KR20110090314A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A refrigerator is provided to enhance use convenience since there is no need for a user to continue to press a certain input member when requiring a lot of water. CONSTITUTION: A refrigerator comprises a cabinet, a door, a dispenser(100), a first input member and a second input member. The cabinet forms a storage. The door opens and closes the storage. The dispenser is formed on the door externally discharges water or ice from the refrigerator. A first input member is formed on the dispenser and enables water or ice to be discharged while a user presses. A second input member is formed on the dispenser, detects that a container for taking water or ice is located in the dispenser and enables water or ice to be continuously discharged.

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 interior storage space shielded by a door, and is stored by cooling the inside of the storage space using cold air generated through heat exchange with a refrigerant circulating in a refrigeration cycle. It is configured to keep foods in optimal condition.

Such refrigerators are becoming larger and more versatile as the dietary changes and user's preferences are diversified, and various configurations are added for the convenience of users.

For example, recently, a refrigerator equipped with a dispenser for discharging ice made in the refrigerator from the outside without opening the door has been released. Such a dispenser is provided outside the door of the refrigerator, and configured to take out ice ice from the ice making apparatus provided in the refrigerator by an external operation of the user.

The dispenser is generally provided with a depression from the front side of the door, and after disposing the ice to receive the ice in the depression, the ice is taken out by operating a button or a lever for taking out the ice.

Such a common dispenser is inconvenient in use because the supply of water or ice is made by pressing a button or a lever when taking out water or ice. In addition, there is a problem in that the ease of use, such as having to hold a heavy container, so as to maintain the operation state when supplying a large amount of water or ice.

In addition, when the height of the container is low, there is a problem in that the distance from the outlet of the dispenser to the inlet of the container is long, so that pieces of ice are scattered when the ice is taken out.

An object of this embodiment is to provide a refrigerator provided with a dispenser that is easy to take out water or ice.

Refrigerator according to the present embodiment, the cabinet to form a storage space; A door for opening and closing the storage space; A dispenser provided in the door, for discharging ice or purified water made in the refrigerator from the outside; A first input member provided in the dispenser and configured to take out ice or water during a user's pressing operation; And a second input member provided in the dispenser and configured to detect the container for taking out water or ice from the inside of the dispenser so that water or ice can be continuously drawn out.

In addition, the first input member is provided below the outlet of the dispenser, characterized in that provided in a lever or button structure.

In addition, the second input member is provided on the bottom surface of the dispenser, characterized in that the pressure sensor for detecting the pressure when the container is seated.

In addition, the second input member is characterized in that the proximity sensor or infrared sensor for detecting the presence of the container.

In addition, when both the first input member and the second input member operating signal is input, the dispenser is characterized in that the operation signal of the second input member.

In addition, the dispenser is characterized in that the guide member for guiding the ice is taken out to the container when the ice is taken out.

In addition, the guide member is characterized in that it is configured to enable the vertical length adjustment.

In addition, the inside of the dispenser is characterized in that the drive unit for vertical movement of the guide member is provided.

In addition, the driving unit is operated when the operation signal input of the second input member is characterized in that the lower end of the guide member is elevated.

The dispenser may further include a third input member for operating the driving unit.

The guide member is fixedly mounted to the dispenser, and includes a fixed guide formed along an outer side of the outlet through which ice is drawn out, and a lifting guide provided on the inside of the fixed guide and lifted by the driving unit. It is characterized by.

According to the proposed embodiment, the dispenser is provided with a first input member for supplying water or ice during the operation of pressing the user, and detects the position of the container in the dispenser and continuously supplies water or ice. 2 input members are provided.

When taking out a small amount of water or ice, the first input member is operated to take out water or ice, and when taking out a large amount of water or ice, the second input member is operated to continuously take out water or ice. Done.

Therefore, the user can selectively use the desired dispensing state, and in particular, it is not necessary to continuously press and hold the first input member when dispensing a large amount of water or ice, thereby improving usability.

When the container is sensed by the second input means when taking out a large amount of ice, the guide member is moved downwards to narrow the distance between the relatively long outlet and the container to prevent the ice from scattering.

