KR20200120382A - Ice maker and refrigerator including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is an ice maker including: an ice making box; an ice making tray accommodated in the ice making box and rotated by the rotational power of a motor to separate ice; and a water supply unit for providing ice making water to the ice making tray, wherein the water supply unit is provided on one side of the ice making box, is provided adjacent to one of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis of the ice making tray being twisted by rotational power, is integral with or separate from the ice making box, and is located within a rotation radius rotated by the rotational power such that a portion for discharging the ice making water is positioned outside the rotation section formed in the rotation radius.

Description

Ice maker and refrigerator including the same {ICE MAKER AND REFRIGERATOR INCLUDING THE SAME}

The present invention relates to an ice maker and a refrigerator including the same.

In general, an ice maker includes a control box and an ice-making tray. Such an ice maker may provide ice-making water to an ice-making tray to perform ice-making. Ice-making water is provided from the water supply unit in the above configuration, and the amount and timing of the supplied water supply unit may be generally determined by a control unit located in the control box. The provided ice-making water is accommodated in a receiving portion provided in the ice-making tray, and may become iced below the freezing point of the ice-making water due to the environment inside the refrigerator or freezer. Ice-making performed through this process may be performed later by twisting the ice-making tray or through an ejector. On the other hand, if ice is ice-moved by a twisted ice-making tray, a nozzle of the water supply unit may be positioned on the rotational trajectory of the ice-making tray during ice-making. In this case, contact (interference) between the nozzle and the ice-making tray may occur during rotation of the ice-making tray. Due to such contact, ice may not be smoothly performed or the water supply nozzle of the water supply part may be damaged, making normal water supply difficult. Therefore, there is a need for an ice maker having a structure capable of avoiding such contact (interference).

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 1999-0034647 (1999. 05. 15)

One embodiment of the present invention is adjacent to one side of the ice-making tray, but within an angular region not included in the rotational trajectory of one side in order to avoid interference with the ice-making tray of the water supply nozzle by the rotation of the ice-making tray in the twist ice maker. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ice maker including a water supply nozzle located in a water supply unit.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ice maker including a water supply unit or a water supply nozzle detachable from the ice maker, and the water supply unit includes a slow delivery unit for gradually adjusting the speed of ice-making water provided.

One embodiment of the present invention is adjacent to one side of the ice-making tray, but within an angular region not included in the rotational trajectory of one side in order to avoid interference with the ice-making tray of the water supply nozzle by the rotation of the ice-making tray in the twist ice maker. An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator including an ice maker including a water supply nozzle of a water supply unit located.

An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator including an ice maker including a water supply unit or a water supply nozzle detachable from the ice maker, and the water supply unit includes a slow delivery unit for gradually adjusting the speed of ice-making water provided.

Ice making box; An ice-making tray accommodated in the ice-making box and rotated by the rotational power of the motor unit to move ice; And a water supply unit for providing ice-making water to the ice-making tray; wherein the water supply unit is provided on one side of the ice-making box, and the ice-making tray is twisted by rotational power, and is adjacent to one of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis of the ice-making tray. It is provided, and is integrated with the ice-making box or separate type, is located within a rotation radius rotated by a rotational power, a portion for discharging the ice-making water is located in a non-rotating section, an ice maker is provided.

In addition, the water supply unit may be connected to one side of the ice making box so as to be assembled and separated.

In addition, the water supply unit, a slow control unit for gradually adjusting the ice-making water provided from the water supply line; And a discharge unit for providing ice-making water to the ice-making tray through the slow adjustment unit.

In addition, the discharge portion is formed to be inclined downward based on the vertical direction, and the inclined surface may be provided as a curved portion.

In addition, the discharge unit may be extended toward the ice-making tray in a curved shape to bypass the ice-making water and extend toward the ice-making tray.

In addition, the discharging unit may have a cross section formed at an acute angle with respect to the extending direction, and the cross section may be formed in a curved shape.

In addition, the discharge unit may be located adjacent to the first stopper stopping the forward rotation of one side of the ice making box.

In addition, the discharge unit may be located adjacent to the second stopper stopping reverse rotation of one side of the ice making box.

In addition, the slow adjustment unit may include an inclined surface so that ice-making water is introduced into the discharge unit by its own weight.

In addition, the discharge unit may be located between a first stopper stopping forward rotation of one side of the ice-making box and a second stopper stopping reverse rotation of one side of the ice-making box based on a direction rotated by the rotational power.

