KR20140104094A

KR20140104094A - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: KR20140104094A
Application number: KR1020130017774A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 박규태; 박경수; 김선규; 권혁구; 이항복
Original assignee: 엘지전자 주식회사
Priority date: 2013-02-20
Filing date: 2013-02-20
Publication date: 2014-08-28

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator including a body having a storage space formed therein; doors coupled to the body to open and close the storage space; and a dispenser mounted on one door to supply water or ice, wherein the dispenser includes a housing recessed by a given depth to the rear side to form a cavity; a take-out chute disposed on the upper portion of the housing to take out the water or ice; a push pad disposed on the rear surface portion of the cavity close to the take-out chute; a container tray rotatably coupled to the rear surface of the cavity to be selectively rotated forward to support a container; and a rotary shaft disposed on the lower end portion of the container tray to rotate the container tray forward, wherein the front surface portion of the container tray forms a portion of the rear surface of the cavity when the container tray is folded.

Description

Refrigerator {Refrigerator}

The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

Background Art [0002] A refrigerator is an appliance for storing food in a low temperature state, and has either or both of a refrigerating chamber capable of storing food in a refrigerated state and a freezing chamber capable of storing food in a frozen state.

In recent years, a dispenser is mounted on the front surface of a refrigerator, so that ice inside the refrigerator can be taken out without opening the refrigerator door, and drinking water can be taken out through the dispenser.

The dispenser refers to a structure in which a front surface of a refrigerator door is recessed to a predetermined depth to accommodate the container, and an ice outlet and a water outlet are formed above the depression.

In the conventional dispenser, the width and the depth of the depressed portion are limited, and the size of the pedestal supporting the container is small, which is inconvenient when water is received in a bulky container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator having a pedestal for sufficiently supporting a container when water is received in a bulky container.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator comprising: a main body having a storage space; A door coupled to the body to open and close the storage space; And a dispenser provided in the door for receiving water or ice, the dispenser comprising: a dispenser housing which is recessed to a predetermined depth to form a cavity; A take-out chute provided on the upper portion of the dispenser housing for taking out water or ice; A push pad provided on a rear surface portion of the cabinet adjacent to the take-out chute; A container tray rotatably coupled to a rear surface of the cavity and selectively pivoting forward to support the container; And a rotation shaft provided at a lower end of the container tray to allow the container tray to pivot forward, and with the container tray being folded, a front portion of the container tray forms a rear portion of the cavity .

According to the refrigerator of the present invention having the above-described structure, since a separate pedestal is provided for receiving water or ice using a bulky container, There is an advantage that it can be easily performed.

Further, since the pedestal can be folded when the pedestal is not used, there is an advantage that it is not an obstacle in the process of opening and closing the refrigerator door.

Also, since the pedestal forms part of the dispenser when the pedestal is not in use, there is an advantage that the pedestal is not easily exposed from the outside.

1 is an external perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a perspective view showing a dispenser according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the dispenser cut along II of Fig. 2; Fig.
4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which a container tray is used;
5 is a perspective view of a container tray according to another embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a perspective view of a dispenser according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of the dispenser cut along II of Figure 6;
8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the container tray is used;
9 is a sectional view showing a takeout command input mechanism provided in the container tray and the push pad of the dispenser according to the second embodiment of the present invention;
10 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of a takeout command input mechanism provided in a container tray and a push pad of a dispenser according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
11 is a sectional view showing still another embodiment of a takeout command input mechanism provided in the container tray and the push pad of the dispenser according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

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

1, a refrigerator 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main body 11 having a refrigerating chamber and / or a freezing chamber therein, and one or more doors (not shown) for opening and closing the refrigerating chamber and / And a dispenser (20) provided on the front surface of the door (12) to receive water or ice.

