KR20080022466A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

A refrigerator is provided to form a dispenser part in a refrigerating compartment rather than a door for utilizing the entire space at the rear part of the door for receiving foodstuff. A refrigerator includes an ice making chamber(30) defined in a storing chamber, an ice maker(50) mounted in the ice making chamber, an ice storing part(60) for storing ice separated from the ice maker, and a dispenser part(90) formed in the storing chamber for withdrawing the ice out of the ice storing part. The dispenser part is formed at a lower part of an ice discharge hole(61) of the ice storing part, and has a pressing part(91) for applying force, and an opening/closing part(92) for opening or closing the ice discharge hole in association with the operation of the pressing part.

Description

Refrigerator {Refrigerator}

1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the refrigerator compartment door of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention in the open state.

2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a view showing the operation of the dispenser included in an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating main parts of a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention.

5 is an enlarged view of the dispenser unit of FIG. 4.

6 is a view illustrating an operation of the dispenser unit included in another embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention.

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

10: body 11: refrigerator

12: freezer compartment 17,18: refrigerator compartment door

20: auxiliary door 30: ice making room

31: insulation wall 40: ice supply device

50: ice maker 60: ice storage unit

61: ice discharge hole 63: ice discharge passage

70: ice transfer device 80: ice grinding device

90,100 dispenser 91,101 pressurization

92,102: opening and closing part 93,104: elastic member

103: gear part

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to a refrigerator having a dispenser portion for taking out ice.

In general, a refrigerator is provided with a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment into which cold air heat exchanged by an evaporator is introduced, and a mechanical compartment in which a compressor and a condenser are installed is provided at a lower portion of the rear surface of the freezer compartment or the refrigerating compartment. The refrigerator of the general refrigerator keeps food and the like freshly at a temperature of approximately 3 ° C-5 ° C, and the freezer keeps food and the like frozen for a long time at subzero temperatures.

Recently, a refrigerator has been provided in the upper portion for storing the frequently used beverages and foods for the convenience of the user and a freezer in the lower portion thereof, and such a refrigerator has a front surface of the door so that the user can easily take out the ice. The part is provided with the ice supply apparatus provided with the dispenser part.

An example of such a conventional refrigerator is disclosed in US Patent Application Publication No. US2006 / 0090496. In the refrigerator disclosed in the above publication, a freezing compartment is provided at a lower portion thereof, a refrigerating compartment is provided at an upper portion thereof, and an ice making region is formed at a corner side of the lower or upper portion of the refrigerating compartment.

A dispenser unit is provided on the front side of the refrigerating chamber door to draw out the ice generated and stored in the ice making area.

However, if the dispenser portion is provided on the front of the door as in the prior art, the thickness of the door becomes thick, and the storage space of the refrigerating compartment becomes relatively small, and it is difficult to install a guard for food storage on one side of the rear of the door. There is a problem that the invalid space is generated that can not accommodate food. In addition, there is a problem in that the structure of the door is complicated, so that more manufacturing processes are required and manufacturing efficiency is lowered and manufacturing costs are increased.

In addition, since the dispenser is provided on the outer surface of the door, there is a problem in that the appearance is not good in view of the recent trend that the interior of the refrigerator is emphasized.

The present invention is to solve such a problem, it is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator having a structure in which a dispenser portion for discharging ice is provided in the storage compartment.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator having a storage compartment inside and a door configured to open and close the storage compartment at a front surface thereof, the ice making chamber provided in the storage chamber and the ice making chamber provided in the ice making chamber. And an ice making unit, an ice storage unit for storing the ice iced from the ice making unit, and a dispenser unit provided in the storage chamber to extract the ice from the ice storage unit.

In addition, the ice storage unit is formed with an ice discharge hole in which ice is drawn out on one side, and includes an ice transfer device for transferring the ice to the ice discharge hole, the ice transfer device is disposed to be inclined upward toward the ice discharge hole.