In addition, the slow adjustment unit may include an overflow prevention unit at the upper portion in the vertical direction.

In addition, the discharge unit may be located adjacent to a cooling passage through which cold air maintaining a sub-zero temperature is moved.

A refrigerator including the ice maker described above is provided.

One embodiment of the present invention is adjacent to one side of the ice-making tray, but within an angular region not included in the rotational trajectory of one side in order to avoid interference with the ice-making tray of the water supply nozzle by the rotation of the ice-making tray in the twist ice maker. It is possible to provide an ice maker including a water supply nozzle located in the water supply unit.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a water supply unit or a water supply nozzle may be detachable from the ice maker, and the water supply unit may provide an ice maker including a gradual adjustment unit for gradually adjusting the speed of the ice-making water provided.

One embodiment of the present invention is adjacent to one side of the ice-making tray, but within an angular region not included in the rotational trajectory of one side in order to avoid interference with the ice-making tray of the water supply nozzle by the rotation of the ice-making tray in the twist ice maker. It is possible to provide a refrigerator including an ice maker including a water supply nozzle located in the water supply unit.

An embodiment of the present invention may provide a refrigerator including an ice maker including a water supply unit or a water supply nozzle detachable from the ice maker, and the water supply unit includes a slow delivery unit for gradually adjusting the speed of ice-making water provided.

1 is an exploded perspective view of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention
2 is a view showing that the ice making tray is in contact with the water supply nozzle when rotating
3 is a perspective view of a water supply unit according to an embodiment of the present invention
4 is a perspective view of a water supply unit according to embodiments of the present invention
5 is a view of a water supply unit according to other embodiments of the present invention
6 is a side view of an ice maker showing whether there is interference with a water supply unit when the ice-making tray rotates according to an embodiment of the present invention

Hereinafter, a specific embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, this is only an example and the present invention is not limited thereto.

In describing the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description of known technologies related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, terms to be described later are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention and may vary according to the intention or custom of users or operators. Therefore, the definition should be made based on the contents throughout this specification.

The technical idea of the present invention is determined by the claims, and the following embodiments are only one means for efficiently describing the technical idea of the present invention to those of ordinary skill in the art.

1 is an exploded perspective view of an ice maker according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the ice maker may include an ice making box 100, an ice making tray 200, a control box 300, and a water supply unit 400. The ice making box 100 may be connected to the control box 300, the ice making tray 200 and the water supply unit 400. Here, the connection to the water supply unit 400 may be a fixed connection, that is, as an integral type with the ice-making box 100, and may be functionally separated, or may be physically separated and connected to be detachable. Hereinafter, a case that is physically separated so as to be detachable will be described as an example, but other configurations other than the configuration provided for detachment are also applied to the integrated type functionally separated.

Specifically, the control box 300 may provide the power unit 310 inside, and the power unit 310 may drive the ice maker by interlocking with various components of the ice maker. In this example, it is shown that the manbing lever is typically controlled by a motor unit (not shown) included in the power unit 310. In addition, it is possible to operate additional components including a control unit, and it is natural for a twist ice maker, which is an ice maker type to describe the present invention, to transmit rotational force to the ice making tray 200. Meanwhile, in the heater ice maker, a supply unit (not shown) that supplies power to operate the heater may also be included in the power unit.

In addition, the ice making tray 200 may be twisted when a rotational force is transmitted by a motor unit (not shown). For example, when one end adjacent to the motor unit is rotated 100% in the rotational direction by the rotational force transmitted by the motor unit, the opposite side may be rotated less than 100%. It can be twisted according to the difference in rotation distance in this direction of rotation. That is, it is restored to its original state, and ice formed in the ice-making tray 200 due to the twist may be separated from the ice-making tray 200 and collected at a specific location. The specific location may be an ice storage unit (not shown) located below the ice making tray 200, and in the case of a refrigerator may be a space collected before ice is taken out through a dispenser.

In addition, the ice making tray 200 may have a predetermined elasticity in order to smoothly and repeatedly perform such a twist. For example, it may be made of a material containing polypropylene.

Further, as an example for setting the rotation range of one end and the other end of the ice making tray 200 differently, a stopper may be positioned in a rotational direction of forward rotation and reverse rotation, respectively. When one of them is referred to as a first stopper and the other is referred to as a second stopper, the other end may be rotated between the first stopper and the second stopper, and the one end is rotated so as to exceed the range in which the other end is rotated. And can be twisted.

