KR101639440B1 - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present embodiment proposes a refrigerator. The refrigerator according to one aspect includes: a cabinet forming a storage compartment; And a refrigerator door for opening and closing the storage compartment, wherein the refrigerator door includes: an ice making chamber; An ice maker disposed in the ice making chamber for forming ice; A support mechanism for supporting the ice maker and selectively housed in the ice making chamber; An ice bin for storing the ice produced by the ice maker; And a full ice detector installed in the support mechanism for detecting the full ice of the ice bin.

Refrigerator

Description

Refrigerator {Refrigerator}

This embodiment relates to a refrigerator.

Generally, a refrigerator is a device for storing food at a low temperature by low-temperature air.

The refrigerator includes a cabinet in which a storage room is formed, and a refrigerator door that opens and closes the storage room. The storage room may include a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment, and the refrigerator door may include a refrigerator compartment door for opening and closing the refrigerator compartment, and a freezer compartment door for opening and closing the free compartment.

In addition, the refrigerator may include an ice-making assembly for generating and storing ice using cold air. The ice making assembly includes an ice maker for generating ice and an ice bin for storing ice separated from the ice maker. The ice maker and the ice bin may be disposed in either the storage room or the refrigerator door. For convenience of the user, the refrigerator door may further include a dispenser for taking out the ice stored in the ice bin. In addition, whether the ice bin is full or not can be detected by the ice detector.

An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator which can easily repair or replace a full ice detector for detecting ice cubes of ice bin.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator in which the ice detector is installed in a supporting mechanism for supporting the ice maker, thereby increasing the space utilization of the ice making chamber.

The refrigerator according to one aspect includes: a cabinet forming a storage compartment; And a refrigerator door for opening and closing the storage compartment, wherein the refrigerator door includes: an ice making chamber; An ice maker disposed in the ice making chamber for forming ice; A support mechanism for supporting the ice maker and selectively housed in the ice making chamber; An ice bin for storing the ice produced by the ice maker; And a full ice detector installed in the support mechanism for detecting the full ice of the ice bin.

According to the present invention, since the ice detector is installed in a supporting mechanism supporting the ice maker, the ice detector can be easily installed, repaired or replaced. That is, since the ice-making assembly provided with the ice-fullness detector is installed in the ice-making chamber or the ice-making assembly is taken out of the ice-making chamber, the ice-making sensor can be repaired or replaced.

Further, the ice-making sensor is positioned below the ice maker, and the ice-making assembly is made compact as the ice-bin is placed in the ice-making chamber while being accommodated in the ice-making chamber, and the volume of the ice-making chamber can be reduced.

In addition, the detection reliability is improved by preventing movement of each element coupled to the PCB by the alignment unit.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a refrigerator door according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 2, the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment includes a cabinet 10 having an external shape and refrigerator doors 11 and 14 movably connected to the cabinet 10.

In the cabinet 10, a storage room for storing food is formed. The storage chamber includes a refrigerating chamber 102 and a freezing chamber 104 positioned below the refrigerating chamber 102. That is, in this embodiment, a bottom freeze type refrigerator will be described in which a refrigerating chamber is disposed at an upper portion of a freezing chamber, for example.

The refrigerator doors 11 and 14 include a refrigerating chamber door 11 for opening and closing the refrigerating chamber 102 and a freezing chamber door 14 for opening and closing the freezing chamber 104.

The refrigerator compartment door (11) includes a plurality of doors (12, 13) arranged on the left and right. The plurality of doors 12 and 13 include a first refrigerator compartment door 12 and a second refrigerator compartment door 13 disposed on the right side of the first refrigerator compartment door 12. The first refrigerator compartment door (12) and the second refrigerator compartment door (13) can be independently moved.

The freezing chamber door (14) includes a plurality of doors (15, 16) arranged vertically. The plurality of doors 15 and 16 include a first freezing chamber door 15 and a second freezing chamber door 16 positioned below the first freezing chamber door 15.

The first and second refrigerating chamber doors 12 and 13 can rotate and the first and second freezing chamber doors 15 and 16 can slide.

On the other hand, a door of the first and second refrigerating chamber doors is provided with a dispenser 17 for taking out water or ice. In FIG. 1, for example, the dispenser 17 is shown in the first refrigerator compartment door 12.

One of the first and second refrigerating chamber doors is provided with an ice making assembly (to be described later) for generating and storing ice.

