EP2584293B1 - Eiseimer zum Aufdrehen von Eisgerinnung - Google Patents

Eiseimer zum Aufdrehen von Eisgerinnung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2584293B1
EP2584293B1 EP12188720.2A EP12188720A EP2584293B1 EP 2584293 B1 EP2584293 B1 EP 2584293B1 EP 12188720 A EP12188720 A EP 12188720A EP 2584293 B1 EP2584293 B1 EP 2584293B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ice
curdling
unlaying
rotational
ejecting member
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.)
Active
Application number
EP12188720.2A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2584293A3 (de
EP2584293A2 (de
Inventor
Yonghyun Kim
Siyeon An
Changwoo Lee
Jaesung Park
Sangmin Lee
Woonbong Hwang
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.)
LG Electronics Inc
Academy Industry Foundation of POSTECH
Original Assignee
LG Electronics Inc
Academy Industry Foundation of POSTECH
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 LG Electronics Inc, Academy Industry Foundation of POSTECH filed Critical LG Electronics Inc
Priority to EP16201156.3A priority Critical patent/EP3176523B1/de
Publication of EP2584293A2 publication Critical patent/EP2584293A2/de
Publication of EP2584293A3 publication Critical patent/EP2584293A3/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2584293B1 publication Critical patent/EP2584293B1/de
Active 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
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C1/00—Producing ice
    • F25C1/22—Construction of moulds; Filling devices for moulds
    • F25C1/24—Construction of moulds; Filling devices for moulds for refrigerators, e.g. freezing trays
    • 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
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C5/00—Working or handling ice
    • F25C5/20—Distributing ice
    • F25C5/24—Distributing ice for storing bins
    • 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
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C5/00—Working or handling ice
    • F25C5/02—Apparatus for disintegrating, removing or harvesting ice
    • 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
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C5/00—Working or handling ice
    • F25C5/18—Storing ice
    • 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
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C5/00—Working or handling ice
    • F25C5/20—Distributing ice
    • 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
    • F25D11/00—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
    • 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
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C2500/00—Problems to be solved
    • F25C2500/08—Sticking or clogging of ice

Definitions

  • This specification relates to an ice bucket having a function of unlaying ice curdling, and particularly, to an ice bucket having a function of unlaying ice curdling, capable of facilitating ice cubes to be drawn out by unlaying ice cubes, which are frozen in a curdled state due to being left for a long time at an upper portion within the ice bucket of an ice dispensing apparatus, which is disposed in a refrigerator or a water purifier having an ice maker to allow ice cubes to be ejected piece by piece.
  • an ice maker is an apparatus installed in a refrigerator or a water purifier for self-producing ice pieces (cubes).
  • a water purifier for self-producing ice pieces (cubes).
  • consumer tastes for refrigerating machines, such as the refrigerator or the water purifier are apt to become various and sophisticated, products that the ice maker is installed in the refrigerating machine are widely introduced.
  • the refrigerating machine further includes an ice dispensing (ejecting) apparatus which allows a user to pick up ice made in the ice maker without opening a door.
  • the ice dispensing apparatus is configured to eject a predetermined quantity of ice cubes of a lot of ice cubes stored in an ice bucket as a storage chamber when the user selects ice ejection.
  • the ice dispensing apparatus also has a function of storing ice cubes at normal times, so it is maintained at a sub-zero temperature. Accordingly, when ice cubes located above blades disposed for ejecting the ice cubes are left for a long time, they are frozen in a curdled state.
  • FIGS. 1 to 3 an exemplary ice bucket installed in a refrigerator will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 .
  • FIG. 1 shows a refrigerator having an ice maker and an ice dispensing apparatus according to the related art
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views each showing an ice bucket disposed in the ice dispensing apparatus.
  • a refrigerator which is a machine for keeping foods fresh in a refrigerating or frozen state, includes a refrigerator main body having a cooling chamber therein, and a refrigeration cycle system for providing cold air into the cooling chamber.
  • the refrigerating cycle system is implemented as a vapor compression type refrigeration cycle system, which typically includes a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, a condenser for condensing the refrigerant, an expansion apparatus for decompressing and expanding the refrigerant, and an evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant with ambient heat adsorbed.
