EP2584293B1 - Ice bucket for unlaying ice curdling - Google Patents
Ice bucket for unlaying ice curdling Download PDFInfo
- 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.)
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Links
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- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000012780 transparent material Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 7
- 238000007710 freezing Methods 0.000 description 6
- 230000008014 freezing Effects 0.000 description 6
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 239000003507 refrigerant Substances 0.000 description 5
- 238000003756 stirring Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000005057 refrigeration Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000019640 taste Nutrition 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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.
Description
- 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.
- In general, an ice maker is an apparatus installed in a refrigerator or a water purifier for self-producing ice pieces (cubes). In recent time, as 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.
- However, in the related art ice dispensing apparatus, a problem may occur that ice pieces or cubes stored in the ice bucket are not properly ejected. Especially, 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.
- Consequently, when the blades rotate to eject ice cubes, the blades may not reach the ice cubes located above it. This makes the blades make an idle rotation, causing the ice ejection to be impossible.
- Hereinafter, 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, andFIGS. 2 and3 are perspective views each showing an ice bucket disposed in the ice dispensing apparatus. - In general, 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.
- Referring to
FIG. 1 , the refrigerator includes a refrigerantmain body 10 having afreezing chamber 20 and a refrigeratingchamber 30, and afreezing chamber door 25 and a refrigeratingchamber door 35 for opening and closing thefreezing chamber 20 and the refrigeratingchamber 30, respectively. - In the meantime, a
dispenser 27 is disposed in a portion of the refrigerator for allowing a user to take water and/or ice without opening thedoor 25, and anice maker 40 is installed in the freezing chamber for making a preset shape of ice cubes. Anice bucket 1 for storing the ice cubes made in the ice maker or dispensing the ice cubes to the outside may be disposed below theice maker 40. - The
dispenser 27 is installed at thefreezing chamber door 25 such that ice cubes can be picked up from the outside without opening thefreezing chamber 20. Aninlet port 29 through which ice cubes discharged from theice bucket 1 is introduced into thedispenser 27 is formed through an upper surface of thedispenser 27. - The
ice bucket 1 according to the related art, as shown inFIGS. 2 and3 , includes a casemain body 100 forming an internal ice storage space and having an ice discharge port formed at its lower portion for discharging of ice, and anice ejecting member 200 rotatably installed in the casemain body 100 for ejecting ice to a lower side. The casemain body 100 includes anupper case 110 and alower case 120. In general, theupper 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 theice ejecting member 200 is disposed on one side within thelower case 120. - The
ice ejecting member 200 includes ablade mounting shaft 240 protruding from an inner surface of a lower portion of thelower case 120, and a plurality ofblades 230 disposed on an outer circumferential surface of theblade mounting shaft 240. - Referring to
FIGS. 2 and3 , an inclinedinner wall 125 is formed at an inner wall of an upper portion of thebody 100 so as to guide each ice dropped from theupper ice maker 40 into theice ejecting member 200. - Here, in the related
art ice bucket 1 having the configuration, each ice cube made in the ice maker is stacked up to an upper portion of the ice storage space within the casemain body 100. However, while theice 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 casemain body 100 where theice ejecting member 200 is disposed. On the other hand, when the ice pieces are left in the stacked state for a long time while theice ejecting member 200 is not driven, the ice pieces are wholly frozen in a curdled state due to the inside of theice bucket 1 remaining at a sub-zero temperature. - Accordingly, even if the
ice ejecting member 200 is driven with the ice cubes being wholly frozen in the curdled state, the upper ice pieces, which were frozen with being curdled into one within the ice bucket, are still maintained in an arcuately frozen state. This makes theice ejecting member 200 perform an idle rotation such that the ice cubes cannot be ejected to the outside, disabling an ice ejecting function to be realized. - Furthermore, 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 ofclaim 1. - Therefore, to overcome the shortcomings of the related art, an aspect of the detailed description is to provide an ice bucket having a function of unlaying ice curdling. And 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. And 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.
- To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of this specification, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided an ice bucket having a function of unlaying ice curdling. And 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. And 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. And 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.
- In another aspect of the present disclosure, 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.
- In another aspect of the present disclosure, 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.
- Preferably, 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.
- In the present disclosure, the ice ejecting member and the ice curdling unlaying member receives a rotational force transferred by a driving force transfer unit. Here, the ice ejecting member includes a rotational cam rotatable by receiving the rotational force of an external driving motor, and 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.
