KR100565616B1 - ice-bank in the refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to an ice bank of the refrigerator.

To this end, the present invention is installed in the lower portion of the ice maker, the upper portion is open to accommodate the ice therein, the predetermined portion of the bank container 51 formed with an ice outlet 52 to correspond to the ice chute; Ice conveying means (53) installed to convey ice by being rotated inside the bank container; A driving device 55 connected to one end of the ice transfer means 53 to rotate the ice transfer means 53 at a high speed or a low speed; A crusher 56 elastically installed to be retracted by the ice conveyed to the other end of the ice conveying means 53 and having at least two blades installed to crush the conveyed ice; Then, the ice crusher 56, the ice discharge device 61 for controlling the opening degree of the ice outlet 52 as the retracted or retracted to discharge the crushed ice or ice cubes into the ice chute: ice of the refrigerator comprising a Provide a bank.

Refrigerator, Ice Machine, Ice Bank

Description

Ice-bank in the refrigerator

1 is a schematic view showing a refrigerator provided with a freezer compartment in the lower part of a conventional body.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing an ice maker installed in the freezer compartment of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view showing an ice maker and an ice bank installed in the freezer compartment of Figure 1;

4 is an operation state diagram showing the operation of the ice maker of the refrigerator of FIG.

5 is a block diagram showing an ice bank of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

6 is a top view showing the ice ice discharge device of FIG.

7 is an operation state diagram showing when the drive unit of the ice bank is driven at a high speed.

8 is an operation state diagram showing the operation of the ice ice discharge device when the drive portion of the ice back is driven at a high speed.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

51: ice bank 52: ice outlet

53 ice transfer means 53a linear helix

53b: shaft portion 53c: plate-shaped helix portion

54 housing 55 drive device

56: Crusher 57: Slider

57a: body portion 57b: sliding portion

57c: pressurization portion 58: movable blade

59: fixed blade 60: elastic member

61: ice discharge device 62: cover

63: lever 64: baffle

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to an ice bank of the refrigerator.

A typical refrigerator is divided into a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment. The refrigerator compartment keeps food and vegetables fresh and long at a temperature of about 3 ° C. to 4 ° C., and the freezer compartment keeps food such as meat and fish frozen at subzero temperatures.

Recently, various functions have been added to the refrigerator for the user to conveniently use, such as storing kimchi. The ice making machine described below is one such additional function.

Hereinafter, a conventional refrigerator ice making apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

1 is a schematic view showing a state in which a conventional ice maker is installed in the refrigerator, Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of the ice maker constituting the ice maker of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a structure of the ice maker and ice bank in the refrigerator of Figure 1 Figure 4 is a side view, Figure 4 is a state diagram showing a process in which the ice produced in the ice maker of Figure 3 is accommodated in the ice bank.

Referring to FIG. 1, the refrigerator is divided into a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment, and a door 1 is installed to open and close the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment. An ice maker is installed in the freezer compartment, and a control panel (not shown) is installed on an outer surface of the door 1 to allow a user to select a predetermined function of the refrigerator.

The ice maker includes a ice maker 10 for producing ice, an ice bank 20 for accommodating the produced ice, an ice chute 2 for discharging the ice of the ice bank to the outside, and a dispenser. .

2 and 3, the ice maker 10 has an ice making chamber 11 in which ice is generated and a water supply part 12 formed at one side of the ice making chamber 11 to supply water to the ice making chamber. Is formed.

The ice-making chamber 11 has a substantially semi-cylindrical shape, and the ice-making chamber 11 is formed so that the partition ribs 11a protrude upward at predetermined intervals so that ice can be separated. In addition, a fastening portion 15 is formed at a rear predetermined portion of the ice making chamber 11 so as to fix the ice maker to the freezing chamber.

One side of the ice making chamber 11 is provided with a motor device (13). The motor device 13 has a built-in motor, the ejector 14 (ejector) is rotatably connected to the rotating shaft of the motor.

The ejector 14 is installed so that the rotation axis crosses the center of the ice making chamber 11, and a plurality of ejector pins 14a are spaced apart at predetermined intervals so that the rotation axis of the ejector is substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis. At this time, each of the ejector pin 14a is disposed for each section partitioned by the partition ribs 11a.

A plurality of slide bars 16 extend in the upper end of the front side of the ice making chamber 11 to about the rotation axis of the ejector 14.