  • a vapor compression type refrigeration cycle system typically includes a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, a condenser for condensing the refrigerant, an expansion apparatus for decompressing and expanding the refrigerant, and an evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant with ambient heat adsorbed.
  • the refrigerator includes a refrigerant main body 10 having a freezing chamber 20 and a refrigerating chamber 30, and a freezing chamber door 25 and a refrigerating chamber door 35 for opening and closing the freezing chamber 20 and the refrigerating chamber 30, respectively.
  • a dispenser 27 is disposed in a portion of the refrigerator for allowing a user to take water and/or ice without opening the door 25, and an ice maker 40 is installed in the freezing chamber for making a preset shape of ice cubes.
  • An ice bucket 1 for storing the ice cubes made in the ice maker or dispensing the ice cubes to the outside may be disposed below the ice maker 40.
  • the dispenser 27 is installed at the freezing chamber door 25 such that ice cubes can be picked up from the outside without opening the freezing chamber 20.
  • An inlet port 29 through which ice cubes discharged from the ice bucket 1 is introduced into the dispenser 27 is formed through an upper surface of the dispenser 27.
  • the ice bucket 1 includes a case main body 100 forming an internal ice storage space and having an ice discharge port formed at its lower portion for discharging of ice, and an ice ejecting member 200 rotatably installed in the case main body 100 for ejecting ice to a lower side.
  • the case main body 100 includes an upper case 110 and a lower case 120.
  • the upper case 110 may be transparent or semi-transparent to allow a user to check how many ice cubes are left in the internal ice storage space, and the ice ejecting member 200 is disposed on one side within the lower case 120.
  • the ice ejecting member 200 includes a blade mounting shaft 240 protruding from an inner surface of a lower portion of the lower case 120, and a plurality of blades 230 disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the blade mounting shaft 240.
  • an inclined inner wall 125 is formed at an inner wall of an upper portion of the body 100 so as to guide each ice dropped from the upper ice maker 40 into the ice ejecting member 200.
  • each ice cube made in the ice maker is stacked up to an upper portion of the ice storage space within the case main body 100.
  • the ice ejecting member 200 is driven to eject the ice cubes
  • the ice cubes are continuously guided downward to be stored on a lower portion of the case main body 100 where the ice ejecting member 200 is disposed.
  • the ice pieces are left in the stacked state for a long time while the ice ejecting member 200 is not driven, the ice pieces are wholly frozen in a curdled state due to the inside of the ice bucket 1 remaining at a sub-zero temperature.
  • the ice ejecting member 200 performs an idle rotation such that the ice cubes cannot be ejected to the outside, disabling an ice ejecting function to be realized.
  • the arcuately frozen ice pieces have to be broken into pieces by applying a separate external force for smoothly performing the ice ejecting function, causing a management problem.
  • US 5,273,219 A discloses an ice dispenser comprising a bin for storing ice cubes and having an exit, powered rotatable agitator means operable to cause movement of said ice cubes to said exit, a powered crusher, a transfer drum at said exit operable to receive ice cubes at said exit and deliver such ice cubes to said crusher, first drive means connecting said agitator and drum causing rotation of said drum at a speed substantially slower than the speed of rotation of said agitator to prevent overloading of said crusher, and second drive means connected to said crusher operating to rotate said crusher at a speed substantially greater than the speed of rotation of said drum.
  • WO 2009/054161 A2 discloses an ice making system for a refrigerator, comprising a base member; an icemaker mounted to a front surface of the base member for making ice pieces; a driving unit mounted to a rear surface of the base member such that a motor shaft thereof is in a horizontal state; an ice bank horizontally inserted into the base member in a detachable manner, for storing the ice pieces made by the icemaker; a detachable mounting unit for detachably mounting the ice bank to the base member; and an ice crusher assembly provided at the ice bank so as to be connected to or separated from the driving unit, for crushing the ice pieces.
  • WO 2008/054161 A2 discloses an ice dispenser comprising a case formed with an ice inlet and an ice outlet; a stirring guide for guiding ice from the case to the outlet while stirring the ice and a uniform-amount supplier for feeding the ice guided by the stirring guide to the outlet such that a substantially uniform amount of ice is discharged.
