KR20110072506A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A refrigerator is provided to improve cooling efficiency of the ice compartment since the cool air opening part is formed long in the top and bottom and sufficient flow of cold air is secured. CONSTITUTION: The refrigerator(1) includes: a cabinet(10); a refrigerator compartment door(11); a freezer compartment door; a ice compartment; a dispenser; a cabinet duct(700); a ice compartment duct. The cabinet includes refrigerator compartment(102) and freezer compartment(104). The refrigerator compartment door and freezer compartment door open and close the refrigerator compartment respectively. The ice compartment forms heat insulation space in the refrigerator compartment door. The ice maker is installed in the ice compartment. The dispenser ejects the inside ice of the ice compartment. The cold air for de-icing is flown in the cabinet duct. The opening of the cabinet duct is opened toward the inside of the refrigerator compartment. The opening of the ice compartment duct is connected with the cabinet duct according to the turning of the door. The openings of the ice compartment duct and the cabinet duct are formed longer in the top and bottom.

Description

Refrigerator {Refrigerator}

This embodiment relates to a refrigerator.

In general, a refrigerator is a home appliance that allows food to be stored at a low temperature in an internal storage space shielded by a door. The refrigerator may be configured to optimally store stored foods by cooling the inside of the storage space by using cold air generated through heat exchange with a refrigerant circulating in a refrigeration cycle.

The refrigerator may include a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment, and storage members such as shelves, drawers, and baskets are provided in the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment. The refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment are shielded by a door. The refrigerator is classified into various types according to the arrangement of the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment and the shape of the door.

The refrigerator is gradually becoming larger and more versatile in accordance with the change in diet and the quality of the product, and refrigerators having various structures and convenience devices are considered.

For example, the refrigerator may be provided with an ice making device for making ice, and a dispenser may be further provided to allow the iced ice to be taken out. The ice making device may be provided in a freezing compartment or a freezing compartment door, and may also be provided in a refrigerating compartment or a refrigerating compartment door in which an insulation space is formed.

An object of the present embodiment is to provide a refrigerator for smoothly supplying cold air to and from the ice making chamber provided in the refrigerating chamber door.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator includes a cabinet in which a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment are formed; A refrigerator compartment door for opening and closing the refrigerator compartment; A freezer compartment door to open and close the freezer compartment; An ice making room forming an insulation space in the refrigerating room door and having an ice maker for making ice; A dispenser provided in the refrigerating compartment door and extracting ice from the ice making chamber; A cabinet duct provided on an inner wall of the refrigerating chamber, in which cold air for ice making flows, and a cabinet duct opening which is opened in the refrigerating chamber and formed to extend vertically; And an ice making chamber duct provided on the side of the ice making chamber and having an ice making chamber duct opening communicating with the cabinet duct in a vertical direction.

According to the proposed embodiment, openings corresponding to each other of the cabinet duct and the ice-making chamber duct for supplying cold air to the ice-making chamber formed in the refrigerating chamber door are formed vertically long.

Therefore, when the ice compartment or the refrigerating compartment door provided with the ice making compartment is slim, an opening through which the cold air enters and stays up and down is formed to secure a sufficient flow rate of the cold air, thereby improving cooling efficiency inside the ice making chamber. It becomes possible.

In addition, the inside of the ice-making chamber duct is formed to be inclined, and the ice-making chamber duct opening is formed longer and longer than the ice-making chamber inner opening of the ice-making chamber, so that cool air can be smoothly supplied into the ice-making chamber.

Therefore, it is possible to efficiently circulate the cold air for storing the ice in the ice making chamber and generating the ice, thereby improving the power consumption.

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a part of a refrigerator door according to a first embodiment in an open state.

1 and 2, the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment includes a cabinet 10 forming an appearance and refrigerator doors 11 and 14 movably connected to the cabinet 10.

The cabinet 10 is formed with a storage compartment for storing food. The storage compartment includes a refrigerating compartment 102 and a freezing compartment 104 positioned below the refrigerating compartment 102.

That is, in the present embodiment, as an example, a bottom freeze type refrigerator in which a refrigerating compartment is disposed above the freezing compartment will be described.

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

The refrigerating compartment door 11 includes a plurality of doors 12 and 13 arranged from side to side. 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 refrigerating compartment door 12 and the second refrigerating compartment door 13 may move independently.

The freezer compartment door 14 includes a plurality of doors 15 and 16 arranged up and down. The plurality of doors 15 and 16 include a first freezer compartment door 15 and a second freezer compartment door 16 positioned below the first freezer compartment door 15.

The first and second refrigerating compartment doors 12 and 13 may be rotatable, and the first and second freezing compartment doors 15 and 16 may be slidably operated.

On the other hand, any one of the said 1st and 2nd refrigerator compartment door is equipped with the dispenser 17 for taking out water or ice. In FIG. 1, for example, the dispenser 17 is provided in the first refrigerating compartment door 12.

An ice making chamber (120 in FIG. 8) having an ice making assembly (200 in FIG. 8) for generating and storing ice is formed in one of the first and second refrigerating compartment doors.