Here, in the twist, ice-making water may be provided to the ice-making tray 200 to become ice in the ice-making tray 200 exposed to a sub-zero environment, and ice may be iced by the twist of the ice-making tray 200. Accordingly, an ice maker that repeatedly performs this may periodically receive ice-making water from the water supply unit 400.

Since the above mechanism is repeated, as illustrated in FIG. 2, interference may occur with the ice-making tray 200b rotated according to the position of the discharge unit 420a. Accordingly, components included in the ice maker including the water supply unit 400 may be designed to avoid interference during rotational movement of the ice making tray 200a rotated by the motor unit. Alternatively, it may be provided with a material having elasticity to temporarily elastically deform the interfering configuration so that the mechanism is smoothly performed even by interference. For example, a nozzle part, which is a lower configuration for discharging ice-making water from the water supply part to the ice-making tray 200, may be employed as a rubber material.

However, when configuring the ice maker through another design to avoid interference, a discharge unit for discharging (supplying) ice-making water from the water supply unit 400 to the ice-making tray 200 is located in an area excluding the rotation range of the ice-making tray 200. Can be located. That is, it may be located in a non-rotating section of the ice making tray 200. This will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 6, and the water supply parts 400a, 400b, 400c, and 400d that are physically coupled to the ice-making box 100 through FIGS. 3 to 5, that is, removable Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

3 is a perspective view of a water supply unit 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the water supply unit 400 may include a slow adjustment unit 410 and a discharge unit 420. The slow control unit 410 may be located at an end side of a water supply line to which the ice-making water is supplied to stabilize the ice-making water.

Therefore, when the speed of ice-making water falling due to its own weight or water pressure (external pressure) is high, the slow control unit 410 may include a slope so that it does not contact and scatter the slow control unit 410. The inclined surface may receive the ice-making water supplied, stabilize eddy currents generated while receiving the ice-making water, and deliver the ice-making water to the discharge unit 420 in a stabilized state. Of course, the transmission can be formed so as to be inclined downwards to be possible by its own weight.

Furthermore, a curved portion may be formed in the discharge portion 410. One or more curved portions may be formed in the vertical and horizontal directions. First, the ice-making water may be formed to be inclined downward in a curved surface so as not to accumulate in the water supply unit 400. That is, an inclined surface formed downward on a vertical line may be provided, and the inclined surface may be formed as a curved surface.

In addition, it may be formed in a curved shape such that the ice-making water is bypassed without extending linearly toward the discharge part 410. As the ice-making water is not extended in a straight line, but in a curved shape, the time during which the ice-making water can be stabilized in the discharge unit 410 is more delayed, and thus scattering can be minimized even when the ice-making water is provided to the ice-making tray 200.

In addition, an end of the discharge part 410 may be provided with an inclined part formed at an acute angle with respect to the extending direction. The end portion of the tubular discharge portion having a circular cross section may be formed in a curved surface by the inclined portion formed at an acute angle.

4(a) is a perspective view of the water supply parts 400a and 400b according to embodiments of the present invention, and FIG. 4(a) is a water supply part 400a in which the discharge part 420a is formed in a straight line, and FIG. 4( b) is a water supply part 400b in which the discharge part 420b is formed in a curved shape.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the water supply unit 400a may include a slow adjustment unit 410a and a discharge unit 420a. When the ice-making water is supplied, the slow adjustment unit 410a may be provided from an upper side based on a vertical direction and may collect and deliver the ice-making water falling from the upper side to the discharge unit 420a.

Therefore, when the speed of ice-making water falling due to its own weight or external pressure is high, it may reach and scatter the water supply unit 400a, and thus the slow adjustment unit 410a may include an inclined surface 412a to minimize this. The inclined surface 412a may be formed to be inclined toward the upstream side of the discharging part 420a so that ice-making water may be collected upstream of the discharging part 420a. Of course, the lowermost portion may be connected to the upstream side so that the portion connected to the upstream side of the discharge portion 420a is the lowest.

This is to prevent the ice-making water collected by its own weight from being moved to the discharge unit 420a and remaining on the inclined surface 412a, and since the remaining ice-making water on the inclined surface 412a is an environment exposed to sub-zero temperatures, the inclined surface ( This is because the ice-making water fixed on 412a) and provided later may act as a disturbing factor in the process of being smoothly collected and transmitted to the discharge unit 420a.