  • US 2009/293529 A1 discloses an ice supplying apparatus, being provided in a refrigerator, comprising: an ice maker unit, which is configured to supply ice pieces produced therein to an outside of a freezer room door; an ice storage unit, which is configured to store the ice pieces produced by said ice maker unit; an ice discharger unit, which is provided within said ice storage unit to discharge the ice pieces below; and a shrinking portion, which is provided in said ice storage unit and defines an interior space thereof as small as it goes down, through building up a lower surface, among interior surfaces defining that interior space of said ice storage unit, for supporting the ice pieces stored therein from a lower potion thereof, by a surface inclining to a horizontal direction, wherein said ice discharger unit is disposed in a lower portion of said shrinking portion.
  • US4942983 discloses an ice bucket according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • an aspect of the detailed description is to provide an ice bucket having a function of unlaying ice curdling.
  • the ice bucket is capable of allowing an ice ejecting member to eject ice cubes to outside by unlaying the ice cubes frozen in a curdled state into individual ice pieces by use of augers.
  • the augers are rotated within a storage space of the ice bucket to unlay the curdled ice cubes, upon ejecting the ice cubes from an ice dispensing apparatus installed in a refrigerator or a water purifier.
  • an ice bucket having a function of unlaying ice curdling.
  • the ice bucket includes a case main body forming an ice storage space therein and having an ice discharge port formed at a lower portion thereof.
  • the ice bucket includes an ice ejecting member rotatably disposed at one side of the main body and having a motor rotation shaft, a blade mounting shaft, and a plurality of blades protruding from the blade mounting shaft in a radial direction and disposed in a circumferential direction with spaced distances.
  • the ice bucket includes an ice curdling unlaying member configured to prevent ice cubes located above the ice ejecting member from being frozen in a curdled state.
  • the ice curdling unlaying member includes a rotational shaft rotatably installed at an upper portion of one side of the main body. And the ice curdling unlaying member includes an auger protruding from an upper portion within the main body in an axial direction of the rotational shaft to unlay the upper curdled ice cubes in response to rotation of the rotational shaft.
  • the auger is installed by being spaced apart from the rotational shaft and performs a circular motion in response to the rotation of the rotational shaft to prevent ice curdling at an upper portion with the main body, and provided in plurality.
  • the ice curdling unlaying member includes a rotational cam rotatable centering on the rotational shaft, and the auger may be installed in plurality on the rotational cam to be in parallel to the rotation shaft.
  • the case main body may include an upper case formed of a transparent or semi-transparent material to allow a stored state of ice cubes to be viewed from outside, and a lower case having an ice ejecting member mounted onto one side therein and allowing the ice ejecting member to be connected to an external driving motor.
  • the ice discharge port may be formed at a lower portion of the lower case, and the ice curdling unlaying member may be formed on one side within the lower case.
  • the ice ejecting member and the ice curdling unlaying member receives a rotational force transferred by a driving force transfer unit.
  • the ice ejecting member includes a rotational cam rotatable by receiving the rotational force of an external driving motor
  • the ice curdling unlaying member includes a rotational cam rotatable by receiving a rotational force transferred from the rotational cam of the ice ejecting member.
  • the driving force transfer unit has a gear-like structure that teeth formed on an outer circumferential surface of the rotational cam of the ice ejecting member and teeth formed on an outer circumferential surface of the rotational cam of the ice curdling unlaying member are engaged with each other. And the ice curdling unlaying member is rotatable by the rotational force of the ice ejecting member.
  • the case main body may include an ejecting member mounting portion formed through one side thereof for installation of the ice ejecting member thereon, and a curdling unlaying member mounting portion formed above the ejecting member mounting portion for installation of the ice curdling unlaying member thereon.
  • the driving force transfer unit may be implemented such that transfer of a rotational force between a pulley formed on the ice ejecting member and a pulley formed on the ice curdling unlaying member is enabled via belts.
  • a refrigerator including a refrigerator main body having a cooling chamber therein, a door to open or close the cooling chamber, and an ice maker disposed in the cooling chamber. And the refrigerator includes an ice bucket disposed below the ice maker, and a dispenser connected to the ice bucket.
  • the ice bucket may include a case main body forming an ice storage space therein and having an ice discharge port formed at a lower portion thereof, an ice ejecting member rotatably disposed on one side of the main body and having a plurality of blades.
