EP1580502A1 - Refrigerator equipped with a carbonated water fabricating unit - Google Patents

Refrigerator equipped with a carbonated water fabricating unit Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1580502A1
EP1580502A1 EP05006579A EP05006579A EP1580502A1 EP 1580502 A1 EP1580502 A1 EP 1580502A1 EP 05006579 A EP05006579 A EP 05006579A EP 05006579 A EP05006579 A EP 05006579A EP 1580502 A1 EP1580502 A1 EP 1580502A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
area
water
vessel
refrigerator
carbon dioxide
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP05006579A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1580502B1 (en
Inventor
Kang Suk Choi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
WiniaDaewoo Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Daewoo Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Daewoo Electronics Co Ltd filed Critical Daewoo Electronics Co Ltd
Publication of EP1580502A1 publication Critical patent/EP1580502A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1580502B1 publication Critical patent/EP1580502B1/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D23/00—General constructional features
    • F25D23/12—Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
    • F25D23/126—Water cooler
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D25/00—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F23/00—Mixing according to the phases to be mixed, e.g. dispersing or emulsifying
    • B01F23/20—Mixing gases with liquids
    • B01F23/23—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids
    • B01F23/236—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids specially adapted for aerating or carbonating beverages
    • B01F23/2361—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids specially adapted for aerating or carbonating beverages within small containers, e.g. within bottles
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D23/00—General constructional features
    • F25D23/02—Doors; Covers
    • F25D23/04—Doors; Covers with special compartments, e.g. butter conditioners
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2331/00—Details or arrangements of other cooling or freezing apparatus not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2331/80—Type of cooled receptacles
    • F25D2331/806—Dispensers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a refrigerator equipped with a carbonated water fabricating unit; and, more particularly, to a refrigerator having a carbonated water fabricating unit capable of fabricating a carbonated water in a variety of vessels, e.g., a glass cup or a polyethylene terephthalate, as well as a vessel for exclusive use in fabricating the carbonated water.
  • a refrigerator having a carbonated water fabricating unit capable of fabricating a carbonated water in a variety of vessels, e.g., a glass cup or a polyethylene terephthalate, as well as a vessel for exclusive use in fabricating the carbonated water.
  • a carbonated water fabricating unit for use in a refrigerator includes a vessel for exclusive use in fabrication the carbonated water(hereinafter, simply referred to as an exclusive vessel or an exclusive cup) and a gas injection nozzle provided with a sealing member for sealing an entrance side of the vessel.
  • a carbonated water is fabricated by sealing the vessel accommodating therein water via the sealing member and injecting the carbon dioxide into the water of the vessel at a predetermined pressure level ranging from 1 to 10 atmosphere through the gas injection nozzle to be dissolved therein.
  • the exclusive vessel is only used to fabricate the carbonated water. For this reason, an area for receiving the exclusive vessel formed at the refrigerator has a specific vertical position.
  • the conventional refrigerator has drawbacks in that other vessels, e.g., a general cup or a polyethylene terephthalate, having a height more than that of the exclusive vessel cannot be used.
  • an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator equipped with a carbonated water fabricating unit capable of allowing a user to readily fabricate a carbonated water by an exclusive vessel as well as a general cup, a polyethylene terephthalate or the like.
  • a refrigerator capable of fabricating a carbonated water, including: a water vessel for accommodating therein water; a mounting area for mounting therein the water vessel; and a dispenser unit for carbonizing the water in the water vessel, wherein the mounting area has a changeable vertical distance.
  • a refrigerator capable of fabricating a carbonated water, including: a dispenser unit; a carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion, provided at the dispenser unit, for supplying a pressurized carbon dioxide into a water vessel; and a driving unit capable of adjusting a height of the nozzle portion, wherein the nozzle portion has a nozzle for injecting the carbon dioxide into the water in the vessel and a cover for airtightly sealing an entrance side of the water vessel while the carbon dioxide is injected into the water.
  • Fig. 1 shows a refrigerator having a dispenser unit in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • a dispenser unit 1 is provided with a water supplying nozzle 3 through which water supplied from a water tank 2 and a carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5 connected to a pressurized carbon dioxide container 4.
  • a pair of valves 7 are respectively provided at a pair of pipes which connect the water tank 2 to the water supplying nozzle 3 and the pressurized carbon dioxide container 4 and the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5, respectively.
  • the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5 serves to supply a carbon dioxide from the pressurized carbon dioxide container 4. As shown in Fig. 2, the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5 is provided with a nozzle 15 and a cover 6 disposed at an upper side of the nozzle 15, the cover 6 having an arc cross section.
  • a tubular member 8 for transferring the carbon dioxide has one end connected to an upper portion of the nozzle 15 and is extended into a door disposed at an upper side of the dispenser unit 1.