In addition, the ice-making water is preferably provided on the inclined surface 412a. However, when the ice-making water is provided in a direction away from the inclined surface 412a, it may be difficult to normally provide the ice-making water to the ice-making tray 200. In addition, when the water supply amount is greater than the amount discharged through the discharge unit 420a, the water level may be increased by being accommodated in the slow adjustment unit 410a. Accordingly, in this case, the ice-making water may not move normally, but may escape from the water supply unit 400a and flow out of the ice-making machine, which may adversely affect the operation of the ice-making machine due to the ice-making water changed to an ice state. Accordingly, such abnormal separation of the ice-making water can be prevented by the overflow prevention part 411a formed to extend upward from the top of the inclined surface 412a.

The overflow prevention part 411a extends upward along the uppermost circumference of the inclined surface 412a and can be connected like a closed figure in the shape of a closed curve on a plane, and the closed according to the direction W of ice-making water. Only some sections may be formed, not figures. When only the partial section is formed, it may be formed over a section including the opposite side of the ice-making water providing direction (W).

Meanwhile, the discharge part 420a connected to the lowermost part of the slow control part 410a may extend toward its own weight direction. The self-weight direction means downward with respect to the horizontal direction, and may include extending vertically downward or extending away from the vertical direction by a predetermined angle.

In this example, there may be a structure in which the ice-making box 100 and part of the slow adjustment unit 410a are coupled to each other, and may be coupled and separated from the ice-making box 100 by a combination such as fitting by a slide or a protrusion. Therefore, when coupled to the side, the discharge unit 420a may be located on the side of the ice maker. In this case, the ice-making tray 200 is located in an area other than the rotational range so as not to interfere with the rotational range of the ice-making tray 200. ) Is exposed to the side to supply ice-making water to the ice-making tray 200.

Accordingly, in this example (FIG. 4(a)), the discharge part 420a extends vertically from the top, and then extends laterally to supply the ice-making water to the ice-making tray 200 to guide the ice-making water.

Referring to FIG. 4B, the water supply unit 400b may include a slow adjustment unit 410b and a discharge unit 420b. When the ice-making water is supplied, the slow adjustment unit 410b may be provided from an upper side based on a vertical direction, and may collect and deliver the ice-making water falling from the upper side to the discharge unit 420b.

Accordingly, when the speed of ice-making water falling due to its own weight or external pressure is high, it may reach and scatter the water supply unit 400b, and thus the slow adjustment unit 410b may include an inclined surface 412b to minimize this. The inclined surface 412b may be formed to be inclined toward the upstream side of the discharging part 420b so that ice-making water may be collected upstream of the discharging part 420b. Of course, the lowermost portion may be connected to the upstream side so that the portion connected to the upstream side of the discharge part 420b is the lowest.

This is to prevent the ice-making water collected by its own weight from being moved to the discharge unit 420b and remaining on the inclined surface 412b, and since the remaining ice-making water on the inclined surface 412b is an environment exposed to sub-zero temperatures, the slope ( This is because ice-making water fixed on 412b) in an ice state and provided thereafter may act as a disturbing factor in the process of being smoothly collected and delivered to the discharge unit 420b.

In addition, the ice-making water is preferably provided on the inclined surface 412b, but when the ice-making water is provided in a direction away from the inclined surface 412b, it may be difficult to normally provide the ice-making water to the ice-making tray 200. In addition, when the water supply amount is greater than the amount discharged through the discharge unit 420b, the water level may be increased by being accommodated in the slow adjustment unit 410b. Accordingly, in this case, the ice-making water may not move normally, but may escape from the water supply unit 400b and flow out of the ice-making machine, which may adversely affect the operation of the ice-making machine due to the ice-making water changed to an ice state. Accordingly, such abnormal separation of the ice-making water can be prevented by the overflow prevention part 411b formed to extend upward from the top of the inclined surface 412b.

The overflow prevention part 411b extends upward along the uppermost circumference of the inclined surface 412b and can be connected like a closed figure in the shape of a closed curve on a plane, and the closed according to the provision direction W of ice-making water. Only some sections may be formed, not figures. When only the partial section is formed, it may be formed over a section including the opposite side of the ice-making water providing direction (W).