  • the ice bucket includes an ice curdling unlaying member having a rotational shaft and an auger rotatable with performing a circular motion in response to rotation of the rotational shaft and configured to prevent ice cubes located above the ice ejecting member from being frozen in a curdled state.
  • the ice curdling unlaying member may include a rotational cam rotatable centering on the rotational shaft, and the auger may be provided in plurality disposed on the rotational cam to be in parallel to the rotational shaft. Also, the ice ejecting member and the ice curdling unlaying member may receive a rotational force transferred by a driving force transfer unit.
  • the driving force transfer, unit may have a gear-like structure that teeth formed on an outer circumferential surface of the ice ejecting member and teeth formed on an outer circumferential surface of the ice curdling unlaying member are engaged with each other, and the ice curdling unlaying member may be rotatable by the rotational force of the ice ejecting member.
  • the present disclosure may achieve the following effects by the aforementioned solution and configuration and coupling and operating relation to be explained later.
  • ice cubes in a curdled state may be unlaid by augers, which are disposed within a storage space of an ice bucket for unlaying ice curdling, and the unlaid ice cubes can be ejected to outside by an ice ejecting member.
  • the arcuately curdled ice cubes may be unlaid into pieces so as to prevent mis-operation of the ice ejecting member, resulting in enhancing convenience in use and economical efficiency.
  • an ice bucket is installed in a refrigerator and the like to store ice cubes made in an ice maker of the refrigerator, and keep the ice pieces upon non-use of a dispenser. Also, upon ejecting ice cubes via a dispenser, blades mounted in the ice bucket may rotate to push the stored ice cubes to outside of the ice bucket.
  • blades are rotated upon ejecting ice cubes.
  • An ice curdling unlaying member is then rotated in response to reception of a rotational force of the blades to make an auger(s), which break(s) (unlay(s)) curdled ice cubes, perform a circular motion.
  • the auger unlays the curdled ice cubes stored at an upper portion within the ice bucket such that each ice cube can be dropped down to an ice ejecting member.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an ice bucket in accordance with the present disclosure
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the ice bucket in accordance with the preset disclosure.
  • An ice bucket 1 having a function of unlaying ice curdling may include a case main body 100 forming an internal ice storage space and having an ice discharge port 121 formed at its lower portion. And the ice bucket 1 includes an ice ejecting member 200 rotatably disposed on one side of the case main body 100. And the an ice ejecting member 200 has a motor rotation shaft 220, a blade mounting shaft 240, and a plurality of blades 230 protruding from the blade mounting shaft 240 in a radial direction and disposed in a circumferential direction with spaced distances therebetween. And the ice bucket 1 includes an ice curdling unlaying member 300 for preventing ice cubes located above the ice ejecting member 200 from being frozen in a curdled state.
  • the case main body 100 may include an upper case 110 formed of a transparent or semi-transparent material for allowing a stored state of ice cubes to be viewed from outside. And the case main body 100 may include a lower case 120 having the ice ejecting member 200 mounted onto one side therein and allowing the ice ejecting member 200 to be connected to an external driving motor.
  • the upper case 110 may be transparent or semi-transparent to be externally exposed, such that a user can check whether or not ice cubes are stored in the storage space of the ice bucket 10.
  • the lower case 120 may form the lower portion of the body for mounting the ice ejecting member 200 thereon.
  • the ice discharge port 121 may be formed through the lower portion of the lower case 120 to communicate with a dispenser.
  • the ice curdling unlaying member 300 may be formed at one side within the lower case 120.
  • the ice curdling unlaying member 300 as shown in FIG. 4 , may be mounted on one surface of the ice bucket 1 mounted on the refrigerator. And the other side of the ice bucket 1 may be viewed by a user through the transparent or semi-transparent upper case 110.
  • the ice ejecting member 200 may be rotatable in response to a rotational force transferred by an external driving motor installed in the refrigerator.
  • the ice ejecting member 200 may include a motor rotation shaft 220 fixed onto a shaft of the external driving motor, and a motor rotational force transfer portion 260 for transferring the rotational force received from the external driving motor.
  • the ice ejecting member 200 may include a blade mounting shaft 240 integrally or fixedly connected to the motor rotation shaft 220 in a lengthwise direction to be inserted into the ice bucket 1.
  • a plurality of blades 230 may be formed on an outer circumferential surface of the blade mounting shaft 240 so as to transfer ice cubes from an upper ice maker to a lower dispenser via the ice discharge port 121.