In this embodiment, the dispenser 17 and the icemaker assembly may be provided in the first refrigerator compartment door 12 or the second refrigerator compartment door 13. The dispenser 17 and the ice maker assembly will be described below as being disposed in the refrigerator compartment door 11 collectively referred to as a first refrigerator compartment door 12 and a second refrigerator compartment door 13.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a refrigerator compartment door in an opened state of the ice making chamber door according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a refrigerator compartment door in a state where the icemaker assembly is removed from the ice making chamber according to the present embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the refrigerator compartment door 11 includes an outer case 111 and a door liner 112 coupled to the outer case 111. The door liner 112 forms the rear surface of the refrigerator compartment door 11.

The door liner 112 forms an ice compartment 120. In the ice making chamber 120, an ice making assembly 200 for generating and storing ice is disposed. The ice making chamber 120 is opened and closed by the ice making chamber door 130. The ice-making chamber door 130 is rotatably connected to the door liner 112 by a hinge 139. The ice making chamber door 130 is provided with a handle 140 to be coupled to the door liner 112 in a state where the ice making chamber door 130 is closed with the ice making chamber 120.

The door liner 112 is formed with a handle engagement portion 128 to which a part of the handle 140 is coupled. The handle engaging portion 128 receives a part of the handle 140.

The cabinet 10 includes a main body supply duct 106 for supplying cool air to the ice making chamber 120 and a main body recovering duct 108 for recovering cool air from the ice making chamber 120. The main body supply duct 106 and the main body recovery duct 108 may communicate with a space where an evaporator (not shown) is located.

The refrigerator compartment door 11 is provided with a door supply duct 122 for supplying the cool air of the main body supply duct 106 to the ice making chamber 120 and a cooler for supplying the cool air of the ice making chamber 120 to the main body recovery duct 108 (Not shown).

The door supply duct 122 and the door recovery duct 124 extend from an outer wall 113 of the door liner 110 to an inner wall 114 forming the ice making chamber 120. The door supply duct 122 and the door recovery duct 124 are vertically disposed and the door supply duct 122 is disposed above the door recovery duct 124. However, in this embodiment, there is no limitation on the positions of the door supply duct 122 and the door return duct 124. [

When the refrigerator compartment door (11) closes the refrigerating compartment (102), the door supply duct (122) is aligned with and communicates with the main supply duct (106), and the door return duct (124) And communicates with the recovery duct 108 in an aligned manner.

The ice making chamber 200 is provided with a cool air duct 290 for guiding cool air, which has flowed through the door supply duct 122, to the icemaker assembly 200. A coolant flow path is formed in the cool air duct 290 and cool air having flowed through the cool air duct 290 is finally supplied to the icemaker assembly 200 side. Since the cool air can be concentrated to the icemaker assembly 200 by the cool air duct 290, it is possible to rapidly generate ice.

Meanwhile, the refrigerator compartment door (11) is provided with a first connector (125) for supplying power to the icemaker assembly (200). The first connector (125) is exposed to the ice making chamber (120). In addition, the refrigerator compartment door 11 is provided with a water supply pipe 126 for supplying water to the icemaker assembly 200.

The water supply pipe 126 is disposed between the outer case 111 and the door liner 112 and one end is located in the ice making chamber 120 through the door liner 112.

An opening 127 through which ice is discharged is formed below the inner wall 114 of the door liner 112 forming the ice making chamber 120. An ice duct 150 communicating with the opening 127 is disposed below the ice making chamber 120.

Hereinafter, the structure of the ice-making assembly will be described in detail.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views of the ice-making assembly according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the ice-making assembly.

3 to 7, the icemaker assembly 200 of the present embodiment includes an ice maker 210 for defining a space in which ice is generated and supporting the generated ice, an ice maker 210 for separating the ice from the ice maker 210, A gear box 224 for transmitting the power of the driving source 220 to the ice maker 210 and a control unit 220 for controlling the operation of the ice maker 210, And a water guide 240 for guiding the water supplied from the ice maker 126 to the ice maker 210.

The ice maker assembly 200 includes a support mechanism 250 having a mounting portion 215 on which the ice maker 210 is mounted and an ice bin 300 for storing ice separated from the ice maker 210 A full ice detector 300 for sensing ice cubes of the ice bin 300 and a motor assembly 280 selectively connected to the ice bin 300.

The electric wire connected to the motor assembly 280 and the electric wire connected to the driving source 220 are connected to the second connector 282. The second connector (282) is detachably connected to the first connector (125).

In detail, a rotary shaft 212 for providing a rotation center is formed at one side of the ice maker 210. The rotation shaft 212 extends laterally of the ice maker 210. A protrusion 213 is formed on the surface of the ice maker 210 on which the rotation shaft 212 is formed.