- In another aspect of the present disclosure, not forming part of the invention, 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.
- To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of this specification, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided 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.
- Here, 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. And 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.
- As described above, the present disclosure may achieve the following effects by the aforementioned solution and configuration and coupling and operating relation to be explained later.
- Upon ejecting ice cubes from an ice dispensing apparatus installed in a refrigerator, a water purifier and the like, 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.
- Also, when ice cubes are stored for a long time in the storage space of the ice bucket without being ejected out of an ice dispending apparatus, even if the ice ejecting member is driven, ice cubes which are curdled into an arcuate shape still exist at an upper portion of the storage space of the ice bucket. To overcome this problem, 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.
- Further scope of applicability of the present application will become more apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter.
- The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.
- In the drawings:
-
FIG. 1 is a view showing a refrigerator having an ice maker and an ice dispensing apparatus according to the related art; -
FIGS. 2 and3 are perspective views each showing an ice bucket of the ice dispensing apparatus; -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an ice bucket in accordance with the present disclosure; and -
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the ice bucket in accordance with the present disclosure. - Description will now be given in detail of an ice bucket having a function of unlaying ice curdling according to the exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings. For the sake of brief description with reference to the drawings, the same or equivalent components will be provided with the same reference numbers, and description thereof will not be repeated.
- In general, 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.
- In accordance with the present disclosure, 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. Accordingly, 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.
- Hereinafter, description will be given of an ice bucket having a function of unlaying ice curdling according to the present disclosure, with reference to
FIGS. 4 and5 .FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an ice bucket in accordance with the present disclosure, andFIG. 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 casemain body 100 forming an internal ice storage space and having anice discharge port 121 formed at its lower portion. And theice bucket 1 includes anice ejecting member 200 rotatably disposed on one side of the casemain body 100. And the anice ejecting member 200 has amotor rotation shaft 220, ablade mounting shaft 240, and a plurality ofblades 230 protruding from theblade mounting shaft 240 in a radial direction and disposed in a circumferential direction with spaced distances therebetween. And theice bucket 1 includes an icecurdling unlaying member 300 for preventing ice cubes located above theice ejecting member 200 from being frozen in a curdled state. - The case
main body 100 and theice ejecting member 200 have been fully explained in the related art, so the shapes and functions thereof will be briefly described hereinafter. - First, the case
main body 100 may include anupper 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 casemain body 100 may include alower case 120 having theice ejecting member 200 mounted onto one side therein and allowing theice ejecting member 200 to be connected to an external driving motor. - As shown in
FIG. 4 , theupper 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 theice bucket 10. - The
lower case 120, as shown inFIG. 4 , may form the lower portion of the body for mounting theice ejecting member 200 thereon. - The
ice discharge port 121 may be formed through the lower portion of thelower case 120 to communicate with a dispenser. The icecurdling unlaying member 300 may be formed at one side within thelower case 120. In particular, the icecurdling unlaying member 300, as shown inFIG. 4 , may be mounted on one surface of theice bucket 1 mounted on the refrigerator. And the other side of theice bucket 1 may be viewed by a user through the transparent or semi-transparentupper 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. Theice ejecting member 200 may include amotor rotation shaft 220 fixed onto a shaft of the external driving motor, and a motor rotationalforce transfer portion 260 for transferring the rotational force received from the external driving motor. - The
ice ejecting member 200 may include ablade mounting shaft 240 integrally or fixedly connected to themotor rotation shaft 220 in a lengthwise direction to be inserted into theice bucket 1. A plurality ofblades 230 may be formed on an outer circumferential surface of theblade mounting shaft 240 so as to transfer ice cubes from an upper ice maker to a lower dispenser via theice discharge port 121. - The ice
curdling unlaying member 300 may include a rotational shaft rotatably installed on an upper portion of the casemain body 100. And the icecurdling unlaying member 300 includes anauger 330 protruding from an upper portion within the casemain body 100 in a lateral direction to unlay curdled ice cubes located at the upper portion in response to rotation of therotational shaft 320. - Referring to