In addition, the dispenser is provided in the lower portion of the ice discharge hole, and includes a pressing portion for applying a force to the dispenser, and opening and closing portion for opening and closing the ice discharge hole side in conjunction with the operation of the pressing portion.

The dispenser unit may further include an elastic member for providing a restoring force to the dispenser unit.

In addition, between the pressing portion and the opening and closing portion includes a gear portion for increasing the rotation angle of the opening and closing portion than the rotation angle of the pressing portion.

In addition, the ice transfer device is characterized in that when the opening and closing the opening the ice discharge hole side.

In addition, one side of the ice transfer device is characterized in that the ice crushing device is provided for crushing the ice.

In addition, the storage compartment is divided into a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment, and the ice making compartment is provided in the refrigerator compartment.

In addition, the refrigerating compartment is provided above the freezing compartment.

In addition, a plurality of guards are provided at predetermined intervals so that an accommodation space is formed over the entire rear area of the door.

In addition, the dispenser is provided spaced apart from the door.

In addition, an auxiliary door for the dispenser is provided in the door at the front side of the dispenser.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a refrigerator including a main body having a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment therein, and a refrigerator having respective doors for opening and closing the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment, an ice-making compartment partitioned by a heat insulation wall in the refrigerating compartment; And an ice storage unit provided in the ice making chamber, and a dispenser unit provided inside the refrigerating chamber to discharge ice from the ice storage unit to the outside of the ice making chamber.

The ice making chamber may include an ice making device for generating ice, an ice discharge hole provided at one side of the ice storage unit, and an ice transfer device for transferring ice to the ice discharge hole.

In addition, the dispenser is provided on the heat insulation wall.

In addition, the dispenser unit includes a pressurizing unit to which a force is applied by a user, and an opening and closing unit for opening and closing the ice discharge hole side in association with the operation of the pressing unit.

The apparatus may further include a control unit for operating the ice transfer device when the opening and closing unit opens the ice discharge hole side.

In addition, the ice making chamber further includes an ice crushing apparatus provided on one side of the ice conveying apparatus to crush the ice.

In addition, the ice storage unit includes a cover for sealing the front surface of the ice making chamber.

Hereinafter, one preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 2, the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main body 10 in which an upper refrigerating chamber 11 and a lower freezing chamber 12 are partitioned by horizontal partitions 13, The ice making chamber 30 provided at one side of the refrigerating chamber 11, the ice making apparatus 50 provided in the ice making chamber 30, and the ice making apparatus 50 are provided in the lower part of the ice making apparatus 50, and are iced in the ice making apparatus 50. Ice storage unit 60 for storing the ice, ice storage unit 60 is provided in the ice storage unit 60 for discharging the ice, and the dispenser unit 90 for discharging the ice of the ice reservoir 60 )

In the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is natural that components such as a compressor 14, a condenser (not shown), an expander (not shown), and an evaporator 22 and 26 are formed to form a refrigeration cycle.

In the machine compartment 15 partitioned on the lower side of the lower part of the main body 10, electrical components such as the compressor 14 are installed, and a freezing compartment 12 is formed above the machine compartment 15, and above the freezing compartment 12. The refrigerating chamber 11 partitioned from the freezing chamber 12 by the horizontal partition wall 13 is provided. In addition, the foam member 16 is filled between the inner and outer wounds 10a and 10b of the body 10 to maintain thermal insulation.

The refrigerating compartment 11 and the freezing compartment 12 are opened in the front, the upper refrigerating compartment 11 is opened and closed by the first refrigerating compartment door 17 and the second refrigerating compartment door 18, the lower freezer compartment 12 is the freezing compartment It is opened and closed by the door 19. The first refrigerating chamber door 17 and the second refrigerating chamber door 18 are rotatably coupled to both sides of the main body 10 so as to rotate left and right. In addition, a plurality of storage guards 21 for storing food and the like are provided in all areas of the rear surfaces of the first refrigerator door 17 and the second refrigerator door 18.

