KR101512123B1 - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a refrigerator comprising: a main body having a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment; a door opening and closing the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment; an ice-making compartment insulated in the refrigerating compartment; a first ice maker provided in the freezing compartment; A water dispenser provided in the door to supply water; and a water supply unit integrally formed to selectively supply water to the first ice maker, the second ice maker, and the dispenser, The reliability is improved.

Description

Refrigerator {REFRIGERATOR}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator capable of improving the reliability of a water supply system by keeping a water supply amount supplied to an ice maker constant.

Generally, a refrigerator is a device for keeping cold food at a low temperature by supplying low-temperature cold air to a storage room where food is stored. The refrigerator has a freezing chamber for keeping the temperature below the freezing temperature and a refrigerating chamber for maintaining a temperature slightly higher than the freezing temperature .

In recent years, as the standard of living has been improved, there has been a refrigerator equipped with an ice maker that generates ice according to the trend toward larger size and higher quality, and a dispenser that can drink beverage without opening the refrigerator door.

The water supply to the ice maker and the dispenser is supplied from an external water supply source (faucet or the like) through a water supply pipe, and purified water is supplied to the ice maker and the dispenser through the water valve after passing through the filter.

Generally, the water valve that supplies water to the ice maker does not have a function of controlling the flow rate, and supplies water to the ice maker through the on / off function for a predetermined water supply time.

However, in general, there is a difference in the water pressure of the water supplied to each household, and the amount of water supplied to the ice maker is changed by the time set by the water pressure difference, so that the amount of ice produced by the ice maker is maintained in a uniform state There was no problem.

In recent years, there has been a demand for a refrigerator having an ice maker for generating a large amount of ice as the consumption of ice greatly increases in the dietary culture of consumers.

An aspect of the present invention provides a refrigerator having an ice maker capable of generating a large amount of ice more quickly and storing a large amount of generated ice.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a water supply system capable of providing a uniform water supply to an icemaker of a refrigerator to provide a constant amount of ice.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator capable of improving reliability of a water supply system of a refrigerator.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator including a main body having a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber, a door for opening and closing the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber, an ice making chamber partitioned in the refrigerating chamber, A second ice maker provided in the freezer compartment, a dispenser provided in the door to supply water, and a second ice maker for selectively supplying water to the first ice maker, the second ice maker, and the dispenser, And a water supply unit integrally formed to supply the water supply unit.

The water supply unit may include a first valve unit formed of a 3-way valve to supply water supplied from an external water source to the first ice maker and the dispenser unit, and a second valve unit configured to supply water to the second ice- And a second valve unit formed of a valve.

The water supply unit may further include a flow sensor detachably coupled to an outlet of the first valve unit for supplying water to the first ice maker.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator comprising: a storage chamber; a door for opening and closing the storage chamber; a plurality of ice makers provided in the storage chamber; a dispenser provided in the door to supply water; And a water supply unit integrally formed for selectively supplying water to the ice making device and the dispenser device side, wherein the water supply unit supplies water supplied from an external water supply source to one of the plurality of ice-making devices and the dispenser device A first valve unit formed of a 3-way valve and a second valve unit formed of a 2-way valve to supply the other of the plurality of ice-making apparatuses.

In addition, a flow sensor detachably coupled to the outlet of at least one of the first valve unit and the second valve unit may be provided.

As described above, since the water supply unit of the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention is integrally formed as one module, the assembling productivity of the water supply system of the refrigerator is improved and the reliability is improved.

Also, the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention can generate uniform ice irrespective of external pressure fluctuation.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the refrigerator according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outer appearance of a refrigerator door of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator compartment door of FIG. 1 in a closed state. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a refrigerator door according to an example of the present invention in a state where the door of the freezer compartment is open;

1 and 2, a refrigerator according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a main body 10 forming an outer appearance, a storage compartment 20, 30 A door 21a, 21b and 31 for opening and closing the open front of the storage room 20 and 30 and a refrigerating room 20 arranged above the storage room 20 and 30 partitioned by the upper and lower sides, A first ice making device 100 provided in the ice making chamber 40 and a dispenser device 100 for discharging the ice in the first ice making device 100 to the front surface of the door 21a, And a second ice maker 200 provided in the freezer compartment 30 disposed below the storage compartments 20 and 30.