A guide rib 214 for collecting cool air is formed on both sides of the upper part of the ice maker 210. Each of the guide ribs 214 extends upward from the upper end of the ice maker 210.

The gear box 224 includes a plurality of gears not shown. The gear box 224 is connected to one of a plurality of gears and includes a connection part 225 to be connected to the ice maker 210.

In order for the connection part 225 and the ice maker 210 to rotate together, the cross section of the connection part 225 is formed in a non-circular shape. The connection unit 225 is connected to the other side of the ice maker 210. That is, the connection part 225 is connected to the ice maker 210 on the opposite side of the rotation shaft 212.

The support mechanism 250 includes a first support portion 252 and a second support portion 260 coupled to the first support portion 252.

The first support portion 252 is selectively seated in the ice making chamber 120. The motor assembly 280 is mounted on the first support portion 252. An ice hole 253 through which the ice discharged from the ice bin 300 passes is formed on the bottom surface of the first support portion 252. The ice bin 300 is secured to the first support portion 252. That is, the first support part 252 supports the ice bin 300.

When the ice bin 300 is mounted on the first support portion 252, the motor assembly 280 is connected to the ice bin 300. The motor assembly 280 includes a connection portion 281 connected to the ice bin 300 to provide power to the ice bin 300.

The state in which the ice bin 300 is seated in the first support portion 252 means that the ice bin 300 is received in the ice making chamber 120. In this embodiment,

The first support part 252 includes a sensor housing 255 having a temperature sensor 254 for sensing the temperature of the ice making chamber. The sensor housing 255 may protrude forward from the upper end of the front surface of the first support portion 252. The sensor housing 255 may be located above the center of the ice maker 210.

The second support portion 260 includes a seating portion 215 on which the protrusion 213 of the ice maker 210 is seated. The protrusion 213 is seated in the seating part 215 when the ice maker 210 is not rotated. The seat 215 is formed with a hole 215a through which the rotating shaft 212 passes.

The second support part 260 is provided with a cover 230 covering a part of the ice maker 210 to prevent water from overflowing when the ice maker 210 supplies water, 220 are installed.

The drive source 220 is installed on the upper side of the installation part 264 and the gear box 224 is installed on the lower side of the installation part 264.

The cover 230 extends downward from the mounting portion 264 in a downward direction. The lower end of the cover 230 is positioned adjacent to the upper end of the ice maker 210. A cool air guide 236 for guiding the cool air discharged from the cool air duct 290 to the ice maker is formed on the cover 230. The cool air guide 236 extends vertically upward from the cover 230.

The cover 230 can be understood to be rounded downward from the cool air guide 236 toward the outer side of the cool air guide 236.

The cool air guide 236 and the cover 230 are continuously formed. Accordingly, some of the cool air flowing along the cool air guide 236 moves vertically downward, and the other part is supplied to the ice maker after moving along the round surface of the cover 230. Therefore, the cover 230 serves to prevent the water from overflowing in the ice maker 210 and to guide the cool air.

The second support part 260 includes an installation part 261 for installing the ice-making sensor 270. The installation part 261 is formed with an opening part 262 through which the ice-making sensor 270 penetrates. The ice detector 270 passes through the opening 262 at the rear of the mounting portion 261. The ice detector 270 is supported by the mounting portion 261 through the opening 262. The ice detector 270 is installed in the second support part 260 at a position spaced apart from the ice maker 210.

The ice detector 270 includes a transmitter 271 for transmitting a signal and a receiver 272 for separating the transmitter 271 and receiving the signal from the transmitter 271. The transmitting unit 271 and the receiving unit 272 are located in the inner space of the ice bin 300 in a state where the ice bin 300 is seated on the first supporting unit 252.

The ice bin 300 has openings 311 and 312 through which the transmitter 271 and the receiver 272 are inserted.

Since the ice detector is installed in a supporting mechanism for supporting the ice maker, it is easy to install, repair or replace the ice detector. That is, since the ice-making assembly provided with the ice-fullness detector is installed in the ice-making chamber or the ice-making assembly is taken out of the ice-making chamber, the ice-making sensor can be repaired or replaced.

 The ice detector 270 is located below the ice maker 210. The distance between the transmitter 271 and the receiver 272 is longer than the left and right lengths of the ice maker 210. Therefore, interference between the ice falling from the ice maker 210 and the ice detector 200 can be prevented, and the full ice of the ice bin 300 can be sensed.