In addition, a heater 17 (see FIG. 4) is attached to the bottom surface of the ice making chamber 11. The heater 17 heats the surface of the ice making chamber for a short time to slightly dissolve the ice surface attached to the surface of the ice making chamber so that the ice can be easily separated from the ice making chamber 11.

The ice maker 10 is provided with an ice sensing arm 18 to measure the amount of ice filled in the ice bank 20. The ice detection arm 18 is installed to be movable up and down and is connected to a control unit embedded in the motor device 13. By the action of the ice detection arm 18 and the control unit, the ice bank 20 is filled with a certain amount of ice.

The ice bank 20 has an upper surface open to receive falling ice and an ice outlet 21 is formed in a predetermined portion of the lower surface. This ice outlet 21 is formed at a position corresponding to the ice chute (2).

In addition, the ice bank 20 is provided with an ice conveying means 22, a motor device 23, a crusher 30 and an ice discharger (40).

The ice conveying means 22 is formed in a thread form and is installed to cross the inside of the ice bank 20. The ice transfer means 22 is axially rotatable to the motor device (23).

Accordingly, when the motor device 23 is rotated, the ice is moved to the crusher 30 as the ice transfer means 22 is rotated.

The crusher 30 is composed of a housing 31, a fixed blade 32 and a movable blade 33.

At this time, the housing 31 is formed in a cylindrical shape with one end open. The fixed blade 32 is fixed inside the housing 31 so as to cross the inside of the housing, and an end portion of the ice transfer means 22 is inserted into the center of the fixed blade 32 to serve as a rotating shaft portion. At least one movable blade 33 is installed at the end of the transfer means. This movable blade 33 is arranged between the stationary blades 32.

In addition, the ice discharger 40 is composed of a shutter 41 and a solenoid 42.

That is, a substantially plate-shaped shutter 41 is provided at the ice outlet 21 of the housing 31 so as to open the opening degree of the ice outlet 21 to a predetermined size, and the solenoid 42 is provided at the shutter 41. ) Is connected. At this time, the shutter 41 and the solenoid 42 are connected by a lever.

An ice chute 2 having a predetermined space is installed below the ice outlet as shown in FIG. 1. The ice chute 2 is formed to communicate the ice bank 20 with the outside. At this time, the dispenser is not shown, but when the ice is not discharged, the device is installed to block the outside air.

Referring to the operation of the icemaker of the conventional refrigerator configured as described above are as follows.

When the ice bank 20 determines that the ice bank 20 lacks ice by the ice detection arm 18, water is supplied to the water supply part 12 of the ice maker 10. This water is filled up to a predetermined level in the ice making chamber 11 and is frozen by cold air in the freezing chamber. At this time, the partition rib 11a of the ice making chamber 11 serves to divide the ice produced in the ice making chamber 11 into a predetermined size.

When the ice is manufactured, the heater 17 of the ice maker is operated for a short time to melt the contact surface of the ice in contact with the surface of the ice making chamber 11. Subsequently, as the ejector pin 14a is rotated by the motor device 13, each ice positioned in the corresponding space is discharged to the outside. This ice is discharged to the ice bank 20 as shown in FIG.

When the ice bank 20 is filled with a predetermined amount of ice by repeating this series of processes, the ice making process of the ice maker 10 is terminated by the control unit. In addition, if it is determined that the ice is insufficient in the ice detection arm 18, the ice making process is performed again, and the ice maker 10 is filled with a predetermined amount of ice.

As the ice bank 20 is filled with ice, when the user selects a predetermined button on the control panel, uncrushed ice (hereinafter referred to as ice) or crushed ice is discharged to the dispenser.

Accordingly, users can selectively obtain ice cubes and crushed ice.

However, the ice maker of the conventional refrigerator has the following problems.

First, since the conventional ice ice discharge device to adjust the opening degree of the ice outlet using a separate solenoid, there is a problem that the structure is complicated.

Second, since the space in which the solenoid is installed and the space in which the wires connected to the solenoid are accommodated must be formed separately, there is a problem that the use area of the refrigerator is reduced.

Third, since the opening degree of the ice outlet must be adjusted using the solenoid, not only power consumption is increased but also the temperature of the freezer compartment is increased by the heat generated during the solenoid operation. Therefore, there is a problem that power consumption for maintaining the freezer compartment within a certain temperature range is increased.

