U.S. patent application number 13/651592 was filed with the patent office on 2013-04-18 for ice storage container and refrigerator having same.
The applicant listed for this patent is Siyeon AN, Woonbong HWANG, Yonghyun KIM, Changwoo LEE, Sangmin LEE, Jaesung PARK. Invention is credited to Siyeon AN, Woonbong HWANG, Yonghyun KIM, Changwoo LEE, Sangmin LEE, Jaesung PARK.
Application Number | 20130092707 13/651592 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47522235 |
Filed Date | 2013-04-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130092707 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIM; Yonghyun ; et
al. |
April 18, 2013 |
ICE STORAGE CONTAINER AND REFRIGERATOR HAVING SAME
Abstract
An ice storage container is provided that is capable of
separating ice cubes that have been frozen together and maintaining
the separated state for dispensing through a dispensing apparatus
provided in a refrigerator or a water purifier. The ice storage
container may include a case main body forming an ice storage space
therein and having an ice discharge port formed at a lower portion
thereof, an ice ejector rotatably installed in the case main body
and having a motor rotation shaft, a blade mounting shaft, and a
plurality of blades protruding radially from the blade mounting
shaft, and an ice separating device coupled to the ice ejector to
separate ice cubes that have been frozen together in the ice
storage bin due to an extended storage period, and/or to maintain
the separated state of the ice cubes in the ice storage
container.
Inventors: |
KIM; Yonghyun; (Changwon-Si,
KR) ; AN; Siyeon; (Changwon-Si, KR) ; LEE;
Changwoo; (Pohang-Si, KR) ; PARK; Jaesung;
(Pohang-Si, KR) ; LEE; Sangmin; (Pohang-Si,
KR) ; HWANG; Woonbong; (Pohang-Si, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KIM; Yonghyun
AN; Siyeon
LEE; Changwoo
PARK; Jaesung
LEE; Sangmin
HWANG; Woonbong |
Changwon-Si
Changwon-Si
Pohang-Si
Pohang-Si
Pohang-Si
Pohang-Si |
|
KR
KR
KR
KR
KR
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
47522235 |
Appl. No.: |
13/651592 |
Filed: |
October 15, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/146.6 ;
222/236; 222/333 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25C 2500/08 20130101;
F25C 5/20 20180101; F25C 5/24 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/146.6 ;
222/333; 222/236 |
International
Class: |
F25C 5/16 20060101
F25C005/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 17, 2011 |
KR |
10-2011--0106133 |
Claims
1. An ice storage container for a refrigerating apparatus,
comprising: a case configured to be coupled to a dispenser of the
refrigerating apparatus, the case having a storage space formed
therein configured to receive ice pieces; a discharge port formed
at a lower portion of the case to discharge ice pieces from the
case to the dispenser; an ejector rotatably installed in the case
to direct ice pieces to the discharge port for discharge to the
dispenser, the ejector comprising: a motor rotation shaft
configured to be coupled to a motor; a blade mounting shaft coupled
to the motor rotation shaft and extending into the storage space
formed in the case; and a plurality of blades extending radially
outward from the blade mounting shaft at predetermined intervals;
and an ice separating device installed in the case and configured
to prevent ice pieces stored in the case from being frozen
together.
2. The ice storage container of claim 1, wherein the ice separating
device comprises: a rotational shaft rotatably installed at an
upper portion of the case; and an auger coupled to the rotational
shaft and extending into the case in an axial direction of the
rotational shaft, wherein the auger operates in response to
rotation of the rotational shaft.
3. The ice storage container of claim 2, wherein the auger is
operably coupled to and spaced radially apart from the rotational
shaft such that the auger performs a circular motion in of the case
as the rotational shaft rotates.
4. The ice storage container of claim 3, wherein the auger
comprises a plurality of auger rods each spaced radially apart from
the rotational shaft and extending into the into the storage space
formed in the case.
5. The ice storage container of claim 2, wherein the ice separating
device comprises a rotatable cam centered on the rotational shaft,
and wherein the auger comprises a plurality of auger rods arranged
on the cam in parallel to the rotation shaft and extending into the
storage space formed in the case.