In addition, since the ice detector 270 is positioned below the ice maker and the ice bin is positioned in the ice bin when the ice bin is accommodated in the ice tray, the ice tray assembly is made compact and the volume of the ice tray can be reduced do.

8 is an exploded perspective view of the ice detector according to the present embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 8, the ice-fullness detector 270 includes a transmitter 271 and a receiver 272 as described above.

The transmission unit 271 includes a case 2711, a PCB 2713 accommodated in the case 2711, a viewing window 2714 covering the opening 2711a formed in the case 2711, An alignment unit 2716 for aligning and holding the transmission device 2715 in a predetermined direction and a PCB 2713 provided with the transmission device 2715 are connected to the transmission / And a case cover 2712 covering the case 2711 in a state of being accommodated in the case 2711 is included.

The PCB 2713 includes a first coupling hole 2713a for hooking the alignment portion 2713 and a plurality of second coupling holes 2713b for hooking the transparent window 2714. [

The viewing window 2714 is slidingly coupled to the case 2711. A guide rib 2711b is formed in the case 2711 and a guide groove 2174a is formed in the viewing window 2714 to receive the guide rib 2711b. In addition, a plurality of hooks 2714b for coupling to the PCB 2713 are formed in the viewing window 2714.

A heater engaging portion 2714c for engaging a plate-shaped heater 2717 is formed in the viewing window 2714. The heat generated by the heater 2717 can prevent the transmitting device 2715 and the viewing window from being stuck.

The receiving unit 272 is basically the same as the transmitting unit 271. The receiving unit 272 includes a case 2721, a PCB 2723 accommodated in the case 2721, a viewing window 2724 closing an opening formed in the case 2721, A plurality of reception elements 2725a and 2726b to be installed and a plurality of alignment units 2726 for aligning and holding the reception elements 2725 toward a predetermined direction; A case cover 2722 covering the case 2721 in a state in which the PCB 2723 is housed in the case 2721 and a heater 2727 installed in the viewing window 2724 are included.

In detail, a coupling portion 2721a for coupling to the first support portion 252 is formed in each of the cases 2711 and 2721. The coupling portion 2721a is formed with a coupling hole 2721b for coupling the coupling member.

Each of the cases 2711 and 2721 is fastened to the first support portion 252 by the fastening member while being installed on the second support portion 260 so that the positions of the cases 2711 and 2721 are fixed .

The plurality of receiving elements 2725a and 2725b may be spaced apart from each other.

The transmitting device 2715 and the receiving devices 2725a and 2725b may be configured as an infrared sensor using infrared rays as a signal.

When the ice reaches the full ice position in the ice bin 300, the signal (light) emitted from the emitting device 2715 is blocked or reflected by ice, and the ice is removed from the receiving devices 2725a and 2725b The signal of the transmitting element 2715 is not received. Then, the control unit (not shown) judges that it is full.

According to the present embodiment, the detection reliability can be improved by receiving signals sent from a single originating device 2715 from a plurality of receiving devices 2725a and 2725b spaced apart from each other.

In addition, the detection reliability can be improved as the position of each element is fixed by the alignment unit.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 2, and FIG. 10 is a view showing a state in which the ice maker is rotated to separate ice from the ice maker in FIG.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 10, a round portion 232 having a shape corresponding to the cover 230 is formed on the second support portion 260. The round portion 232 is disposed at a position facing the cover 230. The round part 232 guides cold air to the ice maker 210, like the cover 230.

Inside the ice bin 300, one or more rotating blades 410 and one or more stationary blades 480 are included. The ice stored in the ice bin 300 can be crushed by the interaction of the rotating blades 410 and the fixed blades 480.

For easy crushing of ice, the ice bin 300 may be provided with a plurality of rotating blades 410 and a plurality of fixed blades 480.

The ice bin 480 includes a discharge port 510 through which ice or crushed ice is discharged. The discharge port 510 is located below the blades 410 and 480.

The plurality of rotating blades 410 are fixed to the rotating shaft 420. The rotating shaft 420 extends in the front-rear direction (horizontal direction) of the refrigerator compartment door 11 and can be connected to the motor assembly (see 280 in FIG. 6).

The plurality of rotating blades 410 are disposed to be spaced apart from each other in a direction parallel to the extending direction of the rotating shaft 420. The plurality of rotating blades 410 and the plurality of fixed blades 480 are alternately arranged in a direction parallel to the direction of extension of the rotating shaft 420.