In order to solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ice making apparatus of the refrigerator to adjust the opening degree of the ice outlet by the conveying force of the ice.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is provided in the lower portion of the ice maker, the upper portion is opened to accommodate the ice therein, the predetermined portion the bank container formed with an ice outlet corresponding to the ice chute; Ice conveying means installed to convey ice by being rotated in the bank container; A driving device connected to one end of the ice conveying means to rotate the ice conveying means at a high speed or a low speed; A crusher elastically installed to be retracted by the ice conveyed to the other end of the ice conveying means, and at least two blades installed to crush the conveyed ice; And, as the crusher is retracted or returned to provide an ice bank of the refrigerator comprising: an ice discharge device: for controlling the opening degree of the ice outlet to discharge the crushed ice or ice cubes into the ice chute.

Hereinafter, an icemaker of a refrigerator according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8.

The ice maker of the refrigerator includes an ice maker, an ice bank installed under the ice maker, and an ice chute and a dispenser installed under the ice bank.

The construction and operation of the ice maker, the ice chute and the dispenser are the same as described in the prior art, so the description thereof will be omitted, and hereinafter, the ice bank which is a feature of the present invention will be described.

Referring to FIG. 5, the ice bank of the refrigerator includes a bank container 51, an ice conveying means 53, a driving device 55, a crusher 56, and an ice discharge device 61.

The bank container 61 is installed at the lower part of the ice maker, the upper part is opened to receive the ice therein, and an ice outlet 52 is formed at a predetermined portion so as to correspond to the ice chute.

It is also understood that the bank container 51 may be formed in various shapes in addition to a box shape having an open top surface.

The ice transfer means 53 is installed to transfer ice by being rotated inside the bank container 51.

The ice conveying means 53 is provided with a linear spiral portion 53a spirally formed in a predetermined portion, a shaft portion 53b extending from the linear spiral portion and inserted into the crusher 56, and provided on the shaft portion. , It consists of a plate-shaped helix portion (53c) (helix part) is formed spirally to press the crusher 56 by the conveying force of the ice during rotation.

Here, the linear spiral portion 53a is formed at the center of the ice conveying means 53 toward the driving device 55, and the shaft portion 53b extends toward the crusher 56 at approximately the center of the ice conveying means. The plate-shaped helix portion 53c is provided between the plate-shaped helix portion 53c and the crusher 56.

The housing 54 is installed to surround the crusher 56 and the plate-shaped helix portion 53c. A portion of the housing 54 surrounding the plate-shaped helix portion 53c forms a transport path for ice, and a portion of the housing 54 surrounding the crusher 56 serves to protect the crusher 56.

The driving device 55 is connected to one end of the ice conveying means 53. The driving device 55 rotates the ice conveying means 53 at a high speed or a low speed. It is preferable to apply a step motor which can be adjusted at a predetermined speed as the driving device 55.

In addition, the other end of the ice conveying means 53, the crusher 56 is elastically installed so as to retreat when the conveying pressure of the ice exceeds a predetermined size. The crusher 56 is provided with at least two blades to crush the conveyed ice.

The crusher 56 includes a slider 57, a movable blade 58, a fixed blade 59, and an elastic member 60.

The slider 57 is installed to be slidable on the shaft portion 53b of the ice conveying means 53, and is installed to press the ice discharge device 61 as it is retracted by the conveyed ice. Such a slider will be described below.

The movable blade 58 is fixed to the shaft portion 53b of the ice conveying means so as to be rotatable to the slider 57. At least one of these movable blades 58 is installed.

The fixed blade 59 is fixedly mounted to the slider 57 so as to be disposed between the movable blades 58. At least one fixed blade 59 is installed.

The fixed blade 59 and the movable blade 58 function to crush ice by interaction when the ice transfer means 53 is rotated.

The elastic member 60 is installed between the slider 57 and the housing 54. At this time, at least one elastic member 60 is installed. The elastic member 60 is compressed by the crusher 56 only when an ice conveying pressure of a predetermined size or more is applied to the slider 57. Therefore, the elastic member 60 is preferably formed to have a strength that can be compressed only by the conveying pressure of the ice generated when the drive device 55 is operated at a high speed.

