U.S. patent application number 12/730462 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-23 for refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Seung Mok LEE.
Application Number | 20110146325 12/730462 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43639910 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110146325 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; Seung Mok |
June 23, 2011 |
REFRIGERATOR
Abstract
A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator includes a cabinet
defining a storage compartment; a door configured to open and close
the storage compartment, the door comprising an outer case and a
door liner; an ice maker configured to generate ice cubes; an ice
bin provided at the refrigerator door, the ice bin storing the ice
cubes generated in the ice maker; a dispenser provided at the door,
the dispenser dispensing the ice cubes stored in the ice bin; and a
vacuum insulation panel disposed between the outer case and the ice
bin to insulate the storage compartment from an outside.
Inventors: |
LEE; Seung Mok;
(Gyeongsangnam-do, KR) |
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
43639910 |
Appl. No.: |
12/730462 |
Filed: |
March 24, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/344 ; 62/377;
62/449 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25C 5/22 20180101; F25D
23/02 20130101; F25D 2201/14 20130101; F25C 5/046 20130101; F25C
2400/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/344 ; 62/449;
62/377 |
International
Class: |
F25C 5/18 20060101
F25C005/18; F25D 23/02 20060101 F25D023/02; F25D 23/04 20060101
F25D023/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 22, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0129332 |
Dec 22, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0129333 |
Dec 22, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0129334 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet defining a storage
compartment; a door configured to open and close the storage
compartment, the door comprising an outer case and a door liner; an
ice maker configured to generate ice cubes; an ice bin provided at
the refrigerator door, the ice bin storing the ice cubes generated
in the ice maker; a dispenser provided at the door, the dispenser
dispensing the ice cubes stored in the ice bin; and a vacuum
insulation panel disposed between the outer case and the ice bin to
insulate the storage compartment from an outside.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum
insulation panel is disposed between the door liner and the outer
case.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein an additional
insulation material different from the vacuum insulation panel is
disposed in a second space except a first space, the vacuum
insulation panel is disposed in the first space between the outer
case and the door liner.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the vacuum
insulation panel adheres to the outer case by an adhesive, and the
outer case, the adhesive, the vacuum insulation panel, the
additional insulation material, and the door liner are sequentially
disposed on a portion, at which the vacuum insulation panel is
disposed, of the refrigerator door.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum
insulation panel has a vertical length equal to or greater than
that of the ice bin.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the storage
compartment is a refrigerator compartment, the door liner defines
an ice compartment, and the ice bin is disposed within the ice
compartment.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, further comprising an ice
compartment door opening and closing the ice compartment, wherein a
vacuum insulation panel is disposed within the ice compartment
door.
8. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the vacuum
insulation panel is disposed between the door liner defining the
ice compartment and the outer case.
9. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the vacuum
insulation panel has a vertical length equal to or greater than
that of the ice compartment.
10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the storage
compartment is a freezer compartment, and the door is a freezer
compartment door.
11. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet defining a refrigerator
compartment; a door configured to open and close the refrigerator
compartment, the door comprising an outer case and a door liner; an
ice bin provided at the door, the ice bin storing ice cubes; and a
dispenser configured to dispense the ice cubes stored in the ice
bin to an outside, wherein a plurality of insulation materials
different from each other is disposed at a portion of the door at
which the ice bin is disposed, and a single insulation material is
disposed at a portion of the door at which the dispenser is
disposed.
12. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the plurality
of insulation materials forms layers in a front and rear direction
of the door.
13. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the plurality
of insulation materials comprises a first insulation material
having a first thermal conductivity and a second insulation
material having a second thermal conductivity greater than the
first thermal conductivity, and the single insulation material
comprises the second insulation material.
14. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the plurality
of insulation materials comprises a vacuum insulation panel or one
of expanded poly styrene or expanded polyurethane, and the single
insulation material comprises one of the expanded poly styrene or
expanded polyurethane.
15. The refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein the vacuum
insulation panel adheres to the outer case by an adhesive, and the
outer case, the adhesive, the vacuum insulation panel, the expanded
poly styrene, and the door liner are sequentially disposed on a
portion, at which the vacuum insulation panel is disposed, of the
door.
16. The refrigerator according to claim 11, further comprising an
insulated bin cover covering the ice bin or an insulation case
receiving the ice bin to maintain the inside of the ice bin at a
temperature less than that of the refrigerator compartment.
17. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet defining a storage
compartment; and a door configured to open and close the storage
compartment, wherein the door comprises: an outer case; a door
liner connected to the outer case; an ice bin provided at the door,
the ice bin storing ice cubes; a vacuum insulation panel disposed
between the ice bin and the outer case; and a dispenser configured
to dispense the ice cubes stored in the ice bin, wherein the door
liner comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, both lateral
surfaces, and a back surface, the back surface comprises a first
back surface on which the ice bin is disposed and a second back
surface having a height difference with respect to the first back
surface and facing the dispenser, the respective lateral surfaces
comprise a first lateral surface connected to the first back
surface and a second lateral surface connected to the second back
surface, and the first lateral surface has a first width (W1) less
than a second width (W2) of the second lateral surface.
18. The refrigerator according to claim 17, wherein a door covering
the ice bin is disposed at a space defined by a width difference
between the first lateral surface and the second lateral
surface.
19. The refrigerator according to claim 17, further comprising an
ice maker generating ice cubes, wherein at least one blade
discharging the ice cubes dropping from the ice maker is disposed
within the ice bin, and at least one ice cube separated from the
ice maker directly drops onto the at least one blade.
20. The refrigerator according to claim 17, wherein the ice bin
comprises at least one rotation blade discharging the stored ice
cubes and a rotation axis connected to the at least one rotation
blade, and the ice cubes stored in the ice bin are moved toward the
at least one rotation blade in a direction crossing an extending
direction of the rotation axis due to the rotation of the at least
one rotation blade.
21. The refrigerator according to claim 17, wherein the door liner
defines an ice compartment receiving the ice bin, the dispenser
comprises a dispenser housing having a recessed surface to define a
space in which a vessel for receiving the ice cubes discharged from
the ice bin is disposed, and a horizontal distance (D1) from a line
(L1) defined on a surface equally dividing the ice compartment in a
front-rear direction of the refrigerator compartment door to the
outer case is less than a horizontal distance (D2) from the
recessed surface to the outer case.
22. The refrigerator according to claim 21, further comprising an
ice duct comprising an inlet through which the ice cubes discharged
from the ice maker are introduced and an outlet through which the
ice cubes are discharged, wherein the line (L1) passes through the
inlet and the outlet.
23. The refrigerator according to claim 17, further comprising an
ice duct disposed below the ice bin, the ice duct comprising an
inlet through which the ice cubes are introduced and an outlet
through which the ice cubes are discharged, a horizontal distance
(D3) from the outer case disposed at a side of the inlet of the ice
duct to the door liner is less than a horizontal distance (D4) from
the outer case disposed at a side of the outlet of the ice duct to
the door liner.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119
and 35 U.S.C. 365 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0129332
(filed on Dec. 22, 2009), Korean Patent Application No.
10-2009-0129333 (filed on Dec. 22, 2009), and Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2009-0129334 (filed on Dec. 22, 2009), which are
hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator.
[0003] Generally, a refrigerator is an apparatus that stores foods
at a low temperature using low temperature air.
[0004] The refrigerator includes a cabinet in which a storage
compartment is defined and a refrigerator door opening and closing
the storage compartment. The storage compartment may include a
refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment. The
refrigerator door may include a refrigerator compartment door
opening and closing the refrigerator compartment and a freezer
compartment door opening and closing the freezer compartment.
[0005] Also, the refrigerator may include an ice making assembly
that makes ice using cool air to store the made ice. The ice making
assembly includes an ice maker generating the ice and an ice bin in
which the ice separated from the ice maker is stored. The ice maker
and the ice bin may be disposed inside the refrigerator compartment
or in the refrigerator compartment door. For user's convenience,
the refrigerator compartment door may further include a dispenser
for dispensing the ice stored in the ice bin.
