KR20090132283A - An ice-making device for refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An ice maker of a refrigerator is provided to prevent lowering of ice-making efficiency by stably fixing a gasket to an ice-making door. CONSTITUTION: An ice maker of a refrigerator includes: a body having an ice making chamber and an ice storing container; a hinge section(230) formed on one side of the body; an ice-making door(220) rotatably connected to the hinge section and selectively opening and closing the body; and a gaske comprising a protrusion portion closely adhered to the body along the backside edge of the ice-making door and a connection portion projected to the opposite direction of the protrusion portion and fitted to the ice-making door.

Description

An ice-making device for refrigerator

The present invention relates to an ice making apparatus of a refrigerator.

Generally, a refrigerator is a device for low temperature storage of food, and is configured to freeze or refrigerate food according to the type of food to be stored.

The inside of the refrigerator is cooled by continuously supplied cold air, and the cold air is continuously generated by the heat exchange action of the refrigerant by a refrigeration cycle undergoing a process of compression-condensation-expansion-evaporation. The cold air supplied to the inside of the refrigerator is evenly transferred to the inside of the refrigerator by convection, so that food in the refrigerator can be stored at a desired temperature.

The refrigerator main body has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with an open front surface, and includes a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber inside the main body. The front surface of the main body includes a refrigerator compartment door and a freezer compartment door for selectively shielding the opening.

In addition, the storage space inside the refrigerator is provided with a plurality of drawers, shelves and storage boxes for storing various foods in an optimal state. In addition, a plurality of baskets are provided on the rear surface of the refrigerating compartment door or the freezing compartment door. The storage space inside the refrigerator is partitioned by the shelves, storage boxes, and baskets such that suitable foods can be stored.

Recently released refrigerators are provided with an ice making device and a dispenser in the freezer door or the refrigerating compartment door to produce better quality ice and to be easily taken out by the user.

The ice making apparatus is generally provided on a rear surface of the freezer compartment door, and includes an ice making chamber in which ice is produced, a water tank for supplying water to the ice making chamber, and an ice storage container in which the generated ice is stored. An ice making door for selectively shielding the ice making device is rotatably provided on one side of the body. In detail, the ice making door is connected to a hinge portion provided at one side of the ice making device and rotated about a predetermined rotation axis.

At this time, a gasket is provided along the edge of the inner surface of the ice making door. The gasket prevents cold air from leaking into the space between the ice making door and the body.

In general, the gasket is provided to have a predetermined elasticity using silicon or the like, and is fixed by being inserted into a gasket insertion groove provided on the inner side of the ice making door. In detail, the gasket has a protrusion having a symmetrical shape on both sides in the inner surface direction of the ice making door, and a hook-shaped coupling portion is formed in the opposite direction to fit into the gasket insertion groove. And, in order to completely close the inside of the ice making apparatus, the protrusion is provided to be compressed between the ice making body and the ice making door.

However, the above conventional technologies have the following problems.

As described above, since the gasket must completely seal the inside of the ice making apparatus when the ice making door is closed, the gasket is provided to be compressed when the ice making door is closed. That is, as the ice making door rotates, a portion that is interfered by the ice making door is generated in the protrusion, and pressure acts on the interference portion. The pressure at this time is a pressure generated while the gap between the ice making door and the ice making body is narrowed. The pressure is applied to the protrusion at an angle with the inner surface of the ice making door.

In particular, the gasket provided at the edge close to the axis of rotation of the ice making door is first pressurized during the closing process of the ice making door and is longer than the gasket in other positions during its working time. As the ice making door is closed, the amount of interference with the protrusion increases, so that the pressure acting on the protrusion increases. At this time, since the pressure is applied from the side of the protrusion, the ice maker gasket is pushed in the direction in which the pressure is applied.

Therefore, the gasket provided at the edge close to the rotation axis of the ice making door has a problem of being removed from the gasket insertion groove by the sliding phenomenon as described above.

By removing the ice maker gasket, since the outflow of cold air from the ice maker occurs, there is a problem that the ice making efficiency is lowered.