An evaporator 22 and 32 for generating cold air are provided on a rear wall of the main body 10 and a machine room 12 is partitioned at a lower rear side of the main body 10 to maintain heat insulation between the inside and outside of the main body 10 The foam material 13 is filled.

Electrical parts such as a compressor 14 are installed in the machine room 12 partitioned in the main body 10 and storage rooms 20 and 30 are formed on the machine room 12.

It is a matter of course that the main body 10 is provided with components such as a condenser (not shown) and an inflator (not shown) for forming a refrigeration cycle.

The storage compartments 20 and 30 are divided into upper and lower parts by the horizontal partition 15 to form a refrigerator compartment 20 formed on the upper side in the figure for refrigerating and storing the food and a freezer compartment 30 ).

The refrigerator compartment 20 provided on the upper side of the main body 10 includes a first evaporator 22 provided on the rear side of the refrigerating compartment 20 for generating cold air to be supplied into the refrigerating compartment 20, A refrigerant duct 24 for partitioning the first evaporator 22 side and the refrigerating unit 23 and circulating the cold air heat-exchanged by the first evaporator 22 to the refrigerating unit 23; And a first blowing fan 25 provided in the refrigerating duct 24 for forced circulation of cold air.

The refrigeration duct 24 has a plurality of first discharge openings 24b formed at predetermined intervals so as to discharge the cold air to the refrigerating unit 23 and a plurality of second discharge openings 24b provided in the front side of the refrigerating chamber 20, A first inlet 24c for introducing cool air to the first evaporator 22 side is formed.

The cold air in the refrigerating section 23 flows into the first evaporator 22 through the first inlet 24c and the cold air that has been heat-exchanged by the first evaporator 22 flows through the first blowing fan 25, And the cold air of the refrigerant passage 24a is discharged to the refrigerating unit 23 through the first discharge port 24b.

A freezer compartment 30 is provided below the refrigerating compartment 20. The freezer compartment 30 includes a second evaporator 32 provided on the rear side of the freezing compartment 30 to generate cold air to be supplied into the freezing compartment 30, A freezing section 33 which forms a storage space such as food to be frozen and stored and a cooling section which divides the second evaporator 32 side and the freezing section 33 and exchanges the heat exchanged by the second evaporator 32 with the freezing section 33 And a second blowing fan 35 provided in the freezing duct 34 for forced circulation of the cool air.

A plurality of second discharge ports 34b provided at a predetermined interval so as to discharge the cool air to the freezing section 33 and a plurality of second discharge ports 34b provided in the freezing section 33 at predetermined intervals, A second inlet 34c for introducing cool air of the second evaporator 32 to the second evaporator 32 side is formed.

The cold air in the freezing section 33 flows into the second evaporator 32 through the second inlet 34c and the cold air that has been heat-exchanged by the second evaporator 32 flows through the second blowing fan 35, And the cool air of the freezing flow path 34a is discharged to the freezing part 33 through the second discharge port 34b.

An ice making chamber 40 is formed at an upper portion of the refrigerating chamber 20 and is formed by a heat insulating wall 11. The ice making chamber 40 is provided with a first ice maker 100 for generating and storing ice.

Since the ice making chamber 40 is provided at one side of the space where the refrigerating chamber 20 is formed, heat exchange with the refrigerating chamber 20 can be generated. To prevent this, the heat insulating wall 11 of the ice making chamber 40 is formed of a heat insulating material do.

The first ice maker 100 includes a first ice maker 110 for producing ice and a second ice maker 110 disposed below the first ice maker 110 for storing ice produced in the first ice maker 110, A transfer unit 130 for transferring the ice stored in the first storage container 120 and a transfer unit 130 for crushing the ice transferred by the transfer unit 130 into crashed ice And a crushing unit (140).

The first ice making unit 110 includes an ice making tray 111 made of metal for producing ice from water supplied from the outside, a water supplying cup 113 for supplying water to the ice making tray 111, A scraper 115 for discharging the ice of the ice making tray 111 and a driving motor 117 for driving the scraper 115, (Not shown) for melting ice, and a full lever 119 for detecting whether ice stored in the first storage container 120 has become full ice.