SUMMARY
[0006] Embodiments provide a refrigerator.
[0007] In one embodiment, a refrigerator includes: a cabinet
defining a storage compartment; a door configured to open and close
the storage compartment, the door comprising an outer case and a
door liner; an ice maker configured to generate ice cubes; an ice
bin provided at the refrigerator door, the ice bin storing the ice
cubes generated in the ice maker; a dispenser provided at the door,
the dispenser dispensing the ice cubes stored in the ice bin; and a
vacuum insulation panel disposed between the outer case and the ice
bin to insulate the storage compartment from an outside.
[0008] In another embodiment, a refrigerator includes: a cabinet
defining a refrigerator compartment; a door configured to open and
close the refrigerator compartment, the door comprising an outer
case and a door liner; an ice bin provided at the door, the ice bin
storing ice cubes; and a dispenser configured to dispense the ice
cubes stored in the ice bin to an outside, wherein a plurality of
insulation materials different from each other is disposed at a
portion of the door at which the ice bin is disposed, and a single
insulation material is disposed at a portion of the door at which
the dispenser is disposed.
[0009] In further embodiment, a refrigerator includes: a cabinet
defining a storage compartment; and a door configured to open and
close the storage compartment, wherein the door comprises: an outer
case; a door liner connected to the outer case; an ice bin provided
at the door, the ice bin storing ice cubes; a vacuum insulation
panel disposed between the ice bin and the outer case; and a
dispenser configured to dispense the ice cubes stored in the ice
bin, wherein the door liner comprises a top surface, a bottom
surface, both lateral surfaces, and a back surface, the back
surface comprises a first back surface on which the ice bin is
disposed and a second back surface having a height difference with
respect to the first back surface and facing the dispenser, the
respective lateral surfaces comprise a first lateral surface
connected to the first back surface and a second lateral surface
connected to the second back surface, and the first lateral surface
has a first width (W1) less than a second width (W2) of the second
lateral surface.
[0010] The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the
accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features
will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to
a first embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the refrigerator with a
portion of a refrigerator compartment door opened according to the
first embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the refrigerator compartment
door with an ice compartment door opened according to the first
embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a refrigerator compartment
door in which an ice making assembly is removed from an ice
compartment according to the first embodiment.
[0015] FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views of the ice making
assembly according to the first embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an ice bin according to the
first embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the ice bin.
[0018] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of an ice discharge
member.
[0019] FIG. 10 is a front view of a rotation blade of the ice
bin.
[0020] FIG. 11 is a front view of the ice discharge member, a fixed
blade, and an opening/closing member of the ice bin.
[0021] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the opening/closing member
of FIG. 11.
[0022] FIG. 13 is a front view illustrating the inside of the ice
bin.
[0023] FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the ice bin.
[0024] FIG. 15 is a plan view of the ice bin.
[0025] FIG. 16 is a vertical sectional view of the refrigerator
compartment door of the first embodiment.
[0026] FIG. 17 is an enlarged view illustrating a portion B of FIG.
16.
[0027] FIG. 18 is a view of a state in which an ice maker is
rotated to separate ice from the ice maker of FIG. 16.
[0028] FIG. 19 is a front view of a state in which ice chips are
discharged from the ice bin.
[0029] FIG. 20 is a front view of a state in which ice cubes are
discharged from the ice bin.
[0030] FIG. 21 is a side view of the refrigerator compartment
door.
[0031] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to
a second embodiment.
[0032] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to
a third embodiment.
[0033] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to
a fourth embodiment.
[0034] FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a state in which an ice bin
of FIG. 24 is rotated.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0035] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of
the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
[0036] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to
a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the
refrigerator with a portion of a refrigerator compartment door
opened according to the first embodiment.
[0037] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a refrigerator 1 according to
this embodiment includes a cabinet 10 defining an outer appearance
thereof and refrigerator doors 11 and 14 movably connected to the
cabinet 10.
[0038] A storage compartment for storing foods is defined inside
the cabinet 10. The storage compartment includes a refrigerator
compartment 102 and a freezer compartment 104 disposed below the
refrigerator compartment 102. That is, a bottom freeze type
refrigerator in which a refrigerator compartment is disposed above
the freezer compartment will be described as an example in this
embodiment.
[0039] The refrigerator door 11 and 14 include a refrigerator
compartment door 11 opening and closing the refrigerator
compartment 102 and a freezer compartment door 14 opening and
closing the freezer compartment 104. The refrigerator compartment
door 11 includes a plurality of doors 12 and 13, which are disposed
at left and right sides, respectively. The plurality of doors 12
and 13 includes a first refrigerator compartment door 12 and a
second refrigerator compartment door 13 disposed at a right side of
the first refrigerator compartment door 12. The first refrigerator
compartment door 12 may be independently movable with respect to
the second refrigerator compartment door 13.
[0040] The freezer compartment door 14 includes a plurality of
doors 15 and 16, which are vertically disposed. The plurality of
doors 15 and 16 includes a first freezer compartment door 15 and a
second freezer compartment door 16 disposed below the first freezer
compartment door 15.
[0041] The first and second refrigerator compartment doors 12 and
13 may be rotatably moved, and the first and second freezer
compartment doors 15 and 16 may be slidably moved.
[0042] A dispenser 17 for dispensing water or ice cubes is disposed
in one door of the first and second refrigerator compartment door
12 and 13. For example, the dispenser 17 is disposed in the first
refrigerator door 12 in FIG. 1.
[0043] Also, an ice making assembly (that will be described later)
for generating and storing the ice cubes is disposed in one door of
the first and second refrigerator compartment doors 12 and 13.
[0044] In this embodiment, the dispenser 17 and the ice making
assembly may be disposed in the first refrigerator compartment door
12 and the second refrigerator compartment door 13. Thus, it will
be described below that the dispenser 17 and the ice making
assembly are disposed in the refrigerator compartment door 11.
Here, the first refrigerator compartment door 12 and the second
refrigerator compartment door 13 are commonly called the
refrigerator compartment door 11.
[0045] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the refrigerator compartment
door with an ice compartment door opened according to the first
embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a refrigerator
compartment door in which an ice making assembly is removed from an
ice compartment according to the first embodiment.
[0046] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the refrigerator compartment door
11 includes an outer case 111 and a door liner 112 coupled to the
outer case 111. The door liner 112 defines a back surface of the
refrigerator compartment door 11.
[0047] The door liner 112 defines an ice compartment 120. The ice
making assembly 200 for generating and storing the ice cubes is
disposed inside the ice compartment. The ice compartment 120 is
opened and closed by an ice compartment door 130. The ice
compartment door 130 is rotatably connected to the door liner 112
by a hinge 139. A handle 140 coupled to the door liner 112 in a
state where the ice compartment 120 is closed by the ice
compartment door 130 is disposed on the ice compartment door
130.
[0048] In this embodiment, since the ice compartment receives the
ice making assembly 200, the ice compartment may be referred to as
a receiving space.
[0049] A handle coupling part 128 coupled to a portion of the
handle 140 is defined in the door liner 112. The handle coupling
part 128 receives the portion of the handle 140.
[0050] The cabinet 10 includes a main body supply duct for
supplying cool air to the ice compartment 120 and a main body
return duct 108 for recovering the cool air from the ice
compartment 120. The main body supply duct 106 and the main body
return duct 108 may communicate with a space in which an evaporator
(not shown) is disposed.
[0051] The refrigerator compartment door 11 includes a door supply
duct 122 for supplying the cool air of the main body supply duct
106 to the ice compartment and a door return duct 124 for
recovering the cool air of the ice compartment 120 to the main body
return duct 108.