6. The ice storage container of claim 1, wherein the case
comprises: an upper case formed of a transparent or
semi-transparent material such that ice received therein is visible
from outside the case; and a lower case coupled to a bottom end of
the upper case and having the ejector installed therein for
connection to the motor.
7. The ice storage container of claim 1, further comprising a
driving force transfer device that transfers a rotation force
between the ice separating device and the ejector.
8. The ice storage container of claim 7, wherein the ejector
comprises a first cam rotatably provided in a side of the case and
receiving the rotational force from the motor, and wherein the ice
separating device comprises a second cam rotatably provided in the
side of the case, adjacent to the first cam, and receiving a
rotational force transferred thereto from the first cam.
9. The ice storage container of claim 8, wherein the driving force
transfer device comprises a plurality of first teeth formed on an
outer circumferential surface of the first cam and a plurality of
second teeth formed on an outer circumferential surface of the
second cam and engaged with the plurality of first teeth, and
wherein the separating device is configured to rotate in response
to the rotational force from the ejector.
10. The ice storage container of claim 7, wherein the case
comprises: an ejector mount formed through a side of the case and
having the ejector mounted therein; and an ice separating device
mount formed through the side of the case, above the ejector mount,
and having the ice separating device mounted therein.
11. The ice storage container of claim 1, wherein the ice
separating device is installed at an upper portion of the case,
above the ejector, and is operably coupled to the ejector such that
operation of one of the ice separating device of the ejector causes
the other of the ice separating device or the ejector to also
operate.
12. A refrigerator, comprising: a main body having a cooling
chamber formed therein; a door coupled to the main body to open and
close the cooling chamber; an ice maker provided in the cooling
chamber; an ice storage container positioned below the ice maker
and configured to receive and store ice produced by the ice maker;
and a dispenser coupled to the ice storage container, wherein the
ice storage container comprises: a case having a storage space
formed therein; a discharge port provided in the case and in
communication with the dispenser; an ejector installed in the case
and having a plurality of blades configured to direct ice toward
the discharge port; and an ice separating device installed in the
case, comprising: a rotational shaft installed in a side of the
case; and an auger that extends into the storage space formed in
the case and configured to rotate in response to rotation of the
rotational shaft to prevent ice pieces received in the ice storage
space from being frozen together.
13. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein the ice separating device
comprises a cam rotatably centered on the rotational shaft, and
wherein the auger comprises a plurality of auger rods extending
from the rotational cam in parallel to the rotational shaft and
into the storage space formed in the case.
14. The refrigerator of claim 13, further comprising a driving
force transfer device that transfers a rotational force between the
ejector and the ice separating device.
15. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the driving force
transfer device comprises a plurality of first teeth formed on an
outer circumferential surface of the ejector and a plurality of
second teeth formed on an outer circumferential surface of the ice
separating device and engaged with the plurality of first teeth,
and wherein the ice separating device is configured to rotate in
response to the rotational force applied to the ejector.
Description
[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0002] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119
to Korean Application No. 10-2011-0106133 filed on Oct. 17, 2011,
whose entire disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0003] 1. Field
[0004] This relates to an ice storage container, and in particular,
to an ice storage container which may separate ice pieces which
have been frozen together and/or maintain such a separated state of
ice pieces.
[0005] 2. Background
[0006] An ice maker may be installed in a refrigerator or a water
purifier to automatically produce ice pieces (cubes). Such a
refrigerating apparatus may also include an ice dispenser which may
dispense ice made by the ice maker without opening a door. Such a
dispenser may dispense a predetermined quantity of the ice cubes
stored in an ice bucket in response to a user request.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The embodiments will be described in detail with reference
to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to
like elements wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary refrigerator
including an ice maker and an ice dispenser;
[0009] FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of an ice bucket of the
ice dispenser shown in FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an ice bucket in accordance
with an embodiment as broadly described herein; and
[0011] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the ice bucket shown in FIG.