In addition, the auxiliary refrigerator 20 is provided in the first refrigerator compartment door 17 provided at the front side of the dispenser unit 90 so that it can be opened and closed, and when the auxiliary door 20 is opened, the first refrigerator compartment door 17 is not opened. The ice may be directly taken out through the dispenser 90.

As shown in FIG. 2, the freezer door 19 is coupled to the front surface of the drawer-type storage container 19a installed inside the freezer compartment 12 so as to be moved forward and backward. Of course, although not shown in the drawing, the freezer door 19 may be rotatably mounted to the main body 10 to be rotated and opened and closed.

A freezing compartment evaporator 22 for cooling the freezing compartment 12 and a freezing compartment circulation fan 23 for cold air circulation of the freezing compartment 12 are installed in the rear side of the freezing compartment 12. In the rear of the freezer compartment 12, a space in which the freezer compartment evaporator 22 and the freezer compartment circulation fan 23 are installed, and an inner panel 24 partitioning the freezer compartment 12 are provided, and the freezer compartment 12 is provided in the inner panel 24. The cold air circulation passage 25 for the cold air circulation of the is formed. The cold air circulation passage 25 guides the air blown by the freezer compartment circulation fan 23 to be distributedly supplied to the freezer compartment 12.

The refrigerator compartment evaporator 26 for cooling the refrigerator compartment 11 and the refrigerator compartment circulation fan 27 for circulation of the cold air of the refrigerator compartment 11 are installed in the rear side of the refrigerator compartment 11. In the rear of the refrigerating chamber 12, a space in which the refrigerating chamber evaporator 26 and the refrigerating chamber blowing fan 27 are installed and an inner panel 28 partitioning the refrigerating chamber 11 are provided, and the refrigerating chamber 11 is provided in the inner panel 28. The cold air circulation passage 29 for the cold air circulation of the is formed. That is, in the present invention, the freezing chamber 12 and the refrigerating chamber 11 are cooled by separate evaporators 22 and 26, respectively.

On the corner side of the upper part of the refrigerating chamber 11, the ice-making chamber 30 partitioned from the internal space of the refrigerating chamber 11 by the heat insulation wall 31 is formed.

In addition, the ice making chamber 30 is supplied with cold air from the freezing chamber 12 below the main body 10 so that the ice making chamber 30 can be maintained at the freezing temperature. To this end, the cold air supply passage 32 for supplying the air cooled by the freezer compartment evaporator 22 to the ice making chamber 30 and the air passing through the ice making chamber 30 are again the freezer compartment evaporator. A cold air return passage 33 is formed to return to the side 22). A blowing fan 34 for forcibly blowing cold air above the freezer compartment evaporator 22 to the cold air supply passage 32 is provided below the cold air supply passage 32.

In the ice making chamber 30, an ice making device 50 for manufacturing ice, an ice storage unit 60 provided below the ice making device 50, and storing ice iced from the ice making device, and an ice storage unit 60. It is provided in the ice transfer device 70 for discharging the ice, provided on one side of the ice transfer device 70 is provided with an ice crushing device 80 that can selectively crush the ice selectively according to the user's request.

The ice making apparatus 50 is fixed to the upper part of the ice making chamber 30, as shown in FIG.

The ice making device 50 includes an ice making tray 51 for manufacturing ice with water supplied from the outside, a scraper 52 for discharging ice from the ice making tray 51, and a driving motor 53 for driving the scraper 52. ).

The ice storage unit 60 is installed below the ice maker 50. The ice storage unit 60 has an upper portion open to accommodate the ice falling from the ice making device 50 and has a long length in the front and rear direction, and an ice discharge hole 61 is formed in the front lower portion to discharge the ice. . The ice storage unit 60 is mounted in the ice-making chamber 30 in the form of a drawer so that it can be withdrawn from the ice-making chamber 30. In front of the ice storage unit 60, a cover 62 for closing the front of the ice making chamber 30 is installed.

