KR20160134045A

KR20160134045A - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: KR20160134045A
Application number: KR1020150067433A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 이종현
Original assignee: 엘지전자 주식회사
Priority date: 2015-05-14
Filing date: 2015-05-14
Publication date: 2016-11-23
Also published as: KR101721755B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator capable of preventing a micro switch from being polluted or being electrically damaged. According to the embodiment of the present invention, a dispenser assembly of the refrigerator includes: a dispenser housing mounted on the front surface of a door and defining a container accommodation unit as a part is dented to a predetermined length; a button unit connected to the front surface of the dispenser housing to be tilted; and the micro switch mounted on the rear surface of the dispenser housing and having a switch lever pressed by the button unit. The button unit includes: a button body connected to one side of the dispenser housing defining a rear wall of the container accommodation unit to be rotated; a switch pressing rib extended from the rear surface of the button body to a predetermined length and pressing the micro switch by passing through one side of the dispenser housing; and a water penetration preventing rib extended from the rear surface of the button body corresponding to the upper side of the switch pressing rib to a predetermined length and covering the upper side of the micro switch by passing through one side of the dispenser housing.

Description

Refrigerator {Refrigerator}

The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional dispenser assembly provided in a refrigerator.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional dispenser assembly 1 includes a dispenser housing 2 in which a depression for receiving a container is formed, a dispenser housing 2 mounted on an upper opening of the dispenser housing 2, A micro switch 5 mounted on the rear surface of the dispenser housing 2 and a lever 5 rotatably coupled to the front surface of the dispenser housing 2 for selectively moving the lever of the micro switch 5 And an ice extraction button 4 for pressurizing the ice.

According to the above configuration, when the user pushes the ice extraction button 4 to extract ice, the switch pressing rib 4a protruding from the back surface of the ice extraction button 4 is pressed against the microswitch 5 Lever to depress the lever to send an ice extraction signal to a control unit (not shown).

Then, in the control unit, ice is dropped through the ice chute 3 so as to be contained in the cup placed in the dispenser housing.

At this time, a part of the ice pieces falling into the ice chute 3 may fall outside the ice chute 3, and the micro-switch 5 may be hit. At the same time, water droplets are splashed with the microswitch 5 to contaminate the microswitch or cause electric problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above problems.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator including: a cabinet having a storage chamber therein; A door provided on a front surface of the cabinet for opening and closing the storage compartment; A dispenser assembly provided in the door and having a container accommodating portion in which a container for receiving water or ice is placed; An ice maker provided in the door or the storage room; An ice bin provided in the door or the storage room for storing ice made by the ice maker; And an ice chute mounted on a rear surface of the door and having an exhaust passage for discharging the ice stored in the ice bin to the container accommodating portion, wherein the dispenser assembly is mounted on the front surface of the door, A dispenser housing having a predetermined depth recessed to define the container receiving portion; A button portion tiltingly connected to a front surface of the dispenser housing; And a micro switch having a switch lever mounted on a back surface of the dispenser housing and pressed by the button portion, wherein the button portion is rotatably connected to one surface of the dispenser housing defining the rear wall of the container receiving portion A switch presser rib extending a predetermined length from a back surface of the button body and pushing the micro switch through one surface of the dispenser housing and a button pressing rib extending from a back surface of the button body corresponding to the upper side of the switch presser rib, And a water infiltration preventing rib extending through a predetermined length and covering the upper portion of the microswitch through one surface of the dispenser housing.

According to the refrigerator of the present invention having the above-described structure, in the process of extracting ice by pressing the ice extraction button, the ice is discharged to the rear of the dispenser housing by ice or water droplets that can not fall through the ice chute, Thereby preventing the micro switch which generates the ice extraction signal from being contaminated or being electrically broken.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional dispenser assembly provided in a refrigerator;
2 is an external perspective view of a refrigerator having a dispenser assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a rear perspective view of a dispenser assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a front exploded perspective view of the dispenser assembly;
5 is a rear exploded perspective view of the dispenser assembly;
6 is a rear perspective view of an inner button constituting a take-out button assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line II in Fig. 3 in a state before the operation of the ice extraction button is operated.
8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along II of Fig. 3 while the ice extraction button is being pressed.

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

2 is an external perspective view of a refrigerator having a dispenser assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2, a refrigerator 10 having a dispenser assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet 11 having a storage room therein, a door 12 for opening and closing the storage room, And a dispenser assembly 20 provided on the front of the dispenser 12.