The refrigerator includes a side-by-side type in which a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment are provided on the left and right sides, a top-mount type in which a freezing compartment is provided on the upper side of the refrigerating compartment, or a bottom freezer-type refrigerator in which a freezing compartment is provided below the refrigerating compartment. The dispenser 20 may be provided at any one of the refrigerator compartment door and the freezer compartment door.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a dispenser according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a dispenser cut along the II of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a vertical cross- .

2 and 4, an outdoor unit 121 forming a front portion of the refrigerator door 12 is closely attached to the edge of the dispenser 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. That is, the outdoor unit 121 forms the front part of the refrigerator door 12, and a hole corresponding to the size of the dispenser 20 is formed inside the outdoor unit 121. The dispenser 20 is mounted in the hole.

The dispenser 20 includes a dispenser housing 22 constituting a front portion thereof, a dispenser base 21 constituting a rear portion of the dispenser housing 22, and a dispenser housing 22 between the dispenser housing 22 and the dispenser base 21 And a display 28 provided on the front surface of the dispenser housing 22. The dispenser housing 22 is provided with a heat insulating layer 33 and a display 28 provided on the front surface of the dispenser housing 22. [ A first control panel 32 is provided on a rear surface of the dispenser housing 22 corresponding to the rear of the display 28.

Further, the dispenser housing 22 is formed with a cavity which is recessed to a predetermined depth backward to receive the container. The cavity comprises an upper surface, a side surface, a rear surface and a lower surface. Further, the side surface and the back surface of the cavity may extend in directions perpendicular to each other to form a "C" -shaped cross section, or the side surface and the back surface may be smoothly rounded so that the side surface and the back surface are not clearly defined.

An ice chute 25 for taking out ice and a water chute 26 for taking out water are formed on the upper surface of the cavity. In detail, the water chute 26 may be provided in front of the ice chute 25, and may have a small diameter tube shape. A water supply line 261 may be connected to the water chute 26.

An ice discharge duct 27 is formed at an upper end of the ice chute 25 so as to be an ice takeout path and the ice discharge duct 27 extends upward from the upper end of the ice chute 25, (33) and the dispenser base (21). Although not shown, an ice bank in which ice is stored is placed at the upper end of the ice discharge duct 27, so that the ice stored in the ice bank is discharged to the ice chute 25 through the ice discharge duct 27 . A damper 271 for selectively blocking ice discharge may be installed in the ice discharge duct 27.

On the other hand, a container tray 29 supporting the container is rotatably mounted on the rear surface of the cavity. A part of the dispenser housing 22 forming the rear surface of the cavity is further recessed backward to form a tray seating part 221. The container tray 29 is seated on the tray seating portion 221 and is positioned on the surface of the container tray 29 exposed to the outside in a state in which the container tray 29 is received in the tray seating portion 221 (Hereinafter, referred to as a front portion) forms a rear portion of the cavity. The front surface of the container tray 29 is formed to be flush with the dispenser housing 22 so that the container tray 29 can be easily recognized from the outside and can be simply recognized as a part of the dispenser housing 22. [ . A rotation shaft 291 is provided at the lower end of the container tray 29 so that the container tray 29 is rotatable forward. The rotation shaft 291 penetrates the lower end of the container tray 29 in the left and right direction and both end portions are inserted into the side portions of the dispenser housing 22. [ Alternatively, the rotation shaft 291 may protrude from the lower surface of the left side surface and the lower surface of the right side surface of the container tray 29 and may be inserted into the side surface of the dispenser housing 22, respectively.

A push pad 30 is provided on the rear surface of the cavity corresponding to the upper side of the container tray 29 for inputting a water or ice take-out command. The second control panel 34 may receive a command from the push pad 30 on the rear surface of the dispenser housing 22 corresponding to the rear of the push pad 30.

The dispenser housing 22 constituting the bottom surface of the cavity is provided with a residual water receiver. The residual water receiver includes a residual water tray 24 that is recessed downward to a predetermined depth, a residual water tank 24 that covers the upper surface of the residual water tray 24, And a cover (23). One or more water holes 23 are formed in the water cover 23 so that the water falling from the water chute 26 can be collected in the water catching frame 24.