FIGS. 4 and5 , theauger 330 may protrude in a lateral direction of the icecurdling unlaying member 300, and be provided in plurality. Also, the plurality ofaugers 330 may be installed in parallel to therotational shaft 320, performing a circular motion within theice bucket 1 in response to the rotation of therotational shaft 320. Accordingly, theaugers 330 may stir the curdled ice cubes located at the upper portion within the casemain body 100, unlaying the curdled ice cubes. - In another exemplary embodiment, referring to
FIG. 4 , the icecurdling unlaying member 300 may include arotational cam 310 rotatable centering on therotational shaft 320, and the plurality ofaugers 330 may be installed on therotational cam 310 in parallel to therotational shaft 310. - The
rotational cam 310, referring toFIG. 4 , may be formed as a circular plate, which has a predetermined thickness and is rotatable based upon therotational shaft 310, so as to be installed on one side of thelower case 120. The plurality ofaugers 330 may protrude from one surface of therotational cam 310 in an axial direction to be in parallel to therotational shaft 310. - With the configuration, as shown in
FIG. 4 , as the icecurdling unlaying member 300 is rotated, the plurality ofaugers 330 protruding into the casemain body 100 in parallel to therotational shaft 320 may unlay the curdled ice cubes. That is, with therotational cam 310 being rotated, theaugers 330 may perform a circular motion to break ice cubes located above theice ejecting member 200 into individual pieces even when the ice cubes are frozen in the curdled state. - Here, the case
main body 100 may include an ejectingmember mounting portion 122 formed through one side thereof for installation of theice ejecting member 200 thereat. And preferably a curdling unlaying member mounting portion 123 may be formed above the ejectingmember mounting portion 122 for installation of the icecurdling unlaying member 300 thereat. - The ejecting
member mounting portion 122, as shown inFIG. 4 , may preferably be formed as a through hole in a circular shape because it should be connected to an external driving motor: Here, the curdling unlaying member mounting portion 123 should be formed through the casemain body 100 to be connected to an external driving motor when the external driving motor is provided separately. However, as shown in the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, 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 theice ejecting member 200. - The ice
curdling unlaying member 300 may perform a rotary motion based on therotational shaft 320. This rotary motion may be performed by receiving an external rotational force. In this case, rotational forces may be applied to theice ejecting member 200 and to the icecurdling unlaying member 300, respectively, allowing independent operations of theice ejecting member 200 and the icecurdling 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. When a rotational force is applied only to the
ice ejecting member 200, the icecurdling unlaying member 300 may simultaneously be rotated by receiving the rotational force of theice ejecting member 200. On the other hand, when the rotational force is applied only to the icecurdling unlaying member 300, theice ejecting member 200 may simultaneously be rotated. And theice ejecting member 200 may be rotated by receiving the rotational force applied to the icecurdling unlaying member 300 without an external rotational force applied thereto. - When the present disclosure is implemented by use of a single rotational force, the
ice ejecting member 200 and the icecurdling unlaying member 300 may receive a rotational force via a drivingforce transfer unit 400. - Preferably, as shown in
FIG. 4 , a motor rotationalforce transfer portion 260 for transferring a received rotational force directly to theblades 230 may be formed at theice ejecting member 200. The motor rotationalforce transfer portion 260 may be connected to a driving motor (not shown) at an outer wall of thelower case 120. The motor rotationalforce transfer portion 260 may be cylindrically installed on an outer circumference of themotor rotation shaft 220 of theice ejecting member 200, receiving the rotational force of the motor. - Accordingly, the
ice ejecting member 200 may include arotational cam 210 rotatable by receiving a rotational force of an external driving motor via the motor rotationalforce transfer portion 260. And the icecurdling unlaying member 300 may include arotational cam 310 rotatable by receiving a rotational force from therotational cam 210 of theice ejecting member 200. - The
rotational cam 210 of theice ejecting member 200 and therotational cam 310 of the icecurdling unlaying member 300 may be allowed to mutually transfer their rotational forces by virtue of the drivingforce transfer unit 400. The drivingforce transfer unit 400 may be implemented by employing a variety of rotational force transfer elements, such as gears, pulleys and belts and the like. - Referring to
FIG. 4 , when a rotational force transfer element having a gear-like structure is employed as the drivingforce transfer unit 400,teeth 211 formed on an outer circumferential surface of therotational cam 210 of theice ejecting member 200. And theteeth 311 formed on an outer circumferential surface of therotational cam 310 of the icecurdling unlaying member 300 may be engaged with each other in the gear-like structure. - The
rotational cams teeth curdling unlaying member 300 to be rotatable in response to the rotational force transferred from theice ejecting member 200. - Therefore, when the