  • the ice curdling unlaying member 300 may include a rotational shaft rotatably installed on an upper portion of the case main body 100. And the ice curdling unlaying member 300 includes an auger 330 protruding from an upper portion within the case main body 100 in a lateral direction to unlay curdled ice cubes located at the upper portion in response to rotation of the rotational shaft 320.
  • the auger 330 may protrude in a lateral direction of the ice curdling unlaying member 300, and be provided in plurality. Also, the plurality of augers 330 may be installed in parallel to the rotational shaft 320, performing a circular motion within the ice bucket 1 in response to the rotation of the rotational shaft 320. Accordingly, the augers 330 may stir the curdled ice cubes located at the upper portion within the case main body 100, unlaying the curdled ice cubes.
  • the ice curdling unlaying member 300 may include a rotational cam 310 rotatable centering on the rotational shaft 320, and the plurality of augers 330 may be installed on the rotational cam 310 in parallel to the rotational shaft 310.
  • the rotational cam 310 may be formed as a circular plate, which has a predetermined thickness and is rotatable based upon the rotational shaft 310, so as to be installed on one side of the lower case 120.
  • the plurality of augers 330 may protrude from one surface of the rotational cam 310 in an axial direction to be in parallel to the rotational shaft 310.
  • the plurality of augers 330 protruding into the case main body 100 in parallel to the rotational shaft 320 may unlay the curdled ice cubes. That is, with the rotational cam 310 being rotated, the augers 330 may perform a circular motion to break ice cubes located above the ice ejecting member 200 into individual pieces even when the ice cubes are frozen in the curdled state.
  • the case main body 100 may include an ejecting member mounting portion 122 formed through one side thereof for installation of the ice ejecting member 200 thereat. And preferably a curdling unlaying member mounting portion 123 may be formed above the ejecting member mounting portion 122 for installation of the ice curdling unlaying member 300 thereat.
  • the ejecting member mounting portion 122 may preferably be formed as a through hole in a circular shape because it should be connected to an external driving motor:
  • the curdling unlaying member mounting portion 123 should be formed through the case main body 100 to be connected to an external driving motor when the external driving motor is provided separately.
  • the curdling unlaying member mounting portion 123 may not have to be formed as a separate through hole when being rotated by receiving the rotational force of the ice ejecting member 200.
  • the ice curdling unlaying member 300 may perform a rotary motion based on the rotational shaft 320. This rotary motion may be performed by receiving an external rotational force. In this case, rotational forces may be applied to the ice ejecting member 200 and to the ice curdling unlaying member 300, respectively, allowing independent operations of the ice ejecting member 200 and the ice curdling unlaying member 300.
  • the present disclosure may simultaneously implement both functions of unlaying ice curdling and ejecting ice cubes by receiving a single rotational force.
  • a rotational force is applied only to the ice ejecting member 200
  • the ice curdling unlaying member 300 may simultaneously be rotated by receiving the rotational force of the ice ejecting member 200.
  • the rotational force is applied only to the ice curdling unlaying member 300
  • the ice ejecting member 200 may simultaneously be rotated.
  • the ice ejecting member 200 may be rotated by receiving the rotational force applied to the ice curdling unlaying member 300 without an external rotational force applied thereto.
  • the ice ejecting member 200 and the ice curdling unlaying member 300 may receive a rotational force via a driving force transfer unit 400.
  • a motor rotational force transfer portion 260 for transferring a received rotational force directly to the blades 230 may be formed at the ice ejecting member 200.
  • the motor rotational force transfer portion 260 may be connected to a driving motor (not shown) at an outer wall of the lower case 120.
  • the motor rotational force transfer portion 260 may be cylindrically installed on an outer circumference of the motor rotation shaft 220 of the ice ejecting member 200, receiving the rotational force of the motor.
  • the ice ejecting member 200 may include a rotational cam 210 rotatable by receiving a rotational force of an external driving motor via the motor rotational force transfer portion 260.
  • the ice curdling unlaying member 300 may include a rotational cam 310 rotatable by receiving a rotational force from the rotational cam 210 of the ice ejecting member 200.