One end of the elastic member 60 may be fixed to the slider 57 or fixed to the housing 54. Of course, it can be understood that both ends may be provided in a state in which both ends are separated from the slider 57 and the housing 54 by a predetermined support member.

Accordingly, when the crusher 56 is retracted by the conveying force of ice, the elastic member 60 is compressed as the slider 57 is retracted. At this time, the slider 57, the movable blade 58 and the fixed blade 59 are all retracted.

On the other hand, the slider 57 is installed to press the elastic member 60 and the ice discharge device 61 in the housing 54, the ice conveying side is formed to open one side, the fixed blade 59 therein Sliding part which is fixed to the body portion (57a) and the central portion of the body portion (57a), the shaft portion (53b) of the ice conveying means 53 is rotatable and slidably inserted 57b) and a pressurizing portion 57c extending outwardly to one end of the ice conveying side of the sliding portion 57b and pressed by the ice.

The body portion 57a is fixedly installed in the housing 54 so that the body portion 57a is not rotated even when the ice transfer means 53 is rotated. The body portion 57a may be formed in various shapes as well as a cylindrical shape.

In addition, a predetermined groove (not shown) is formed in the sliding portion 57b so that the fixed blade 59 fixed to the shaft portion 53b of the ice conveying means 53 is rotatable.

In addition, the pressing portion 57c is formed in a plate shape and is pressed by the ice when the ice is transferred. The pressing portion 57c may be variously changed as long as it is a plate-shaped structure that is pressurized by ice.

The ice discharge device 61 controls the opening degree of the ice discharge port 52 as the crusher 56 is retracted or returned to discharge the crushed ice or the ice into the ice chute.

The ice discharge device 61 includes a cover 62 installed at the ice outlet 52 of the housing 54, a lever 63 at which one end is pressed when the slider 57 is retracted, It includes a baffle 64 (baffle) is pressed by the other end of the lever when the one end is pressed to open and close the cover 62 to a predetermined opening degree.

Here, the cover 62 is formed in a substantially disk shape as shown in FIG. It is understood that the cover 62 may be formed in various forms according to the shape of the ice outlet 52 as well as the disc shape.

The lever 63 is formed in a substantially "U" shape, and the other end is bent upwardly to contact the baffle 64. In addition, the bent central portion of the lever 63 is hinged to the housing 54. Accordingly, when the slider 57 presses one end, the other end presses the baffle 64. At this time, the baffle 64 presses the cover 62 to reduce the ice outlet 52 to a predetermined opening degree. .

In addition, the baffle 64 is preferably installed so that one side is fixed to the cover 62 and a predetermined portion is in contact with the other end of the lever 63.

It is understood that the lever 63 and the baffle 64 are not limited to the above-described shape and may be changed in various shapes.

Referring to the operation of the ice bank configured as described above is as follows.

When the ice is discharged from the ice maker, the bank container 51 is filled with ice.

In this state, when the user presses the ice button on the control panel of the door, the ice transport means 53 is rotated at a low speed as the drive device 55 is operated at a low RPM.

The linear spiral portion 53a of the ice conveying means 53 transfers the ice to the plate-shaped helix portion 53c, and the plate-shaped helix portion 53c transfers the transferred ice to the crusher 56.

At this time, since the ice conveying means 53 is rotated at a low speed, the linear spiral portion 53a and the plate-shaped helix portion 53c supply a relatively small amount of ice to the crusher 56. At the same time, since the ice conveying pressure is relatively small on the slider 57 of the crusher 56, the elastic member 60 is not compressed as shown in FIG.

As such, when relatively little ice is transferred to the crusher 56, the slider 57 of the crusher 56 does not retreat. As a result, since ice conveying force hardly acts on one end of the lever 63, the other end of the lever 63 does not apply pressure to the baffle 64 as shown in FIG. Maintains its large opening.

Therefore, the ice conveyed to the crusher 56 is discharged into the ice chute through the ice outlet 52 in a state where it is hardly crushed. Accordingly, users can eat whole ice through the dispenser.

Next, when the user presses the crushed ice button on the control panel of the door, the ice transport means 53 is rotated at a high speed as the drive device 55 is operated at a high speed RPM.

The linear spiral portion 53a of the ice conveying means 53 transfers the ice to the plate-shaped helix portion 53c, and the plate-shaped helix portion 53c transfers the transferred ice to the crusher 56. At this time, since the ice conveying means 53 is rotated at a low speed, the linear spiral portion 53a and the plate-shaped helix portion 53c supply a relatively large amount of ice to the crusher 56.