In addition, the lower surface of the ice storage unit 60 may be inclined upward toward the ice discharge hole 61 to prevent the ice from being naturally discharged through the ice discharge hole 61.

The ice conveying apparatus 70 is a spiral conveying member 71 and a spiral conveying member rotatably installed inside the ice storing part 60 in order to discharge the ice inside the ice storing part 60 toward the ice discharge hole 61. It includes a transfer motor 72 fixed to the rear of the ice storage unit 60 to rotate (71). The spiral conveying member 71 is separated from the shaft of the transfer motor 72 when the ice storage unit 60 is separated from the ice making chamber 30, and when the ice storage unit 60 is mounted in the ice making chamber 30. It is coupled with the axis of the transfer motor 72.

The ice crushing device 80 is installed above the ice discharge hole 61 of the ice storage unit 60, and is connected to the ice transfer device 70 to be driven by the transfer motor 72.

The ice crushing device 80 includes a fixed blade 81 fixed to the ice discharge hole 61 side, and a plurality of rotary blades 82 installed to rotate relative to the fixed blade 81. The rotary blade 82 is coupled to the shaft 73 extending from the spiral feed member 71 of the ice feeder 70. Therefore, when the spiral feed member 71 rotates by the operation of the transfer motor 72, the rotary blade 82 of the ice crushing device 80 also rotates.

The ice crushing device 80 may close or open a portion of the ice discharge hole 61 so that each ice may be discharged or the crushed ice may be discharged to the ice discharge port 61.

In the present invention, a dispenser unit 90 for extracting ice from the ice storage unit 60 is provided at the lower side of the ice discharge hole 61, and the dispenser unit 90 is provided at the lower portion of the ice discharge hole 61. The ice discharge passage 63 is provided on the ice discharge hole 61 in cooperation with the operation of the pressing unit 91 and the pressing unit 91 to which the force is applied, and communicates with the ice discharge hole 61. It includes an opening and closing portion 92 for opening and closing the.

The pressing unit 91 is provided to move forward and backward when the user presses using an ice container such as a cup. The pressing unit 91 widens the contact area with the cup and the like to facilitate the user's convenience. It is provided in a concave curved shape so as to correspond to the curved shape.

In addition, the upper end of the pressing unit 91 is in contact with the lower end of the cover 62 of the ice storage unit 60 so that cold air of the refrigerating chamber 11 does not flow into the ice making chamber 30 when the ice discharge hole 61 is closed. No.

Opening and closing portion 92 is provided on one side of the pressing portion 91, while maintaining the state in which the ice discharge passage 63 is normally closed, the user pushes the pressing portion 91 using an ice container such as a cup. 3, the inner side of the refrigerating chamber 11, that is, the opening / closing portion 92, slides into the receiving space 35 of the heat insulation wall 31 below the ice making chamber 30, as shown in FIG. 3. ) Will open. At the same time, the ice transfer device 70 provided in the ice storage unit 60 is operated so that the ice stored in the ice storage unit 60 is discharged through the ice discharge hole 61 and the ice discharge passage 63.

In this case, when the opening and closing portion 92 opens the ice discharge passage 63 on the ice discharge hole 61 side, a controller (not shown) may be provided to allow the ice transfer device 70 to operate.

In addition, at one end of the opening and closing portion 92, an elastic member 93 for providing a restoring force to the opening and closing portion 92 so as to close the ice discharge passage 61 again when the pressing force is released by the user, the receiving space of the heat insulating wall 31. Are provided at 35.

Therefore, the user opens the first refrigerating chamber door 17 of the refrigerating chamber 11 to withdraw the ice, and then pushes the pressing unit 91 of the dispenser unit 90 using an ice container such as a cup or a part of the body. In this case, the opening and closing part 92 slides backward and the elastic member 93 is contracted to open the ice discharge passage 63. At this time, the ice transfer device 70 of the ice storage unit 60 is operated so that the ice of the ice storage unit 60 is discharged through the ice discharge hole 61 and the ice discharge passage (63).