Meanwhile, the discharge part 420b connected to the lowermost part of the slow adjustment part 410b may extend toward its own weight direction. The self-weight direction means downward with respect to the horizontal direction, and may include extending vertically downward or extending away from the vertical direction by a predetermined angle.

In this example, there may be a structure in which the ice-making box 100 and some of the slow adjustment unit 410b are coupled to each other, and may be coupled and separated from the ice-making box 100 by a combination such as fitting by a slide or a protrusion. Therefore, when coupled to the side, the discharge unit 420b may be located on the side of the ice maker. In this case, the ice-making tray 200 is located in an area other than the rotational range so that interference does not occur in the rotational range of the ice-making tray 200. ) Is exposed to the side to supply ice-making water to the ice-making tray 200.

Accordingly, in this example (FIG. 4(b)), the discharge unit 420b extends vertically from the top, and then extends to the side to supply the ice-making water to the ice-making tray 200 to guide the ice-making water.

When the ice maker includes a plurality of side surfaces, the discharging unit 420b may supply ice-making water from a side in a direction different from that of the discharging unit 420a of FIG. 4A. It is located in an area excluding the rotation range of the ice-making tray 200 through the curved portion of the discharge portion, so that ice-making water may be more stably provided.

5(a) is a perspective view of a water supply part 400c according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5A, the water supply unit 400c may include a slow control unit 410c and a discharge unit 420c. When the ice-making water is supplied, the slow adjustment unit 410c may be provided from an upper side based on a vertical direction and may collect and deliver the ice-making water falling from the upper side to the discharge unit 420c.

Therefore, when the speed of ice-making water falling due to its own weight or external pressure is high, it may reach and scatter the water supply unit 400c, and thus the slow adjustment unit 410c may include an overflow prevention unit 411c to minimize this. . In addition, the ice-making water colliding with the overflow prevention part 411c may also include an inclined surface 412c formed to be inclined toward the upstream side of the discharge part 420c so that it may be collected upstream of the discharge part 420c. Of course, the lowermost portion of the inclined surface 412c may be connected to the upstream side such that the portion connected to the upstream side of the discharge portion 420c is the lowest.

This is to prevent the ice-making water collected by its own weight from being moved to the discharge unit 420c and remaining on the inclined surface 412c, and since the remaining ice-making water on the inclined surface 412c is an environment exposed to sub-zero temperatures, the slope ( This is because the ice-making water fixed on 412c) and provided later may act as an obstacle in the process of being smoothly collected and transmitted to the discharge unit 420c.

In addition, the ice-making water is preferably provided on the inclined surface 412c. However, when the ice-making water is provided in a direction away from the inclined surface 412c, it may be difficult to normally provide the ice-making water to the ice-making tray 200. In addition, when the water supply amount is greater than the amount discharged through the discharge unit 420c, the water level may be increased by being accommodated in the slow adjustment unit 410c. Accordingly, in this case, the ice-making water may not move normally, but may escape from the water supply unit 400c and flow out of the ice-making machine, which may adversely affect the operation of the ice-making machine due to the ice-making water changed to an ice state. Accordingly, such abnormal separation of the ice-making water can be prevented by the overflow prevention part 411c formed to extend upward from the top of the inclined surface 412c.

The overflow prevention part 411c extends upward along the uppermost circumference of the inclined surface 412c to be connected like a closed figure in the shape of a closed curve on a plane, and the closed according to the direction W of ice-making water. Only some sections may be formed, not figures. When only the partial section is formed, it may be formed over a section including the opposite side of the ice-making water providing direction (W).

Meanwhile, the discharge part 420c connected to the lowermost part of the slow control part 410c may extend toward its own weight direction. The self-weight direction means downward with respect to the horizontal direction, and may include extending vertically downward or extending away from the vertical direction by a predetermined angle. Here, the angle includes a case where it is fixed to one angle and a case where it gradually increases or decreases gradually. That is, the lower portion of the slow adjustment unit of the present invention may be formed to be inclined downward in a flat or curved surface. In the case of the slow adjustment unit 410c of this example, it is an example in which it is formed to be inclined downward in a curved surface.