[0052] The door supply duct 122 and the door return duct 124 extend
from an outer wall 113 of the door liner 112 to an inner wall 114
constituting the ice compartment 120. The door supply duct 122 and
the door return duct 124 are vertically arrayed, and the door
supply duct 122 is disposed over the door return duct 124. However,
in this embodiment, the positions of the door supply duct 122 and
the door return duct 124 are not limited thereto.
[0053] When the refrigerator compartment door 11 closes the
refrigerator compartment 102, the door supply duct 122 is aligned
and communicates with the main body supply duct 106, and the door
return duct 124 is aligned and communicates with the main body
return duct 108.
[0054] The ice compartment 120 includes a cool air duct 290 guiding
cool air flowing in the door supply duct 122 to the ice making
assembly 200. The cool air duct 290 includes a passage through
which cool air flows, and cool air flowing in the cool air duct 290
is finally supplied to the ice making assembly 200. Since cool air
may be concentrated to the ice making assembly 200 through the cool
air duct 290, the ice cubes may be rapidly generated.
[0055] The refrigerator compartment door 11 includes a first
connector 125 for supplying an electric source to the ice making
assembly 200. The first connector 125 is exposed to the ice
compartment 120. The refrigerator compartment door 11 includes a
water supply pipe 126 for supplying water to the ice making
assembly 200.
[0056] The water supply pipe 126 is disposed between the outer case
111 and the door liner 112, and its end passes through the door
liner 112 and is disposed at the ice compartment 120.
[0057] An ice opening 127 for discharging ice is disposed at the
lower side of the inner wall 114 of the door liner 112 constituting
the ice compartment 120. An ice duct 150 communicating with the ice
opening 127 is disposed at the lower side of the ice compartment
120. The ice duct 150 includes a passage through which the ice
cubes are moved.
[0058] Hereinafter, a structure of the ice making assembly will be
described in detail.
[0059] FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views of the ice making
assembly according to the first embodiment.
[0060] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 6, the ice making assembly 200
defines spaces where ice cubes are generated, and includes an ice
maker 210 supporting generated ice cubes, a driving source 220
providing power for automatically rotating the ice maker 210 to
remove ice cubes from the ice maker 210, a gear box 224
transmitting the power of the driving source 220 to the ice maker
210, a cover 230 covering the ice maker 210 to prevent the overflow
of water when the water is supplied to the ice maker 210, and a
water guider 240 guiding water supplied from the water supply pipe
126 to the ice maker 210.
[0061] The ice making assembly 200 includes a support mechanism 250
including a seat part 215 on which the ice maker 210 is placed, an
ice bin 300 storing ice cubes removed from the ice maker 210, a
full ice sensor 270 for sensing full ice state of the ice bin 300,
and a motor assembly 280 selectively connected to the ice bin
300.
[0062] An electric wire connected to the motor assembly 280 and an
electric wire connected to the driving source 220 are connected to
a second connector 282 that is removably coupled to the first
connector 125.
[0063] In detail, the driving source 220 may include a motor that
may be rotatable in both directions.
[0064] The support mechanism 250 includes a first support part 252
and a second support part 260 coupled to the first support part
252.
[0065] The first support part 252 is placed on the ice compartment
120. The motor assembly 280 is installed on the first support part
252. An ice opening 253 through which ice discharged from the ice
bin 300 pass is disposed in the bottom surface of the first support
part 252. The ice bin 300 is placed on the first support part 252.
That is, the first support part 252 supports the ice bin 300.
[0066] When the ice bin 300 is placed on the first support part
252, the motor assembly 280 is connected to the ice bin 300. In
this embodiment, the state where the ice bin 300 is placed on the
first support part 252 means the state where the ice compartment
120 accommodates the ice bin 300.
[0067] The seat part 215 on which the ice maker 210 is placed is
installed on the second support part 260. The ice maker 210
includes a rotation shaft 212 at a side. The rotation shaft 212 is
rotatably coupled to the seat part 215. An extension part (not
shown) extending from the gear box 224 is connected to another side
of the ice maker 210.
[0068] The full ice sensor 270 is installed on the second support
part 260 at a position spaced apart from the ice maker 210. The
full ice sensor 270 is disposed under the ice maker 210.
[0069] The full ice sensor 270 includes a transmission part 271
transmitting a signal, and a receiving part 272 spaced apart from
the transmission part 271 and receiving a signal from the
transmission part 271.
[0070] The transmission part 271 and the receiving part 272 are
disposed in the inner space of the ice bin 300 when the ice bin 300
is placed on the first support part 252.
[0071] Hereinafter, the ice bin according to the first embodiment
will be described in detail.
[0072] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an ice bin according to the
first embodiment.
[0073] Referring to FIG. 7, an opening 310 is defined at an upper
side of the ice bin 300. The ice bin 300 has a front wall 311, a
rear wall 312, and sidewalls 313.
[0074] An inclined guide surface is disposed inside the ice bin 300
to support the stored ice cubes and guide the stored ice cubes such
that the ice cubes are moved downwardly by their self-weight.
[0075] An ice storage space 315 in which the ice cubes are stored
is defined by the front wall 311, the rear wall 312, the sidewalls
313, and the inclined guide surface 320.
[0076] The inclined guide surface 320 includes a first inclined
guide surface 321 and a second inclined guide surface 322. The
first inclined guide surface 321 is inclined downwardly from one
wall of the sidewalls 313 toward a central portion. The second
inclined guide surface 322 is inclined downwardly from the other
wall of the sidewalls 313 toward the central portion.
[0077] An ice discharge member 400 is disposed between the first
inclined guide surface 321 and the second inclined guide surface
322 to discharge the ice cubes received in the ice bin 300 to the
outside of the ice bin 300. That is, the first inclined guide
surface 321 and the second inclined guide surface 322 are disposed
at left and right sides of the ice discharge member 400.
[0078] The ice discharge member 400 includes one or more rotation
blades 410 to define a predetermined space 411 in which the ice
cubes are disposed. The ice discharge member 400 may include a
plurality of rotation blades 410 to easily discharge the ice
cubes.
[0079] Hereinafter, the ice discharge member 400 including the
plurality of rotation blades 410 will be described as an
example.
[0080] The ice cubes disposed on the first inclined guide surface
321 and the second inclined guide surface 322 are moved toward the
ice discharge member 40 by their self-weight. Then, the ice cubes
are discharged to the outside of the ice bin 300 by an operation of
the ice discharge member 400.
[0081] A discharge part 500 having a discharge opening 510 in which
the ice cubes are finally discharged is disposed between the first
inclined guide surface 321 and the second inclined guide surface
322. The ice discharge member 400 is forwardly/reversely and
rotatably (or rotatable in both directions) disposed on the
discharge part 500.
[0082] When the ice discharge member 400 is rotated in a first
direction, one or more fixed blades 480 interacting with the
rotation blades 410 to crash the ice cubes are disposed at a side
of a lower portion of the ice discharge member 400, i.e., a side of
the discharge part 500.
[0083] To easily crash at least one ice cube, a plurality of fixed
blades 480 may be disposed in ice bin 300. Hereinafter, the ice bin
300 including the plurality of fixed blades 480 will be described
as an example.
[0084] The plurality of fixed blades 480 is spaced from each other,
and the rotation blades 410 pass through a space between the
plurality of fixed blades 480.
[0085] When at least one ice cube is compressed by the rotation
operations of the rotation blades 410 in a state where the ice
jammed between the fixed blades 480 and the rotation blades 410,
the at least one ice cube is crashed to form ice chips.
[0086] When the ice discharge member 400 is rotated in a second
direction opposite to the first direction, an opening/closing
member 600 selectively communicating with the discharge opening 510
and the ice storage space 315 to discharge ice cubes is disposed at
the side of the lower portion of the ice discharge member 400,
i.e., the side of the discharge part 500.
[0087] An operation restriction part 650 is disposed below the
opening/closing member 600 to restrict an operation range of the
opening/closing member 600, thereby preventing the ice cubes from
being excessively discharged.