In addition, since the detachment occurs repeatedly, the user's satisfaction is lowered, and the gasket is damaged, causing frequent A / S.

In addition, the user has to close the ice making door with a force greater than the pressure applied to the gasket, there is a problem that it is difficult to close the ice making door easily.

The present invention has been proposed to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ice making apparatus of a refrigerator in which a gasket is not removed during the opening and closing of the ice making door.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide an ice making apparatus of a refrigerator in which the gasket is stably fixed to the ice making door to prevent deterioration of the ice making efficiency.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide an ice making device of a refrigerator in which the gasket is firmly fixed, thereby improving user satisfaction.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide an ice making apparatus of a refrigerator in which a user can close the ice making door with a small force.

An ice making apparatus for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object is provided on the back of the refrigerator door, the body including an ice making chamber for generating ice and an ice storage container for storing the generated ice; A hinge portion formed on one side of the body; An ice making door rotatably connected to the hinge portion to selectively open and close the body; And a gasket formed around the back edge of the ice making door, the protrusion being closely attached to the body, and a coupling part projecting in the opposite direction of the protrusion and fitted to the ice making door, wherein the ice making door is formed from an outer edge of the protrusion. The surface reaching the highest point farthest away from the back surface of is characterized in that it is rounded with a curvature larger than the surface reaching the highest point from the inner edge.

According to the ice making apparatus of the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention as described above, the structure of the gasket is improved, there is an effect that the gasket is not removed from the ice making door during the opening and closing process of the ice making door.

In addition, since the gasket is firmly fixed without being removed, there is an advantage that the outflow of cold air from the ice making device is blocked and the ice making efficiency is maintained.

In addition, since the gasket is not removed and the state coupled to the ice making door is stably maintained, there is an advantage that the user's satisfaction is increased.

In addition, the pressure applied to the gasket is reduced, there is an advantage that the user can easily close the ice making door.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments for implementing the spirit of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view showing an ice making device of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, in order to explain the spirit of the present invention, a three door bottom freeze type refrigerator will be described as an embodiment. However, the idea of the present invention is not limited to the three-door bottom freeze type refrigerator shown, and a top mount type in which a freezer compartment is located above and a side by side type in which a refrigerating compartment and a freezer compartment are provided to the left and right. Note that it can be applied to all refrigerators.

Referring to FIG. 1, the refrigerator 10 has an external appearance formed by a main body 11 having a rectangular parallelepiped having an open front surface. The main body 11 is provided with a freezing compartment 13 for storing food in a frozen state at the lower side, and a refrigerating compartment for refrigeration at a slightly higher temperature than the freezing chamber 13 is provided at the upper side. The front surface of the main body 11 is provided with a freezing compartment door 14 and a refrigerating compartment door connected to one side of the main body 11 to selectively shield the freezing compartment 13 and the refrigerating compartment by a rotational movement.

Meanwhile, the freezer compartment 13 is provided with various food storage means such as a shelf 15 on which food can be placed and a storage box 16 to form a separate storage space. In addition, a basket 17 is provided on the rear surface of the freezing compartment door 14 to store foods requiring an independent storage space.

In addition, an ice making apparatus 200 for generating ice is provided on the rear surface of the freezer compartment door 14. The ice making apparatus 200 is provided at an upper portion of the freezing compartment door 14 so that a user can easily take out ice.

The ice making apparatus 200 includes a body 210 provided with an ice making space for generating ice therein, and an ice making door 220 for selectively shielding the ice making space. Here, the ice making door 220 is connected to the body 210 by a hinge portion 230 provided on one side of the body 210 to rotate. In addition, a handle 221 is provided at one side of the ice making door 220 so that a user can conveniently open and close the ice making door 220.

By the above configuration, the user can efficiently use the internal space of the refrigerator, and can conveniently obtain ice.

Here, the ice making device may be provided in the refrigerator compartment door as well as the freezer compartment door 14.

2 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the ice making door of FIG. 1 is completely opened.

