the frame body 35 are fixed to the front member 30.
When fixing the frame body 35 using only the single-sided tape T4, the first fixing portion 35c to which the double-sided tape T2 is not attached is placed on the rear surface 30b, and then the single-sided tape T4 is attached in the same manner as described above while holding the frame body 35 so as not to move.

The double-sided tape T3 may be attached before the rear member 37 is fixed to the second fixing portion 35g. For example, the double-sided tape T3 with a separator may be attached to the second fixing portion 35g in advance before the frame body 35 is fixed to the front member 30, or may be attached to the second fixing portion 35g after the frame body 35 is fixed to the front member 30 and before the rear member 37 is fixed.
The double-sided tape T3 may be attached in advance to the rear member 37. However, since the frame 35 has higher rigidity than the rear member 37, the attachment work becomes easier if the double-sided tape T3 is attached in advance to the second fixing portion 35g of the frame 35.

Thereafter, the wiring cable 45 is inserted through the hinge attachment portion 36e of the outer frame 36, and the tip of the wiring cable 45 is inserted through the wiring insertion portion 35j. At this time, a sealant 46 is attached at a position a necessary length away from the tip of the wiring cable 45 within the frame body 35. The sealant 46 is pressed into the inner circumferential surface 35j1 of the wiring insertion portion 35j, thereby liquid-tightly fixing the wiring cable 45 to the wiring insertion portion 35j.
Thereafter, the tip of the wiring cable 45 is connected to the connector of the circuit board 33. The connector can be connected from the rear side of the frame 35 through the second opening O2 and the third opening O3. After the connector is connected, a current may be applied to the circuit boards 33 and 34 to perform a board inspection.
Thus, an assembly as shown in FIG. 8 is formed.

Thereafter, the inner lid 44 is placed behind the tip plate 35d2 of the support portion 35d. The inner lid 44 can be inserted from the rear side of the second opening O2. Since the outer shape of the inner lid 44 is a rectangle smaller than the second opening O2, the inner lid 44 can move into the second opening O2 in a position approximately parallel to the front member 30.
Since the front member 30 is disposed horizontally, the inner lid 44 is also disposed horizontally on the tip plate 35d2. Therefore, unlike when the front member 30 is vertically disposed, the inner lid 44 will not come off the step portion 35e due to its own weight.
Thereafter, the heat insulating member 43 is disposed behind the inner lid 44 and the support portion 35d. Since the heat insulating member 43 is slightly smaller than the second opening O2, it is more preferable to dispose the heat insulating member 43 so that there is a gap between the heat insulating member 43 and the inner peripheral surface of the second wall portion 35f in the width direction and the up-down direction.
Since the front member 30 is disposed horizontally, the heat insulating member 43 is also disposed horizontally on the inner lid 44. Therefore, unlike the case where the front member 30 is upright, after the heat insulating member 43 is disposed, it does not move and close the gap between the second wall portion 35f.

Thereafter, the rear member 37 is placed on the outer frame 36 and the frame body 35, and they are fixed to each other.
For example, the frame 35 and the rear member 37 are attached to each other with a double-sided tape T3. At this time, the double-sided tape T3 is attached to the outside of the first opening O1. As a result, when viewed from the rear side, the surface of the second fixing portion 35g is exposed inside the first opening O1 all around the first opening O1.

Then, the fixing plate portion 41d overlaps the screw fixing portion 35k, and the outer periphery of the lid member 41 is aligned with the first opening O1, and the fitting frame 41b of the lid member 41 is inserted between the heat insulating member 43 and the second wall portion 35f. At this time, even if the gap between the heat insulating member 43 and the second wall portion 35f is partially eliminated, the fitting frame 41b will enter between the heat insulating member 43 and the second wall portion 35f as it is pushed in, so there is no particular problem with assembly.