[0088] The discharge part 500 has a discharge guide wall 520 having
a configuration corresponding to a rotational track of the rotation
blade 410. The fixed blades 480 are disposed below the discharge
guide wall 520.
[0089] The discharge guide wall 520 prevents the crushed ice chips
from remaining on the discharge part 500. An ice jam prevention
part 330 protruding toward the rotation blade 410 is disposed on a
back surface 312 of the front wall 311 of the ice bin 300 to
prevent the ice cubes from being jammed between the rotation blades
410 and the front wall 311 of the ice bin 300.
[0090] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the ice bin.
[0091] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the plurality of rotation blades
410 is fixed to a rotation axis 420. The rotation axis 420 passes
through a connection plate 428 connected to a support plate 425 and
the motor assembly (see reference numeral 280 of FIG. 6). The
rotation axis 420 is horizontally disposed within the ice bin
300.
[0092] The plurality of rotation blades 410 is disposed spaced from
each other in a direction parallel to an extending direction of the
rotation axis 420. The rotation axis 420 is connected to one side
of each of the plurality of fixed blades 480. That is, the rotation
axis 420 passes through the plurality of fixed blades 480. A
through-hole 481 through which the rotation axis 420 passes is
defined in the respective fixed blades 480.
[0093] Here, the through-hole 481 may have a diameter greater than
that of the rotation axis 420 such that the fixed blades 480 are
not moved when the rotation axis 420 is rotated.
[0094] The plurality of rotation blades 410 and the plurality of
fixed blades 480 may be alternately disposed in the direction
parallel to the extending direction of the rotation axis 420.
[0095] The other side of each of the plurality of fixed blades 480
is fixed to a lower side of the discharge guide wall 520. A fixing
member 485 is connected to the other side of the respective fixed
blades 480 and inserted into a groove 521 defined in the discharge
guide wall 520.
[0096] The opening/closing member 600 may be provided in one or
plurality. The opening/closing member 600 is disposed at a lateral
side of the plurality of fixed blades 480. The opening/closing
member 600 is rotatably disposed on the discharge part 500. The
opening/closing member 600 may be formed of an elastic material or
supported by an elastic member 640 such as a spring.
[0097] This is done for returning the opening/closing member 600 to
its initial position when a compression effect is released in a
state where an end of the opening/closing member 600 is moved
downwardly by the compression effect due to the ice cubes.
[0098] The ice discharge member 400, the fixed blade 480, and the
opening/closing member 600 are disposed within the ice bin 300, and
then, a front plate 311a constituting the front wall 311 of the ice
bin 300 is disposed.
[0099] A cover member 318 may be disposed at a lower portion of a
front surface of the front plate 311a to prevent the
opening/closing member 600 or the fixed blade 480 from being
exposed to the outside.
[0100] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of an ice discharge
member.
[0101] Referring to FIGS. 7 to 9, an elastic member 429 having a
coil shape is disposed between the support plate 425 and the
connection plate 428 to elastically support the connection plate
428.
[0102] In a state where the rotation blade 410, the support plate
425, the connection plate 428, and the elastic member 429 are
coupled to the rotation axis 420, an insertion member 421 is
inserted into a front end of the rotation axis 420.
[0103] The motor assembly (see reference numeral 280 of FIG. 6)
includes a connection member 320 selectively connected to the
connection plate 428. A protrusion 430 on which the connection
member 320 is hooked is disposed on the connection plate 428.
[0104] When the protrusion 430 and both ends of the connection
member 320 are aligned with each other in a state where a user
receives the ice bin 300 into the ice compartment 120, the
connection member 320 is not hooked on the protrusion 430. In this
case, the guide plate 428 is moved toward the support plate 425 by
the elastic member 429.
[0105] Thereafter, when the alignment between both ends of the
connection member 320 and the protrusion 430 is released by a
continuous operation of the motor assembly (see reference numeral
280 of FIG. 6), the connection plate 428 is moved backwardly by the
elastic member 429, and thus, both ends of the connection member
320 is hooked on the protrusion 430.
[0106] The support plate 425 has an inclined surface 426 to
smoothly move the ice cubes disposed on a lateral surface of the
support plate 425 toward the plurality of rotation blades 410.
[0107] FIG. 10 is a front view of a rotation blade of the ice
bin.
[0108] Referring to FIG. 10, the respective rotation blades 410
include a central portion 412 through which the rotation axis 420
passes and extension parts 413 radially extending from the central
portion 412.
[0109] A through-hole 415 through which the rotation axis 420
passes is defined in the central portion 412. The through-hole may
have a non-circular shape or a long hole shape to smoothly transmit
a rotation force of the rotation axis 420 to the central portion
412.
[0110] The plurality of extension parts 413 may be spaced from each
other. A space 411 in which the ice cubes are disposed is defined
between the two extension parts 413 adjacent to each other.
[0111] The respective extension parts 413 have a width gradually
increasing from the central portion 412 toward the outside. A hook
part 416 is disposed on an end of the extension part 413 to prevent
the ice cubes disposed in the space 411 from overflowing.
[0112] Thus, when the rotation blade 410 is rotated in a state
where the ice cubes are received into the space 411, the ice cubes
disposed at the end of the extension part 413 is hooked and moved
together with the rotation blade 410 in a rotation direction of the
rotation blade 410.
[0113] A crash part having a saw-tooth shape is disposed at one
side of the extension part 413 to crash the ice by interacting with
the fixed blade 480.
[0114] A smooth surface is disposed at the other side of the
extension part 413 to move the ice cubes to a side opposite to the
crash part 418 while the ice cubes are maintained in the ice cube
state. Thus, the crash part 418 of one extension part 418 is
disposed at a side opposite to the smooth surface of the other
extension part 418 in one space 411.
[0115] FIG. 11 is a front view of the ice discharge member, a fixed
blade, and an opening/closing member of the ice bin.
[0116] Referring to FIG. 11, when the rotation blade 410 is
connected to the rotation axis 420, the plurality of rotation
blades 410 does not completely overlap, but is disposed in a
slightly twisted state from a front side toward a rear side.
[0117] That is, when viewed from a front side, the plurality of
rotation blades 410 does not completely overlap each other, but is
disposed in a state in which the behind rotation blade 410 is
rotated by a predetermined angle.
[0118] In case where the plurality of rotation blades 410 is
disposed in completely overlapping relationship in front and rear
directions, when the plurality of rotation blades 410 for crushing
the ice cubes is rotated in the first direction, a pressure applied
to the ice cubes is dispersed. As a result, it is difficult to
crush the ice cubes.
[0119] However, as described above, in case where the plurality of
rotation blades is sequentially disposed in a state where they are
rotated at a predetermined angle, the ice cubes contact the crush
part 418 of the first rotation blade 410 and thus are crushed.
Thereafter, the crushed ice cubes sequentially contract the crush
part 418 of the second rotation blade 410, and then the crush part
418 of the third rotation blade 410 with a predetermined time
interval. Thus, the rotation force of the ice discharge member 400
may be concentrated into the respective crush parts 418 to
significantly improve the ice crush efficiency.
[0120] Also, the crush part 488 having the saw-tooth shape may be
disposed on the fixed blade 480 to crush the ice cubes. The
opening/closing member 600 is disposed in a lateral direction of
the fixed blade 480. The opening/closing member 600 includes a
rotation part 605 rotatably disposed within the ice bin 300. The
rotation part 605 is elastically supported by the elastic member
640 having a torsion spring shape. The elastic member 640 has one
end fixed to the ice bin 300 and the other end seated on a surface
of the opening/closing member 600 to elastically support the
opening/closing member 600.
[0121] The opening/closing member 600 has a rounded first guide
surface 610 and a second guide surface 612 connected to the
rotation part 605. At this time, the second guide surface 612 and
the second inclined guide surface (see reference numeral 322 of
FIG. 6) constitutes a continuous surface.