One side of the plurality of fixed blades 480 is connected to the rotation shaft 420. That is, the rotating shaft 420 penetrates the plurality of fixed blades 480. The other side of the plurality of fixed blades 480 is fixed to the ice bin 300.

By means of the motor assembly (see 280 in FIG. 6), the rotary shaft 420 can be rotated in both directions. When the rotating shaft 420 is rotated in one direction, the plurality of rotating blades 410 are rotated toward the plurality of fixed blades 180. Then, after the ice is crushed, it is discharged through the discharge port 510. On the other hand, when the rotation shaft 420 is rotated in the other direction, the ice is discharged through the discharge port 510 in a state where the ice is pulverized.

The inlet 301a of the ice bin 300 and the outlet 510 of the ice bin 300 and the opening 253 of the first support 250 and the opening 127 of the door liner 112, , The inlet (152) and the outlet (154) of the ice duct (150) have overlapping common areas when they overlap each other. Therefore, the movement path of the ice can be minimized.

Hereinafter, the process of moving the ice generated in the ice-making assembly will be described.

When the operation signal is input to the driving source 220 to separate the ice from the ice maker 210, the driving source 220 is operated. The power of the driving source 220 is transmitted to the ice maker 210 by the gear box 224 so that the entire ice maker 210 is rotated. In this embodiment, the ice is separated by the twisting action of the ice maker 210. During the twisting operation of the ice maker 210, one end and the other end of the ice maker 210 move relative to each other and twist occurs, so that the ice is separated from the ice maker 210. Since the principle of twisting operation of the ice maker 210 is the same as that of the known ice maker, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The ice separated from the ice maker 210 is dropped into the ice bin 300 through the inlet 301a of the opening 310 of the ice bin 300.

At this time, the falling direction of the ice separated from the ice maker 210 is a direction intersecting with the extending direction of the rotation shaft 420. In another aspect, the falling direction of the ice separated from the ice maker 210 is substantially parallel to a virtual plane drawn when the plurality of rotating blades 410 is rotated.

A part of the ice separated from the ice maker 210 is dropped into the plurality of rotating blades 410. In accordance with the rotational direction of the plurality of rotating blades 410, vat or scraped ice can be discharged.

1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a refrigerator door according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

3 is a perspective view of a refrigerator compartment door in an opened state of the ice making compartment door according to the present embodiment.

4 is a perspective view of a refrigerator compartment door in a state where the icemaker assembly is removed from the ice making chamber according to the present embodiment.

5 and 6 are perspective views of an ice maker assembly according to the present embodiment.

7 is an exploded perspective view of the icemaker assembly.

8 is an exploded perspective view of a full ice detector according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a state in which the ice maker is rotated so that ice is separated from the ice maker in FIG. 9; FIG.

Claims (11)

A cabinet forming a storage chamber; And And a refrigerator door for opening and closing the storage room, In the refrigerator door, Ice making room; An ice maker disposed in the ice making chamber to generate ice; An ice bin storing ice produced by the ice maker; A plurality of first openings provided on a rear surface of the ice bin; A support mechanism including a first support portion selectively seated in the ice making chamber and a second support portion coupled to the first support portion and supporting the ice maker; A plurality of second openings formed in the second support portion; And a full ice detector for detecting ice cubes of the ice bin, The ice- And a receiver for receiving a signal from the transmitter, the signal being longer than the left and right length of the ice maker and transmitted from the transmitter, Wherein the transmitter and the receiver are located downwardly from the ice maker through the second opening, Wherein when the ice bin is seated in the support mechanism, the transmitter and the receiver pass through the plurality of first openings and enter the inner space of the ice bin. delete delete delete The method according to claim 1, Wherein the atmospheric ice detector is fixed to the first support portion in a state in which the atmospheric ice detector penetrates the second support portion. delete The method according to claim 1, In the transmitting section, The case, A PCB accommodated in the case and provided with a transmitting element, And a transparent window that covers an opened area of the case and transmits a signal of the transmission element. 8. The method of claim 7, In the receiving section, The case, A PCB accommodated in the case and provided with a plurality of receiving elements, And a transparent window that covers an opened area of the case and transmits a signal of the transmission element. 9. The method of claim 8, And a heater for preventing the element from being stuck to the transparent window of each of the transmitter and the receiver. 9. The method of claim 8, Wherein a fastening portion for fastening to the support mechanism is formed in each case of the transmitting portion and the receiving portion. The method according to claim 1, Further comprising a driving source for automatically rotating the ice maker, Wherein when the ice maker is rotated, ice is separated from the ice maker, and the separated ice falls into the ice bin by its own weight.

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