For example, if the first engagement portion 41c is a protrusion as shown in Fig. 9, when the fitting frame 41b is inserted into the second wall portion 35f, the first engagement portion 41c is pushed inward and the fitting frame 41b is deflected inward. When the first engagement portion 41c enters the second engagement portion 35h, the first engagement portion 41c is pushed into the second engagement portion 35h by the elastic restoring force of the fitting frame 41b. As a result, the locking surface 41h is locked to the locking surface 35i from the front side. As a result, the first engagement portion 41c and the second engagement portion 35h are engaged with each other.
At this time, the position of the first engagement portion 41c can be easily determined by the index 41e, so that the assembly worker can reliably engage the first engagement portion 41c with the second engagement portion 35h by pressing the cover plate 41a near the index 41e.

When the first engaging portions 41c engage with the second engaging portions 35h, the protruding edge portion 41f of the cover plate 41a fits inside the first opening O1. The protruding edge portion 41f overlaps the second fixing portion 35g to which the double-sided tape T3 is not attached.
Thereafter, the screw 39 is inserted into the insertion hole 41d1 of the fixing plate portion 41d and screwed into the screw fixing portion 35k. As a result, the cover member 41 is fixed with the screw.
The fixing plate portion 41d is fixed in close contact with the surface of the screw fixing portion 35k to which the double-sided tape T3 is not attached.

In this manner, the door assembly, excluding the foam insulation 40, is formed.
Thereafter, a foaming liquid for forming the foamed insulation material 40 is introduced into the first space S1 of the door assembly and foamed. After foaming, when the foam hardens, the foamed insulation material 40 is formed, and the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab as shown in FIG. 3 is manufactured.
Since the frame 35 is fixed liquid-tightly between the rear member 37 and the front member 30, the foaming liquid filling the first space S1 does not enter the second space S2.

In the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment to which the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab is attached, when the maintenance person removes the screws 39 while the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab is open and then pulls the cover member 41 in the +Y direction, the first engagement portions 41c and the second engagement portions 35h are disengaged from each other. This allows the cover member 41 to be removed from the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab.
For example, the maintenance technician can release the engagement between the two first engagement parts 41c near the upper side part 41U and the second engagement part 35h by pulling in the +Y direction the fixing plate part 41d or the protruding edge part 41f in the vicinity thereof after removing the screws 39. Furthermore, the maintenance technician can release the engagement between the first engagement parts 41c near the left side part 41L and the right side part 41R and the second engagement parts 35h from top to bottom by pulling the upper end part of the cover member 41 in the +Y direction.
At this time, if the cover member 41 is made of a resin material that is easily elastically deformed, the cover member 41 can be easily and smoothly removed independently.
The cover member 41 is fixed with the screws 39 and cannot be removed unless a maintenance person uses a tool, so that the cover member 41 can be prevented from coming off due to an accidental operation by the user.
In particular, the screw fastening points of the cover member 41 are provided on the upper side portion 41U of the cover member 41, making it more difficult for the user to open it than if the screw fastening points were provided further down.

After removing the cover member 41, the maintenance technician removes the heat insulating member 43 and the inner cover 44 in that order, and takes them out of the frame 35. This opens the second opening O2 and the third opening O3, allowing the maintenance technician to perform maintenance work through the second opening O2 and the third opening O3.
In this way, according to this embodiment, the parts to be maintained can be easily maintained without removing the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab from the refrigerator body 5, or removing or disassembling parts other than the cover member 41, the insulating member 43, and the inner cover 44.

According to this embodiment, since there is no need to provide an opening for maintenance on the front side of the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab, the aesthetic appearance of the front side of the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab can be improved.
Furthermore, there is no need to provide an opening for maintenance on the outer peripheral surface in the vertical and horizontal width directions of the outer frame 36 of the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab.
When a maintenance opening is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the outer frame 36, the part to be maintained must be pulled out through the opening for maintenance to be performed. If the part to be maintained could be pulled out, it would be impossible to place insulation material in the pull-out path, or even if it could be placed, only insulation material with low insulation performance would be placed. This could result in a decrease in insulation performance around the maintenance opening, which could also decrease the insulation performance of the door.
According to this embodiment, in the second space S2 that is not filled with the foamed insulation material 40, an inner lid 44 and a heat insulating member 43 are disposed in the rear space S2r to cover the third opening O3. Therefore, the internal space of the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab other than the front space S2f near the touch panel P and the circuit boards 33, 34 is insulated by the foamed insulation material 40 or the heat insulating member 43. As a result, the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab has good insulation performance, and the parts that require maintenance in the front space S2f can be easily maintained as necessary.