In this case, when the user selects ice cubes or crushed ice, the opening and closing hole (not shown) of the ice crushing device 80 may be selectively opened and closed to discharge the selected type of ice to the ice discharge hole 61.

In addition, when the user wants to terminate the ice discharge, if the ice container is released from the pressing portion 91, the elastic member 93 is restored and the opening and closing portion 92 is slid to close the ice discharge passage (61). At this time, if the ice discharge passage 61 is closed, the operation of the ice transfer device 70 is also terminated, and the ice discharge is completed.

In the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the dispenser unit 90 for discharging ice is not provided in the refrigerator compartment doors 17 and 18, the manufacturing process of the refrigerator compartment doors 17 and 18 may be simplified. The entire area of the rear of the refrigerator compartment door can be used as a storage space.

In addition, the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention provides an auxiliary door 20 to be opened and closed on one side of the front door of the dispenser unit 90, and opening the auxiliary door 20 to open the refrigerator compartment doors 17 and 18. Ice can be taken out directly from the dispenser 90 without opening.

In addition, since the device for discharging ice is not added to the front of the door, a beautiful refrigerator can be formed.

Next will be described with respect to the dispenser of the refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The same configuration as the embodiment of the present invention is given the same reference numerals and will not be described.

The dispenser 100 of the refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention is provided in the lower portion of the ice discharge passage 63, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the pressing unit 101, the pressing unit 101 Opening and closing portion 102 is connected to the side to open and close the ice discharge passage 63, and the gear portion 103 to enable the opening and closing portion 102 to rotate in conjunction with the rotational movement of the pressing portion (101).

The pressing unit 101 is fixed to the heat insulating wall 31 of the ice making chamber 30 in the form of a lever, and a rotating shaft 101a is formed at one end thereof, and an elastic member 104 for providing an elastic force to the pressing unit 101 is provided. Prepared.

The opening and closing portion 102 is connected through the pressing portion 101 and the gear portion 103, the gear portion 103 is to rotate the three gears to rotate the opening and closing portion 102 in the same direction as the rotation direction of the pressing portion 101. Will be used.

The gear part 103 includes a first gear 103a provided on the rotation shaft 101a of the pressing part 101, a second gear 103b provided on the rotation shaft 102a of the opening and closing part 102, and a first gear 103a. ) And a third gear 103c between the second gear 103b. In this case, the gear 103 has a gear of the first gear 103a so that the rotation angle of the opening and closing portion 102 is larger than the rotation angle of the pressing unit 101 when the pressing unit 101 is pressed using an ice container or the like. The radius of the first gear 103a is larger than the radius of the second gear 103b so as to be larger than the gear of the second gear 103b.

Therefore, when the user opens the first refrigerator compartment door 17 of the refrigerating compartment 11 and presses the pressurizing unit 101, as shown in FIG. 6, the pressurizing unit 101 rotates about the rotation shaft 101a. The gear unit 103 rotates in conjunction with the opening and closing unit 102 coupled with the second gear 103b to rotate to open the ice discharge passage 63. At this time, the ice transfer device 70 of the ice storage unit 60 is operated so that the ice of the ice storage unit 60 is discharged through the ice discharge hole 61 and the ice discharge passage (63).

In addition, when the user releases the force applied to the pressing unit 101, the pressing unit 101 is rotated a predetermined section in the counterclockwise direction by the restoring force of the elastic member 104, at this time, the opening and closing portion (connected with the gear unit 103 ( 102 is to close the ice discharge passage 63 and the operation of the ice transfer device 70 is stopped to end the ice discharge.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the refrigerator according to the present invention may be provided with a structure in which an ice making chamber is provided at a lower edge side of the refrigerating chamber to directly introduce cold air from the freezing compartment into the ice making chamber.