[0122] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the opening/closing member
of FIG. 11.
[0123] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 12, the opening/closing member 600
may be provided in plurality. The plurality of opening/closing
members 600 is independently moved with respect to each other.
[0124] If a single opening/closing member 600 is disposed within
the ice bin 300, other ice cubes may be discharged through a gap at
which the ice is not disposed when the ice cubes are not discharged
but stay on only a portion of the first guide surface 610 of the
opening/closing member 600.
[0125] However, if a plurality of opening/closing member 600 is
disposed within the ice bin 300, even through the ice cubes are
hooked on one opening/closing member 600 to maintain the
opening/closing member 600 in an open state, the other
opening/closing member 600 on which the ice cubes are not hooked
may maintain a close state to prevent the ice cubes from being
unnecessarily discharged.
[0126] At this time, the elastic member 640 may be disposed on each
of the plurality of opening/closing members 600. The respective
opening/closing members 600 include a hook jaw 615 to prevent the
ice cubes jammed between the opening/closing members 600 and the
plurality of rotation blades 410 from being discharged to the
outside when each of the opening/closing members 600 is in the
close state.
[0127] The hook jaw 615 may be disposed on an end of a top surface
of the first guide surface 610.
[0128] FIG. 13 is a front view illustrating the inside of the ice
bin, and FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the ice bin.
[0129] Referring to FIGS. 6 to 14, the first inclined guide surface
321 is disposed adjacent to the plurality of fixed blades 480. The
second inclined guide surface 322 is disposed adjacent to the
opening/closing member 600 through which the ice cubes are
discharged.
[0130] A discharge guide wall 520 connected to the first inclined
guide surface 321 is disposed at a side of the discharge part 500.
The second inclined guide surface is divided into two sections.
This is done for adjusting a movement speed of the ice cubes moved
along the second inclined guide surface 322 toward the ice
discharge member 400 to prevent the ice cubes being broken out.
[0131] The second inclined guide surface 322 includes an outwardly
inclined guide surface 322b connected to the sidewalls 313 of the
ice bin 300 and an inwardly inclined guide surface 322a connected
to the outwardly inclined guide surface 322b and disposed adjacent
to the ice discharge member 400.
[0132] The inwardly inclined guide surface 322a is inclined at an
angle less than that of the outwardly inclined guide surface 322b.
Thus, the ice cubes downwardly moved along the outwardly inclined
guide surface 322b are reduced in speed at the inwardly inclined
guide surface 322a. The second guide surface 612 of the
opening/closing member 600 is disposed at an end of the inwardly
inclined guide surface 322a to constitute a continuous surface
together with the inwardly inclined guide surface 322a.
[0133] When the opening/closing member 600 closes the discharge
opening 510, the second guide surface 612 and the inwardly inclined
guide surface 322a form the continuous surface to reduce the
movement speed of the ice cubes.
[0134] When the opening/closing member 600 opens the discharge
opening 510, the second guide surface 612 is downwardly moved to
guide the ice cubes toward the discharge opening 510.
[0135] An inclination end point 321a of the first inclined guide
surface 321 is disposed at a position higher than that of the
rotation axis 420 of the ice discharge member 400. This is done for
preventing fragments of the ice cubes crushed at a position at
which the fixed blade 480 is disposed from being upwardly moved
again.
[0136] To prevent the fragments of the crushed ice cubes from
staying, the discharge guide wall 520 may have a curvature
corresponding to that of the rotational track of the rotation blade
410.
[0137] Also, to maintain the ice cubes in the ice cube state, the
second inclined guide surface 322 may be inclined at an angle less
than that of the first inclined guide surface 321.
[0138] The inwardly inclined guide surface 322a of the second
inclined guide surface 322 may be inclined at the substantially
same angle as that of the second guide surface 612 of the
opening/closing member 600 to form a continuous surface.
[0139] The rotation part 605 of the opening/closing member 600 is
disposed at a position lower than that of the rotation axis 420 of
the ice discharge member 400 such that the second inclined guide
surface 322 is inclined at an angle less than that of the first
inclined guide surface 321.
[0140] The operation restriction part 650 for restricting an
opening angle of the opening/closing member 600 is disposed below
the opening/closing member 600. The operation restriction part 650
includes a vertically disposed first rib 651, a second rib 652
spaced from the first rib 651 and having a height greater than that
of the first rib 651, and an inclined contact part 653 connecting
an upper portion of the first rib 651 to an upper portion of the
second rib 652. The opening/closing member 600 is stopped by
contacting the contact part 653.
[0141] As described above, the opening/closing member 600 may be
provided in plurality. Also, the opening/closing members 600 may
have maximum opening angles different from each other,
respectively.
[0142] FIG. 15 is a plan view of the ice bin.
[0143] Referring to FIG. 15, the ice jam prevention part 330 is
disposed inside the front wall 311 of the ice bin 300. The ice jam
prevention part 330 protrudes or extends inwardly from the front
wall 311 of the ice bin 300.
[0144] The ice jam prevention part 330 disposed in a space between
the rotation blade 410 disposed at the most front side of the
plurality of rotation blades 410 and the front wall 311.
[0145] The ice jam prevention part 330 may be disposed above a
portion at which the crushed ice cubes are discharged.
[0146] FIG. 16 is a vertical sectional view of the refrigerator
compartment door of the first embodiment. FIG. 17 is an enlarged
view illustrating a portion B of FIG. 16. FIG. 18 is a view of a
state in which an ice maker is rotated to separate ice from the ice
maker of FIG. 16.
[0147] Referring to FIGS. 16 to 18, the ice bin 300 is
substantially vertically disposed below the ice maker 210 in a
state where the ice making assembly 200 is disposed within the ice
compartment 120.
[0148] In detail, an inlet 301a of the opening 310 of the ice bin
300 is disposed at a position lower than that of the ice maker 210.
Thus, when the ice compartment door 130 closes the ice compartment
120, the ice bin 300 is not disposed in a first region A between
the ice compartment door 130 and the ice maker 210. That is, the
ice bin 300 may be disposed in a second region except for the first
region between the ice compartment door 130 and the ice maker 210
in an entire region of the ice compartment 120.
[0149] This is done for a reason that the ice bin 300 does not need
to dispose the ice bin 300 in the first region A because the ice
maker 210 is tuned over by its rotation operation to separate ice
cubes I from the ice maker 210 due to ice cubes' self-weight,
thereby dropping into the ice bin 300. That is, since the ice cubes
I separated from the ice maker 210 do not pass through the first
region A, the ice bin need not be disposed in the first region
A.
[0150] Thus, since the ice bin 300 is not disposed in the first
region A, the ice compartment door 130 may be disposed further
adjacent to the ice maker 210. As a result, a total thickness of
the refrigerator compartment door 11 may be reduced. That is, the
refrigerator compartment door 11 may be slim.
[0151] The plurality of rotation blades 410 may be disposed spaced
from each other in a direction parallel to the extending direction
of the rotation axis 420. The plurality of rotation blades 410 may
be disposed within a range of a front-rear width W of the ice maker
210.
[0152] Thus, when the ice maker 210 is rotated to separate the ice
cubes I from the ice maker 210, a portion of the plurality of ice
cubes separated from the ice maker 210 directly drops into at least
one rotation blade of the plurality of rotation blades 410. That
is, the ice cubes I separated from the ice maker 210 drop down by
their self-weight, and one or more ice cubes I of the dropping ice
cubes I directly contact at least one rotation blade 410.
[0153] At this time, a dropping direction of the ice cubes I
separated from the ice maker 210 crosses the extending direction of
the rotation axis 420. In another aspect, the dropping direction of
the ice cubes I separated from the ice maker 210 is substantially
parallel to a virtual surface defined when the plurality of
rotation blades 410 is rotated.