The inner lid 44 functions as a shielding plate between the circuit boards 33, 34 and the heat insulating member 43. In particular, when the inner lid 44 is made of a flame-retardant material, the shielding performance of the inner lid 44 is good. In this case, a material that does not have flame retardancy can be used as the material for the heat insulating member 43 and the lid member 41, so that the component costs of the heat insulating member 43 and the lid member 41 can be reduced.
When the frame 35 is made of a flame-retardant material, a material that does not have flame retardancy can be used for the parts outside the frame 35, so that the parts cost of the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab can be similarly reduced.

As described above, according to the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment, the touch panel P is fixed to the front member 30 with the sides covered by the frame body 35, and the second opening O2 of the frame body 35 behind the touch panel P can be opened and closed by a removable cover member 41. Therefore, it is possible to provide a refrigerator that allows easy maintenance of the parts related to the touch panel P that are arranged within the frame body 35 and housed in the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab.

Second Embodiment
A refrigerator according to a second embodiment will be described.
1, a refrigerator 1A of the present embodiment has a right refrigerator compartment door 111Ab instead of the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab in the refrigerator 1 of the first embodiment. The following mainly describes the differences from the first embodiment.
Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing a front member and a frame body in the second embodiment Fig. 14 is a partially enlarged view taken along the line F14 in Fig. 9 .

13, the right refrigerator compartment door 111Ab has a frame body 135 instead of the frame body 35 of the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab. The frame body 135 is similar to the frame body 35 except that it has a wire insertion portion 135j instead of the wire insertion portion 35j.
As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the wiring insertion portion 135j has a U-shaped cutout when viewed from the -Z direction in the first wall portion 35b and the first fixing portion 35c in which the wiring insertion portion 35j is formed in the first embodiment.
The wiring insertion portion 135j is formed by a U-shaped groove 135j1 that opens on the first fixed portion 35c side in the first wall portion 35b, and an edge 135j2 of the first fixed portion 35c that extends in the +Z direction from the opening end of the U-shaped groove 135j1.
Since the double-sided tape T2 is not disposed between the edges 135j2, the rear surface 30b is exposed between the edges 135j2.

In this embodiment, the wiring cable 45 is inserted into the U-shaped groove 135j1 with the sealing material 46 covering the outer periphery, similar to that of the first embodiment. By using a soft tape that is easily deformed as the sealing material 46, the sealing material 46 can seal the inside of the U-shaped groove 135j1.
Since the double-sided tape T2 is not disposed between the edges 135j2, the sealant 46 can be smoothly inserted into the U-shaped groove 135j1. After being inserted, the sealant 46 adheres closely to the rear surface 30b between the edges 135j2, and the gap between the sealant 46 and the rear surface 30b is closed.

According to the frame body 135, the wiring insertion portion 135j is formed in a U-shaped cutout shape when the first wall portion 35b and the first fixing portion 35c are viewed from the -Z direction, so the wiring insertion portion 135j does not have an undercut shape. This simplifies the mold structure used to mold the frame body 135, and reduces parts costs.

Refrigerator 1A of this embodiment has the same configuration as refrigerator 1, except that it has wiring insertion portion 135j instead of wiring insertion portion 35j, so it is possible to provide a refrigerator that allows easy maintenance of the parts related to touch panel P housed inside right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab, just like refrigerator 1.

In the above embodiments, the cover member 41 is described as being screwed at one location on the upper side portion 41U. However, the number of screw locations may be two or more. The screw location is not limited to the upper side portion 41U, and the cover member 41 may be screwed at any location along the protruding edge portion 41f.
If the screws are fastened in two or more places, it becomes even more difficult for the user to remove the screws 39 .