1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to the present embodiment.
2 is a front view of the dispenser according to the present embodiment.
3 is a cutaway perspective view of the dispenser.
Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the guide member and the drive unit according to this embodiment.
5 is a perspective view showing a state before extension of the guide member.
6 is a perspective view showing a state after the extension of the guide member.
7 is a view showing a schematic operation state of the dispenser sequentially.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented, and other embodiments included within the scope of other inventive inventions or the scope of the present invention can be easily made by adding, changing, or deleting other elements. I can suggest.

For the convenience of understanding and explanation, the storage device of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment will be described as an example in which a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment are provided in a side by side type refrigerator in which side by side are arranged side by side. The present invention is not limited thereto, and it is apparent that the present invention may be applied to all types of refrigerators in which a dispenser may be provided.

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

Referring to FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment has an outer shape formed by a cabinet 10 forming a storage space therein and a door 20 opening and closing the storage space.

The storage space is divided into left and right to form a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment, respectively. In addition, the door 20 may include a refrigerator compartment door 22 and a refrigerator compartment door 24 that individually open and close the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment by rotation.

The freezer compartment door 24 is provided with a dispenser 100. The dispenser 100 is configured to take out purified water or ice made in the outside from the outside. Of course, the dispenser 100 may be provided in the refrigerating compartment door 22 as necessary.

2 is a front view of the dispenser according to the present embodiment. 3 is a cutaway perspective view of the dispenser.

2 and 3, the dispenser 100 is provided on the front surface of the freezer compartment door 24. In addition, the dispenser 100 may provide a dispenser case 110 forming an outer shape, a guide member 200 for guiding the extraction of ice, a water supply pipe 120 through which water is extracted, and a blowout operation signal input of water or ice. It comprises a first input member 300 for, the second input member 400 for detecting the position of the container and a display assembly 120 for displaying the operation and operation of the dispenser 100.

In detail, the dispenser case 110 is used to form the shape of the dispenser 100 and forms a recess 112 recessed into the freezer compartment door 24. The depression 112 is recessed inward from the front of the freezer compartment door 24 into a space where the container is located when water or ice is taken out.

The dispenser case 110 is formed with a blowout port 114 for extracting ice. The outlet 114 is an end of the passage for discharging ice inside the high, and may be configured to be selectively shielded by the outlet cap 116 is rotated.

In addition, the dispenser case 110 is provided with a guide member 200. The guide member 200 is provided at the periphery of the outlet 114 to guide the ice taken out through the outlet 114 to the container 30 side. The guide member 200 is formed in a funnel shape is formed to become narrower downward.

The guide member 200 may be composed of a fixed guide 210 and the lifting guide 220, the lifting guide 220 can be lifted by the drive unit 230 provided inside the dispenser 100. It is configured to be. Detailed configurations of the guide member 200 and the driving unit 230 will be described later.

The water supply pipe 120 is provided below the guide member 200. The water supply pipe 120 is the purified water is taken out, it is configured to penetrate the dispenser case 110 so that the end portion is exposed to the inside of the recess 112.

Meanwhile, the display assembly 120 is provided above the dispenser case 110. The display assembly 120 may include a display 122 indicating an operation state of the refrigerator and an operation button 124 for operating operations of the dispenser 100 and the refrigerator 1.

Meanwhile, a first input member 300 is provided below the display assembly 120. The first input member 300 is operated to take out water or ice, and is formed in a lever-like structure.

That is, the first input member 300 is configured such that the upper end is pivotally coupled. In addition, the first input member 300 is configured to turn on and off a switch for generating an operation signal for discharging water and ice by turning during a pressing operation, and selecting a target selected from water or ice by turning the switch on and off. This can be taken out.

The first input member 300 is disposed at an approximately center portion of the recess 112. When the first input member 300 is positioned on the same extension line as the water supply pipe 120 and the guide member 200 to press and press the first input member 300 using a cup or a container. And water or ice can be supplied to the cup or container.

