KR101492274B1 - Ice dispenser and refrigerator having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ice dispenser for providing ice produced from an ice maker to an outside, more effectively preventing dew condensation from occurring in a duct cap for opening and closing the ice duct, And an ice dispenser capable of enhancing a luxurious image of a product and a refrigerator having the ice dispenser.

The ice dispenser according to the present invention includes an ice duct for externally supplying ice produced from an ice maker and a duct cap for selectively opening and closing the outlet of the ice duct, A cap cover coupled to the other surface of the cap body and having a lever for transmitting a driving force for selectively opening and closing the outlet of the ice duct on the other surface; And a light source disposed on the other surface of the cap cover and emitting light toward the outside.

Refrigerator, Ice dispenser, Ice duct, Duct cap, Light source

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to an ice dispenser and a refrigerator having the ice dispenser.

The present invention relates to an ice dispenser for externally providing ice produced from an ice maker and a refrigerator having the ice dispenser.

Generally, a refrigerator is a device that keeps refrigerated food inside a refrigerator for a certain period of time by keeping the inside of a refrigerator low by repeating a refrigeration cycle in which a circulating refrigerant compresses, condenses, expands and evaporates, It is one.

Such a refrigerator has an integral type in which the interior of the body is used without regard to a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber, and a separate type in which the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber are separated from each other. Even in the case of the detachable type, it is classified into various kinds according to user's preference or selection.

In addition to the functions of simple refrigeration and freezing, the refrigerator has an additional function such as an ice dispenser and an ice dispenser for receiving ice, receiving and discharging the ice, and the like. These ice-makers are mainly installed in the freezer compartment, but they may be installed inside the refrigerator compartment, the refrigerator compartment, or the freezer compartment door.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a conventional ice dispenser and a refrigerator having the ice dispenser, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a duct cap of the ice dispenser in the embodiment of FIG.

1, a refrigerator 1 includes a refrigerator body 10, a refrigerator door 20 that opens and closes the refrigerator body 10, an ice maker 30 installed inside the refrigerator 1 to produce ice, And an ice dispenser 40 connected to the ice maker 30 and configured to include an ice duct 41 for supplying ice to the outside and a duct cap 42 for selectively opening and closing the ice duct 41 .

The duct cap 42 of the ice dispenser 40 includes a cap body 42a, a cap cover 42b, a heat insulating material 42c and a hot wire heater 42d as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 And a lever 43 coupled to the cap cover 42b of the duct cap 42 to transmit a driving force to open and close the outlet of the ice duct 42. The hot wire heater 42d is provided to prevent dew condensation from occurring in the duct cap 42 due to a temperature difference between the inside and the outside of the ice duct 42. [

It is an object of the present invention, which is devised from the above-described conventional ice dispenser, to more effectively prevent dew condensation from occurring in a duct cap that opens and closes an ice duct, and allows a user to easily remove ice even in a dark room And an ice dispenser capable of enhancing a luxurious image of the product, and a refrigerator having the ice dispenser.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an ice dispenser comprising: an ice duct for externally supplying ice produced from an ice maker; and a duct cap for selectively opening and closing an outlet of the ice duct, A cap cover coupled to the other surface of the cap body and having a lever for transmitting a driving force for selectively opening and closing an outlet of the ice duct, the cap cover having a cap body that is in close contact with an outlet of the ice duct, A heat insulating material interposed between the cap body and the cap cover, and a light source provided on the other surface of the cap cover and emitting light toward the outside.

The light source may be a light emitting diode (LED).

The air conditioner further includes a sealing protrusion extending from one surface of the cap body and inserted into the outlet side of the ice duct to closely contact the inner surface of the outlet side of the ice duct.

In addition, the ice duct is formed with an enlarged diameter portion whose inside diameter is enlarged by a length in which the closing stone portion is inserted and closely contacted inside the outlet side.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator including an ice dispenser including a refrigerator body for storing food in a low temperature state, a refrigerator door for opening and closing the refrigerator body, and an ice- And an ice dispenser installed in the refrigerator door and having an ice duct for supplying ice produced from the ice maker to the outside and a duct cap for selectively opening and closing the outlet of the ice duct, The duct cap includes a cap main body having one surface thereof being in close contact with an outlet of the ice duct, a lever coupled to the other surface of the cap body at one surface thereof, and a lever for transmitting a driving force for selectively opening and closing the outlet of the ice duct, A cap cover, a heat insulating material interposed between the cap body and the cap cover, And a light source emitting light toward the outside.