In the above-described embodiments, the second opening O2 is narrower than the first opening O1. In this case, the gap between the second opening O2 and the fitting frame 41b is covered by the protruding edge 41f, so that the air heated in the second space S2 is less likely to enter the refrigerator compartment 27A. This improves the heat insulation performance of the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab.
However, for example, when the blocking performance of the third opening O3 by the inner lid 44 is good, even if the protruding edge portion 41f is not formed, the second opening O2 and the first opening O1 may have the same shape in cases where the air heated in the front space S2f has difficulty entering the refrigerator compartment 27A.

In the above-described embodiments, an example has been described in which the heat insulating member 43 is provided between the lid member 41 and the inner lid 44. However, as long as the necessary heat insulating performance is obtained by at least one of the lid member 41 and the inner lid 44, the heat insulating member 43 may be omitted.
For example, at least one of the lid member 41 and the inner lid 44 may include a heat insulating member fixed thereto.
In particular, when the necessary heat insulating performance can be obtained by only the lid member 41, the inner lid 44 and the support portion 35d may be omitted. In this case, the frame body 35 can be formed as a cylinder that does not have the third opening portion O3.

In the above-described embodiments, the circuit boards 33 and 34 are described as being disposed behind the touch panel P. However, at least one of the circuit boards 33 and 34 may be disposed in parallel with the touch panel P.
Furthermore, the circuit boards 33 and 34 are examples of circuit boards related to the touch panel P, and the circuit boards arranged together with the touch panel P are not limited to these. For example, the number of circuit boards may be one, or three or more.

In each of the above embodiments, the touch panel P is described as being provided on the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab. However, the touch panel P may be provided on both the left refrigerator compartment door 11Aa and the right refrigerator compartment door 11Ab, or may be provided only on the left refrigerator compartment door 11Aa.
When the touch panel P is provided on the left refrigerator compartment door 11Aa, the touch panel P is provided together with the frame body 35, inner lid 44, heat insulating member 43, and lid member 41 in the first embodiment. However, the width in the lateral direction and the height in the vertical direction of the touch panel P, frame body 35, inner lid 44, heat insulating member 43, and lid member 41 provided on the left refrigerator compartment door 11Aa may be changed as appropriate within the range of the width and height of the left refrigerator compartment door 11Aa.

In the above embodiments, the touch panel and the components related to the touch panel are surrounded by a cover and fixed to the front member and are provided on the double-door door. However, the touch panel and the components related to the touch panel may be provided on, for example, a single-door door.
The touch panel and components related to the touch panel may be provided on a door other than a revolving door, for example, a drawer door or a sliding door.
The touch panel and components related to the touch panel may be provided on any of the multiple doors 11.
The door having the touch panel and parts related to the touch panel may be provided with the frame, cover member, partition member, heat insulating member, etc. in each of the above embodiments as necessary.

According to at least one embodiment described above, the refrigerator has a refrigerator body including a storage compartment, a front member having at least a transparent area in a portion thereof, a rear member covering the rear of the front member and having a first opening that opens toward the front member, a frame body fixed to the front member and the rear member and having a second opening facing the first opening, a lid member that closes the first opening and the second opening in an openable and closable manner, and a foam insulation material filled between the front member and the rear member, and a door that closes the storage compartment in an openable and closable manner, and a cover member that is disposed inside the frame body within the door and faces the transparent area while being close to the rear surface of the front member. and a touch panel that is fixed to the rear surface of the door and can be operated from the front side of the door, and the frame has a first fixing part that is fixed liquid-tight to the front member, a second fixing part that is fixed liquid-tight to the rear member along the edge of the first opening, a first wall part that is connected to the first fixing part and surrounds the touch panel from the side, and a second wall part that is disposed between the first wall part and the second fixing part and connects to the second fixing part to form the second opening, and an internal space that is not filled with the foam insulation material is formed between the front member and the rear member, so that a refrigerator that allows easy maintenance of parts related to the touch panel housed inside the door can be provided.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are within the scope of the invention and its equivalents as set forth in the claims, as well as the scope and gist of the invention.