In the present embodiment, the dispenser 17 and the ice making assembly may be provided in the first refrigerating compartment door 12 or the second refrigerating compartment door 13. Therefore, hereinafter, the dispenser 17 and the ice making assembly will be described as being disposed in the refrigerating compartment door 11 collectively referred to as the first refrigerating compartment door 12 and the second refrigerating compartment door 13.

The ice making chamber 120 provided in the refrigerating chamber door 11 is formed to have an independent heat insulating space, and is configured to be opened and closed by the ice making chamber door 130. The ice making chamber 120 includes an ice making chamber duct 800 for allowing air to flow in and out of the ice making chamber 120, and the ice making chamber duct opened through one side surface of the ice making chamber 120. Opening 832 is exposed.

The ice making room duct opening 832 may be formed at a corresponding position to communicate with the cabinet duct 700 provided on the sidewall of the refrigerating compartment 102 when the refrigerating compartment door 11 is closed. In addition, a gasket 840 may be provided around the ice making chamber duct opening 832 to be in close contact with the cabinet duct opening 740 formed at an end of the cabinet duct 700.

Hereinafter, the cabinet duct will be described in detail.

3 is an exploded perspective view of the cabinet duct according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line II ′ of FIG. 2.

2 to 4, the cabinet duct 700 is provided inside the cabinet 10 adjacent to the refrigerating chamber door 11 in which the ice making chamber 120 is provided. The cabinet duct 700 is buried by the foam insulation inside the cabinet 10, and only the cabinet duct opening 740, the cold air inlet 712, and the cold air outlet 714 are exposed to the inner space so that the cold air is exposed. Allow it to flow.

The cabinet duct 700 has a lower end of the cabinet duct 700 in a heat exchange chamber 106 having the freezing chamber 104 and an evaporator, and has a height corresponding to that of the ice making chamber 120. Extends to 102.

The cabinet duct 700 includes a cabinet supply duct 710 for guiding the cool air inside the heat exchange chamber 106 toward the ice making chamber 120, and the cool air inside the ice making chamber 120 to the freezing chamber 104. It is composed of a guide cabinet recovery duct 720.

The cabinet supply duct 710 and the cabinet recovery duct 720 may be configured to form independent flow paths, respectively. Thus, the cabinet duct 700 refers to the cabinet supply duct 710 and the cabinet recovery duct 720 formed independently of each other.

Meanwhile, the cabinet supply duct 710 is integrally formed and partitioned by a barrier 730 extending along the cabinet supply duct 710 to divide the cabinet supply duct 710 and the cabinet recovery duct 720. It can be configured to form.

As such, if the cabinet supply duct 710 may form a flow path through which cold air may be supplied and recovered, each of the cabinet supply ducts 710 may be separately formed or integrally formed.

On the other hand, the lower end of the cabinet supply duct 710 is formed with a cold air inlet long opened in the vertical direction. The cold air inlet 712 is exposed to the sidewall of the heat exchange chamber 106. Therefore, the cool air generated inside the heat exchange chamber 106 may be introduced into the cabinet supply duct 710. At this time, the cold air inlet 712 may be formed long in the vertical direction to ensure a sufficient suction flow rate due to the structural characteristics of the heat exchange chamber (106).

The cold air outlet 714 is formed at the lower end of the cabinet recovery duct 720. The cold air outlet 714 is exposed to the side wall of the freezer compartment 104. Therefore, the cold air guided from the ice making chamber 120 can be recovered to the inside of the freezing chamber 104. In this case, the cold air outlet 714 may be elongated in the horizontal direction so that the cold air can be introduced without being interfered by an accommodating member provided in the freezing compartment 104.

On the other hand, the cabinet duct 700 is provided with a plurality of duct fixing member 732 on the outer surface to be stably fixed without flowing from the inside of the cabinet (10). The duct fixing member 732 may be formed of a material capable of elastic deformation such as rubber.

A cabinet duct opening 740 is formed at an upper end of the cabinet duct 700, that is, the cabinet supply duct 710 and the cabinet recovery duct 720 so as to communicate with the ice making chamber duct 800. The cabinet duct opening 740 is exposed to the sidewall of the refrigerating compartment 102 and is formed at a position corresponding to the ice making chamber duct opening 832 exposed to the sidewall of the ice making chamber 120.

The cabinet duct opening 740 is formed in the cabinet supply duct 710 and the cabinet recovery duct 720 in the same shape, and since only the positions thereof are different, the cabinet duct opening 740 is formed in the cabinet supply duct 710 and the cabinet recovery duct 720. The cabinet duct openings 740 have the same reference numerals, and will be described based on those formed in the cabinet supply duct 710.

A cabinet duct opening 740 is formed at an upper end of the cabinet supply duct 710. A cabinet duct guide 742 is formed at the end of the cabinet supply duct 710 to smoothly guide cold air.

The cabinet duct guide 742 is formed from the bottom of the cabinet duct 700 to the cabinet duct opening 740 and is formed to have a round or to be inclined. Therefore, when cold air is guided to the cabinet duct opening 740 formed in a direction crossing the cold air flow path of the cabinet duct 700, the cabinet duct 700 may flow along the cabinet duct guide 742.

On the other hand, the cabinet duct opening 740 is formed long in the vertical direction, it is formed so as to be in communication with the ice making chamber duct opening 832 in the refrigerator compartment door 11 is closed. The upper and lower lengths of the cabinet duct openings 740 may not be greater than half of the upper and lower lengths of the ice making chamber 120 and may be formed longer than the upper and lower lengths of the ice maker 210 inside the ice making chamber 120. have.