[0154] A horizontal distance from the ice compartment door 130 to
the rotation shaft 212 of the ice maker 210 is greater than the
shortest horizontal distance from the ice compartment door 130 to
the discharge opening 510.
[0155] A plurality of insulation material different from each other
is disposed within the refrigerator compartment door 11 to insulate
the refrigerator compartment from the outside. The plurality of
insulation materials includes a first insulation material 116 and a
second insulation material 117. The first insulation material 116
includes a vacuum insulation panel (VIP), and the second insulation
material 117 includes expanded poly styrene (EPS) or expanded
polyurethane.
[0156] The first insulation material 116 is disposed between a
surface 112a recessed for defining the ice compartment 120 of the
door liner 112 and the outer case 111. At this time, since the ice
bin 300 is disposed in the ice compartment, the first insulation
material 116 may be disposed between the outer case 111 and the ice
bin 300. Also, the first insulation material 116 faces the ice bin
300.
[0157] Also, since the first insulation material 116 is disposed
between the recessed surface 112a and the outer case 111, the first
insulation material 116 may be disposed at a front side of the ice
bin 300.
[0158] The first insulation material 116 may have a vertical length
equal to or greater than that of the ice bin 300. For example, the
first insulation material 116 may have the vertical length equal to
or greater than that of the ice compartment 120. The is done
because the ice compartment is effectively insulated from the
outside when the first insulation material 116 has the vertical
length equal to or greater than that of the ice compartment
120.
[0159] The first insulation material 116 may be fixed to the outer
case 111. For example, the first insulation material 116 may be
attached to an inner surface of the outer case 111 by an adhesive
118.
[0160] Thus, in section of the refrigerator compartment door 11 in
which the ice compartment 120 is disposed, the outer case 111, the
adhesive 118, the first insulation material 116, the second
insulation material 117, and the door liner 112 are sequentially
disposed. At this time, the first insulation material 116 and the
second insulation material 17 are disposed in front and rear
directions to form a layer, thereby preventing heat from being
transferred in the front and rear directions of the refrigerator
compartment door 11.
[0161] The VIP may include a core material formed of compressed
glass fiber and an envelope material surrounding the core. In
detail, a glass fiber is dispersed on an inorganic binder, and
then, a plurality of glass fiber boards manufactured using a paper
manufacturing method is stacked to form the core material.
Thereafter, the envelope material having a stacked structure of a
passivation layer, a metal barrier layer, and an adhesive layer is
formed. Then, a getter manufactured by packaging CaO powder using a
pouch is formed. Then, the getter is attached to a top surface of
the core material or inserted into the top surface of the core
material to form the envelope material as an encapsulant.
Thereafter, the core material is inserted into the encapsulant and
sealed in a vacuum state to complete the VIP.
[0162] In further detail, the plurality of glass fiber boards, each
having a thickness of about 4 nm to about 10 nm, is stacked to form
the core material. Here, the glass fiber board is manufactured by
dispersing the glass fiber on the inorganic binder. A single fiber
having a diameter of about 0.1 .mu.m to about 10 .mu.m may be used
as the glass fiber. Also, waterglass formed of water, silica
powder, and NaOH may be used as the inorganic binder.
[0163] At this time, by using the paper manufacturing method, the
glass fiber board having a superior insulation board property with
porosity of about 80% or more may be manufactured. When the glass
fiber has a diameter of less than about 0.1 .mu.m, it may be
difficult to form a board configuration because of very fine
particles. Also, when the glass fiber has a diameter of greater
than about 10 .mu.m, the glass fiber board has a pore diameter
exceeding about 20 .mu.m to deteriorate the insulation
property.
[0164] The envelope material includes the adhesive layer, the metal
barrier layer formed on a top surface of the adhesive layer, and
the passivation layer, which are sequentially stacked.
[0165] Here, the adhesive layer is a layer that is thermally fused
to another layer by a heat sealing to maintain a vacuum state.
Thus, the adhesive layer may be formed of one or more thermoplastic
films selected from the group consisting of high density
polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low
density polyethylene (LLDPE), cast polypropylene (CPP), oriented
polypropylene (OPP), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), polyvinyl
chloride (PVC), ethylene vinylacetate (EVA), and ethylene vinyl
alcohol (EVOH). The adhesive layer may have a thickness of about 1
.mu.m to about 100 .mu.m to provide a sufficient sealing
property.
[0166] Next, a metal thin film having a thickness of about 6 .mu.m
to about 7 .mu.m is formed on the adhesive layer as the barrier
layer to interrupt gas and protect the core material. At this time,
an Al foil may be generally used as a metal barrier layer. Since Al
is a metal material, crack phenomenon may occur when the metal
material is folded. Thus, to avoid the crack phenomenon, the
passivation layer may be disposed on the metal barrier layer.
[0167] A poly ethylene terephtalate (PET) film having a thickness
of about 10 .mu.m to about 14 .mu.m and a nylon film having a
thickness of about 20 .mu.m to about 30 .mu.m are stacked to form
the passivation layer of the envelope material. In this case, since
the PET/nylon films may be damaged when the crack phenomenon of the
metal barrier layer is serious, a vinyl-based resin layer may be
coated on the PET to prevent the PET/nylon film from being
damaged.
[0168] The getter includes the pouch containing CaO. Here, CaO
powder having purity of about 95% or more is used, and the pouch
includes a crepe paper and a PP-impregnated nonwoven fabric to
secure moisture absorption performance of about 25% or more. At
this time, considering a total thickness of an insulation pad, the
getter may have a thickness of 2 mm or less.
[0169] In the above-described VIP, since the core material having
porosity of about 80% and a pore diameter of about 20 .mu.m or less
is used, the insulation property may be maximized. Thus, the VIP
may have an insulation effect increased several times higher than
that of an existing an expanded poly styrene or an expanded
polyurethane.
[0170] For example, the expanded polyurethane has a thermal
conductivity of about 0.03 kcal/mhr.degree. C., and the VIP has a
thermal conductivity of about 0.002 kcal/mhr.degree. C. to about
0.006 kcal/mhr.degree. C.
[0171] Thus, it is assumed that a single VIP has a predetermined
thickness T1, when the VIP and EPS is maintained with a total
thickness equal to that T1, the insulation performance may be
significantly improved.
[0172] In this embodiment, the ice compartment 120 should be
maintained at a temperature of about 0 degree, like the freezer
compartment 104. Thus, when the VIP is disposed in the freezer
compartment door in which the ice compartment is defined, the ice
compartment may be effectively insulated from the outside, and
also, the freezer compartment door may be reduced in thickness.
[0173] That is, since a thickness between the recessed surface 112a
in which the ice compartment 120 is defined and the outer case 111
is reduced, a portion at which the ice compartment is defined in
the freezer compartment door 11 may be reduced in thickness.
[0174] An opening (not shown) into which a liquid for foaming is
injected may be defined in the freezer compartment door 11. After
the foaming process is completed, the opening may be covered by an
opening cover (not shown).
[0175] Also, a first insulation material 160 and a second
insulation material 162, which are different from each other, may
be disposed within the ice compartment door 130 to insulate the ice
compartment 120 from the refrigerator compartment 102. The first
insulation material 160 may be a VIP, and the second insulation
material 162 may be an expanded poly styrene or expanded
polyurethane. Since the ice compartment door 130 is reduced in
thickness due to the VIP, the insulation performance may be
improved.
[0176] When the inlet 301a of the ice bin 300 and the discharge
opening 510 of the ice bin 300, the ice opening 253 of the first
support part 252, the opening of the door liner 112, an inlet 152
and outlet 154 of the ice duct overlap each other, an overlapping
common region is formed. Thus, the movement path of the ice cubes
may be minimized.
[0177] The dispenser 17 includes a dispenser housing 171. The
dispenser housing 171 has a recessed surface 171a to define a space
in which a vessel or cup for receiving the dispensed ice cubes is
disposed.