At the same time, since the ice conveying pressure is relatively large on the slider 57 of the crusher 56, the elastic member 60 is compressed as shown in FIG.

As such, when a large amount of ice is conveyed to the crusher 56, the slider 57 of the crusher 56 is retracted by the conveying force of the ice. As a result, one end of the lever 63 is pressed by the slider 57, and the other end of the lever 63 presses the baffle 64 as shown in FIG. Subsequently, the baffle 64 presses the cover 62 as shown in FIG. 7A to reduce the opening degree of the ice outlet 52.

Therefore, the ice transferred to the crusher 56 is discharged into the ice chute through the ice outlet 52 in the crushed state. Accordingly, users can eat the crushed ice through the dispenser.

As described above, the ice bank according to the present invention has a technical idea that it is possible to adjust the opening degree of the ice outlet by the conveying force of the ice by operating the drive at high speed and low speed.

As described above, the ice bank according to the present invention has the following effects.

First, the ice bank is effective to selectively take the ice and crushed ice without installing a separate solenoid as in the prior art. Therefore, there is an advantage that the structure of the ice bank can be simplified.

Second, since the refrigerator does not have to separately form a space for installing the solenoid and a wire for connecting the solenoid, etc., there is an advantage that the internal space of the refrigerator can be used more widely.

Third, since the refrigerator can prevent the temperature of the freezer compartment from being raised by the heat generated from the solenoid, there is an effect of more easily controlling the temperature of the freezer compartment.

Claims (10)

A bank container installed at a lower part of the ice maker, the upper part of which is opened to receive ice therein, and the predetermined portion of the bank container having an ice discharge port corresponding to the ice chute; Ice conveying means installed to convey ice by being rotated in the bank container; A driving device connected to one end of the ice conveying means to rotate the ice conveying means at a high speed or a low speed; A crusher elastically installed to be retracted by the ice conveyed to the other end of the ice conveying means, and at least two blades installed to crush the conveyed ice; And, Ice discharge device comprising: an ice discharge device for discharging the crushed ice or ice cubes into the ice chute by adjusting the opening degree of the ice discharge port as the crusher is retracted or returned. The method of claim 1, The ice transport means: A linear spiral portion spirally formed in a predetermined portion; A shaft portion extending from the linear spiral portion and inserted into the crusher; An ice bank of the refrigerator, comprising: a plate-shaped helix portion installed in the shaft and spirally formed to retreat the crusher by applying a conveying force of ice to the crusher during rotation. The method of claim 2, An ice bank of a refrigerator provided with a housing surrounding the crusher and the plate-shaped helix portion. The method of claim 2, The crusher is: A slider installed to be slidable on the shaft portion of the ice conveying apparatus and installed to press the ice ice discharging apparatus as it is retracted by the conveyed ice; At least one movable blade rotatably mounted to the slider; At least one fixed blade fixed to the slider so as to be disposed between the movable blades; An elastic member installed between the slider and the housing: an ice bank of the refrigerator. The method of claim 4, wherein The slider is: It is installed to press the elastic member and the ice discharge device inside the housing, the ice conveying side is formed so that one surface is opened, the body portion is fixed fixed blade is installed therein; A sliding part protruding from the center of the body part, the shaft part of the ice conveying means being rotatably inserted into the sliding part; And a pressurizing part extending outwardly from one end of the ice conveying side of the sliding part to be pressed by the ice. The method according to claim 4 or 5, The elastic member is an ice bank of the refrigerator fixed to the slider. The method according to claim 4 or 5, The elastic member is an ice bank of the refrigerator fixed to the housing. The method according to claim 4 or 5, The ice discharge device is: A cover installed at an ice outlet of the housing; A lever to which one end is pressed when the slider is retracted; And a baffle that is pressed by the other end of the lever to open and close the cover at a predetermined opening degree when one end of the lever is pressed. The method of claim 8, The lever is formed in a substantially "ku" shape, the other end is bent upwardly installed to be in contact with the baffle, the bent center is an ice bank of the refrigerator hinged fixed to the housing. The method of claim 8, The baffle is an ice bank of the refrigerator, one side is fixed to the cover and a predetermined portion is installed to contact the other end of the lever.

Images