  • the rotational cam 210 of the ice ejecting member 200 and the rotational cam 310 of the ice curdling unlaying member 300 may be allowed to mutually transfer their rotational forces by virtue of the driving force transfer unit 400.
  • the driving force transfer unit 400 may be implemented by employing a variety of rotational force transfer elements, such as gears, pulleys and belts and the like.
  • the rotational cams 210 and 310 having the gear-like structure with the mutually engaged teeth 211 and 311 may allow the ice curdling unlaying member 300 to be rotatable in response to the rotational force transferred from the ice ejecting member 200.
  • ice cubes which are arcuately frozen in the curdled state at the upper portion of the blades 330 due to being stored for a long time, may be unlaid into pieces.
  • the individually unlaid ice cubes may be transferred downward, and ejected by the ice ejecting member 200 via the ice discharge port 121, thereby being provided to a dispenser.
  • the driving force transfer unit 400 may be implemented such that the transfer of a rotational force between a pulley formed at the ice ejecting member 200 and a pulley formed at the ice curdling unlaying member is enabled via belts.
  • the rotational cams 210 and 310 of the ice electing member 200 and the ice curdling unlaying member 300 may preferably be formed as pulleys having belts mounted thereon.
  • FIG. 1 shows the refrigerator having the ice bucket 1 according to the related art, but a refrigerator according to the present disclosure may be fully described with reference to the ice bucket 1 having the ice curdling unlaying member 300 shown in FIG. 4 .
  • a refrigerator may include doors 25 and 35 for opening and closing a cooling chamber, an ice maker 40 disposed in the cooling chamber, an ice bucket 1 disposed below the ice maker 40, and a dispenser 27 connected to the ice bucket 1.
  • the ice bucket 1 may include a case main body 100 forming an ice storage space therein and having an ice discharge port at a lower portion thereof.
  • an ice ejecting member 200 is rotatably disposed at one side of the case main body 100 and having a plurality of blades 330.
  • the ice bucket 1 includes an ice curdling unlaying member 300 having a rotational shaft 320 and augers 330 performing a circular motion in response to rotation of the rotational shaft 320.
  • the ice curdling unlaying member 300 is configured to prevent ice cubes located above the ice ejecting member 200 from being frozen in a curdled state.
  • the ice curdling unlaying member 300 may include a rotational cam 310 rotatable centering on the rotational shaft 320, and the plurality of augers 330 may be installed on the rotational cam 310 with being spaced apart from the rotational shaft 320 in parallel to each other.
  • the ice ejecting member 200 and the ice curdling unlaying member 300 may receive a rotational force transferred by a driving force transfer unit 400.
  • the driving force transfer unit 400 may have a gear-like structure that teeth 211 formed on an outer circumferential surface of the rotational cam 210 of the ice ejecting member 200 and teeth 311 formed on an outer circumferential surface of the rotational cam 310 of the ice curdling unlaying member 300 are engaged with each other. Also, the ice curdling unlaying member 300 may be rotated in response to a rotational force transferred from the ice ejecting member 200.
  • the driving force transfer unit 400 may be implemented such that the rotational cam 210 of the ice ejecting member 200 and the rotational cam 310 of the ice curdling unlaying member 300 are formed as pulleys to transfer a rotational force by use of belts.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
  • Cold Air Circulating Systems And Constructional Details In Refrigerators (AREA)
  • Beverage Vending Machines With Cups, And Gas Or Electricity Vending Machines (AREA)

Claims (5)

  1. Eisbehälter, der eine Funktion zum Auflockern einer Eisverklumpung aufweist und der Folgendes umfasst:
    - einen Gehäusehauptkörper (100), der einen Eisaufbewahrungsraum bildet und eine Eisausgabeöffnung (121) aufweist, die an einem unteren Abschnitt ausgebildet ist; und