A duct cover 750 is provided above the cabinet duct opening 740. The duct cover 750 prevents foreign matter from entering the cabinet duct opening 740 and forms an access passage for cold air. The duct cover 750 has a circumference 752 formed along the cabinet duct opening 740, and a plurality of grills 754 connecting the circumference 752 in the horizontal direction are formed.

In addition, the duct cover 750 further includes a cover coupling part 756 penetrating the inner case 101 forming the inner wall surface of the cabinet 10 to be fastened to the cabinet duct 700. The outer side of the duct cover 750 is further provided with a sealing member 770 to prevent leakage of cold air.

The heating member 760 is further provided outside the cabinet duct opening 740. The heating member 760 may heat the outside of the cabinet duct opening 740 to prevent condensation from occurring on the inner case 101 corresponding to the outside of the cabinet duct opening 740.

The heating member 760 is composed of an aluminum foil 764 for supporting the heating wire 762 and the heating wire 762 and the fixed mounting of the heating member 760. An opening corresponding to the cabinet duct opening 740 is formed in the aluminum foil 764 to facilitate mounting of the heating member 760.

In addition, the heating wire 762 may be disposed outside the remaining portion except for the front end of the cabinet duct opening 740 adjacent to the opened front surface of the refrigerating chamber 102. Therefore, the cabinet duct opening 740 is configured to be in contact with the sidewall of the ice making chamber 120 which is disposed in the front of the cabinet 10 as far forward as possible.

5 is an exploded perspective view of an ice making chamber duct and a gasket according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II 'of FIG. 2.

2, 5, and 6, the refrigerating 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 refrigerating compartment door 11.

The door liner 112 forms an ice compartment 120. The ice liner 120 is formed by recessing a door liner 112 forming a rear surface of the refrigerating compartment door 11. In addition, an ice-making chamber duct 800 is provided at one wall of the ice-making chamber 120 formed by the door liner 112.

The ice making room duct 800 communicates with the cabinet duct 700 to allow cold air to enter and exit the ice making room 120. When the refrigerating compartment door 11 is closed, the cabinet duct 700 is closed. It may be provided in a position in contact with.

The ice making chamber duct 800 includes an ice making chamber supply duct 810 formed above the ice making chamber 120, and an ice making chamber recovery duct 820 below the ice making chamber supply duct 810. The ice making chamber supply duct 810 and the ice making chamber recovery duct 820 may be separately formed and mounted on sidewalls of the ice making chamber 120. The ice making chamber supply duct 810 and the ice making chamber recovery duct 820 may be connected to each other and integrally formed.

Since the ice making chamber supply duct 810 and the ice making chamber recovery duct 820 differ only in the mounting position and arrangement thereof, the overall structure is the same, only the ice making chamber supply duct 810 will be described below.

The ice making chamber supply duct 810 includes an ice making chamber duct opening 832 facing toward the outside of the ice making chamber 120, an ice making chamber inner opening 834 facing toward the inside of the ice making chamber 120, and an ice making chamber duct opening ( 832 and an ice making chamber duct guide 830 connecting the ice making chamber inner opening 834.

The ice making chamber duct opening 832 is formed at a position corresponding to the size of the cabinet duct opening 740 so that the ice making chamber duct opening 832 is formed to be vertically long. In addition, the ice making chamber duct opening 832 may be mounted to an outer mounting portion 124 formed in the door liner 112 outside the ice making chamber 120.

The ice making chamber inner opening 834 is mounted to an inner mounting part 122 formed in the door liner 112 inside the ice making chamber 120, and has a length that is shorter than the ice making chamber duct opening 832 and has a horizontal length. The length of is formed long. In this case, the ice-making chamber duct opening 832 and the ice-making chamber inner opening 834 are formed to have the same opening area and prevent the loss of the flow rate supplied through the ice-making chamber duct 800.

The ice making chamber duct opening 832 of the ice making chamber supply duct 810 is formed at a position corresponding to the ice maker 210 inside the ice making chamber 120 among the ice making chamber duct openings 832. Can be. The ice making chamber duct opening 832 of the ice making chamber recovery duct 720 may be formed at a position corresponding to the ice bin 300.

The ice making room duct guide part 830 connecting the ice making room duct opening 832 and the ice making room inner opening 834 is formed to be inclined or rounded, and the ice making room duct opening 832 is formed on the ice making room duct opening 832. The vertical height may be lowered toward the ice chamber inner opening 834 and the horizontal width may be wider.

Meanwhile, a gasket 840 is formed in the ice making chamber duct opening 832. The gasket 840 is for preventing cold air from leaking between the cabinet duct 700 and the ice making chamber duct 800 when the refrigerating compartment door 11 is closed. It is fixed to the ice making room duct 800.

The gasket 840 is formed up and down like the ice making chamber duct opening 832 and is formed to have an elastic material or structure, and the duct cover 750 when the refrigerating chamber door 11 is closed. Is formed to be in contact with the periphery portion (752). That is, the gasket 840 is formed with a hollow 842 to allow cold air to enter and exit at the center thereof, and a contact portion selectively contacting the circumference 752 of the duct cover 750 along the circumference of the hollow 842. 844 is formed.