Referring to FIG. 4, the container tray 29 is rotatable forward about the rotation axis 291, and is rotatable to a horizontal state. In a horizontal state, the container tray 29 is supported by the bottom surface of the cavity. When the container tray 29 is rotated in a horizontal state, a latching portion 293 may be provided on a surface on which the container is placed (hereinafter referred to as a rear portion) and on the tray seating portion 221. Specifically, the latch portion 293 is configured such that the container tray 29 is selectively separated from the tray seating portion 221, and the latching state is released by the operation of pushing and releasing the front portion of the container tray 29 &Lt; / RTI >

The rotation shaft 291 may be provided with driving means for providing a rotational force to the tray. The driving means automatically rotates the container tray (29) to a horizontal state when the front portion of the container tray (29) is pressed and released. The structure or mechanism of the driving means may be a widely used system. For example, a driving means applied to a cassette deck which is automatically opened can be employed. Or when the latch portion 293 is pressed and released, a repulsive force of a predetermined magnitude is generated, and the container tray 29 is rotated forward by the repulsive force, and a decelerating mechanism is provided on the rotary shaft 291, The tray 29 may be rotated at a low speed. Such mechanical mechanisms can be sufficiently understood and implemented by those skilled in the art, so that specific examples and explanations thereof will be omitted.

The dispenser housing 22 may be provided with an input unit 31 for inputting a takeout menu. The input unit 31 may be provided with a selection button for selecting water or ice and a mode for taking out the ice, that is, a button for selecting ice or crushed ice, a water temperature setting button or a water capacity setting button. These input buttons may include a touch button using a capacitance change or an on / off button for being pressed and turned on by a finger.

Also, an image or an image corresponding to the input command may be output to the display 28. [ In detail, the display 28 includes an LCD panel or an LED panel. For example, when the user selects the water extraction mode and presses the push pad 30, an image or moving image indicating that water is being taken out may be output to the display 28 while the water is being taken out. As shown in the figure, an image or a moving image of a shape in which water falls into the water cup can be displayed on the display 28. [ The user can also stop the image or the image displayed on the display 28 when the pushing of the push pad 30 is removed to stop the water extraction. Then, before the user subsequently presses the push pad 30 to eject water or ice, it is possible to recognize what was the previous takeout mode from the image or image displayed on the display 28 screen. For example, if an image or an image corresponding to the water take-out mode is displayed on the screen of the display 28, the user can recognize that the water take-out operation has been performed previously. If the user wishes to take out the ice, the takeout mode may be switched from the information provided from the display 28 before pushing the push pad 30. Therefore, there is an advantage that a situation in which a take-out mode different from a user's intended take-out mode is operated, that is, a situation in which water is taken out although it is desired to take out ice does not occur.

5 is a perspective view of a container tray according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the container tray 29 according to the present embodiment is a structure for allowing a user to rotate the container tray by hand.

In detail, the upper end of the container tray 29 may be formed with a depression groove 292 which can be held by the user with a finger. When the user rotates the container tray 29 and tries to place the container, the user grips the grip groove 292 and rotates the container tray 29 forward. Then, the container tray 29 is rotated forward about the rotation shaft 291. In this structure, a separate latch structure is not required at the rear portion of the container tray 29, and a separate speed reduction mechanism need not be provided to the rotation shaft 291.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a dispenser according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a dispenser cut along the line I-I of FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view showing a state in which a container tray is used.

In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for the same structures as in the first embodiment, and redundant explanations for the same structures are omitted.

6 and 7, the dispenser according to the present embodiment is different from the previous embodiment in that the push pad 30 is provided above the front portion of the container tray 29. [ It is to be noted that although not shown, the first control panel and the second control panel described in the previous embodiment are provided in the same manner in this embodiment as well.