2, the body 210 is formed in a box shape in which a front surface of a rectangular shape is opened. Here, the opening is in a direction facing the rear surface of the freezer compartment door 14. In the ice making space formed by the body 210, an ice storage container provided at an ice making chamber 240 where ice is generated and the ice making room 240 is provided to store ice generated in the ice making room 240. 250 is included. In addition, a cover 241 is provided in a space between the ice making chamber 240 and the ice storage container 250 to prevent the ice from being bounced out.

On the other hand, the hinge portion 230 is provided on one side of the body 210. The hinge portion 230 is formed at a point away from the body 210 by a rotation axis so that interference does not occur with the body 210 when the ice making door 220 rotates. The ice making door 220 is selectively connected to the opening of the body 210 by being connected to the rotating shaft and rotating.

In addition, a hook-shaped locking protrusion 222 connected to the handle 221 is provided on an inner surface of the ice making door 220. In addition, a locking groove 211 is formed at a position corresponding to the locking protrusion 222 of the body 210, and the locking protrusion 222 is selectively coupled. In detail, when the ice making door 220 is closed, the locking protrusion 222 is fixed to the locking groove 211, and when the user pulls the handle 221, the locking protrusion 222 is the locking groove 211. The ice making door 220 is opened to be released from the opening. In this case, the spacer 223 is protruded around the locking protrusion 222 to be spaced apart from the body 210 even when the ice making door 220 is closed.

The inner surface edge of the ice making door 220 is provided with a gasket 260 along the circumference of the ice making door 220 to prevent cold air from flowing out from the ice making space. Here, the gasket 260 is provided as a soft member such as silicon. The thickness of the protrusion 261 of the gasket 260 is provided to be thicker than the thickness of the spacer 223 so that the gasket 260 can be compressed when the ice making door 220 is closed. Since the gasket 260 is provided in a compressed state when the ice making door 220 is closed, the ice making space is completely enclosed to completely block the flow of cold air.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II ′ of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a gasket contacts a body while the ice door of FIG. 3 is closed. FIG. 5 is a view of FIG. 3 completely closed. It is a cross-sectional view showing the status.

3 to 5, the gasket 260 includes a protrusion 261 protruding in the direction of the body 210, a coupling part 264 provided on an opposite side of the protrusion and formed in a hook shape, and the protrusion ( 261 and a mounting portion 265 provided at the boundary of the coupling portion 264 and seated on the ice making door 220.

In addition, a gasket insertion groove 224 is formed on an inner surface of the ice making door 220 so that the coupling portion 264 can be inserted therein. In addition, gasket fixing protrusions 265 protrude to the center of the gasket insertion groove 224 at both sides of the inlet of the gasket insertion groove 224, so that the hook of the coupling portion 264 is caught.

In addition, the seating portion 265 is formed longer than the width of the gasket insertion groove 224, the coupling portion 264 to the gasket fixing projection 265 in the state coupled to the gasket insertion groove 224. It is seated.

By the above configuration, the gasket 260 is stably fixed to the ice making door 220.

Meanwhile, the protrusion 261 is a portion compressed in the state in which the ice making door 220 is closed, and the gap between the body 210 and the ice making door 220 is completely completed due to the compression of the protrusion 261. It is closed to block the outflow of cold air.

The protrusion 261 has a first inclined portion 262 which is inclined toward the center of the ice making door 220 (left side in FIG. 3) with respect to the peak 261 a and an edge direction of the ice making door 220 (FIG. A second inclined portion 263 inclined from 3 to right) is included. In this case, the inclination of the first inclined portion 262 is provided more urgently than the inclination of the second inclined portion 263. In other words, the curvature of the second slope 263 is greater than the curvature of the first slope 262. That is, the length of the first inclined portion 262 is formed shorter than the length of the second inclined portion 263. Accordingly, the protrusions 261 are formed asymmetrically on both sides, and are formed in a shape biased toward the first inclined portion 262 as a whole. This structure may be formed by placing the peak 261a close to the center of the ice making door 220.