In the above detailed description, a refrigerator having an evaporator in each of the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment has been described as an example. However, the refrigerator may be applied to a refrigerator having a single evaporator in the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment, and a refrigerating compartment is provided at the upper portion as described above. And a bottom freezer type refrigerator having a freezer compartment at a lower portion thereof, as well as a top freezer type refrigerator having a freezer compartment at an upper portion thereof and a refrigerating chamber at a lower portion thereof, and a side-by-side side in which a freezer compartment is provided on either side and a freezer compartment on the other side thereof. Of course, it can be applied to the refrigerator of the type.

As described in detail above, the present invention has an effect that the dispenser unit is provided in the refrigerating chamber to utilize the entire rear region of the door as a storage space.

In addition, since there is no separate device for dispensing in the door, the manufacturing process can be simplified, manufacturing cost can be reduced, and the appearance can be beautiful.

In addition, by providing an auxiliary door in the refrigerating compartment door there is an effect that can take out the ice without opening the refrigerating compartment door.

Claims (19)

A refrigerator having a storage compartment therein and having a door for opening and closing the storage compartment at a front side thereof, An ice making chamber provided in the storage chamber, an ice making apparatus provided in the ice making chamber to generate ice, an ice storage unit storing ice frosted from the ice making apparatus, and provided in the storage chamber to extract ice from the ice storage unit. Refrigerator comprising a dispenser for. According to claim 1, wherein the ice storage unit is formed in the ice discharge hole is drawn out the ice on one side, including an ice transfer device for transferring the ice to the ice discharge hole, the ice transfer device is inclined upward toward the ice discharge hole A refrigerator, characterized in that arranged. According to claim 2, wherein the dispenser is provided in the lower portion of the ice discharge hole, including a pressing portion for applying a force to the dispenser, and opening and closing portion for opening and closing the ice discharge hole side in conjunction with the operation of the pressing portion. Featured refrigerator. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the dispenser unit further comprises an elastic member for providing a restoring force to the dispenser unit. The refrigerator according to claim 3, further comprising a gear unit configured to increase a rotation angle of the opening and closing portion between the pressing portion and the opening and closing portion rather than the rotation angle of the pressing portion. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the ice conveying apparatus operates when the opening and closing portion opens the ice discharge hole side. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein an ice crushing device for crushing ice is provided on one side of the ice conveying device. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the storage compartment is divided into a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment, and the ice making compartment is provided in the refrigerating compartment. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the refrigerating compartment is provided at an upper portion of the freezing compartment. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of guards are provided at predetermined intervals so that an accommodation space is formed over the entire rear surface of the door. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the dispenser is spaced apart from the door. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein an auxiliary door for the dispenser unit is provided in the door at the front side of the dispenser unit. A refrigerator having a main body having a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment provided therein and respective doors for opening and closing the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment, And an ice making compartment partitioned by a heat insulating wall in the refrigerating compartment, an ice storage unit provided in the ice making chamber, and a dispenser unit provided inside the refrigerating compartment for discharging the ice of the ice storage unit to the outside of the ice making chamber. Refrigerator. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the ice making chamber comprises an ice making device for producing ice, an ice discharge hole for discharging the ice provided on one side of the ice storage unit, and an ice transfer device for transferring the ice to the ice discharge hole Refrigerator. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the dispenser is provided on the heat insulation wall. 15. The refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein the dispenser includes a pressurized portion to which a force is applied by a user, and an opening / closing portion which opens and closes the ice discharge hole side in association with an operation of the pressurizing portion. The refrigerator according to claim 16, further comprising a control unit for operating the ice conveying apparatus when the opening and closing unit opens the ice discharge hole side. 15. The refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein the ice making chamber further comprises an ice crushing apparatus provided on one side of the ice conveying apparatus to crush the ice. The refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein the ice storage unit includes a cover for sealing the front surface of the ice making chamber.

Images