The ice dispenser according to the present invention and the refrigerator having the ice dispenser can more effectively prevent dew condensation from occurring in the duct cap opening and closing the ice duct, Can enhance the luxurious image of.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the ice dispenser and the refrigerator having the ice dispenser according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing an embodiment of the ice dispenser of the present invention and a refrigerator having the same, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a duct cap of the ice dispenser in the embodiment of FIG.

3, the refrigerator 1 includes a refrigerator body 10, a refrigerator door 20, and an ice maker 30, which are connected to the ice dispenser 40. The ice dispenser 40 can be installed in the refrigerator 1, . The ice dispenser 40 includes an ice duct 100 and a duct cap 200. The duct cap 200 includes a cap body 210, a cap cover 220, (230) and a light source (240).

3, the refrigerator 1 comprises a refrigerator body 10 and a refrigerator door 20, and the refrigerator body 10 stores foods therein at a low temperature. 20 opens and closes the refrigerator body 10. The refrigerator (1) has an integral type in which the inside of the refrigerator body (10) is divided into a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment, and a separate type in which the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment are used separately. The separated type includes a top mount type in which a freezing chamber is provided at an upper portion and a refrigerating chamber is installed at a lower portion, a bottom freezer type in which a freezing chamber is provided at an upper portion of the refrigerating chamber, and a side by side Type (Side By Side Type). The top mount, bottom freezer and side by side types of the separate type refrigerator have advantages and disadvantages, respectively, but they are mainly influenced by the taste or the choice of the user. In addition to the functions of simple refrigeration and freezing, the refrigerator has an additional function such as an ice dispenser 30 and an ice dispenser 40 for deicing, storing and taking out water. The ice maker 30 is installed mainly inside the freezer compartment, but may be installed inside the refrigerator compartment, the refrigerator compartment, or the freezer compartment door.

The ice maker 30 is installed in the refrigerator body 10 or the refrigerator door 20 to produce ice, as shown in FIG. That is, the icemaker 30 generally receives ice from the outside through the ice-making tray, de-icers the ice produced from the ice-making tray, stores the ice in the ice box, and discharges the ice through the ice dispenser 40 do. Since the structure and operation of the ice-maker 30 can be realized by the prior art, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

3, the ice dispenser 40 includes an ice duct 100 for supplying ice produced from the ice maker 30 to the outside, a duct cap (not shown) for selectively opening and closing the outlet of the ice duct 100 200). The ice duct 100 is generally installed to pass through the refrigerator door 20 and is connected to the ice maker 30 to serve as a connection pipe for supplying ice to the ice maker 30 from the ice maker 30. The duct cap 200 serves as a valve for opening and closing the outlet of the ice duct 100 according to the user's selection. The ice produced from the ice maker 30 is supplied to the outside through the ice duct 100 and the user can take out the ice by operating the duct cap 200 which opens and closes the outlet of the ice duct 100 It is. The inside of the ice duct 100 is in a low temperature state and the outside of the duct cap 200 for opening and closing the outlet of the ice duct 100 is connected to the icemaker 30 at room temperature The duct cap 200 may be dew condensed due to the temperature difference between the inside and the outside of the duct cap 200. A specific configuration of the duct cap 200 will be described in detail below in order to effectively prevent dew condensation from occurring in the duct cap 200.

The duct cap 200 includes a cap body 210, a cap cover 220, a heat insulating material 230, and a light source 240 as shown in FIGS.

One side of the cap body 210 is in close contact with the outlet of the ice duct 100. The cap body 210 may be made of silicone, rubber, or synthetic resin, and substantially contacts the outlet of the ice duct 100 to open and close the outlet of the ice duct 100. Accordingly, the cap body 210 can be brought into close contact with the outlet of the ice duct 100 to maintain a low temperature state inside the ice duct 100. To this end, the air conditioner further includes a sealing protrusion 211 extended from one side of the cap body 210 and inserted into the outlet side of the ice duct 100 to closely contact the inner surface of the outlet side of the ice duct 100 . The hermetically sealed portion 211 is preferably formed integrally with the cap body 210, and is suitable for mass production, and is preferably made of the same material as the cap body 210. The hermetically-sealed portion 211 extends from one surface of the cap body 210 and is inserted into the outlet side of the ice duct 100. The cap body 210 is more tightly brought into close contact with the outlet of the ice duct 100 by being inserted into the outlet side of the ice duct 100 so as to be in close contact with the outlet of the ice duct 100, It is possible to prevent the cold air inside the heat exchanger 100 from easily escaping to the outside. At this time, the ice duct 100 may have a diameter-enlarged portion 110 whose inside diameter is enlarged by a length in which the hermetically sealed portion 211 is inserted and adhered to the inside of the outlet side. Accordingly, not only the sealing protrusion 211 can be easily inserted through the enlarged diameter portion 110, but also the cap body 210 can easily escape when opening the outlet of the ice duct 100.