When the ice making door 220 is closed, the second inclined portion 263 comes into contact with the body 210 first. However, since the inclination of the second inclined portion 263 is smoothly formed toward the apex 261a, the second inclined portion 263 protrudes less from the ice making door 220 than the prior art, so that the point of contact with the body 210 is Later than the prior art.

In addition, the direction of the pressure acting on the gasket 260 at the moment when the ice making door 220 and the gasket 260 meet is a center direction of the ice making door 220 from the outside of the ice making door 220. . That is, pressure acts from the second inclined portion 263 toward the first inclined portion 262.

In addition, after the second inclined portion 263 contacts the ice making door 220, the pressure applied to the protrusion 261 increases as the ice making door 220 is closed, and the direction in which the pressure acts. It is changed in the vertical direction from the side of the ice making door 220.

In this case, the second inclined portion 262 may be provided to be completely interviewed with the body 210 at the moment of contact with the body 210 while the ice making door 220 is closed. In other words, since the surfaces of the body 210 are in contact with each other in parallel with the second inclined portion 262, even if the ice making door 220 is rotated, the pressure acting on the protrusion 261 is always the second slope. Act in a direction perpendicular to the portion 262. That is, there is no change in the direction in which the pressure acts.

When the ice making door 220 is completely closed as shown in FIG. 5, the pressure applied to the protrusion 261 becomes the maximum, and the pressure acts perpendicular to the inner surface of the ice making door 220. The protrusion 261 is changed into a convex shape on both sides.

In this case, since the inclination of the second inclined portion 263 is provided more gently than the inclination of the first inclined portion 262, the amount of interference of the protrusion 261 in the process of closing the ice making door 220 is Less compared with the prior art. Therefore, the magnitude of the pressure applied to the protrusion 261 is also reduced, thereby reducing the push phenomenon of the protrusion 261. In particular, even if the direction of the pressure acting on the protrusion 261 changes in the vertical direction from the side of the inner surface of the ice making door 220, the inclination of the second inclined portion 263 is gentle, so that the protrusion of the protrusion 261 Less jungle shape occurs.

That is, since the protrusion 261 is not pushed large enough to remove the gasket 260 from the gasket insertion groove 224, the gasket 260 is stable regardless of the opening and closing operation of the ice making door 220. It is fixed to the ice making door 220.

In addition, since the magnitude of the pressure acting when closing the ice making door 220 is reduced, the magnitude of the force required to close the ice making door 220 is also reduced. Therefore, the user can conveniently open and close the ice making door 220 with less force.

In addition, since the gasket 260 is stably fixed to the ice making door 220, the outflow of cold air is stably blocked, thereby preventing the deterioration of the ice making efficiency.

By the above effects, the user can use the ice making device with confidence, thereby improving the satisfaction with the product.

The scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the embodiments may be changed, added, or deleted within the scope of the spirit of the present invention.

1 is a perspective view showing an ice making device of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the ice making door of FIG. 1 is completely opened.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II ′ of FIG. 2.

4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the gasket is in contact with the body in the process of closing the ice making door of FIG.

5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the ice making door of FIG. 3 is completely closed.

Claims (4)

A body provided on a rear surface of the refrigerator door and including an ice making chamber in which ice is generated and an ice storage container in which the generated ice is stored; A hinge portion formed on one side of the body; An ice making door rotatably connected to the hinge portion to selectively open and close the body; And A gasket comprising a protrusion which is enclosed along the rear edge of the ice making door and adheres to the body and protrudes in an opposite direction of the protrusion to be fitted to the ice making door, And a surface extending from the outer edge of the protrusion to the highest point spaced farthest from the rear surface of the ice making door is rounded with a curvature larger than the surface reaching the maximum from the inner edge. The method of claim 1, And the peak point is formed at a point closer to the inner edge of the protrusion. The method of claim 1, In the protrusion, A first inclined portion inclined from the highest point toward the center of the ice making door; and A second inclination part inclined in a direction opposite to the first inclination part, And an inclination of the first inclined portion is greater than that of the second inclined portion. The method of claim 3, wherein The ice maker of the refrigerator characterized in that the length of the first inclined portion is formed shorter than the length of the second inclined portion.

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