ice ejecting member 200 is driven, its upper ice curdling unlayingmember 300 may operate simultaneously. Accordingly, ice cubes, which are arcuately frozen in the curdled state at the upper portion of theblades 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 theice ejecting member 200 via theice discharge port 121, thereby being provided to a dispenser. - Although not shown, the driving
force transfer unit 400 may be implemented such that the transfer of a rotational force between a pulley formed at theice ejecting member 200 and a pulley formed at the ice curdling unlaying member is enabled via belts. - Therefore, the
rotational cams ice electing member 200 and the icecurdling unlaying member 300 may preferably be formed as pulleys having belts mounted thereon. - Hereinafter, description will be given of a refrigerator having the
ice bucket 1 according to another exemplary embodiment with reference toFIGS. 1 and4 .FIG. 1 shows the refrigerator having theice bucket 1 according to the related art, but a refrigerator according to the present disclosure may be fully described with reference to theice bucket 1 having the icecurdling unlaying member 300 shown inFIG. 4 . - A refrigerator according to the present disclosure may include
doors ice maker 40 disposed in the cooling chamber, anice bucket 1 disposed below theice maker 40, and adispenser 27 connected to theice bucket 1. Here, theice bucket 1 may include a casemain body 100 forming an ice storage space therein and having an ice discharge port at a lower portion thereof. And anice ejecting member 200 is rotatably disposed at one side of the casemain body 100 and having a plurality ofblades 330. Also theice bucket 1 includes an icecurdling unlaying member 300 having arotational shaft 320 andaugers 330 performing a circular motion in response to rotation of therotational shaft 320. And the icecurdling unlaying member 300 is configured to prevent ice cubes located above theice ejecting member 200 from being frozen in a curdled state. - Also, the ice
curdling unlaying member 300 may include arotational cam 310 rotatable centering on therotational shaft 320, and the plurality ofaugers 330 may be installed on therotational cam 310 with being spaced apart from therotational shaft 320 in parallel to each other. - The
ice ejecting member 200 and the icecurdling unlaying member 300 may receive a rotational force transferred by a drivingforce transfer unit 400. - Preferably, the driving
force transfer unit 400 may have a gear-like structure thatteeth 211 formed on an outer circumferential surface of therotational cam 210 of theice ejecting member 200 andteeth 311 formed on an outer circumferential surface of therotational cam 310 of the icecurdling unlaying member 300 are engaged with each other. Also, the icecurdling unlaying member 300 may be rotated in response to a rotational force transferred from theice ejecting member 200. - Alternatively, the driving
force transfer unit 400 may be implemented such that therotational cam 210 of theice ejecting member 200 and therotational cam 310 of the icecurdling unlaying member 300 are formed as pulleys to transfer a rotational force by use of belts. - The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present disclosure. The present teachings can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. This description is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The features, structures, methods, and other characteristics of the exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined in various ways to obtain additional and/or alternative exemplary embodiments.
- As the present features may be embodied in several forms without departing from the characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its scope as defined in the appended claims.
Claims (5)
- An ice bucket having a function of unlaying ice curdling, and comprising:- a case main body (100) forming an ice storage space therein and having an ice discharge port (121) formed at a lower portion thereof; and- an ice ejecting member (200) rotatably disposed at one side of the case main body (100) and having 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; and- an ice curdling unlaying member (300) configured to prevent ice cubes transported toward the ice ejecting member (200) from being frozen in a curdled state;wherein the ice curdling unlaying member (300) comprises:- a rotational shaft (320) rotatably installed at an upper portion of one side of the main body (100);- a rotational cam (310) rotatable centering on the rotational shaft (320); and- at least one auger (330) protruding from an upper portion within the case main body (100) in an axial direction of the rotational shaft (320) to unlay the upper curdled ice cubes in response to rotation of the rotational shaft (320);- wherein the auger (330) is installed in parallel to the rotational shaft (320) on the rotational cam (310), and performs a circular motion in response to the rotation of the rotational shaft (320) to prevent ice curdling at an upper portion with the main body (100);- wherein the ice ejecting member (200) or the ice curdling unlaying member (300) receive a rotational force transferred by a driving force transfer unit (400);- wherein the ice curdling unlaying member (300) is rotatable by the rotational force or the ice ejecting member (200);- wherein the ice ejecting member (200) comprises a rotational cam (210) rotatable by receiving the rotational force of an external driving motor; characterized in that the driving force transfer unit (400) has 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.
- The ice bucket of claim 1, wherein a plurality of augers (330) is provided.