According to the present embodiment, since the push pad 30 can not be used for extracting a large amount of water or ice, a button provided on the input unit 31 should be used. Therefore, a take-out button for taking out a large capacity should be additionally provided in the input unit 31. For taking out a large-capacity water or ice, for example, a takeout capacity selection button and a takeout button are additionally provided .

More specifically, in order to allow the user to take out a small amount of water or ice, a push-out button provided on the input unit 31 is pressed, and then the push pad 30 is pushed into the container so that any one of water, do. However, in a state in which the container tray 29 is turned forward for large-capacity take-out, the extraction button provided on the input unit 31 is depressed to select a desired extraction item, a capacity of the selected extraction item is selected, Should be pressed.

On the other hand, on the rear surface of the cavity formed in the dispenser, a tray seating portion 224 in which the container tray 29 is received is formed as in the previous embodiment. In addition, a container receiving groove 222 further recessed to a predetermined depth from the inside of the tray receiving portion 224 may be further formed. This is to allow the container to be further pushed into the cavity with the container tray 29 turned forward. It is noted that the container receiving groove 222 can be equally applied to the previous embodiment.

Further, a push pad seating groove 294 on which the push pad 30 is seated is formed on the front surface of the container tray 29. The front surface of the push pad 30 protrudes from the front surface of the container tray 29.

Referring to FIG. 8, in order to take out large capacity, the user rotates the container tray 29 forward to be in a horizontal state. The mechanism for rotating the container tray 29 is the same as that described in the first embodiment.

In addition, since the push pad 30 rotates with the container tray 29 in one body, a pressing force should not be applied to the push pad 30 in a state in which the container tray 29 is rotated. Therefore, the push pad 30 is installed at the bottom surface of the cavity including the residual water cover 23 when the container tray 29 is rotated in a horizontal state, Location is good. For this purpose, the push pad 30 should be installed on the front portion of the container tray 29 corresponding to a region protruding forward from the front of the door 12. Therefore, it is preferable that the push pad 30 is formed near the upper end of the container tray 29.

9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a takeout command input mechanism provided in the container tray and the push pad of the dispenser according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, in the case of the dispenser according to the second embodiment, the push pad 30 is installed at the top of the front surface of the container tray 29. The push pad 30 is seated in the push pad seating groove 294 formed in the front surface of the container tray 29. The push pad 30 may be provided to be rotatable by a rotation shaft 301 provided at a lower end portion. Specifically, when the user presses the push pad 30 for water or ice ejection, the push pad 30 is tilted slightly rearward about the rotation axis 301. [

An input signal generator 50 for recognizing the input of water or ice as a command for pushing the push pad 30 is needed. The structure of the input signal generator 50 will be described below.

The input signal generator 50 may be provided in the push pad 30 and the container tray 29 in various manners and may be provided in any one of the push pad 30 and the container tray 29 A magnet 52, and a hall sensor 51 provided on the other side. In the figure, the magnet 52 is provided at the upper end of the push pad 30 and the hall sensor 51 is provided at the upper end of the push pad seating groove 294, but vice versa.

In this structure, in a state in which the takeout command is not inputted, the magnet 52 is kept away from the hall sensor 51, and the Hall sensor 51 does not sense the magnet 52 can not do it. When the push pad 30 is pressed to input the extraction command, the magnet 52 moves directly below the hall sensor 51. As a result, in the hall sensor 51, And generates a pulse by sensing the generated magnetic force. Then, the generated pulse is transmitted to the control panel through the signal line. When the pulse-on state is maintained, water or ice is taken out, and the pushing force of the push pad 30 is removed.

10 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of a takeout command input mechanism provided in the container tray and the push pad of the dispenser according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10, as another example of the input signal generating unit for detecting the takeout command, it may include an on-off switch.

The on-off switch type input signal generating portion 53 shown in this embodiment can be provided on the back surface of the push pad 30 and the seating surface of the push pad seating portion 294, respectively, as shown in the figure .