  • a holder 9 is fixed at the tubular member 8 and screw-coupled to a screw 10 driven by a motor 16 capable of rotating forwardly and backwardly. Accordingly, if the screw 10 is rotated in a screwing direction by a rotation of the motor 16, the holder 9, the tubular member 8 and the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5 are moved downwardly. On the other hand, if the screw 10 is rotated in an unscrewing direction, the holder 9, the tubular member 8 and the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5 are moved upwardly.
  • Reference numeral 11 designates a guide member.
  • the carbon dioxide is supplied from the pressurized carbon dioxide container 4 to an upper portion of the tubular member 8 via a flexible hose although it is not shown in the drawing.
  • the cover 6 has at an upper part a curved metal plate and at a lower part a resilient sealing material attached to the metal plate, e.g., a rubber, a silicon, a urethane foam or the like.
  • a resilient sealing material attached to the metal plate, e.g., a rubber, a silicon, a urethane foam or the like.
  • a pressure valve 20 is provided at the cover 6 and the carbon dioxide is injected into a cup or a vessel at an atmospheric' pressure ranging from 1 to 10. Since, however, a breakdown of the cup or the vessel may be generated at an atmospheric pressure ranging from about 7 to 10, it is preferred to reduce the pressure inside the vessel 14 by opening the pressure valve 20.
  • a prop 21 on which the vessel 14 is put is installed at a bottom of the dispenser unit 1 under the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5, the prop 21 being rotatably installed at a hinge 22.
  • a blind opening 24 (second area) is formed under the prop 21, and a support plate 26 for supporting a vessel, e.g., polyethylene terephtalate, having a larger height than that of the common cup is provided at the blind opening 24, the support plate 26 being capable of elastically moving downward by a resilient member, e.g., a spring, 25.
  • a pair of grooves 12 are vertically formed on both sides of the blind opening 24 and a pair of protrusions 13 are respectively formed on an outer side of the support plate 26. The protrusions 13 are inserted into the grooves 12, thereby allowing the support plate 26 not to rotate but to move only vertically.
  • a vertical space (first area) from the bottom of the dispenser unit to the nozzle is just enough to accommodate a cup but a vessel having a height more than the height from the bottom of the dispenser unit to the nozzle cannot be used.
  • the support plate 26 in accordance with the present invention is provided under the prop 21 in such a manner as to move downward, a gas injecting process can be performed via the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5 while a lower portion of the vessel is inserted into the blind opening 24 under the bottom of the dispenser unit 1.
  • a user can directly fabricate a carbonated water by injecting the carbon dioxide into the water in the vessel on the dispenser unit 1.
  • a user fills the cup with water via the water supplying nozzle 3 and put it on the prop 21 under the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5.
  • the screw 10 is driven by the rotation of the motor 16 to allow the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5 to move downwardly as shown in Fig. 2 while a general switch or lever provided at the dispenser unit 1 is operated.
  • the carbon dioxide of an atmospheric pressure ranging from 1 to 10 is injected into the water of the cup via one end of the nozzle 15 immerged in the water of the cup and dissolved therein while the entrance side of the cup is airtightly sealed by the lower side of the sealing material of the cover 6, thereby fabricating a carbonated water.
  • a specific amount of water is filled into the vessel via the water supplying nozzle 3 and the vessel is put on the support plate 26 after pivotally rotating the prop 21 under the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5.
  • the switch is turned on to allow the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5 to move downwardly as described above while the lower portion of the vessel is inserted into the blind opening 24 by slightly pushing the vessel put on the support plat 26.
  • the pressurized carbon dioxide is injected into the water via one end of the nozzle 15 immerged in the water of the cup to be dissolved therein, thereby fabricating a carbonated water.
  • Fig. 6 shows a structure of a height adjusting mechanism of the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5 in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • the tubular member 8 is connected to a horizontal support member 31 and supported thereon. Both ends of the horizontal support member 31 are vertically, movably supported at guide grooves 33 of vertical support members 32 provided at both sides of the dispenser unit 1.
  • a screw 35 is extended parallel to the vertical support member 32 and is screw-coupled thereto through one end portion of the horizontal support member 31, wherein the screw 35 is rotated by a motor 34 capable of rotating forwardly and backwardly, the motor 34 being installed on one of the vertical support members 32.
  • the screw 35 is rotated in a screwing direction by the rotation of the motor 34, the horizontal support member 31, the tubular member 8 and the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5 are moved upwardly.
  • the screw 35 is rotated in an unscrewing direction, the horizontal support member 31, the tubular member 8 and the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5 are moved downwardly. Due to such operation, the height of the nozzle 15 can be adjusted.
  • the motor 34 is driven while a user is pushing the switch (not shown), but a pressure, at which the cover 6 seals an entrance side of a vessel, needs to be checked with a pressure sensor provided at the cover 6, thereby preventing damages on the vessel. Further, when the pressurized carbon dioxide is injected at an atmospheric pressure ranging from 1 to 10, the airtightly sealed state needs to be maintained in order that the carbon dioxide is not leaked. For the reason, the height of the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5 is controlled by a micro processor for controlling other units of a refrigerator in response to a signal of the pressure sensor.