The first ice-making unit may be configured not only to have the above-described structure but also to constitute an ice-making tray formed of a resin material injection material to rotate the ice-making tray and twist it to discharge the ice of the ice-making tray downward. Of course.

The first storage container 120 is installed below the first freezing unit 110. The first storage container 120 includes an accommodating portion 121 opened at an upper portion thereof to receive ice falling from the first ice making unit 110 and having a long length in the forward and backward directions, And includes a discharge port 123 and a cover 125 which is integrally provided in front of the first storage container 120 and closes the front of the ice making chamber 40 so as to be drawable into and out of the ice making chamber 40 .

The transfer unit 130 includes a spiral transfer member 131 rotatably installed in the first storage container 120 to discharge the ice in the first storage container 120 toward the ice discharge port 123, And a feed motor 133 fixed to the rear of the first storage container 120 for rotating the first storage container 131. The spiral transferring member 131 is separated from the shaft of the feed motor 133 when the first storage container 120 is separated from the ice making chamber 40 and the first storage container 120 is attached to the ice making chamber 40 And is coupled to the shaft of the feed motor 133 at the time of feeding.

The crushing unit 140 is installed on the ice discharge port 123 side of the first storage container 120. The crushing unit 140 includes a fixed blade 141 fixed to the ice discharge port 123 and a rotary blade 143 installed to rotate relative to the fixed blade 141. The rotary blade 143 is engaged with an axis 145 extending from the spiral transfer member 131 of the transfer unit 130. Therefore, when the spiral conveying member 131 rotates by the operation of the conveying motor 133, the rotary blade 143 of the crushing unit 140 also rotates.

The crushing unit 140 includes an opening and closing device (not shown) for discharging or discharging crashed ice to or from the ice discharge port 123 by closing or opening a part of the ice discharge port 123 can do. The configuration of the opening and closing apparatus is generally known and is not shown in the drawings.

For example, the opening / closing device may include an opening / closing member rotatably installed on the ice discharge port 123, a solenoid driving device for opening / closing the opening / closing member, and a connecting member connecting the first solenoid driving device and the opening / closing member.

In order to generate ice by driving the first ice maker, cold air must be introduced into the ice-making chamber. To this end, in one embodiment of the present invention, an ice-making passage 16 (16a, 16b) for circulating cold air on the side of the ice making chamber 40 and the second evaporator 32 is provided.

The ice making passage 16 is provided with a supply passage 16a for guiding the cool air heat-exchanged by the second evaporator 32 to the ice making chamber 40 and a coolant flowing in the ice making chamber 40 toward the second evaporator 32 And a return flow path 16b.

The supply passage 16a is connected to the ice making chamber 40 at the upper part of the second evaporator 32 and the second evaporator 32 is connected to the end of the supply passage 16a at the upper side of the second evaporator 32 And a third blowing fan 18 for forcibly supplying cool air, which has been heat-exchanged by the blowing fan 40, into the ice making chamber 40 is provided.

The cool air that has been heat-exchanged in the second evaporator 32 flows into the ice making chamber 40 through the supply passage 16a by the third blowing fan 18 and is supplied to the first ice maker 100 provided in the ice making chamber 40, As shown in FIG. The cool air supplied into the ice making chamber 40 is guided to the second evaporator 32 side through the return flow path 16b and is heat-exchanged. Through this circulation process, cool air for ice making is provided in the ice making chamber 40.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cold air on the second evaporator side of the freezer compartment is supplied to the ice making chamber and the supplied cold air is returned to the freezer compartment. However, The cold air can be supplied to the ice making chamber, and the supplied cold air can be returned to the refrigerating chamber.

A sliding type freezing chamber door 31 is provided on the front of the freezing chamber 30 and a pair of refrigerating chamber doors 21 and 21a and 21b are provided on the front side of the refrigerating chamber 20 in a hinged manner.