In addition, the present example may be a structure in which a part of the ice-making box 100 and the slow adjustment unit 410c are coupled to each other, and may be coupled and separated from the ice-making box 100 by a combination such as fitting by a slide or a protrusion. Therefore, when coupled to the side, the discharge unit 420c may be located on the side of the ice maker. In this case, the ice-making tray 200 is located in an area other than the rotational range so that interference does not occur in the rotational range of the ice-making tray 200. ) Is exposed to the side to supply ice-making water to the ice-making tray 200.

Accordingly, in this example (FIG. 4(c)), the discharge unit 420c extends vertically from the top, and then extends to the side to supply the ice-making water to the ice-making tray 200 to guide the ice-making water.

5(b) is a side view of a water supply unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5B, the water supply unit 400d may include a slow adjustment unit 410d and a discharge unit 420d. When the ice-making water is supplied, the slow adjustment unit 410d may be provided from an upper side based on a vertical direction, and may collect and deliver the ice-making water falling from the upper side to the discharge unit 420d.

Therefore, when the speed of ice-making water falling due to its own weight or external pressure is high, it may reach and scatter the water supply unit 400d, and thus the slow adjustment unit 410d may include an inclined surface 412d to minimize this. The inclined surface 412d may be formed to be inclined toward the upstream side of the discharging unit 420d so that the ice-making water may be collected upstream of the discharging unit 420d. Of course, the lowermost portion may be connected to the upstream side so that the portion connected to the upstream side of the discharge part 420d is the lowest.

This is to prevent the ice-making water collected by its own weight from being moved to the discharge part (420d) and not remaining on the inclined surface (412d), and since the remaining ice-making water on the inclined surface (412d) is an environment exposed to sub-zero temperatures, the slope ( This is because the ice-making water fixed on 412d) in an ice state and provided thereafter may act as a disturbing factor in the process of being smoothly collected and transmitted to the discharge unit 420d.

In addition, the ice-making water is preferably provided on the inclined surface 412d, but when the ice-making water is provided in a direction away from the inclined surface 412d, it may be difficult to normally provide the ice-making water to the ice-making tray 200. In addition, when the water supply amount is greater than the amount discharged through the discharge unit 420d, the water level may be increased by being accommodated in the slow adjustment unit 410d. Accordingly, in this case, the ice-making water may not move normally, and may escape from the water supply unit 400d and flow out of the ice-making machine, which may adversely affect the operation of the ice-making machine due to the ice-making water changed to an ice state. Accordingly, such abnormal separation of the ice-making water can be prevented by the overflow prevention part 411d formed to extend upward from the top of the inclined surface 412d.

In addition, the overflow prevention unit 411d may reduce the supply speed of the ice-making water while directly in contact with the ice-making water to be provided so as to perform a gradual adjustment. Therefore, the overflow prevention part 411d extends upward along the uppermost circumference of the inclined surface 412d and can be connected like a closed figure in the shape of a closed curve on a plane, and the closed according to the direction W of ice-making water. Only some sections may be formed, not in the figure. When only the partial section is formed, it may be formed over a section including the opposite side of the ice-making water providing direction (W).

Meanwhile, the discharge part 420d connected to the lowermost part of the slow control part 410d may extend toward its own weight. The self-weight direction means downward with respect to the horizontal direction, and may include extending vertically downward or extending away from the vertical direction by a predetermined angle.

In this example, there may be a structure in which a part of the ice-making box 100 and the slow adjustment unit 410d are coupled to each other, and may be coupled and separated from the ice-making box 100 by a combination such as fitting by a slide or a protrusion. Therefore, when coupled to the side, the discharge unit 420d may be located on the side of the ice maker. In this case, the ice-making tray 200 is located in an area excluding the rotational range so that interference does not occur in the rotational range of the ice-making tray 200. ) Is exposed to the side to supply ice-making water to the ice-making tray 200.

Accordingly, in this example (FIG. 4(b)), the discharge unit 420d extends vertically from the top, and then extends to the side to supply the ice-making water to the ice-making tray 200 to guide the ice-making water.

Further, the lowermost portion of the slow adjustment unit 410d may be located in a direction opposite to the direction in which ice-making water is supplied from the water supply line 10 and may be connected to the discharge unit 420d. This structure is a structure for providing ice-making water in a stable flow to the ice-making tray 200 by reducing the supply speed of the ice-making water when ice-making water is provided to the water supply unit 400d by the water supply line 10. I can.