The first input member 300 is configured to enable continuous supply of water or ice while being operated by the user. That is, when the user presses the first input member 300, the extraction of water or ice starts and the supply of water or ice to the container 30 starts, and the first input member 300 is no longer pressed. It is possible to continue supplying water or ice until it is not.

The bottom plate 130 may be provided on the bottom surface of the dispenser case 110. The bottom plate 130 may be formed in a grill shape. In addition, the bottom plate 130 may be formed of a material such as rubber or urethane, and may be configured to not slip when the container 30 is seated.

The bottom plate 130 may be configured to be detachable. The bottom plate mounting portion 140 may be formed on the bottom surface of the dispenser case 110 so that the bottom plate 130 may be mounted.

In addition, the bottom plate mounting unit 140 may be formed to receive the residual water generated during the operation of the dispenser 100. In addition, a portion of the bottom surface of the dispenser case 110 may be configured to be removable so that the water collected in the bottom plate mounting unit 140 may be treated.

Meanwhile, a second input member 400 may be provided on the bottom surface of the dispenser case 110. The second input member 400 detects whether the container 30 is located inside the recess 112 of the dispenser case 110, and detects a change in pressure when the container 30 is seated. It is configured to be. The second input member 400 may be a semiconductor pressure sensor, a piezoelectric ceramic sensor, a capacitive ceramic sensor, and the like that are generally used.

The second input member 400 may be positioned vertically below the guide member 200, and may be mounted to expose the second input member 400 to the top surface of the bottom plate 130. Therefore, when the container 30 is seated on the bottom plate 130, the second input member 400 detects the pressure change to recognize the container 30.

When the container 30 is recognized by the second input member 400, extraction of water or ice is started. The second input member 400 continuously extracts water or ice until the container 30 is removed from the inside of the recess 112 of the dispenser 100 to the outside. At this time, the user can continuously take out the water or ice by placing the container 30 in the depression 112 of the dispenser 100 without any additional manipulation.

Meanwhile, the second input member 400 may be configured as a proximity sensor or an infrared sensor. In addition to the bottom surface of the dispenser case 110, the second input member 400 may be provided on one surface of the dispenser case 110 forming the recess 112. At this time, the position of the second input member 400 should be located below the first input member 300, the container 30 is configured to be located vertically below the guide portion and the water supply pipe 120. Can be.

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the guide member and the drive unit according to this embodiment. And, Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a state before the extension of the guide member. And, Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a state after the extension of the guide member.

4 to 6, the guide member 200 is provided on the inside of the fixing guide 210 and the fixing guide 210 fixedly mounted to the dispenser case 110 and the driving unit 230. The lifting guide 220 is moved up and down by.

In detail, the fixing guide 210 is fixedly mounted on the upper side of the dispenser case 110. The outlet 114 and the outlet cap 116 are disposed inside the fixing guide 210 to allow the ice to be taken out to the fixing guide 210 through the outlet 114.

The lifting guide 220 is provided inside the fixing guide 210. The lifting guide 220 is formed to have a shape that narrows downward as the fixed guide 210. And, it is formed to be moved up and down inside the fixing guide (210).

Therefore, in the state in which the elevating guide 220 is moved downward to the maximum, the outer surface of the elevating guide 220 and the inner surface of the fixed guide 210 are in close contact with each other, and the ice supplied through the outlet 114 is It can be supplied downward through the lifting guide 220.

In addition, the lifting guide 220 may be exposed downward through the open end of the fixing guide 210 in a downwardly moved state. At this time, the lifting guide 220 is extended so as to protrude further by a predetermined length from the lower end of the fixed guide 210. Therefore, it is possible to guide the ice to the container 30 located in the depression 112 of the dispenser 100.

On the other hand, the lifting guide 220 is moved up and down by the drive unit 230. To this end, the lifting guide 220 is formed with a rake gear portion 222 extending upwards. The rack gear unit is formed on the upper end of the lifting guide 220, a pair is provided at a position spaced a predetermined distance. In addition, a rack gear 224 is formed on an opposite surface of the pair of rack gear units 222.