A storage space is formed on the inner surface of each of the doors 21 and 31 and a dispenser device 50 for selectively discharging water or ice generated through the first ice maker 100 is provided in the left refrigerating chamber door 21a. ).

2 and 3, the dispenser device 50 is formed as a space recessed inward from the front surface of the refrigerating compartment door 21a, and has a discharge port 51 for discharging the object, An opening and closing member 53 for opening and closing the outlet 51 and a drawer 52 for operating the first and second ice makers 100 provided in the freezing chamber 30 while driving the opening and closing member 53, An ice discharge passage 55 for communicating the inner surface and the outer surface of the refrigerating chamber door 21a to guide the ice of the first ice maker 100 to the outlet 51, And a selection button 56 for selecting an object (water or ice).

With this configuration, when water is filled in the ice-making tray 111 for a predetermined time, the ice in the ice-making tray 111 is frozen by the cold air circulating in the ice-making chamber 40, The ice drops into the first storage container 120 by the action of a heater (not shown) and the scraper 115 to fill the first storage container 120.

When the freezing lever 119 senses the fullness of the first storage container 120 by the ice supplied from the ice-making tray 111, the additional ice-making operation is terminated.

When the user presses the selection button 56 to select ice and presses the operation lever 54, the ice discharged to the ice outlet 123 is discharged to the outlet 52 through the ice discharge passage 55.

By this series of operations, the ice in the first ice maker 100 is supplied to the user through the dispenser 50. If a large amount of ice is desired to be used at a time, the limitation of the size of the ice making chamber, Because of the limit of the size of the vessel and the limitation of the rate of ice formation, a large amount of ice can not be generated and stored in advance.

Accordingly, in order to properly supply a large amount of ice, a large amount of ice must be generated and stored in advance. For this purpose, in an embodiment of the present invention, the second ice maker 200 is additionally provided in addition to the first ice maker 100 Respectively.

The second ice maker 200 is provided in the freezer compartment 30, and may have a configuration similar to that of the first ice maker.

The second ice making device 200 is provided in the upper space of the freezing room 30 and includes a second ice making unit 210 for manufacturing ice and a second ice making unit 210 for forming ice And a second storage container 220 disposed below and storing ice produced in the second ice making unit 210.

The second ice making unit 210 includes a second ice making tray 211 for making ice from water supplied from the outside, a water supplying cup 213 for supplying water to the second ice making tray 211, A drive motor 215 for rotating the second ice-making tray 211 to freeze the ice in the tray 211 and a full lever 217 for detecting whether ice stored in the second storage container 220 is full- .

A plurality of brackets (not shown) are coupled to one side wall of the freezing chamber 30 to be fixed to the freezing chamber 30 in the second freezing unit 210.

The second freezing unit may have the same configuration as that of the first freezing unit as well as the above configuration.

The second storage container 220 is installed below the second ice making unit 210. The second storage container 220 includes an accommodating portion 221 that is opened upward to receive the ice falling from the second ice making unit 210 and has a long length in the forward and backward directions, And a cover 223 for closing the front of the second ice making device 200.

The second storage container 220 is attached to the upper portion of the freezer compartment 30 in a drawer shape so that the second storage container 220 can be input and output.

The second storage container may be provided so as to be drawn out from the freezing chamber 30 in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the freezing chamber door 31.

Although the second ice maker is described as an automatic ice maker in the above description, this is merely an example, and a general manual ice maker in which a user must perform water supply and deicing is also applicable.

With this configuration, when water is filled in the second ice-making tray 211 and then a predetermined time elapses, water in the second ice-making tray 211 is frozen by the cold air circulating in the freezing chamber 30, , The drive motor 215 rotates the second ice-making tray 211 and then twists the ice to the second storage container 220 by dropping the ice of the second ice-making tray 211.

When the freezing lever 217 senses the fullness of the second storage container 220 by the ice supplied from the second ice-making tray 211, the additional ice-making operation is terminated.

In addition, the user can open the freezing chamber door 31 and draw the second storage container 220 forward to use the ice stored in the second storage container 220 as needed.

The refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention described above can generate a large amount of ice and store the generated ice by providing an ice maker in each of the ice making room and the freezing room.