[0178] A horizontal distance D1 from a line L1 defined on a surface
equally dividing the ice compartment 120 to the outer case 111 is
less than that D2 from the recessed surface 171a to the outer case
111. The line L1 passes through an inlet 152 and an outlet 154 of
the ice duct 150. Also, the rotation axis 420 passes through the
surface equally dividing the ice compartment 120.
[0179] A horizontal distance D3 from the outer case 111 disposed at
a side of the inlet 152 of the ice duct 150 to the door liner 112
is less than that D4 from the outer case 111 disposed at a side of
the outlet 154 of the ice duct 150 to the door liner 112.
[0180] This is done because a thickness (distance) between the
recessed surfaces 112a for defining the outer case 111 and the ice
compartment 120 is reduced as the VIP is disposed within the
refrigerator compartment door 11.
[0181] FIG. 19 is a front view of a state in which ice chips are
discharged from the ice bin, and FIG. 20 is a front view of a state
in which ice cubes are discharged from the ice bin.
[0182] The driving source 220 is operated to separate the ice cubes
from the ice maker 210. A power of the driving source 220 is
transmitted to the ice maker 210 by the gear box 224 to rotate the
ice maker 210 on a whole. In this embodiment, the ice cubes are
separated by the twisting operation of the ice maker 210. When the
twisting operation of the ice maker 210 is performed, one end and
the other end of the ice maker 210 are twisted by their relative
motion. Thus, the ice cubes are separated from the ice maker 210.
Since a principle of the twisting operation of the ice maker 210 is
well-known, detailed descriptions will be omitted.
[0183] The ice cubes separated from the ice maker 210 drop into the
ice bin 300 through the inlet 301a of the opening 310 of the ice
bin 300. As described above, at least one ice cube separated from
the ice maker 210 may drop onto the plurality of rotation blades
410, another the ice cubes may drop onto the first inclined guide
surface 321, and further another ice cubes may drop onto the second
inclined guide surface 322.
[0184] To dispense the crushed ice chips, when the ice discharge
member 400 is rotated in the first direction (in a counterclockwise
direction when viewed in FIG. 18), the crush part 418 of the
plurality of rotation blades 410 is getting close to the crush part
488 of the fixed blade 480.
[0185] Thus, the ice cubes disposed in the space 411 of the
plurality of rotation blades 410 are disposed on the fixed blade
480 by the rotation of the rotation blades 410. In this embodiment,
the ice cubes disposed in the space 411 may be the ice cubes
directly dropping onto the plurality of rotation blades 410 or the
ice cubes sliding along the first inclined guide surface 321.
[0186] In this state, when the plurality of rotation blades 410 is
continuously rotated in the first direction, the ice cubes jammed
between the crush part 418 of the rotation blade 410 and the crush
part 488 of the fixed blade 480 are crushed. The crushed ice chips
drop in a direction of the discharge opening 510 and are discharged
to the outside.
[0187] In a process of discharging the ice chips, since the
opening/closing member 600 is maintained in the close state, it may
prevent the ice cubes disposed on the second inclined guide surface
322 from being discharged.
[0188] In a process of discharging the ice cubes, when the ice
discharge member 400 is rotated in the second direction (in a
clockwise direction when viewed in FIG. 18), the ice cubes disposed
in the space 411 of the plurality of rotation blades 410 are moved
in a direction of the opening/closing member 600 by the rotation of
the rotation blades 410.
[0189] The ice cubes disposed in the space 411 of the plurality of
rotation blades 410 may be the ice cubes directly dropping onto the
plurality of rotation blades 410 or the ice cubes sliding along the
second inclined guide surface 322.
[0190] When the plurality of rotation blades 410 is continuously
rotated in the second direction, the extension part 413 of the
respective rotation blades 410 pushes the ice cubes disposed on the
opening/closing member 600. As a result, the compression forces of
the rotation blades 410 are applied to the opening/closing member
600 by the ice cubes.
[0191] Thus, the opening/closing member 600 is downwardly rotated
(in a counterclockwise direction when viewed in FIG. 19) by the
compression force of the ice cubes and the rotation blades 410. As
a result, a space is defined between an end of the extension part
413 of the respective rotation blades 410 and an end of the
opening/closing member 600. Then, the ice cubes are moved into the
space, and finally, the ice cubes are discharged to the
outside.
[0192] When the rotation of the ice discharge member 400 is
stopped, since the pressure applied to the opening/closing member
600 is removed, the opening/closing member 600 returns to its
initial position by the elastic force of the elastic member
640.
[0193] A summary of the movement of the ice cubes within the ice
bin 300 is as follows. The ice cubes dropping onto the plurality of
rotation blades 410 are downwardly moved when the plurality of
rotation blades 410 is rotated.
[0194] The ice cubes dropping onto the first inclined guide surface
321 are moved into the space 411 by their self-weight when the
plurality of rotation blades 410 is rotated in the first direction.
When the plurality of rotation blades 410 is rotated, the ice cubes
within the space 411 are downwardly moved.
[0195] Also, the ice cubes dropping onto the second inclined guide
surface 322 are moved into the space 411 by their self-weight when
the plurality of rotation blades 410 is rotated in the second
direction. When the plurality of rotation blades 410 is rotated,
the ice cubes within the space 411 are downwardly moved.
[0196] Substantially, the ice cubes disposed on the respective
inclined surfaces 321 and 322 are not moved in a state where the
operation of the plurality of rotation blades 410 is stopped.
[0197] As a result, according to this embodiment, the stored ice
cubes may be discharged to the outside by the rotation operation of
the plurality of rotation blades 410 without requiring an
additional transfer unit within the ice bin 300.
[0198] Also, the ice cubes within the ice bin 300 are moved only
from upper side to lower side, i.e., the inlet 301a of the ice bin
300 to the discharge opening 510 except for the mutual movement
between the ice cubes.
[0199] FIG. 21 is a side view of the refrigerator compartment
door.
[0200] Referring to FIGS. 16 and 21, when viewed from the outside
of the refrigerator compartment door 11, the door liner 112 has a
top surface 181, a pair of lateral surfaces 182 extending from both
ends of the top surface 181, a bottom surface connecting lower ends
of the pair of lateral surface 182 to each other, and a back
surface 184 connecting the top surface, the pair of lateral surface
182, and the bottom surface 183 to each other.
[0201] The back surface 184 may have a height difference. The back
surface 184 includes a first back surface 184a on which the ice
compartment 120 is defined and a second back surface 184b facing
the dispenser 17. The first back surface 184a and the second back
surface 184b are connected to each other by a connection surface
185.
[0202] Each of the lateral surfaces 182 includes a first lateral
surface 182a connected to the first back surface 184a and a second
back surface 182b disposed on the back surface 184b.
[0203] As described above, a first width W1 of the first lateral
surface 182a may be less than that a second width W2 of the second
lateral surface 182b due to a change of the position of the
recessed surface 112a of the door liner 112 according to the VIP
and the decrease of the thickness of the ice bin 300 according to
the ice bin having the improved structure.
[0204] That is, a horizontal distance from a front surface of the
outer case 111 to the first back surface 184a is less than that
from the front surface of the outer case 111 to the second back
surface 184b. As a result, in the refrigerator compartment door 1,
a portion at which the ice compartment 120 is defined has a
thickness less than that of a portion at which the dispenser 17 is
disposed.
[0205] Also, at least portion of the ice compartment door 130 is
disposed in a space defined by a width difference between the first
lateral surface 182a and the second lateral surface 182b. That is,
the ice compartment door 130 is disposed at a side of the first
back surface 184a. When the ice compartment door 130 closes the ice
compartment 120, at least portion of the ice compartment door 130
is disposed directly below the connection surface 185.
[0206] Since the first lateral surface 182a has a width less than
that of the second lateral surface 182b, the refrigerator
compartment door 11 does not significantly increase in thickness
even through the ice compartment door 130 is disposed at the side
of the first bask surface 184a.