The driving unit 230 is provided at one side of the dispenser case 110 or the fixing guide 210, and is composed of an electric motor 232 and a gear assembly 238. The electric motor 232 is fixedly mounted on one side of the dispenser case 110 or the fixing guide 210, and configured to be capable of forward and reverse rotation.

In addition, the gear assembly 238 is composed of a rotary gear 234 and the transmission gear (26). The rotary gear 234 is provided on the rotating shaft of the electric motor 232, it is formed in the shape of a spur gear. In addition, the rotary gear 234 is configured to mesh with a plurality of transmission gears (26). The transmission gear 26 is formed in the shape of a spur gear that can rotate in engagement with the rotary gear 234, and the transmission gear 26 on both the left and right sides is configured to be engaged with the rack gear 224.

Therefore, when the electric motor 232 is driven, the transmission gear 26 is rotated by the rotary gear 234, and the lex gear part 222 is vertically rotated by the rotation of the transmission gear 26. By moving to the lifting guide 220 is able to move.

On the other hand, the electric motor 232 is configured to be driven by the second input member 400 when the ice is taken out to lower the lifting guide 220.

In detail, when the container 30 is placed on the recess 112 of the dispenser 100 without manipulating the first input member 300, the second input member 400 causes the container 30 to operate. Recognizing) to rotate the electric motor 232 forward, the lifting guide 220 is moved downward.

When the container 30 is taken out of the recess 112 of the dispenser 100, the second input member 400 recognizes that there is no container and reversely rotates the electric motor 232 to lift the guide. 220 is moved upward.

On the other hand, the dispenser 100 may be provided with a separate third input member 150 for the movement operation of the lifting guide 220. By the setting through the third input member 150, the movement of the elevating guide 220 may be operated when water or ice is extracted through the first input member 300 and the second input member 400. .

Hereinafter, the operation of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described.

The user operates the dispenser to take out purified water or ice.

The first input member 300 is manipulated to take out a small amount of water or ice through the dispenser 100 or to take out water or ice using a container 30 having a relatively small size.

When the container 30 is brought to the side of the first input member 300, the container 30 is positioned below the guide member 200 or the water supply pipe 120. When the first input member 300 is pressed by the container 30 or the hand in such a state, the water supply pipe 120 or the guide member 200 is operated by the operation signal of the first input member 300. Purified water or ice is supplied.

Meanwhile, while the first input member 300 is pressed, water or ice is maintained in the container 30. When the water or the ice is blown out as much as the desired amount, when the container 30 or the hand is removed from the first input member 300, the water or the ice supply is stopped and the extraction is completed.

On the other hand, the second input member 400 is manipulated to extract a large amount of water or ice through the dispenser 100 or to extract water or ice using the container 30 having a relatively large size.

For operation of the second input member 400, the user mounts the container 30 on the bottom of the dispenser case 110. When the container 30 is seated on the dispenser case 110, the second input member 400 detects the seating of the container 30.

In this case, when the second input member 400 is a pressure sensor, the container is recognized by a pressure change before and after the container 30 is placed. At the same time as the container is recognized, purified water or ice is supplied through the water supply pipe or the guide member.

Since the second input member maintains the state seated in the dispenser case, there is no separate operation, and continuous water or ice is supplied to the container 30.

When the supply of the desired amount of water or ice to the container 30 is completed, the user lifts the container 30 and then takes the container out of the recess 112 of the dispenser case 110. At this time, the second input member 400 detects this when the container 30 falls from the bottom of the dispenser case 110 to complete the supply of water or ice.

When the second input member 400 is a pressure sensor or another proximity sensor or infrared sensor, the second input member 400 detects that the container 30 is seated on the bottom of the dispenser case 110. It is provided in the position which can.

On the other hand, when the signal of the first input member 300 and the second input member 400 is input at the same time while taking out water or ice through the dispenser 100, the signal of the first input member 300 The extraction of water or ice is made on the basis of.

That is, when the container 30 is detected by the second input member 400 in the process of extracting water by operating the first input member 300, the operation of the first input member 300 is completed. When the container 30 is removed from the first input member 300, the supply of water or ice to the container 30 is stopped.

7 is a view showing a schematic operation state of the dispenser sequentially.