Abstract

A refrigerator capable of fabricating a carbonated water includes a water vessel (14); a mounting area for mounting therein the water vessel (14); and a dispenser unit (1) for carbonizing the water in the water vessel (14), the mounting area having a changeable vertical distance. Further, The mounting area has a first area with a specific height and a second area (24) a predetermined height formed under the first area, the second area (24) being selectively opened to communicate with the first area.

Description

The present invention relates to a refrigerator equipped with a carbonated water fabricating unit; and, more particularly, to a refrigerator having a carbonated water fabricating unit capable of fabricating a carbonated water in a variety of vessels, e.g., a glass cup or a polyethylene terephthalate, as well as a vessel for exclusive use in fabricating the carbonated water.
In general, a carbonated water fabricating unit for use in a refrigerator includes a vessel for exclusive use in fabrication the carbonated water(hereinafter, simply referred to as an exclusive vessel or an exclusive cup) and a gas injection nozzle provided with a sealing member for sealing an entrance side of the vessel. In the refrigerator having such a carbonated water fabricating unit, a carbonated water is fabricated by sealing the vessel accommodating therein water via the sealing member and injecting the carbon dioxide into the water of the vessel at a predetermined pressure level ranging from 1 to 10 atmosphere through the gas injection nozzle to be dissolved therein.
However, in the conventional refrigerator having the carbonated water fabricating unit described above, the exclusive vessel is only used to fabricate the carbonated water. For this reason, an area for receiving the exclusive vessel formed at the refrigerator has a specific vertical position.
Therefore, the conventional refrigerator has drawbacks in that other vessels, e.g., a general cup or a polyethylene terephthalate, having a height more than that of the exclusive vessel cannot be used.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator equipped with a carbonated water fabricating unit capable of allowing a user to readily fabricate a carbonated water by an exclusive vessel as well as a general cup, a polyethylene terephthalate or the like.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator capable of fabricating a carbonated water, including: a water vessel for accommodating therein water; a mounting area for mounting therein the water vessel; and a dispenser unit for carbonizing the water in the water vessel, wherein the mounting area has a changeable vertical distance.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator capable of fabricating a carbonated water, including: a dispenser unit; a carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion, provided at the dispenser unit, for supplying a pressurized carbon dioxide into a water vessel; and a driving unit capable of adjusting a height of the nozzle portion, wherein the nozzle portion has a nozzle for injecting the carbon dioxide into the water in the vessel and a cover for airtightly sealing an entrance side of the water vessel while the carbon dioxide is injected into the water.
The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration of a refrigerator having a carbonated water fabricating unit in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
  • Fig. 2 sets forth a partial configuration of a height adjusting mechanism of the carbonated water fabricating unit shown in Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 3 shows a partial cross sectional view of a structure of the support plate portion of the carbonated water fabricating unit shown in Fig. 1 whose height can be adjusted;
  • Fig. 4 provides an enlarged cross sectional view of a assembling structure of a guide member for preventing a rotation of a tubular member of the carbonated water fabricating unit shown in Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 5 is a partial cross sectional view describing a case where a carbonated water is fabricated in a vessel having a height more than that of an exclusive vessel; and
  • Fig. 6 offers a schematic cross sectional view of a carbonated water fabricating unit in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 7 provides a partial cross sectional view (taken along the line A-A in Fig. 6) of the carbonated water fabricating unit shown in Fig. 6.
    • Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, parts identical to those described in the prior art will be assigned like reference characters, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
    Fig. 1 shows a refrigerator having a dispenser unit in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A dispenser unit 1 is provided with a water supplying nozzle 3 through which water supplied from a water tank 2 and a carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5 connected to a pressurized carbon dioxide container 4. A pair of valves 7 are respectively provided at a pair of pipes which connect the water tank 2 to the water supplying nozzle 3 and the pressurized carbon dioxide container 4 and the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5, respectively.
    The carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5 serves to supply a carbon dioxide from the pressurized carbon dioxide container 4. As shown in Fig. 2, the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5 is provided with a nozzle 15 and a cover 6 disposed at an upper side of the nozzle 15, the cover 6 having an arc cross section. A tubular member 8 for transferring the carbon dioxide has one end connected to an upper portion of the nozzle 15 and is extended into a door disposed at an upper side of the dispenser unit 1.
    A holder 9 is fixed at the tubular member 8 and screw-coupled to a screw 10 driven by a motor 16 capable of rotating forwardly and backwardly. Accordingly, if the screw 10 is rotated in a screwing direction by a rotation of the motor 16, the holder 9, the tubular member 8 and the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5 are moved downwardly. On the other hand, if the screw 10 is rotated in an unscrewing direction, the holder 9, the tubular member 8 and the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5 are moved upwardly.
    Reference numeral 11 designates a guide member. The carbon dioxide is supplied from the pressurized carbon dioxide container 4 to an upper portion of the tubular member 8 via a flexible hose although it is not shown in the drawing.
    The cover 6 has at an upper part a curved metal plate and at a lower part a resilient sealing material attached to the metal plate, e.g., a rubber, a silicon, a urethane foam or the like. When the tubular member 8 is moved downwardly, the cover 6 can airtightly seal an entrance side of a vessel 14, e.g., a cup, shown in Fig. 2.
    Further, a pressure valve 20 is provided at the cover 6 and the carbon dioxide is injected into a cup or a vessel at an atmospheric' pressure ranging from 1 to 10. Since, however, a breakdown of the cup or the vessel may be generated at an atmospheric pressure ranging from about 7 to 10, it is preferred to reduce the pressure inside the vessel 14 by opening the pressure valve 20.
    As shown in Fig. 3, a prop 21 on which the vessel 14 is put is installed at a bottom of the dispenser unit 1 under the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5, the prop 21 being rotatably installed at a hinge 22. A blind opening 24 (second area) is formed under the prop 21, and a support plate 26 for supporting a vessel, e.g., polyethylene terephtalate, having a larger height than that of the common cup is provided at the blind opening 24, the support plate 26 being capable of elastically moving downward by a resilient member, e.g., a spring, 25. A pair of grooves 12 are vertically formed on both sides of the blind opening 24 and a pair of protrusions 13 are respectively formed on an outer side of the support plate 26. The protrusions 13 are inserted into the grooves 12, thereby allowing the support plate 26 not to rotate but to move only vertically.
    Conventionally, a vertical space (first area) from the bottom of the dispenser unit to the nozzle is just enough to accommodate a cup but a vessel having a height more than the height from the bottom of the dispenser unit to the nozzle cannot be used. Meanwhile, since the support plate 26 in accordance with the present invention is provided under the prop 21 in such a manner as to move downward, a gas injecting process can be performed via the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5 while a lower portion of the vessel is inserted into the blind opening 24 under the bottom of the dispenser unit 1.