The hollow of the gasket 840 is provided with a plurality of reinforcing ribs 846 formed in a horizontal direction to support the hollow 842 so as not to be narrowed or deformed. Therefore, even when an external force is applied to the gasket 840, the hollow 842 is smoothly guided by the reinforcing rib 846 without being narrowed or deformed.

The gasket fixing member 850 is formed along the lower circumference of the gasket 840, and is fastened to the ice making chamber duct opening 832 by passing through the lower part of the gasket 840 and the door liner 112. Therefore, the gasket 840 is maintained in a fixed state in the ice making chamber duct opening 832, and the gasket 840 may maintain its position even when contacted with the duct cover 750.

Hereinafter, the internal structure of the ice making chamber will be described.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a refrigerating compartment door with the ice compartment door open according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the refrigerating compartment door with the ice making assembly removed from the ice making compartment according to the first embodiment.

7 and 8, an ice making assembly 200 for generating and storing ice is disposed in the ice making chamber 120. The ice making chamber 120 is opened and closed by an ice making door 130. The ice making room door 130 is rotatably connected to the door liner 112 by a hinge 139.

In addition, the ice making chamber door 130 is provided with a handle 140 to be coupled to the door liner 112 while the ice making chamber door 130 is closed with the ice making chamber 130. The door liner 112 has a handle engaging portion 128 to which a portion of the handle 140 is coupled. The handle coupling portion 128 receives a portion of the handle 140.

The ice making chamber door 130 is provided with a receiving member 160 for storing food. The accommodating member 160 is formed in a basket shape, and is detachably mounted to the rear surface of the ice making chamber door 130.

A gasket 132 is provided around the front surface of the ice making chamber door 130 (the surface facing the inner side of the ice making chamber). The gasket 132 may be in contact with an open front end of the ice making chamber 120 to seal the ice making chamber 120.

On the other hand, the door liner 112 forms the rear surface of the refrigerating chamber door 11 including the ice making chamber 120. A portion of the rear side of the refrigerating compartment door 11 formed by the door liner 112 protrudes below the ice making chamber, that is, the rear portion of the dispenser 17, than the portion where the ice making chamber 120 is formed. Therefore, the rear surface of the refrigerating compartment door 11 formed by the door liner 112 may be formed stepped. That is, when comparing the overall thickness of the refrigerating compartment door 11, the portion where the ice making chamber 120 is formed becomes thinner than the portion below the ice making chamber 120.

The ice making chamber 120 is provided with a cold air duct 290 for guiding the cold air passing through the ice making chamber supply duct 810 to the ice making assembly 200. The cold air duct 290 is formed with a flow path through which cold air flows, and the cold air passing through the cold air duct 290 is finally supplied to the ice making assembly 200 side. The cold air duct 290 allows the cool air to be concentrated to the ice making assembly 200 side, it is possible to produce the ice quickly.

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

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

In addition, 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. The 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.

9 and 10 are perspective views of the ice making assembly.

Referring to FIGS. 7 to 10, the ice making assembly 200 according to the present embodiment defines an ice space in which ice is generated, and supports an ice maker 210 that supports the generated ice, and ice in the ice maker 210. Drive source 220 for providing power for rotating the ice maker 210 to separate, the gearbox 224 for transmitting the power of the drive source 220 to the ice maker 210, and the water supply pipe Water guide portion 240 for guiding the water supplied from 126 to the ice maker 210 is included.

In addition, the ice making assembly 200 includes a support mechanism 250 for supporting the seating portion 215 on which the ice maker 210 is seated, and an ice bin 300 for storing the ice separated from the ice maker 210. ), An ice sensor 270 for detecting an ice level of the ice bin 300, and a motor assembly 280 selectively connected to the ice bin 300.

The wire connected to the motor assembly 280 and the 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, the support mechanism 250 includes a first support part 252 and a second support part 260 coupled to the first support part 252.

The first support part 252 is seated in the ice making chamber 120. The motor assembly 280 is mounted on the first support part 252. The motor assembly 280 further includes a connection member 284 connected to the ice discharge member 400 to be described below when the ice bin 300 is mounted. The connection member 284 may be exposed to the front through the first support 252.

In addition, an ice opening 253 through which the ice discharged from the ice bin 300 passes is formed at the bottom surface of the first support part 252. The ice bin 300 is seated on the first support part 252. That is, the first support part 252 supports the ice bin 300.

When the ice bin 300 is seated on the first support 252, the motor assembly 280 is connected to the ice bin 300. In the present embodiment, the state in which the ice bin 300 is seated on the first support part 252 means a state in which the ice bin 300 is accommodated in the ice making chamber 120.

The seating part 215 on which the ice maker 210 is seated is installed in the second support part 260. Rotating shafts 212 are included on both sides of the ice maker 210, one rotating shaft is connected to the gear box 224, and the other rotating shaft 212 is rotatably connected to the seating portion 215. .

The ice sensor 270 is installed on the second support part 260 at a position spaced apart from the ice maker 210. In addition, the ice sensor 270 is located below the ice maker 210.

The ice detector 270 includes a transmitter 271 for transmitting a signal, and a receiver 272 spaced apart from the transmitter 271 and receiving a signal from the transmitter 271.