Referring to FIG. 7, in the state before the container 30 is seated in the dispenser 100, the lifting guide 220 is positioned at the uppermost side as shown in FIG. It is not exposed outside of 210. When the user operates the first input member 300 in such a state, the outlet cap 116 is opened and ice is transferred to the container 30 through the fixing guide 210 and / or the elevating guide 220. Can be supplied.

In order to take out a large amount of ice through the dispenser 100, a user sets ice taking out with the operation button 124 of the dispenser 100 and then moves the container 30 as shown in FIG. The dispenser case 110 is mounted on the bottom surface.

The second input member 400 detects the container 30 by the seating of the container. At the same time as the sensing of the container 30, the driving unit 230 is operated so that the lower end of the guide member 200 moves to the container side, thereby becoming a state as shown in FIG. 8 (c).

In detail, the electric motor 232 is rotated forward by the input signal of the second input member 400, and the transmission gear rotated and engaged with the rotary gear 234 by the rotation of the electric motor 232. 26 will rotate. Rotation of the transmission gear 26 causes the rack gear portion 222 engaged with the transmission gear 26 to move downward. As the rack gear portion moves downward, the lifting guide moves downward. At this time, the electric motor 232 is rotated until the lifting guide 220 is in close contact with the inner surface of the fixed guide 210.

When the movement of the lifting guide 220 is completed, the lower end of the lifting guide 220 is in a state closest to the upper surface of the container 30. Then, the outlet cap 116 is opened, and the ice is supplied to the container 30 through the lifting guide 220 as shown in (d) of FIG. 8. Therefore, the ice or ice cubes supplied to the container 30 are not scattered and can be stably supplied to the container 30.

On the other hand, after the desired amount of ice is supplied, the user takes out the container 30 from the depression 112 of the dispenser 100. The second input member 400 detects this to close the outlet cap 116 and stop the transfer of ice. Next, the electric motor 232 is reversely rotated such that the elevating guide 220 is moved upward.

The rotary gear 234 and the transmission gear 26 is rotated by the reverse rotation of the electric motor 232. In addition, the rack gear unit 222 is moved upward so that the lifting guide 220 is positioned inside the fixing guide 210.

100. Dispenser 200. Guide member
210. Fixed Guide 220. Lift Guide
230. Drive unit 300. First input member
400. Second input member

Claims (11)

A cabinet forming a storage space;
A door for opening and closing the storage space;
A dispenser provided in the door, for discharging ice or purified water made in the refrigerator from the outside;
A first input member provided in the dispenser and configured to take out ice or water during a user's pressing operation;
And a second input member provided in the dispenser and configured to detect that a container for taking out water or ice is located inside the dispenser so that water or ice is continuously drawn out. The method of claim 1,
The first input member is provided below the outlet of the dispenser, the refrigerator characterized in that it is provided in a lever or button structure. The method of claim 1,
The second input member is provided on the bottom surface of the dispenser, the refrigerator characterized in that the pressure sensor for detecting the pressure when the container is seated. The method of claim 1,
The second input member is a refrigerator, characterized in that the proximity sensor or infrared sensor for detecting the presence of the container. The method of claim 1,
And when both the first input member and the second input member operation signal are input, the dispenser is configured to follow an operation signal of the second input member. The method of claim 1,
The dispenser is provided with a guide member for guiding the ice is taken out to the container when the ice is taken out. The method according to claim 6,
The guide member is a refrigerator, characterized in that configured to be able to adjust the vertical length. The method according to claim 6,
Refrigerator, characterized in that the drive unit for the vertical movement of the guide member on the inside of the dispenser. The method of claim 8,
And a driving unit is operated when the operation signal of the second input member is input so that the lower end of the guide member is lifted. The method of claim 8,
The dispenser further comprises a third input member for operating the drive unit. The method according to claim 6,
The guide member,
A fixed guide fixedly mounted to the dispenser and formed along an outer side of the outlet through which ice is taken out;
It is provided on the inside of the fixed guide, the refrigerator characterized in that it comprises a lifting guide which is lifted by the drive unit.

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