    In the refrigerator in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a user can directly fabricate a carbonated water by injecting the carbon dioxide into the water in the vessel on the dispenser unit 1.
    Accordingly, in case of using the exclusive cup or the vessel of the size equal thereto, a user fills the cup with water via the water supplying nozzle 3 and put it on the prop 21 under the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5. Thereafter, the screw 10 is driven by the rotation of the motor 16 to allow the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5 to move downwardly as shown in Fig. 2 while a general switch or lever provided at the dispenser unit 1 is operated. At this time, the carbon dioxide of an atmospheric pressure ranging from 1 to 10 is injected into the water of the cup via one end of the nozzle 15 immerged in the water of the cup and dissolved therein while the entrance side of the cup is airtightly sealed by the lower side of the sealing material of the cover 6, thereby fabricating a carbonated water.
    Further, in case of using a large vessel, e.g., the polyethylene terephtalate having a 1.5 litter volume, a specific amount of water is filled into the vessel via the water supplying nozzle 3 and the vessel is put on the support plate 26 after pivotally rotating the prop 21 under the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5. The switch is turned on to allow the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5 to move downwardly as described above while the lower portion of the vessel is inserted into the blind opening 24 by slightly pushing the vessel put on the support plat 26. Then, as shown in Fig. 5, the pressurized carbon dioxide is injected into the water via one end of the nozzle 15 immerged in the water of the cup to be dissolved therein, thereby fabricating a carbonated water.
    Fig. 6 shows a structure of a height adjusting mechanism of the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5 in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The tubular member 8 is connected to a horizontal support member 31 and supported thereon. Both ends of the horizontal support member 31 are vertically, movably supported at guide grooves 33 of vertical support members 32 provided at both sides of the dispenser unit 1. A screw 35 is extended parallel to the vertical support member 32 and is screw-coupled thereto through one end portion of the horizontal support member 31, wherein the screw 35 is rotated by a motor 34 capable of rotating forwardly and backwardly, the motor 34 being installed on one of the vertical support members 32. If the screw 35 is rotated in a screwing direction by the rotation of the motor 34, the horizontal support member 31, the tubular member 8 and the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5 are moved upwardly. On the other hand, if the screw 35 is rotated in an unscrewing direction, the horizontal support member 31, the tubular member 8 and the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5 are moved downwardly. Due to such operation, the height of the nozzle 15 can be adjusted.
    The motor 34 is driven while a user is pushing the switch (not shown), but a pressure, at which the cover 6 seals an entrance side of a vessel, needs to be checked with a pressure sensor provided at the cover 6, thereby preventing damages on the vessel. Further, when the pressurized carbon dioxide is injected at an atmospheric pressure ranging from 1 to 10, the airtightly sealed state needs to be maintained in order that the carbon dioxide is not leaked. For the reason, the height of the carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion 5 is controlled by a micro processor for controlling other units of a refrigerator in response to a signal of the pressure sensor.
    As described above, since a user can fabricate a carbonated water in a vessel having a height more than that of an exclusive cup as well as the exclusive cup at the dispenser unit of the refrigerator, cost caused by providing the conventional complex carbonated water fabricating unit is considerably reduced, thereby readily and inexpensively applying the present invention to the refrigerator. Further, since a restriction of the available vessel size is relieved, user facilitation and product value of the refrigerator can be increased.
    While the invention has been shown and described with respect to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