[0207] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to
a second embodiment.
[0208] This embodiment is equal to the first embodiment except for
a kind of refrigerator and a position of an ice making assembly.
Thus, only specific portions of this embodiment will now be
described.
[0209] Referring to FIG. 22, a refrigerator 70 of this embodiment
may be a side-by-side type refrigerator in which a refrigerator
compartment 712 and a freezer compartment 714 are disposed at left
and right sides, respectively.
[0210] The freezer compartment 712 is opened and closed by a
freezer compartment door 720, and the refrigerator compartment 714
is opened and closed by a refrigerator compartment door 730. The
refrigerator compartment door 720 includes an outer case and a door
liner, like the refrigerator compartment door 720 of the first
embodiment.
[0211] The refrigerator 70 includes an ice making assembly 740 for
generating ice cubes.
[0212] The ice making assembly 740 includes an ice maker 750 for
generating the ice cubes and an ice bin 760 for storing the ice
cubes separated from the ice maker 750.
[0213] In this embodiment, the ice making assembly has the same
structure as that of the first embodiment except positions of the
ice maker and the ice bin.
[0214] The ice maker 750 is disposed in the freezer compartment
712, and the ice bin 760 is separably disposed in the freezer
compartment door 720. When the freezer compartment door 720 closes
the freezer compartment 712, the ice bin 760 is disposed below the
ice maker 750.
[0215] Like the first embodiment, a first insulation material and a
second insulation material may be disposed within the refrigerator
compartment door 720. The first insulation material is disposed
between the ice bin 760 and the outer case.
[0216] According to this embodiment, the refrigerator compartment
door may be reduced in thickness by a VIP.
[0217] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to
a third embodiment.
[0218] This embodiment is equal to the second embodiment except for
a position of an ice making assembly. Thus, only specific portions
of this embodiment will now be described.
[0219] Referring to FIG. 23, a freezer compartment door 770 of this
embodiment includes a door liner 772 defining an ice compartment
774. The ice compartment 774 includes an ice making assembly 780.
In this embodiment, the ice making assembly 780 has the same
structure as that of the first embodiment.
[0220] A first insulation material and a second insulation material
may be disposed in the freezer compartment door 770.
[0221] According to this embodiment, the freezer compartment door
may be reduced in thickness due to the first insulation material
(e.g., VIP) and the improved ice bin.
[0222] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to
a fourth embodiment, and FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a state
in which an ice bin of FIG. 24 is rotated.
[0223] This embodiment is equal to the first embodiment except for
a position of an ice making assembly. Thus, only specific portions
of this embodiment will now be described.
[0224] Referring to FIGS. 24 and 25, a bottom freeze type
refrigerator as an example will be described as an example. An ice
bin 860 is disposed in one of refrigerator compartment doors 820
and 830. Other components (e.g., an ice maker 850) of an ice making
assembly except the ice bin 860 are disposed in freezer compartment
812. Hereinafter, a structure in which the ice bin 860 is disposed
in the left freezer compartment door 820 will be described.
[0225] As described above, a VIP may be disposed in the
refrigerator compartment door 820. Since this is previously
described, detailed descriptions will be omitted.
[0226] An insulation case 870 for insulating a space in which ice
cubes are generated from the refrigerator compartment 812 is
disposed in the refrigerator compartment 812. The ice maker 850 is
disposed within the insulation case 870. A bottom surface of the
insulation case 870 may be opened, and thus, the ice cubes
generated in the ice maker 850 may drop down.
[0227] The refrigerator compartment door 820 includes an outer case
820a and a door liner 820b. A dike 821 for installing the ice bin
860 is disposed on the door liner 820b. The dike 821 may be
integrated with the door liner 820b. Alternatively, the dike 821
may be separately manufactured and coupled to the door liner
820b.
[0228] The dike 821 has a top surface 823 in which an opening 823a
through which ice cubes pass is defined, both lateral surfaces 822,
a bottom surface 824, and a back surface 825. A sealer 823b may be
disposed on the opening 823a.
[0229] The dike 821 may not have a top surface, and thus, a
separate cover having an opening may be disposed on the dike 821 or
coupled to an upper portion of the ice bin 860 to cover the ice bin
860.
[0230] Also, a mounting part 826 on which the ice bin 860 is
mounted is disposed on the dike 821. The mounting part 826 may be
recessed from the back surface 825 toward the outer case 820a.
[0231] The ice bin 860 may be separately disposed on the mounting
part 826 or rotatably connected to the mounting part 826. The ice
bin 860 may be separated from the mounding part 826 even through
the ice bin 860 is rotatably disposed on the mounting part 826. For
example, FIG. 25 illustrates a structure in which the ice bin 860
is rotatably connected to the mounding part 826.
[0232] Since the ice bin 890 is a region in which the ice cubes are
stored, an inner space of the ice bin 860 should be maintained at a
temperature similar to that of the freezer compartment. That is,
the refrigerator compartment 812 should be maintained at a
temperature of greater than about 0 degree, and the inner space of
the ice bin 860 should be maintained at a temperature of less than
about 0 degree. When the refrigerator compartment door 820 closes
the refrigerator compartment 812, the ice bin 860 is disposed
within the refrigerator compartment 812. Thus, to insulate the
refrigerator compartment 812 from the inside of the ice bin 860,
the ice bin 860 may include an insulated bin cover 862. Of cause,
since the ice bin 860 is received into the dike 821, the dike 821
may perform an insulation function. That is, the dike 821 may serve
as an insulation case.
[0233] A filler 880 is disposed on a side of the dike 821. The
filler 880 prevents cool air from leaking through a space between
the refrigerator compartment doors 820 and 830 when the plurality
of refrigerator compartment doors 820 and 830 is closed. A heater
882 for preventing frost from being generated on the filler may be
disposed within the filler 880.
[0234] To maintain the ice cubes stored in the ice bin 860 in an
insoluble state, the cool air is supplied to the ice bin 860. Thus,
when the refrigerator compartment door 820 closes the refrigerator
compartment, the ice bin 860 is disposed below the insulation case
870. The cool air within the insulation case 870 and the ice cubes
generated in the ice maker 850 are supplied to the ice bin 860.
[0235] To return the cool air supplied to the ice bin 860, a return
passage 827 is disposed at the other side of the dike 821. A cool
air return duct 814 is disposed in a sidewall of the refrigerator
compartment 812.
[0236] According to the proposed embodiments, since the ice cubes
within the ice bin are moved from the upper side to the lower side
and moved and drop by the plurality of rotation blades, the ice bin
can be reduced in thickness.
[0237] Also, the refrigerator compartment door can be reduced in
thickness by the decrease of the thickness of the ice bin and the
position of the ice bin within the ice compartment according to the
separation method of the ice cubes from the ice maker.
[0238] Also, since the VIP is disposed within the refrigerator door
and an insulation material different from the VIP is disposed in a
region except a region in which the VIP is disposed, the
refrigerator door can become very slim.
[0239] When the ice compartment is defined in the refrigerator
compartment door, the refrigerator compartment door is divided into
a portion for insulating the ice compartment from the outside and a
portion for insulating the refrigerator compartment from the
outside. However, when the VIP is disposed at a portion at which
the ice compartment is defined, the door thickness of the portion
at which the ice compartment is defined can be reduced to realize
the slim refrigerator door.
[0240] When the refrigerator door becomes slim, a basket for
additionally receiving the food can be disposed in the refrigerator
door.
[0241] Also, when the refrigerator door is reduced in thickness,
since a portion (that is inserted into the storage compartment) of
the refrigerator door is reduced in volume, the receivable capacity
of the storage compartment can increase.
[0242] Although embodiments have been described with reference to a
number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood
that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by
those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope
of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various
variations and modifications are possible in the component parts
and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within
the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims.
In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts
and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to
those skilled in the art.
* * * * *