- The ice bucket of anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the case main body (100) comprises:- an upper case (110) 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 (120) having an 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 ice bucket of claim 3, wherein the ice discharge port (121) is formed at a lower portion of the lower case (120), and wherein the ice curdling unlaying member (300) is formed on one side within the lower case (120).
- The ice bucket of anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the case main body (100) comprises:- an ejecting member mounting portion (122) formed through one side thereof for installation of the ice ejecting member (200) thereon; and- a curdling unlaying member mounting portion (123) formed above the ejecting member (200) mounting portion for installation of the ice curdling unlaying member (300) thereon.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP16201156.3A EP3176523B1 (en) | 2011-10-17 | 2012-10-16 | Refrigerator |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
KR1020110106133A KR101392927B1 (en) | 2011-10-17 | 2011-10-17 | An ice bucket for unlaying ice curdling and refrigerator having the same |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP16201156.3A Division EP3176523B1 (en) | 2011-10-17 | 2012-10-16 | Refrigerator |
Publications (3)
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EP2584293A2 EP2584293A2 (en) | 2013-04-24 |
EP2584293A3 EP2584293A3 (en) | 2013-05-15 |
EP2584293B1 true EP2584293B1 (en) | 2016-11-30 |
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EP16201156.3A Active EP3176523B1 (en) | 2011-10-17 | 2012-10-16 | Refrigerator |
EP12188720.2A Active EP2584293B1 (en) | 2011-10-17 | 2012-10-16 | Ice bucket for unlaying ice curdling |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP16201156.3A Active EP3176523B1 (en) | 2011-10-17 | 2012-10-16 | Refrigerator |
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EP (2) | EP3176523B1 (en) |
KR (1) | KR101392927B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN103047804A (en) |
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KR102279393B1 (en) * | 2014-08-22 | 2021-07-21 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Refrigerator |
KR101658553B1 (en) | 2015-01-22 | 2016-09-21 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Rerigerator |
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KR101951899B1 (en) * | 2017-06-14 | 2019-02-25 | 최영환 | A ice cup molding apparatus |
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US10775088B2 (en) * | 2018-02-16 | 2020-09-15 | Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. | Ice making assembly coupling |
CN110617656A (en) * | 2018-06-20 | 2019-12-27 | 佛山市顺德区美的饮水机制造有限公司 | Full ice processing method and device, ice maker and storage medium |
CN109695982B (en) * | 2018-09-11 | 2020-08-28 | 海尔智家股份有限公司 | Ice crushing device and refrigerator |
US11262116B2 (en) * | 2019-05-03 | 2022-03-01 | Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. | Refrigerator appliance having a removable ice storage bin |
US11709009B2 (en) | 2020-05-07 | 2023-07-25 | Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. | Ice bucket agitator and refrigerator appliance |
KR20230125369A (en) * | 2022-02-21 | 2023-08-29 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Management server, method for controlling thereof, and home appliances managed by the management server |
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US4942983A (en) * | 1986-12-18 | 1990-07-24 | Bradbury John R | Apparatus for storing and dispensing particulate ice |
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KR100820816B1 (en) * | 2006-10-24 | 2008-04-11 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Refrigerator and apparatus for ice discharging therein |
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CN102226612A (en) * | 2011-05-27 | 2011-10-26 | 合肥美的荣事达电冰箱有限公司 | Ice crushing device used for refrigerator and refrigerator provided with same |
-
2011
- 2011-10-17 KR KR1020110106133A patent/KR101392927B1/en active IP Right Grant
-
2012
- 2012-10-11 CN CN2012103829652A patent/CN103047804A/en active Pending
- 2012-10-15 US US13/651,592 patent/US20130092707A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2012-10-16 ES ES12188720.2T patent/ES2616764T3/en active Active
- 2012-10-16 EP EP16201156.3A patent/EP3176523B1/en active Active
- 2012-10-16 EP EP12188720.2A patent/EP2584293B1/en active Active
Patent Citations (1)
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US4942983A (en) * | 1986-12-18 | 1990-07-24 | Bradbury John R | Apparatus for storing and dispensing particulate ice |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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CN103047804A (en) | 2013-04-17 |
EP3176523A1 (en) | 2017-06-07 |
ES2616764T3 (en) | 2017-06-14 |
EP2584293A2 (en) | 2013-04-24 |
EP2584293A3 (en) | 2013-05-15 |
KR20130041700A (en) | 2013-04-25 |
US20130092707A1 (en) | 2013-04-18 |
EP3176523B1 (en) | 2022-05-04 |
KR101392927B1 (en) | 2014-05-14 |
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