3 and 4, the cap cover 220 is coupled to the other surface of the cap body 210 on one side and transmits a driving force for selectively opening and closing the outlet of the ice duct 100 on the other surface The lever 221 is engaged. The cap cover 220 may be coupled to the cap body 210 so that the cap cover 210 is connected to the ice duct 100. [ A lever 221 for transmitting a driving force for opening and closing the outlet of the lever 221 is coupled. At this time, the driving force of the lever 221 can be transmitted through a rotating motor (not shown), and a driving force is selectively transmitted to the lever 221 according to a user's operation.

A heat insulating material 230 is interposed between the cap body 210 and the cap cover 220. The heat insulating material 230 prevents the cool air inside the ice duct 100 from leaking to the outside while the duct cap 200 shields the outlet of the ice duct 100. That is, since the cool air inside the ice duct 100 can not be interrupted by only the cap body 210 and the cap cover 220, the heat insulating material 230 is installed between the cap body 210 and the cap cover 220.

As shown in FIG. 4, the light source 240 is installed on the other surface of the cap cover 220 and emits light toward the outside. The light source 240 is an object that emits light, and is typically a light emitted by temperature. Accordingly, it is possible not only to prevent dew condensation from occurring in the duct cap 200 by the light emitted from the light source 240, but also to allow the user to easily take out the ice even in a dark room, Images can be enhanced. The light source 240 may include various kinds of light sources such as an incandescent lamp, a fluorescent lamp, a light emitting diode (LED), and a laser. Any type of light source may be used. However, it is preferable that the light source 240 uses a light emitting diode (LED) having a low power and a long life to maintain the temperature for preventing dew condensation. Depending on the type and arrangement of the light source 240, the light source 240 may be provided in various forms such as a point light source, a circular light source, and a surface light source.

The embodiments of the present invention described above and shown in the drawings should not be construed as limiting the technical idea of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is limited only by the matters described in the claims, and those skilled in the art will be able to modify the technical idea of the present invention in various forms. Accordingly, such improvements and modifications will fall within the scope of the present invention as long as they are obvious to those skilled in the art.

1 is a side sectional view showing a conventional ice dispenser and a refrigerator having the same,

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a duct cap of the ice dispenser in the embodiment of FIG. 1,

3 is a side sectional view showing an embodiment of the ice dispenser and the refrigerator having the ice dispenser of the present invention,

4 is an exploded perspective view showing a duct cap of the ice dispenser in the embodiment of FIG.

Description of the Related Art

1: Refrigerator

10: Refrigerator body

20: Refrigerator door

30: Ice machine

40: Ice dispenser

100: ice duct 110:

200: Duct cap

210: cap body 211:

220: cap cover 221: lever

230: Insulation

240: Light source

Claims (5)

And a duct cap for selectively opening and closing an outlet of the ice duct, The duct cap A cap body having a surface thereof being in close contact with an outlet of the ice duct, A cap cover coupled to the other surface of the cap body and having a lever for transmitting driving force for selectively opening and closing the outlet of the ice duct on the other surface; A heat insulating material interposed between the cap body and the cap cover, And a light source provided on the other surface of the cap cover and emitting light toward the outside, Wherein the light source is installed on the other surface of the cap cover and is maintained at a temperature for preventing dew formation. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the light source is a light emitting diode (LED). The method according to claim 1, Further comprising a sealing protrusion extending from one surface of the cap body and inserted into the outlet side of the ice duct to closely contact the inner surface of the outlet side of the ice duct. The method of claim 3, Wherein the ice duct is formed with an enlarged diameter portion whose inside diameter is enlarged by a length in which the closed stone portion is inserted and closely fitted into the outlet side. An ice maker installed in the refrigerator main body or the refrigerator door to produce ice; and an ice maker installed in the refrigerator door to supply the ice- 1. A refrigerator comprising an ice dispenser having an ice duct for providing ice to the outside and a duct cap for selectively opening and closing an outlet of the ice duct, The duct cap of the ice dispenser, A cap body having a surface thereof being in close contact with an outlet of the ice duct, A cap cover coupled to the other surface of the cap body and having a lever for transmitting driving force for selectively opening and closing the outlet of the ice duct on the other surface; A heat insulating material interposed between the cap body and the cap cover, And a light source provided on the other surface of the cap cover and emitting light toward the outside, Wherein the light source is installed on the other surface of the cap cover and is maintained at a temperature for preventing dew formation.

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