The transmitter 271 and the receiver 272 are positioned in an interior space of the ice bin 300 while the ice bin 300 is seated on the first support 252.

Hereinafter, the ice bin 300 will be described in detail.

11 is a perspective view of an ice bin according to the first embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 11, the ice bin 300 has an opening 310 formed thereon. The ice bin 300 includes a front wall 311, a rear wall 312, and both side walls 313.

The inside of the ice bin 300, the inclined guide surface 320 for supporting the stored ice, and guides the stored ice to slide down by its own weight is provided.

An ice storage space 315 in which ice is stored is formed by the front wall 311, the rear wall 312, both side walls 313, and the inclined guide surface 320.

The inclined guide surface 320 includes a first inclined guide surface 321 and a second inclined guide surface 322. The first inclined guide surface 321 is inclined downward toward the central portion from one of the two side walls 313, and the second inclined guide surface 322 is inclined downward toward the central portion from the other one of the two side walls 313. Lose.

Between the first slope guide surface 321 and the second slope guide surface 322 is an ice discharge member 400 for discharging the ice contained in the ice bin 300 to the outside of the ice bin 300 Prepared. That is, the first inclined guide surface 321 and the second inclined guide surface 322 are positioned on the left and right sides of the ice discharge member 400.

The ice discharging member 400 includes one or more rotating blades 410 forming a predetermined space portion 411 in which ice may be located. In order to facilitate the discharge of ice, the ice discharge member 400 may include a plurality of rotating blades 410.

Hereinafter, the ice discharge member 400 will be described, for example, including a plurality of rotating blades 410.

The ice placed on the first slope guide surface 321 and the second slope guide surface 322 is moved to the ice discharge member 400 by gravity, and then discharged to the outside by the operation of the ice discharge member 400. do.

Between the first inclined guide surface 321 and the second inclined guide surface 322, the ice discharging member 400 is rotatably provided, and the discharge portion having a discharge port 510 for the final discharge of ice ( 500) is provided.

The ice discharging member 400 is installed in the discharge part 500 so as to be capable of forward and reverse rotation (or rotatable in both directions).

On the lower one side of the ice discharge member 400, that is, on one side of the discharge part 500, when the ice discharge member 400 rotates in the first direction, the rotating blade 410 of the ice discharge member 400 is rotated. A plurality of fixed blades (480) for crushing the ice with the ice is provided.

The plurality of fixed blades 480 are spaced apart from each other, and the rotating blades 410 pass through a space between the plurality of fixed blades 480.

When the ice is pressed by the rotation operation of the rotating blade 410 in a state where the ice is sandwiched between the fixed blade 480 and the rotating blade 410, the ice is crushed into pieces of ice.

On the other hand, when the ice discharging member 400 is rotated in the second direction opposite to the first direction on the other side of the lower side of the ice discharging member 400, that is, the other side of the discharge part 500, the barrel ice The opening and closing member 600 is provided to selectively communicate the discharge port 410 and the ice storage space 315 so that the discharge port 410 can be discharged.

An operation limiting part 650 is provided below the opening / closing member 600 to limit an operation range of the opening / closing member 600 to prevent excessive discharge of ice in the ice state.

The discharge part 500 includes a discharge guide wall 520 formed in a shape corresponding to the rotational trajectory of the rotary blade 410. The fixed blade 480 is mounted below the discharge guide wall 520.

The discharge guide wall 500 prevents the crushed ice pieces from remaining in the discharge part 500. The rotating blade (410) and the rear of the front wall (311) of the ice bin 300, so that the congestion does not occur because the ice is pinched between the front wall (311) of the ice bin (300) An ice jam prevention part 330 protruding toward the 410 is provided.

12 is an exploded perspective view of the ice bin.

11 and 12, the plurality of rotation blades 410 are fixedly installed on the rotation shaft 420. The rotation shaft 420 passes through the connecting plate 428 connected to the supporting plate 425 and the connecting member 284 of the motor assembly (see 280 of FIG. 6). The rotating shaft 420 is disposed in the horizontal direction inside the ice bin 300.

In addition, an elastic member 429 having a coil spring shape that elastically supports the connecting plate 428 is disposed between the supporting plate 425 and the connecting plate 428. On the other hand, the support plate 425, the inclined surface 426 for smoothly moving the ice located on the side of the support plate 425 toward the plurality of rotating blades 410 side.

In addition, the plurality of rotary blades 410, the support plate 425, the connecting plate 428, and the elastic member 429 are coupled to the rotary shaft 420 and inserted into the front end of the rotary shaft 420. The member 21 is inserted.

The plurality of rotating blades 410 are spaced apart from each other in a direction parallel to the extending direction of the rotating shaft 420.

One side of the plurality of fixed blades 480 is connected to the rotation shaft 420. That is, the rotation shaft 420 passes through the plurality of fixed blades 480. Each of the fixed blades 480 is formed with a through hole 481 through which the rotation shaft 420 passes.

Here, the size of the through hole 481 may be larger than the diameter of the rotation shaft 420 so that the fixed blade 480 does not move while the rotation shaft 420 is rotated.

The plurality of rotating blades 410 and the plurality of fixed blades 480 are alternately arranged in a direction parallel to the extending direction of the rotating shaft 420.