In detail, the storage chamber includes a first storage chamber 111, a second storage chamber 112 formed below the first storage chamber 111, and a third storage chamber 113 formed below the second storage chamber 112 ). Here, the number of the storage rooms is not limited.

In addition, the first storage chamber 111 may be a refrigerating compartment, the third storage compartment 113 may be a freezing compartment, and the second storage compartment 112 may be any one of a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment, .

The door 12 includes a first door 121 for opening and closing the first storage chamber 111, a second door 122 for opening and closing the second storage chamber 112, And a third door 123 for opening and closing the second door 123.

The first door 121 may be a pair of pivotable doors pivotally connected to a left edge and a right edge of the front surface of the cabinet 11. The second door 122 and the third door 123 may each be a drawer type door.

Meanwhile, the dispenser assembly 20 is an apparatus that can take out water or ice from the outside of the refrigerator 10, and can be provided to the first door 121. Specifically, the dispenser assembly 20 includes a pair of pivotable doors And may be provided in any one of them. An ice bin (not shown) for storing ice may be mounted on the rear surface of the door or the first storage room 111 where the dispenser assembly 20 is installed. The ice maker may be mounted on the upper side of the ice bin or in the first storage room 111 corresponding to the upper side of the ice bin when the door provided with the dispenser assembly 20 is closed.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the dispenser assembly 20 will be described in detail.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a dispenser assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a front exploded perspective view of the dispenser assembly, and FIG. 5 is a rear exploded perspective view of the dispenser assembly.

3 to 5, a dispenser assembly 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a dispenser housing 21, an ice chute 23 mounted on an upper surface of the dispenser housing 21, A takeout button assembly 27 mounted on the front face of the housing 21, a micro switch 26 mounted on the rear face of the fragrance dispenser housing 21, A display 25 formed on a side edge of the dispenser housing 21 and a control panel 22 provided on a rear surface of the display 24.

The front part of the dispenser housing 21 includes a container accommodating part 212 in which a container for receiving water or ice is accommodated and a display part 24 provided at the left or right edge of the container accommodating part 212 .

The residual water tray 25 is detachably mounted on the bottom surface of the container accommodating portion 212, and an ice chute accommodating portion 213 is formed on an upper surface thereof. The ice chute receiving portion 213 is formed to be depressed downward from the upper surface of the dispenser housing 21. [ The front portion of the ice chute accommodating portion 213 has a flat vertical surface. A water outlet 211 is formed at an upper end of the front surface of the ice storage compartment 213 and an end of a water pipe extending through the hinge shaft of the first door 121 is connected to the water outlet 211 .

A hole communicating with the discharge port of the ice chute 23 is formed at the bottom of the ice chute accommodating portion 213 so that the ice discharged through the ice chute 23 drops into the container.

In addition, a take-out button assembly 27 may be provided on the front surface of the ice chute receiving portion 213 and the rear wall of the container receiving portion 212.

In detail, the takeout button assembly 27 includes a water take-out button 271 mounted on the front surface of the ice chute accommodating portion 213 for inputting a water takeout command, An ice extraction button 272 for inputting an ice extraction command and an inner button 28 disposed between the ice extraction button 272 and the rear wall of the container receiving portion 212.

More specifically, when the ice extraction button 272 is pressed, the inner button 28 is pressed and the inner button 28 is turned on. When the micro switch 26 is turned on, a damper (not shown) provided in the ice chute 23 rotates to open a passage in the ice chute 23.

Here, the bill take-out button 262 placed in front of the inner button 28 may be dispensed with.

6 is a rear perspective view of an inner button constituting the take-out button assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the inner button 28 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be a button portion directly touched by a user or indirectly pressed through another button portion disposed forward.

In detail, the inner button 28 includes a button body 281 extending in a predetermined width and length and rounded from the upper end, a hinge shaft 283 formed at the lower side of the rear surface of the button body 281, A switch presser rib 284 horizontally protruding from the upper side of the button body 281 and a water infiltration prevention rib 285 extending horizontally at a position spaced upward from the switch presser rib 284 .

In addition, an ice chute accommodating groove 282 may be formed at a portion of the button body 281 that extends roundly forward in the upper end portion of the button body 281 so as to surround the outer circumferential surface of the ice chute 23. The ice chute receiving groove 282 is formed to prevent the discharged ice from bumping against the inner button 28.

Also, the inner button 28 can be tilted by a predetermined angle in the forward and backward directions with the hinge shaft 283 as a rotation center. Although not shown, an elastic member such as a torsion spring is inserted into the hinge shaft 283 so that the hinge shaft 283 can be retracted when the pressing force of the inner button 28 is removed.

