KR20040085932A - Dispenser in refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A dispenser of a refrigerator is provided to increase utilization of an inner space without projecting the inside of a door to the backside of a supply pipe forming unit to keep an insulation condition of the inner space formed in a body and kept below the proper temperature. CONSTITUTION: A dispenser of a refrigerator is composed of a body(1) having an inner space kept below the proper temperature and a water storage tank(14) for supplying water that a user drinks; a door(2) mounted in the front side of the body to open and close the inner space; a supply pipe(21) hinge-combined to the front side of the door to supply the water contained in the water storage tank and moved within a movable trace between a receiving position inserted into the door and a water supply position projected from the front side of the door to feed the water; a push button(22) for supporting and temporally fixing the supply pipe to move between the receiving position and the water supply position; and a supporting member(40) hinge-combined to the door to hold cups storing the water fed through the supply pipe and moved within the movable trace between a supporting position for holding the cup and a fixing position settled to the door.

Description

Refrigerator Dispenser {DISPENSER IN REFRIGERATOR}

The present invention relates to a dispenser of a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a dispenser of a refrigerator to supply water or ice through a supply pipe protruding to the front of the door to increase utilization of the internal space of the refrigerator.

In general, the refrigerator is divided into a freezer compartment for storing ice-making containers and frozen foods at a set temperature, and a refrigerating compartment in which refrigeration objects are stored, and a refrigeration cycle device is installed therein to circulate the refrigeration cycle of compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation. The evaporator in the circulation circuit absorbs the heat from the outside to keep the inside frozen and refrigerated.

Recently released large refrigerators are provided with a water supply unit to extract the ice or water inside without opening the door of the refrigerator. Since the water supply unit may take out water or ice without opening the door of the refrigerator, it may not only prevent cold air from escaping to the outside, but also provide convenience to the user. The water supply unit is usually provided in the door of the refrigerator, and is generally configured by recessing a part of the outer surface of the door inward and providing the water supply unit.

As shown in FIG. 1, a refrigerator having a conventional structure is divided into a freezer compartment for freezing food and a cold compartment for freezing food by a separating wall, and a main body 1 whose internal space is opened and closed by a door 2 mounted at the front. Water is supplied from the outside through the water supply pipe (11) is purified by passing through the water filter (12) installed inside the main body (1) is supplied to the ice maker (13) for making ice, or to store the purified water It is introduced into the reservoir tank 14 to be. A water supply valve 15 is installed between the water filter 12, the ice maker 13, and the water storage tank 14 to supply the water through the water filter 12, and to the ice maker 13 and the water storage tank 14. Control the amount of water being added.

The water storage tank 14 is connected to the water supply part 2a and the water supply pipe 3 installed in the refrigerator door 2, and the stored water is supplied to the water supply part 2a along the water supply pipe 3 to the outside. It is taken out.

More detailed description of the water supply unit 2a is as follows.

A switch 17 for operating the user is installed above the water supply part 2a formed on the front of the door 2. When the user operates the switch 17, the water storage tank 14 is opened to supply the water supply pipe 3. The purified water is taken out through).

The water supply pipe 3 is formed on the ceiling of the water supply portion 2a formed by being recessed in a predetermined portion of the door 2, and the switch 17 is formed above the water supply portion 2a so that the user can feed the cup. 2a) is pushed in to close the water supply pipe (3) and then press the switch 17, the cold water is taken out through the water supply pipe (3) is put in the cup.

However, in the refrigerator having the conventional structure as described above, after the cup is put into the water supply unit 2a recessed to a certain depth so as to contact the water supply pipe 3, the water supply unit 2a is recessed because water is supplied. As the door 2 protrudes in the direction of the internal space formed in the main body 1, the storage space of the refrigerator is reduced, thereby reducing the internal space utilization.

An object of the present invention devised in view of the above point is to provide a dispenser of a refrigerator to increase the utilization of the internal space of the refrigerator.

1 is a schematic perspective view showing a refrigerator having a conventional structure;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a dispenser unit of the refrigerator illustrated in FIG. 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a refrigerator equipped with an embodiment of the present invention,

4 is a cross-sectional view partially showing a supply pipe mounting portion of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 3;

5 is a cross-sectional view partially showing a supply pipe mounting portion of a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention.

** Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings **

1: body 2: door

14: water storage tank 21: supply pipe

22: push button 40: support member

41: fixing groove 42: support plate

43: stopper

The dispenser of the refrigerator for achieving the object of the present invention as described above is formed with an internal space that maintains a proper temperature or less, the refrigerator main body is provided with a storage tank for supplying the user to drink water, and the front of the main body A door mounted to the door to open and close the inner space, the water supply being hinged to the front of the door so that the water stored in the water storage tank is watered, and a storage position inserted into the door and protruded to the front of the door. And a push button for supporting the supply pipe rotating by rotating the position, the push button supporting the supply pipe to be temporarily fixed between the storage position and the water supply position, and a cup for storing water supplied through the supply pipe. Rotates by pivoting the support position hinged to the door and supporting the cup and the fixed position fixed to the door. The supporting member is provided.