    - ein Eisauswurfelement (200), das an einer Seite des Gehäusehauptkörpers (100) drehbar angeordnet ist und eine drehbare Motorwelle (220), eine Klingenbefestigungswelle (240) und mehrere Klingen (230), die von der Klingenbefestigungswelle (240) in radialer Richtung vorstehen und in einer Umfangsrichtung mit verteilten Abständen angeordnet sind, umfasst; und
    - ein Eisverklumpung-Auflockerungselement (300), das konfiguriert ist, zu verhindern, dass Eiswürfel, die in Richtung des Eisauswurfelements (200) transportiert werden, in einem verklumpten Zustand gefroren werden;
    wobei das Eisverklumpung-Auflockerungselement (300) Folgendes umfasst:
    - eine Drehwelle (320), die bei einem oberen Abschnitt einer Seite des Hauptkörpers (100) drehbar installiert ist;
    - einen drehbaren Nocken (310), der sich drehbar auf der Drehwelle (320) zentriert; und
    - wenigstens einen Bohrer (330), der von einem oberen Abschnitt in dem Gehäusehauptkörper (100) in axialer Richtung der Drehwelle (320) vorsteht, um die oberen verklumpten Eiswürfel in Reaktion auf eine Drehung der Drehwelle (320) aufzulockern;
    - wobei der Bohrer (330) parallel zu der Drehwelle (320) an dem drehbaren Nocken (310) installiert ist und eine kreisförmige Bewegung in Reaktion auf die Drehung der Drehwelle (320) ausführt, um ein Verklumpen von Eis bei einem oberen Abschnitt mit dem Hauptkörper (100) zu verhindern;
    - wobei das Eisauswurfelement (200) oder das Eisverklumpung-Auflockerungselement (300) eine Drehkraft aufnimmt, die durch eine Antriebskraft-Übertragungseinheit (400) übertragen wird;
    - wobei das Eisverklumpung-Auflockerungselement (300) durch die Drehkraft des Eisauswurfelements (200) gedreht werden kann;
    - wobei das Eisauswurfelement (200) einen drehbaren Nocken (210) umfasst, der durch Aufnehmen der Drehkraft eines außen gelegenen Antriebsmotors gedreht werden kann; dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
    - die Antriebskraft-Übertragungseinheit (400) einen zahnradartigen Aufbau aufweist, derart, dass Zähne (211), die an einer Außenumfangsfläche des drehbaren Nockens (210) des Eisauswurfelements (200) ausgebildet sind, und Zähne (311), die an einer Außenumfangsfläche des drehbaren Nockens (310) des Eisverklumpung-Auflocke-rungselements (300) ausgebildet sind, miteinander in Eingriff gelangen.
  2. Eisbehälter nach Anspruch 1, wobei mehrere Bohrer (330) vorgesehen sind.
  3. Eisbehälter nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Gehäusehauptkörper (100) Folgendes umfasst:
    - ein oberes Gehäuse (110), das aus einem lichtdurchlässigen oder teilweise lichtdurchlässigen Material gebildet ist, damit ein Lagerzustand von Eiswürfeln von außen zu sehen ist; und
    - ein unteres Gehäuse (120), das ein Eisauswurfelement (200) aufweist, das auf einer Seite darin angebracht ist und zulässt, dass das Eisauswurfelement (200) mit einem außen liegenden Antriebsmotor verbunden wird.
  4. Eisbehälter nach Anspruch 3, wobei die Eisausgabeöffnung (121) bei einem tieferen Abschnitt des unteren Gehäuses (120) ausgebildet ist, und wobei das Eisverklumpung-Auflockerungselement (300) an einer Seite in dem unteren Gehäuse (120) ausgebildet ist.
  5. Eisbehälter nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Behälterhauptkörper (100) Folgendes umfasst:
    - einen Auswurfelement-Befestigungsabschnitt (122), der so ausgebildet ist, dass an einer seiner Seiten das Eisauswurfelement (200) installiert werden kann; und
    - einen Befestigungsabschnitt (123) für ein Verklumpung-Auflockerungselement, der über dem Befestigungsabschnitt des Auswurfelements (200) so ausgebildet ist, dass an ihm das Eisverklumpung-Auflockerungselement (300) installiert werden kann.
EP12188720.2A 2011-10-17 2012-10-16 Eiseimer zum Aufdrehen von Eisgerinnung Active EP2584293B1 (de)

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KR101392927B1 (ko) 2014-05-14
EP3176523B1 (de) 2022-05-04
KR20130041700A (ko) 2013-04-25
EP2584293A3 (de) 2013-05-15
US20130092707A1 (en) 2013-04-18
EP3176523A1 (de) 2017-06-07
ES2616764T3 (es) 2017-06-14
EP2584293A2 (de) 2013-04-24
CN103047804A (zh) 2013-04-17

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