6 is a side view of an ice maker showing whether there is interference with the water supply unit 400 when the ice making tray 200 rotates according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A plurality of rotation sections are formed within the rotation radius in which the ice-making tray 200 is rotated, and the discharge parts 420a, 420b 420c 420d for discharging ice-making water are located within the rotation radius, but may be located outside the rotation section. have. That is, it may be located in a non-rotating section of the ice making tray 200.

6(a) is a state in which the ice-making tray 200 is twisted for eaves, and FIG. 6(b) is a state in which the ice-making tray 200 is positioned at the origin before and after eaves. Here, the rotation section of the ice-making tray 200 rotates a part of the rotation range of 360 degrees. Since the ice-making tray 200 must be twisted, both ends of the ice-making tray 200 may be rotated by different rotational sections. For example, when an end of the power unit 310, which is one component of the motor unit, is rotated 120 degrees, the opposite end may be rotated 90 degrees. Thus, it can be twisted by 30 degrees.

Here, in a section other than the partial section of the 360 degree rotation range, the discharge parts 420a, 420b 420c 420d receiving ice-making water from the water supply unit 400 may be connected, and the exposed discharge parts 420a, 420b 420c 420d The nozzles 421a, 421b 421c 421d may be positioned. Since the nozzles 421a, 421b 421c 421d are located in a section excluding the rotation range of the partial section, interference with the ice-making tray can be avoided while the ice-making tray 200 is rotated, and the ice-making tray 200 is positioned at the origin. Since it is located above, it is possible to supply ice-making water.

Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains will understand that various modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. . Therefore, the scope of the present invention is limited to the described embodiments and should not be determined, and should not be determined by the claims to be described later, but also by those equivalents to the claims.

10: water supply line 100, 100a: ice-making box
200, 200a, 200b: ice making tray 300: control box
310: power unit 311: manbing lever
400, 400a, 400b, 400c, 400d: water supply
410a, 410b, 410c, 410d: slow adjustment unit
411a, 411b, 411c, 411d: overflow prevention part
412a, 412b, 412c, 412d: slope
420a, 420b, 420c, 420d: discharge part
421a, 421b, 421c, 421d: nozzle
W: Ice-making water direction

Claims (13)

Ice making box;
An ice-making tray accommodated in the ice-making box and rotated by the rotational power of the motor unit to move ice; And
Including; a water supply unit for providing ice-making water to the ice-making tray,
The water supply unit,
It is provided on one side of the ice making box,
The ice-making tray is twisted by the rotational power, and is provided adjacent to one of both ends of the ice-making tray in the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis,
It is integrated with the ice-making box or a separate type,
The ice maker is located within a rotation radius rotated by the rotational power, and a portion for discharging the ice-making water is located in a non-rotation section. The method according to claim 1,
The water supply unit is of the separable type, and is connected to one side of the ice-making box so as to be assembled and separated. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
The water supply unit,
A slow control unit for gradually adjusting the ice-making water provided from the water supply line; And
Containing, an ice maker including; a discharge unit for providing the ice-making water to the ice-making tray through the slow adjustment unit. The method of claim 3,
The discharge unit is formed to be inclined downward based on a vertical direction, the inclined surface is provided as a curved portion, ice maker. The method of claim 3,
The discharge unit,
An ice maker that extends in a curved shape toward an ice-making tray so that the ice-making water is bypassed and extends toward the ice-making tray. The method of claim 3,
The discharge unit,
An end portion of the side from which the ice-making water is discharged is provided with a cross section formed at an acute angle with respect to the extending direction, and the cross section is formed in a curved shape. The method of claim 3,
The discharge unit,
An ice maker positioned adjacent to a first stopper stopping the forward rotation of the one side in the ice making box. The method of claim 3,
The discharge unit,
An ice maker located adjacent to a second stopper stopping reverse rotation of the one side in the ice making box. The method of claim 3,
The slow control unit includes an inclined surface so that the ice-making water is introduced into the discharge unit by its own weight. The method of claim 3,
The discharge unit,
An ice maker positioned between a first stopper stopping forward rotation of the one side in the ice-making box and a second stopper stopping reverse rotation of the one side in the ice-making box based on a direction rotated by the rotational power. The method of claim 3,
The slow adjustment unit, the ice maker including an overflow prevention unit in the upper portion in the vertical direction. The method of claim 3,
The discharge unit is located adjacent to a cooling passage through which cold air for maintaining a sub-zero temperature is moved. A refrigerator comprising the ice maker according to claim 1 or 2.

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