In addition, the dispenser of the refrigerator is preferably configured to include an ice making machine for producing ice, and an ice extraction pipe connecting the ice maker and the supply pipe so that the ice generated in the ice maker is supplied through the supply pipe.

The support member may include a support plate having one end hinged to be inserted into a fixing groove formed by being recessed to a predetermined depth in a lower portion of the supply pipe mounting portion of the door, and a stopper for fixing the support plate so that the support plate does not rotate beyond the support position. It is effective to be configured.

Hereinafter, a dispenser of a refrigerator, which is an embodiment of the present invention, will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals refer to the same parts as in the conventional structure, and detailed description thereof will be referred to FIG. 1.

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a refrigerator equipped with an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view partially showing the supply pipe mounting portion of the refrigerator shown in Figure 3, by the separation wall as shown It is divided into a freezer compartment for freezing food and a refrigerating compartment for refrigeration. The main body 1 opens and closes its interior space by a door 2 mounted on the front, and the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment are mounted on the front of the main body 1. The door 2 to be opened and closed and connected to a water supply pipe 3 connected to the water storage tank 14 are hinged to the front of the door 2 so that water stored in the water storage tank 14 can be supplied. The supply pipe 21 is rotated with the storage position inserted into the inside and the water supply position protruding to the front of the door 2 as a rotational trajectory, and is coupled to the rear surface of the surface exposed to the outside of the supply pipe 21. 21) The storage position and the water supply position And a support position hinged to the door 2 and supporting the cup so as to support the push button 22 for supporting the cup and the cup for storing the water supplied through the supply pipe 21. It consists of a support member 40 which is rotated by rotating the fixed position is inserted into the door (2).

At the position where the supply pipe 21 is hinged, an insertion groove 22 recessed to allow the supply pipe 21 to be inserted is formed, and water stored in the water storage tank 14 is formed at the upper end of the supply pipe 21. The switch 17 which opens and closes what is supplied through the supply pipe 21 is formed.

The support member 40 includes a support plate 42 having one end hinged to be inserted into a fixing groove 41 formed by being recessed to a predetermined depth in a lower portion of the supply pipe 21 mounting portion of the door 2, and a support plate. It consists of a stopper 43 which fixes the 42 so that it may not rotate more than a support position. The stopper 43 is formed to protrude perpendicularly to the rear surface of the surface contacting the fixing groove 41 at the end of the support plate 42 which is hinged.

In the refrigerator configured as described above, the process of guiding water to the water supply pipe 3 is the same as the conventional structure, and the process of acquiring water through the supply pipe 21 will be described in detail as follows.

As shown in FIG. 4, when water is not supplied through the supply pipe 21, the push button 22 maintains the supply pipe 21 inserted into the insertion groove 22 formed in the front of the door 2. Is supported by.

At this time, when the user wants to receive water, the push button 22 is operated by pressing the supply pipe 21, and the supply pipe 21 protrudes toward the front of the door 2 by the operation of the push button 22. Keep it.

In this state, the support member 40 seated in the fixing groove 41 of the door 2 to maintain the fixed position state is rotated to the support position where the stopper 43 is supported by the door 2 to support the support member 40. Is kept perpendicular to the front of the door (2), then operate the switch (17) with the cup on the support plate 42, the water stored in the water storage tank (14) through the water supply pipe (3) It is guided and taken out to the outside through the supply pipe 21 connected to the water supply pipe 3 and is supplied to the cup of the state placed on the support plate 42.

As described above, when the dispenser of the refrigerator according to the present invention does not supply water, the supply pipe 21 is seated in the insertion groove 22, and when supplying water, the supply pipe 21 is maintained in a state protruded outward from the refrigerator. By carrying out, since the inner surface of the door 2 is not protruded to the inner space side so as to maintain the heat insulation state of the inner space formed on the main body 1 to maintain the appropriate temperature or less, at the same time the utilization of the refrigerator inner space increases, When water is not supplied, the support member 40 is seated in the fixing groove 41 to maintain the fixed position. When water is supplied, the support member 40 seated in the fixing groove 41 is rotated to rotate the front surface of the door 2. After maintaining the support position which is perpendicular to, the water is easily supplied by supplying water in a state where the cup is placed on the support plate 42.