The other side of the plurality of fixing blades 480 is fixed to the lower side of the discharge guide wall 520 as described above. A fixing member 485 is connected to the other side of the plurality of fixing blades 480, and the fixing member 485 is inserted into the groove 521 formed in the discharge guide wall 520.

On the other hand, the opening and closing member 600 may be composed of one or a plurality, it is disposed on the side of the plurality of fixed blades (480).

The opening and closing member 600 is rotatably provided in the discharge part 500, itself

Is made of an elastic material or may be supported by an elastic member 640 such as a spring.

This is to allow the end portion to move downward by the pressing action by the ice and to return to the original position when the pressing action by the ice is released.

After the ice discharge member 400, the fixed blade 480, the opening and closing member 600 is mounted to the ice bin 300, the front plate for forming the front wall (311) of the ice bin 300 ( 311a) is mounted.

A cover member 318 may be installed below the front surface of the front plate 311a to prevent the opening and closing member 600 or the fixed blade 480 from being exposed to the outside.

13 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the refrigerating compartment door according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 14 is a view illustrating a state in which the ice maker is rotated to separate ice from the ice maker in FIG. 13.

10 and 9, in the state where the ice making assembly 200 is disposed in the ice making chamber 120, the ice bin 300 is disposed substantially below the ice maker 210.

In detail, the inlet 310a of the opening 310 of the ice bin 300 is located lower than the lower surface of the ice maker 210. Accordingly, the ice bin 300 is disposed in an area A between the ice making room door 130 and the ice maker 210 with the ice making door 130 closing the ice making room 120. It doesn't work. That is, the ice bin 300 may be disposed in an area excluding the area between the ice making room door 130 and the ice maker 210 among the entire areas of the ice making room 120.

The reason is that the ice maker 210 is inverted by the rotation operation, and the ice I is separated from the ice maker 210 and dropped to the ice bin 300 by its own weight, so that the area A This is because the ice bin 300 does not have to be located. That is, since the ice separated from the ice maker 210 does not pass the region A, the ice bin 300 does not need to be located in the region A.

Accordingly, as the ice bin 300 is not positioned in the area A, the ice making room door 130 may be disposed closer to the ice maker 210, and thus the refrigerating room door 11 ) Can reduce the overall thickness. That is, the ice making chamber 120 and the refrigerator door 11 may become slim.

On the other hand, the plurality of rotating blades 410 are arranged spaced apart in a direction parallel to the extending direction (front and rear direction) of the rotating shaft, as described above, the plurality of rotating blades 410 is the front and rear width of the ice maker 210 (W) can be located within the range.

Therefore, when the ice maker 210 is rotated to separate the ice I from the ice maker 210, some ice among the plurality of ice separated from the ice maker 210 is the plurality of rotating blades ( 410 falls directly to at least one rotating blade. That is, the ice I separated from the ice maker 210 falls by its own weight, and one or more ice I among the falling ice I is in direct contact with at least one rotating blade 410. .

At this time, the falling direction of the ice separated from the ice maker 210 is a direction crossing with the extending direction of the rotating shaft 420. In another aspect, the falling direction of the ice separated from the ice maker 210 is substantially parallel to an imaginary surface drawn when the plurality of rotating blades 410 are rotated.

The horizontal distance from the ice making chamber door 130 to the rotating shaft 212 of the ice maker 210 is greater than the shortest horizontal distance from the ice making door 130 to the discharge port 510.

Meanwhile, a foaming liquid is filled between the outer case of the refrigerating compartment door 11 and the door liner 112 to form the foam insulation 115. In addition, the foamed heat insulating material 115 and a different kind of heat insulating material 116 are attached to the rear surface of the outer case 111 of the refrigerating compartment door 11.

The heat insulator 116 is formed of a material having high efficiency as compared with the foam heat insulator 115. For example, a vacuum insulation panel may be used as the heat insulator 116, and the heat insulator 116 may be attached to an area corresponding to the ice making chamber 120 of the out case 111.

The vacuum insulator has a core material in which a vacuum state is imparted to the inside of the shell material having a low gas permeability, and has a relatively high heat insulation performance while being relatively thin as compared with polyurethane or styrofoam.

Therefore, the area in which the heat insulating material 116 is attached may reduce the filling amount of the foamed heat insulating material 115, thereby making the thickness of the refrigerating compartment door 11 corresponding to the ice making chamber 120 more slim. Will be.

In addition, an ice making room door heat insulating material 134 formed of the vacuum heat insulating material such as the heat insulating material 116 may be attached to the inside of the ice making room door 130. By attaching the ice making room door insulation 134, the ice making room door 130 can be designed more slim.

Of course, the ice making room door 130 may be filled with a foaming liquid together with the ice making room door insulation 134 formed of the vacuum insulating material as necessary.

As described above, the refrigerating chamber door 11 in which the ice making chamber door 130 is formed has the structure of the ice making assembly 200 and the ice making chamber 120 by the heat insulating material 116 and the ice making room door heat insulating material 134. The formed area can be made slimmer.

Therefore, the width of the side wall for allowing cold air to enter and exit the ice making chamber 120 is narrowed. In such a state, the ice-making chamber duct opening 832 can be lengthened up and down to secure a sufficient flow rate of the cold air. Accordingly, the cabinet duct opening 740 communicating with each other when the refrigerating-door door 11 is closed is also the same. It can be formed long up and down.