Hereinafter, a water supply system of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 4 illustrates a water supply system of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a water supply unit of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 and 5, the main body 10 is provided with a water supply system 300 for supplying water to the dispenser apparatus 50 and the first and second ice making apparatuses 100 and 200.

The water supply system 300 includes a water filter 310 for purifying water supplied from an external water supply source, a water supply unit 320 for controlling water supply, a water tank 330 for cooling water, 342, 343, and 344 for guiding the water supply to the dispenser apparatus 50 and the first and second ice making apparatuses 100 and 200 from the first water supply pipe 320.

The water filter 310 is connected to an external water source (faucet or the like) through a connection pipe 340. The water filter 310 is detachably mounted on a filter socket 311 provided in the upper portion of the refrigerating chamber 20 and connected to the water supply unit 320 through a first water supply pipe 341.

The first water supply pipe 341 is provided with a distributor 350 in which water purified from the water filter 310 is branched into the water supply unit 320 and introduced therein. The branch water passages 351 and 352 branched by the distributor 350 are connected to the inlet portion 322 of the first valve unit 321 and the inlet portion 326 of the second valve unit 325 of the water supply unit 320, .

The first valve unit 321 is for selectively supplying water to either the first ice maker 100 or the water tank 330 and the second valve unit 323 is for supplying water to the second ice maker 200 To supply water.

For this, the first valve unit 321 is formed of a 3-way valve, and the second valve unit 325 is formed of a 2-way valve and integrally provided through a bracket 328 to form a single module.

As a result, it is possible to reduce the installation cost due to the installation of the valve separately in each water supply line, thereby improving the assembly productivity.

Such a valve is a commonly used solenoid valve that controls the flow of a fluid by opening and closing an internal flow path by reciprocating the plunger depending on the presence or absence of an electromagnetic force generated in the electromagnet, and a detailed configuration thereof is well known, do.

The first outlet 323 of the first valve unit 321 formed by the 3-way valve is connected to the second water supply pipe 342 to supply water to the first ice maker 100, and the first valve unit 321 Is connected to the third water supply pipe 343 to supply water to the water tank 330. [

The water tank 330 stores a predetermined amount of purified water through the water filter 310. The water tank 330 has an inlet connected to the third water supply pipe 343 and an outlet connected to the dispenser 50 through the fifth water supply pipe 345.

The outlet port 327 of the second valve unit 325 formed by the 2-way valve is connected to the fourth water supply pipe 344 to supply water to the second ice maker 200.

On the other hand, a flow sensor 360 provided detachably through a connector or one-touch fitting is provided in the first outlet port 323 of the first valve unit 321 for supplying water to the first ice maker 100, The second water supply pipe 342 is connected to the outlet of the sensor 360.

The flow sensor 360 is a device that senses the flow rate of water supplied to the first ice maker 100 when the water is supplied to the first ice maker 100. The flow sensor 360 includes an impeller that rotates in accordance with the flow of water supplied, a magnet (not shown) that rotates integrally with the impeller, And a magnetic sensor (not shown) that senses a change in magnetic flux density with rotation of the magnetic sensor and generates an electric signal by a Hall-effect.

Since the flow sensor 360 corresponds to a well-known technology, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

That is, in the flow sensor 360, the impeller rotates according to the flow rate of water to be supplied, and the magnetic sensor senses a change in magnetic flux density of the magnet rotating together with the impeller, converts the magnetic flux density into an electric signal, Thereby controlling the supply of water to the first ice maker 100.

Accordingly, the supply of the water from the external water source to the first ice maker 100 through the water supply unit 320 can always supply a constant amount irrespective of the water pressure, so that it is possible to generate uniform ice.

The flow sensor 360 of the water supply unit 320 according to an embodiment of the present invention is detachably attached to the valve units 321 and 325 so that the first and second ice making units 100 and 2, It is possible to selectively attach the water supply unit to the outlet port of the ice making unit 200, thereby facilitating the design change of the water supply system.

Hereinafter, operation and effects of a water supply system of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. 6 is a view illustrating a water supply flow of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, the water supplied from the external water supply source flows into the water filter 310 through the connection pipe 340. The water flowing into the water filter 310 flows into the distributor 350 through the first water supply pipe 341 and flows through the first valve unit 321 and the second valve unit 321 through the water discharge passages 351 and 352 of the distributor 350, And flows into the valve unit 325.