More specifically, when the push pad 30 is pressed to input a command for extracting water or ice, a contact portion provided on the back surface of the push pad 30 and a contact portion provided on the push pad seating portion 294 are connected, State. Then, water or ice is taken out while the switch-on state is continued, and the take-out can be stopped when the switch-off state is reached.

11 is a cross-sectional view showing still another embodiment of a takeout command input mechanism provided in the container tray and the push pad of the dispenser according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

11, the input signal generating unit 50 according to the present embodiment is configured such that the input signal generating unit 50 described above is provided at the upper end of the container tray 29 and the upper end of the container seating unit 222, respectively .

Specifically, the push pad 30 is mounted on the front surface of the container tray 29, and when the push pad 30 is pressed, the container tray 29 is pushed backward. Then, the magnet 52 mounted on the container tray 29 moves backward, the hall sensor 51 senses the magnet 52, and thus a pulse signal is generated from the hall sensor 51 do.

It is needless to say that, in this embodiment, the input signal generating unit 50 may have the switch structure described with reference to FIG. 10 in addition to the hall sensor and the magnet structure.

Claims

A main body having a storage space;
A door coupled to the body to open and close the storage space;
And a dispenser provided in the door for receiving water or ice,
Wherein the dispenser comprises:
A dispenser housing which is recessed to a predetermined depth to form a cavity;
A take-out chute provided on the upper portion of the dispenser housing for taking out water or ice;
A push pad provided on a rear surface portion of the cabinet adjacent to the take-out chute;
A container tray rotatably coupled to a rear surface of the cavity and selectively pivoting forward to support the container;
And a rotation shaft provided at a lower end of the container tray to allow the container tray to rotate forward,
Wherein a front portion of the container tray forms a rear portion of the cavity when the container tray is folded.

The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising: a water reservoir formed on a bottom surface of the dispenser housing and storing the remaining water.

The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the push pad is formed on one side of the rear surface of the cavity spaced apart from the upper end of the container tray.

The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the push pad is installed at an upper portion of the front surface of the container tray and moves together with the container tray.

The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising an input unit provided on a front surface of the dispenser housing for inputting any one or both of a command for selecting water or ice and a command for taking out water or ice or a taking-out capacity in a state in which the container tray is unfolded.

6. The method of claim 5,
Wherein the input unit is a button unit including a capacitive touch button.

6. The method of claim 5,
And a display unit for displaying the contents of the command set through the input unit as an image or moving picture.

8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the display unit is formed on a front surface of the dispenser housing.

8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the display unit is formed in front of the take-out chute.

The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the extraction chute includes a water extraction chute and an ice extraction chute, and the water extraction chute is located in front of the ice extraction chute.

The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the dispenser housing comprises:
A first depression for receiving the container tray,
And a second depression that is further recessed inside the first depression so that the container can be further disposed inside the cavity.

3. The method of claim 2,
And a latch portion formed on a rear surface of the container tray and the first depression so that an upper end of the container tray is separated from the first depression by an operation of pressing and releasing the container tray.

13. The method of claim 12,
Further comprising driving means and deceleration means provided on the rotating shaft for rotating the container tray at a predetermined speed around the rotating shaft.

The method according to claim 1,
And a gripping groove recessed on an upper surface of the container tray.

The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising an input signal generation unit for generating an extraction command input signal by an operation of pressing the push pad,
Wherein the input signal generator is formed on the push pad and the container tray, or is formed on the container tray and the dispenser housing.

16. The method of claim 15,
Wherein the input signal generator comprises:
A magnet provided on either one of the push pad and the container tray or the container tray and the dispenser housing,
And the other of the push pad and the container tray includes a hole sensor provided on the other side of the container tray and the dispenser housing.

16. The method of claim 15,
Wherein the input signal generator comprises:
And an on-off switch provided to the push pad and the container tray, respectively, or provided to the container tray and the dispenser housing, respectively.