Hereinafter, the operation of the refrigerator having the above configuration will be described.

When the refrigerating compartment door 11 is closed, the ice making chamber duct 800 and the cabinet duct 700 communicate with each other to allow a flow of cold air. In the state in which the refrigerating compartment door 11 is closed, the gasket 840 contacts the circumference 752 of the duct cover 750 so that cold air does not leak out to the outside. The duct 700 may be in communication with each other.

In this state, in order to make ice in the ice maker 210 or to prevent the ice stored in the ice bin 300 from melting, cold air is supplied. To this end, the cold air generated by the evaporator in the heat exchange chamber 106 is forcedly blown by a blower fan and supplied to the refrigerating chamber 102, the freezing chamber 104, and the ice making chamber 120.

The cool air of the heat exchange chamber 106 is introduced into the cabinet supply duct 710 through the cold air inlet 712, the cabinet duct opening 740 of the cabinet supply duct 710, and the ice making chamber supply duct 810. The ice-making chamber duct opening 832 through the ice-making chamber supply duct 810, and the inside of the ice-making chamber 120 through the ice-making chamber inner opening 834 of the ice-making chamber supply duct 810. Is supplied.

At this time, a sufficient amount of cold air passing through the cabinet duct opening 740 and the ice making chamber duct opening 832 which are formed vertically long is supplied to the ice maker 210 through the ice making chamber inner opening 834 without loss. do.

Meanwhile, the cool air inside the ice making chamber 120 is discharged through the ice making chamber inner opening 834 of the ice making chamber collecting duct 820 and the ice making chamber duct opening 832 of the ice making chamber collecting duct 820. And the cabinet duct opening 740 of the cabinet recovery duct 720 is introduced into the cabinet recovery duct 720, and is supplied to the freezing chamber 104 through the cold air outlet 714.

Even in this case, a sufficient amount of cold air passing through the cabinet duct opening 740 and the ice making chamber duct opening 832 which is formed vertically long is lost through the ice making chamber inner opening 834 without loss. From the freezer compartment 104 can be discharged.

The cold air is continuously circulated through the flow path, and is maintained at a temperature for deicing the inside of the ice making chamber 120 and a temperature capable of maintaining an iced state.

In addition, the foam insulation 11 inside the refrigerator compartment door 11 insulates the space between the interior space and the space. In particular, the insulation between the ice-making chamber 120 and the external space is further strengthened by the sheet-shaped insulation 116 provided inside the refrigerating chamber door 11 corresponding to the ice-making chamber 120 region. .

In addition, the inside of the ice compartment 120 and the refrigerating compartment 102 may be insulated by the foam insulator and / or the sheet-shaped insulator 116 inside the refrigerating compartment door 11.

When ice is made in the ice maker 210 inside the ice making chamber 120, the ice-making portion of the ice maker 210 rotates to move the iced ice vertically downward of the ice maker 210. Dropped. In addition, the ice iced by the ice maker 210 falls directly to the ice discharging member 400 and is accumulated in the lower space inside the ice bin 300.

When the dispenser 17 is operated to take out ice in the ice bin 300, the rotating blade 410 rotates to take out ice in the same ice state as the original state of the iced ice. At this time, when the rotary blade 410 is rotated in the first direction, the ice located in the space between the rotary blade 410 is discharged to the discharge port 510 through the opening and closing member 600.

When the rotating blade 410 rotates in the second direction, ice located in the space between the rotating blades 410 is crushed between the fixed blade 480 and the rotating blades 410 to crush ice. It is discharged to the discharge port 510 in a state.

That is, it is possible to determine the discharge state of the ice cubes and pieces of ice in accordance with the rotation direction of the rotary blade 410, the ice discharged to the discharge port 510 is the inlet 152 and the outlet of the ice duct 150 ( It can be withdrawn to the dispenser 17 past 154.

15 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a refrigerating compartment door provided with an ice making compartment according to a second embodiment.

This embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment in other parts, but differs only in the structure of the ice making chamber duct. Therefore, hereinafter, only the features of the present embodiment will be described, and the same components as those of the first embodiment will be omitted when the same reference numerals are used.

Referring to FIG. 17, the ice making chamber 120 is formed by the door liner 112 forming the rear surface of the refrigerating compartment door 11, and the door liner 112 forming a sidewall of the ice making chamber 120. Inside the ice making chamber duct 900 is provided.

The ice making chamber duct 900 is an ice making chamber supply duct 910 communicating with the cabinet supply duct 810 when the refrigerating compartment door 11 is closed, and an ice making chamber communicating with the cabinet recovery duct 820. Recovery duct 920.

In addition, the gasket 940 is provided in the ice making chamber duct opening 901 formed on the outer wall of the ice making chamber 120, and the gasket 940 is formed by the gasket fixing member 950. 900 can be fixed. In addition, an ice making chamber duct cover 970 is provided in the ice making chamber inner opening 902 formed on the inner wall of the ice making chamber 120.

Meanwhile, the ice making chamber duct 900 is formed of styrofoam or polyurethane, and is inserted into the sidewall of the ice making chamber 120 in a state in which an ice making chamber duct guide 960 in which cold air flows is formed.