The water supplied to the first valve unit 321 is supplied to the first ice maker 100 or the water tank 330. In this case, when the user presses the selection button 56 to select water and operates the operation lever 54 during water supply from the first valve unit () to the first ice maker 100, the first valve unit 321 1 to the ice maker 100 and the water tank 330 at the same time.

The amount of water supplied to the first ice maker 100 is significantly reduced but the flow rate of the water supplied by the flow sensor 360 provided in front of the second water supply pipe 342 for supplying water to the first ice maker 100 And a uniform water supply amount is supplied to the first ice maker 100 by the set water supply amount.

As a result, the first ice maker 100 is supplied with a uniform amount of water irrespective of the pressure fluctuation, so that a uniform amount of ice can be maintained.

The first and second valve units 321 and 325 for controlling the supply of water to the first and second ice makers 100 and 200 and the water tank 330 are integrally modularized and installed through one water supply unit 320, The cost and time required for installing the valve unit for controlling the water supply for each of the water supply systems 342, 343, and 344 can be reduced, and the water supply structure of the water supply system 300 is simplified, thereby improving assembly productivity and reliability.

The flow sensor 360 provided at the front of the first ice maker 100 and controlling the water supply is detachably provided at the outlet port 323 of the first valve unit 321 so that the design of the water supply system 300 So that the change can be facilitated.

That is, the flow sensor 360 is coupled to the outlet ports 323 and 327 of the first and second valve units 321 and 325 to supply a uniform amount of water to both the first and second ice makers 100 and 200 When the dispenser device 50 is provided on the door 31 that opens and closes the freezing chamber 30 and the ice is supplied from the second ice maker 200 to the dispenser device 50, the flow sensor 360 is connected to the second valve unit 325 of the refrigerator so as to simplify the design change according to the water supply system 300 of the refrigerator.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a refrigerator door of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention when the refrigerator door is opened.

2 is a schematic sectional view of the refrigerator compartment door of FIG. 1 in a closed state;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a freezer compartment door of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 illustrates a water supply system of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a perspective view illustrating a water supply unit of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a view illustrating a water supply flow of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the Related Art [0002]

10: main body, 20: refrigerating chamber,

30: freezing room, 40: ice making room,

50: dispenser device, 100: first ice maker,

200: second ice maker, 300: water supply system,

310: water filter, 320: water supply unit,

330: water tank, 341: first water supply pipe,

342: second water supply pipe, 343: third water supply pipe,

344: Third water piping, 350: Dispenser.

Claims (5)

A main body having a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber; A door for opening and closing the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment, respectively; An ice making compartment to be adiabatically divided into the refrigerating compartment; A first ice-making device provided in the ice-making chamber; A second ice making device provided in the freezing room; A dispenser provided on the door to supply water; And a water supply unit integrally formed to selectively supply water to the first ice maker, the second ice maker, and the dispenser, Wherein the water supply unit includes a first valve unit that supplies water supplied from an external water source to the first ice maker and the dispenser, and a second valve unit that supplies the water to the second ice maker. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the first valve unit is formed of a 3-way valve, and the second valve unit is formed of a 2-way valve. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the water supply unit further comprises a flow sensor detachably coupled to an outlet of the first valve unit that supplies water to the first ice maker. A storage room, A door that opens and closes the storage room; A plurality of ice-making devices provided in the storage room; A dispenser provided on the door to supply water; And a water supply unit integrally formed for selectively supplying water to the plurality of ice-making apparatuses and the dispenser apparatus side, Wherein the water supply unit includes a first valve unit formed of a 3-way valve to supply water supplied from an external water source to one of the plurality of ice-making apparatuses and the dispenser apparatus, and a second valve unit provided to the other of the plurality of ice- And a second valve unit formed of a two-way valve for allowing the first valve unit to be opened. 5. The method of claim 4, Wherein a flow sensor detachably coupled to the outlet of at least one of the first valve unit and the second valve unit is provided.

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