    Claims (9)

    1. A refrigerator capable of fabricating a carbonated water, comprising:
      a water vessel for accommodating therein water;
      a mounting area for mounting therein the water vessel; and
      a dispenser unit for carbonizing the water in the water vessel,
         wherein the mounting area has a changeable vertical distance.
    2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the mounting area has a first area with a specific height and a second area a predetermined height formed under the first area, the second area being selectively opened to communicate with the first area.
    3. The refrigerator of claim 2, further comprising a prop, provided between the first area and the second area, for mounting thereon the water vessel, wherein when another water vessel having a height more than that of the first area is loaded into the mounting area, the prop is pivotally rotated to communicate the first area with the second area.
    4. The refrigerator of claim 3, further comprising a resilient member, accommodated in the second area, for resiliently supporting said another water vessel.
    5. A refrigerator capable of fabricating a carbonated water, comprising:
      a dispenser unit;
      a carbon dioxide supplying nozzle portion, provided at the dispenser unit, for supplying a pressurized carbon dioxide into a water vessel; and
      a driving unit capable of adjusting a height of the nozzle portion,
         wherein the nozzle portion has a nozzle for injecting the carbon dioxide into the water in the vessel and a cover for airtightly sealing an entrance side of the water vessel while the carbon dioxide is injected into the water.
    6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein an upper side of the cover includes a curved metal plate and a resilient sealing material.
    7. The refrigerator of claim 5 or 6, further comprising a height adjusting mechanism for controlling a height of the nozzle portion, wherein the height adjusting mechanism includes a supporting member, connected to an upper portion of the nozzle portion, for supporting the nozzle portion, a holder for holding the supporting member and a screw rotated forwardly and backwardly by the driving unit, the screw is screw-coupled to the holder.
    8. The refrigerator of claim 5 or 6, further comprising:
      a blind opening provided under the bottom of the dispenser unit;
      a prop, provided on the bottom of the dispenser unit, for supporting the water vessel;
      a support plate for supporting another vessel having a height more than that of the vessel while the prop is selectively opened; and
      a resilient member provided at the bottom of the blind opening,
         wherein the prop is rotatably installed at a hinge and the support plate resiliently supports said another vessel by the resilient member.
    9. The refrigerator of claim 5 or 6, further comprising:
      a supporting member for supporting the nozzle portion;
      a horizontal support member connected to the supporting member;
      vertical support members provided at both sides of the dispenser unit;
      guide grooves provided at one of the vertical support members; and
      a screw rotated forwardly and backwardly,
         wherein both ends of the horizontal support member are vertically, movably supported at the guide grooves; the screw is extended parallel to the vertical support members and is screw-coupled to the horizontal support member through one end portion of the horizontal support member.
    EP05006579A 2004-03-26 2005-03-24 Refrigerator equipped with a carbonated water fabricating unit Expired - Fee Related EP1580502B1 (en)

    Applications Claiming Priority (2)

    Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
    KR2004020702 2004-03-26
    KR1020040020702A KR20050095339A (en) 2004-03-26 2004-03-26 Refrigerator having a soda water producing means

    Publications (2)

    Publication Number Publication Date
    EP1580502A1 true EP1580502A1 (en) 2005-09-28
    EP1580502B1 EP1580502B1 (en) 2008-09-03

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    KR (1) KR20050095339A (en)
    DE (1) DE602005009417D1 (en)

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    EP2070586A1 (en) * 2007-12-11 2009-06-17 Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. Beverage dispenser comprising a gear pump mixing device
    WO2012062582A3 (en) * 2010-11-08 2013-01-10 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Refrigerator having a dispenser which has a vertically adjustable container holding apparatus
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    EP3059531A1 (en) * 2015-02-17 2016-08-24 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Refrigerator
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    US20170241701A1 (en) * 2014-08-13 2017-08-24 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Refrigerator and controlling method thereof
    CN114322434A (en) * 2021-12-29 2022-04-12 Tcl家用电器（合肥）有限公司 Water supply device and refrigerator

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    KR20050095339A (en) 2005-09-29
    DE602005009417D1 (en) 2008-10-16

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