The ice making room duct guide part 960 connects the ice making room duct opening 901 and the ice making room inner opening 902. In addition, the ice-making chamber duct guide part 960 is formed such that the height in the vertical direction decreases from the outside of the ice-making chamber 120 to the inner side of the ice-making chamber 120 and the width in the horizontal direction increases. That is, the ice making room duct guide 960 may be formed to be inclined or rounded so that the cold air can be smoothly introduced into and out of the ice making room 120.

1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment;

2 is a view schematically showing a flow of cold air to the ice making chamber according to the first embodiment.

3 is an exploded perspective view of the cabinet duct according to the first embodiment;

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

5 is an exploded perspective view of the ice making chamber duct and the gasket according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II ′ of FIG. 2.

7 is a perspective view of a refrigerating compartment door in a state where the ice-making compartment door according to the first embodiment is opened;

8 is a perspective view of the refrigerating compartment door in which the ice making assembly is removed from the ice making chamber according to the first embodiment;

9 and 10 are perspective views of the ice making assembly.

11 is a perspective view of an ice bin according to the first embodiment.

12 is an exploded perspective view of the ice bin.

13 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the refrigerating compartment door according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a view illustrating a state in which an ice maker is rotated to separate ice from the ice maker of FIG. 13. FIG.

15 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a refrigerating compartment door provided with an ice making compartment according to a second embodiment.

Claims (21)

A cabinet in which a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment are formed; A refrigerator compartment door for opening and closing the refrigerator compartment; A freezer compartment door to open and close the freezer compartment; An ice making room forming an insulation space in the refrigerating room door and having an ice maker for making ice; A dispenser provided in the refrigerating compartment door and extracting ice from the ice making chamber; A cabinet duct provided on an inner wall of the refrigerating chamber, in which cold air for ice making flows, and a cabinet duct opening which is opened in the refrigerating chamber and formed to extend vertically; And an ice making chamber duct provided on a side wall of the ice making chamber, the ice making chamber duct opening communicating with the cabinet duct extending upward and downward in accordance with the rotation of the door. The method of claim 1, The circumference | surroundings of the said ice-making chamber duct opening are provided with the gasket which blocks the cold air leakage between the said cabinet duct and the ice-making chamber duct. The method of claim 2, The cabinet duct opening portion, the refrigerator further comprises a duct cover for forming a cold air entry passage to the cabinet duct. The method of claim 1, In the cabinet duct, A cabinet supply duct for guiding cold air of a heat exchange chamber each having an evaporator to the ice making chamber side; And a cabinet recovery duct for guiding the cold air discharged from the ice making chamber to the freezing compartment. The method of claim 4, wherein The lower end of the cabinet supply duct is formed with a cold air inlet longitudinally open, And a cold air outlet formed in a horizontal direction at a lower end of the cabinet recovery duct. The method of claim 5, And the cold air inlet communicates with a heat exchange chamber provided with an evaporator, and the cold air outlet communicates with the freezing compartment. The method of claim 4, wherein And the cabinet supply duct and the cabinet recovery duct are partitioned left and right by a barrier formed along a center of the inside of the cabinet duct. The method of claim 4, wherein Refrigerator, characterized in that the cabinet supply duct and the end of the cabinet return duct is formed in a round or inclined cabinet duct guide for guiding the movement of cold air. The method of claim 1, The ice making room duct, And an ice making chamber inner opening exposed to the inside of the ice making chamber is shorter in the longitudinal direction than the ice making duct opening. The method of claim 1, The ice making room duct, And a width greater from the ice-making duct opening outside the ice-making chamber toward the ice-making chamber inner opening exposed to the ice-making chamber. The method of claim 1, Refrigerator, characterized in that the ice-making chamber duct is formed round or inclined to guide the direction of the cold ice chamber duct further formed. The method of claim 1, A heater is provided around the inlet and the outlet of the cabinet duct, The heater is characterized in that the refrigerator is formed on the remaining portion other than the front end of the cabinet duct opening. The method of claim 1, The cabinet duct opening is characterized in that the refrigerator is formed longer than the vertical length of the ice maker. The method of claim 1, And the gasket is formed along a circumference of the ice making chamber duct opening. The method of claim 3, wherein And a plurality of grills formed in a horizontal direction in the open cover hole of the duct cover. The method of claim 13, The gasket is formed in contact with the outer periphery of the cover hole. The method of claim 2, The gasket further comprises a plurality of reinforcing ribs formed in a horizontal direction so that the gasket hole at the center of the gasket can maintain a gap. The method of claim 3, wherein In the duct cover, And a cover coupling part protruding to penetrate an inner case forming an inner surface of the refrigerating compartment to be constrained to the ice making chamber duct opening. The method of claim 2, The side wall of the ice making chamber further comprises a fixing member fixed to the ice making chamber duct by passing through the gasket and the door liner forming the ice making chamber. The method of claim 1, The refrigerator compartment door is characterized in that the thickness of the portion in which the ice making chamber is formed is thinner than the thickness below the ice making chamber. The method of claim 1, The circumference | surroundings of the said ice-making chamber duct opening are provided with the gasket which blocks the cold air leakage between the said cabinet duct and the ice-making chamber duct.

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