Similarly, the dispenser of the refrigerator which is another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, is provided with an ice maker 13 for manufacturing ice in addition to the above-described configuration of the present invention, and an ice maker 13 Ice extraction pipe 23 for guiding the ice generated in the supply pipe 21 side is configured to include. In addition, the coupling structure and operation process of the support member 40 is also the same as the embodiment of the present invention, except that the feed pipe 21 is connected to the water supply pipe 3 and the water supply passage 21a and ice extraction are guided by the water. Connected to the pipe (23) is composed of divided into the ice extraction path (21b) for guiding the ice.

The process of supplying water through the water supply passage 21a formed in the supply pipe 21 in the dispenser of the refrigerator, which is another embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, is supplied through the supply pipe 21 in the above-described embodiment of the present invention. The same process as the process, the ice is taken out through the ice extraction path (21b) is as follows.

When the user wants to be supplied with ice while the supply pipe 21 is inserted into the insertion groove 22 and supported by the push button 22, the push button 22 is operated by pressing the supply pipe 21, and the push button 22 By the operation of the supply pipe 21 protrudes to the front of the door (2) and maintains the state.

In this state, the support member 40 seated in the fixing groove 41 of the door 2 to maintain the fixed position state is rotated to the support position where the stopper 43 is supported by the door 2 to support the support member 40. The switch 17 is operated while the cup is placed on the support plate 42 and then the ice stored in the ice maker 13 is released from the ice outlet pipe 23. The guided ice is guided through the ice extraction path 21b formed in the supply pipe 21 to be taken out into a cup on which the ice is placed on the support plate 42.

Thus, the dispenser of the refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention seats the supply pipe 21 in the insertion groove 22 when water and ice are not supplied, and supplies the water supply pipe 21 when water and ice are to be supplied. Is formed in the main body 1 by maintaining water protruding toward the outside of the refrigerator and then supplying water through the water supply passage 21a, or by supplying ice through the ice extraction passage 21b. Since the inner surface of the door 2 does not have to be protruded toward the inner space to maintain the insulation state of the inner space, the support member 40 is fixed when the water and ice are not supplied at the same time to increase the utilization of the inner space. 41) to maintain the fixed position, and when supplying water and ice, the support position 40 is perpendicular to the front of the door (2) by rotating the support member 40 seated in the fixing groove (41) After maintaining By supplying water and ice in a state where the cup is placed on the support plate 42, the water and ice can be easily supplied.

As described above, when the dispenser of the refrigerator according to the present invention does not supply water or ice, the supply pipe rests in the insertion groove formed in the door, and when the water or ice is to be supplied, the supply pipe protrudes toward the outside of the refrigerator. By maintaining water in a state of being supplied with water or ice, there is no need to protrude to the back side of the supply pipe forming portion to maintain the heat insulation state of the internal space formed in the main body to be maintained below the proper temperature, thereby increasing the utilization of the internal space. .

In addition, since the structure is simpler than the conventional structure in which the water supply unit is formed, the manufacturing cost is reduced.

In addition, when the dispenser of the refrigerator does not supply water and ice, the support member is placed in the fixing groove to maintain the fixed position. When supplying water and ice, the dispenser rotates the supporting member seated in the fixing groove to rotate the door. After maintaining the support position that is perpendicular to the front of the, by supplying water and ice in a state that the cup is placed on the support plate there is an effect that the supply of water and ice becomes easy.

Claims (4)

An internal space for maintaining a temperature below a suitable temperature, and a refrigerator main body provided with a water storage tank for supplying water to a user; A door mounted at the front of the main body to open and close the inner space; A supply pipe that is hinged to the front surface of the door so that the water stored in the water storage tank is watered, and rotates by rotating the storage position inserted into the door and the water supply position protruding to the front of the door; A push button for supporting the supply pipe to be temporarily fixed while rotating between a storage position and a water supply position; It is configured to be provided with a support member for pivoting by pivoting the support position hinged to the door, the support position for supporting the cup and the fixed position fixed to the door so as to support the cup for storing the water supplied through the supply pipe. The dispenser of the refrigerator characterized by. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the dispenser of the refrigerator comprises an ice making machine for making ice, and an ice extraction pipe connecting the ice making machine and the supply pipe so that the ice generated in the ice maker is supplied through the supply pipe. The dispenser of the refrigerator. The support member of claim 1, wherein the support member is hinged and coupled to one end of the support plate so that the support member can be inserted into a fixing groove formed by being recessed to a predetermined depth in a lower portion of the supply pipe mounting portion of the door, and the support plate is fixed so as not to rotate beyond the support position. The dispenser of the refrigerator, characterized in that the stopper is provided. The dispenser of claim 3, wherein the stopper is formed to protrude by a predetermined height vertically in a rear surface direction of a surface contacting the fixing groove at an end portion of the support plate to be hinged.