The switch pressing rib 284 protrudes rearward from the back surface of the button body 281 and selectively presses the switch lever 261 (see FIG. 7) of the micro switch 26.

The water penetration preventing ribs 285 may extend above the switch pressing ribs 284 and may extend longer and wider than the switch pressing ribs 284. [ The extension length of the water infiltration prevention ribs 285 is longer than the extension length of the switch pressure ribs 284 when seen from the upper side of the inner button 28, The width of the switch presser rib 284 may be larger than the width of the switch presser rib 284. As a result, the water infiltration prevention ribs 285 are formed to have a size that covers not only the switch pressing rib 284 but also the microswitch 26, so that ice pieces or water drops falling off the ice chute 23, The micro switch 26 can be prevented from splashing. The end of the switch lever 261 is located below the water infiltration preventing rib 285 so that the switch lever 261 does not interfere with the water infiltration preventing rib 285.

The water infiltration prevention rib 285 includes a horizontal part 285a extending horizontally from the back surface of the button body 281 and a vertical part 285b extending upwardly from the end of the horizontal part 285a 285b.

The water infiltration preventing ribs 285 are bent upward so that water droplets falling on the water infiltration preventing ribs 285 do not drop to the microswitch 26 side, . Therefore, it is possible to minimize the phenomenon that ice or water flows into the microswitch 26 to cause an electrical problem or damage the microswitch 26.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line I-I in FIG. 3 in a state before the operation of the ice extraction button, and FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line I-I of FIG. 3 while the ice extraction button is pressed.

7, when the user does not press the ice extraction button 272, the inner button 28 is held in a forwardly tilted state, and the end of the switch pressing rib 284 of the inner button 28 Is held in contact with the switch lever (261) of the micro switch (26). At this time, since ice does not fall down into the ice chute 23, ice or water does not flow into the microswitch 26.

8, when the user presses the ice extraction button 272 to take out the ice, the front surface of the inner button 28 is pressed by the ice extraction button 272 to rotate the hinge shaft 283, As shown in FIG.

More specifically, when the inner button 28 is tilted rearward, the switch presser rib 284 presses the switch lever 261, and the switch lever 261 contacts the switch terminal of the micro switch 26 And switches on. Then, an ice extraction command is transmitted to the control unit (not shown), and the damper rotates inside the ice chute 23 to open the ice extraction passage inside the ice chute 23.

At this time, the water infiltration preventing ribs 285 also move backward to cover the upper area of the microswitch 26. In this way, it is possible to prevent the ice that leaves the ice chute 23 from penetrating or entering the switch terminal of the microswitch 26 during the ice drawing process.

Claims

A cabinet having a storage room therein; A door provided on a front surface of the cabinet for opening and closing the storage compartment; A dispenser assembly provided in the door and having a container accommodating portion in which a container for receiving water or ice is placed; An ice maker provided in the door or the storage room; An ice bin provided in the door or the storage room for storing ice made by the ice maker; And an ice chute mounted on a rear surface of the door and having a discharge passage for discharging the ice stored in the ice bin to the container containing portion,
The dispenser assembly includes:
A dispenser housing mounted on a front surface of the door, the dispenser housing partially defining a container receiving portion to be recessed to a predetermined depth; A button portion tiltingly connected to a front surface of the dispenser housing; And a micro switch mounted on a back surface of the dispenser housing and having a switch lever pressed by the button portion,
The button unit includes:
A button body rotatably connected to one surface of the dispenser housing defining a rear wall of the container receiving portion,
A switch pressing rib extending a predetermined length from a back surface of the button body and penetrating through one surface of the dispenser housing to press the micro switch,
And a water infiltration preventing rib extending a predetermined length from the back surface of the button body corresponding to the upper side of the switch pressing rib and covering an upper portion of the micro switch through one surface of the dispenser housing.

The method according to claim 1,
Wherein an extension length and a width of the water penetration preventing rib are formed to be larger than an extension length and width of the switch pressing rib.

3. The method of claim 2,
Further comprising a hinge shaft provided below the switch pressurizing rib and a lower surface of the button body corresponding to a point lower than the microswitch to enable tilting of the button portion.

The method of claim 3,
Further comprising an ice extraction button disposed in front of the button unit and pressed by a user for ice extraction.

5. The method of claim 4,
An ice chute accommodating portion which is recessed downward from an upper end of the dispenser housing to receive the ice chute;
A water outlet provided on a front surface of the ice chute accommodating portion,
Further comprising a water take-out button mounted on a front surface of the ice chute receiving portion and pressurized by a user for taking out water.