1, 1A...refrigerator, 5...refrigerator body, 11...multiple doors, 11Ab, 111Ab...right refrigerator door (door), 27...storage compartment, 27A...refrigerator (storage compartment), 30...front member, 30a...front, 30b...rear, 30B...transparent portion (transparent area), 33, 34...circuit board, 33b, 34b...IC, 33c...flexible board, 35, 135...frame, 35b...first wall, 35c...first fixing portion, 35d...support portion, 35e...step portion, 35f...second wall, 35g...second fixing portion, 35h...second engagement portion, 35j, 135j...wiring insertion portion, 35k...screw fixing portion, 36...outer frame, 36e, 3 6f... hinge attachment part, 37... rear member, 37a... first flat part, 39... screw, 40... foam insulation material, 41... lid member, 41a... lid plate, 41b... fitting frame, 41c... first engagement part, 41d... fixing plate part, 41d1... insertion hole, 41e... index, 41f... protruding edge part, 43... insulation member, 44... inner lid (partition member), 45... wiring cable, 46... sealing material, O1... first opening, O2... second opening, O3... third opening, P... touch panel, S1... first space, S2... second space (internal space), S2f... front space, S2r... rear space, T1, T2, T3... double-sided tape, T4... single-sided tape

Claims (9)

A refrigerator body including a storage compartment;
a front member having at least a partial transparent region, a rear member covering the rear of the front member and having a first opening formed therein that opens toward the front member, a frame body fixed to the front member and the rear member and having a second opening formed therein facing the first opening, a lid member closing the first opening and the second opening in an openable and closable manner, a heat insulating member detachably disposed on the frame body, and a foam heat insulating material filled between the front member and the rear member, and a door for opening and closing the storage chamber in an openable and closable manner;
a touch panel that is disposed inside the frame body inside the door, is fixed to the rear surface of the front member so as to face the transparent area in a state close to the rear surface of the front member, and is operable from the front side of the door;
Equipped with
The frame body is
A first fixing portion fixed to the front member in a liquid-tight manner;
a second fixing portion fixed to the rear member in a liquid-tight manner along an edge of the first opening;
a first wall portion connected to the first fixed portion and surrounding the touch panel from a side;
a second wall portion disposed between the first wall portion and the second fixing portion and connected to the second fixing portion to form the second opening;
an internal space that is not filled with the foam insulation material is formed between the front member and the rear member;
the touch panel and the heat insulating member are arranged side by side in a front-rear direction in the internal space,
The internal space and the cover member are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction,
The foam insulation material is filled on the outside of the frame body and above or to the side of the touch panel.
refrigerator. a partition member that is disposed between the touch panel and the second opening and has an outer shape in a plan view smaller than that of the second opening, and that divides a space within the frame body in a depth direction;
a support portion that protrudes inwardly from the second wall portion to form a third opening narrower than the second opening, and that supports a periphery of the partition member from a front side ;
Further equipped with
The heat insulating member is supported by the support portion and is sandwiched between the partition member and the cover member.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1. When the cover member is removed to open the second opening, the touch panel can be seen from behind the rear member through the second opening.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2. Further comprising a circuit board disposed on a rear surface of the touch panel,
When the cover member is removed to open the second opening, the circuit board is visible from behind the rear member through the second opening.
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The circuit board is detachably attached from the rear of the rear member through the second opening.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 4. The cover member is
a cover plate that is detachably fitted to an inside edge of the first opening in the rear member;
a fitting frame that protrudes from a front side of the cover plate and is fitted into the second opening;
a first engagement portion formed on the fitting frame and adapted to detachably engage with the second wall portion;
having
The second wall portion has a second engagement portion that is detachably engaged with the first engagement portion.
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The cover plate is provided with a fixing plate that protrudes outward beyond the fitting frame and has an insertion hole through which a screw is inserted,
The second wall portion is provided with a screw fixing portion for fixing the screw.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 6. the first fixing portion is fixed to the rear member in a liquid-tight manner by double-sided tape,
The second fixing portion is fixed to the rear member in a liquid-tight manner by double-sided tape.
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 7. The front member is a glass plate.
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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