4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] Description will now be provided in detail of an ice bucket
in accordance with exemplary embodiments, with reference to the
accompanying drawings. For the sake of brief description with
reference to the drawings, the same or equivalent components will
be provided with the same reference numbers wherever possible, and
description thereof will not be repeated.
[0013] An automatic ice maker may automatically make ice and store
the ice in an ice storage bin or bucket, to be dispensed by a
dispenser in response to a user request for ice. Such a dispenser
may employ, for example, one or more blades which rotate to draw
the ice from a storage portion of the ice storage bucket into a
chute for dispensing through the dispenser. However, under certain
conditions, the ice cubes stored in the ice bucket may not be
properly ejected. For example, when ice cubes located above the
blades are left in the storage portion of the ice bucket for a long
time, they may be frozen into a cluster. Consequently, when the
blades rotate to eject ice cubes, this cluster may be too large to
flow from the storage portion into the discharge portion of the ice
bucket, and the blades may not be able to reach the ice cubes,
causing the blades to rotate idly and making the ice difficult to
dispense/discharge.
[0014] Hereinafter, an exemplary ice bucket installed in a
refrigerator will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
[0015] A refrigerator may keep items fresh in a refrigerated or
frozen state, and may include a refrigerator main body having a
cooling chamber formed therein, and a refrigeration cycle system
for providing cold air into the cooling chamber. The refrigerating
cycle system may be, for example, a vapor compression type
refrigeration cycle system including a compressor for compressing a
refrigerant, a condenser for condensing the refrigerant, an
expansion apparatus for decompressing and expanding the
refrigerant, and an evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant with
ambient heat adsorbed.
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, the refrigerator may include a main
body 10 having a freezing chamber 20 and a refrigerating chamber
30, and a freezing chamber door 25 and a refrigerating chamber door
35 for opening and closing the freezing chamber 20 and the
refrigerating chamber 30, respectively. A dispenser 27 may be
provided in the refrigerator to dispense water and/or ice without
opening the door 25, and an ice maker 40 may be installed in the
freezing chamber 20 for making ice cubes. An ice bucket 1 for
storing the ice cubes made in the ice maker and discharging the ice
cubes to the dispenser may be disposed below the ice maker 40. The
dispenser 27 may be installed, for example, at the freezing chamber
door 25, or other location as appropriate, such that ice cubes may
be retrieved without opening the freezing chamber 20. An inlet port
29 through which ice cubes discharged from the ice bucket 1 may be
introduced into the dispenser 27 may be formed through an upper
surface of the dispenser 27.
[0017] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ice bucket 1 may include a
case main body 100 forming an internal ice storage space and having
an ice discharge port formed at a lower portion thereof for
discharging ice to the inlet port 29 of the dispenser 27, and an
ice ejector 200 rotatably installed in the case main body 100 for
ejecting the ice. The case main body 100 may include an upper case
110 and a lower case 120. The upper case 110 may be transparent or
semi-transparent to allow a user to visibly verify how much ice is
left in the internal ice storage space, and the ice ejector 200 may
be provided within the lower case 120. The ice ejector 200 may
include a blade mounting shaft 240 protruding from an inner surface
of a lower portion of the lower case 120, and a plurality of blades
230 disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the blade
mounting shaft 240.
[0018] An inclined inner wall 125 may be formed at an upper portion
of the case main body 100 so as to guide ice dropped from the ice
maker 40 into the ice ejector 200. In the ice bucket 1 so
configured, ice cubes made in the ice maker 40 are stacked up to an
upper portion of the ice storage space within the case main body
100. While the ice ejector 200 is driven to eject the ice cubes,
the inclined inner wall 125 may cause the ice cubes to be
continuously guided downward toward a lower portion of the case
main body 100 where the ice ejector 200 is installed. However, when
the ice pieces are left in the stacked state for a long time, with
the ice ejector 200 inactive, the ice pieces may still be frozen
together in a cluster.
[0019] Accordingly, even though the inclined inner wall 125 directs
the ice cubes downward toward the ejector 20, if the ice ejector
200 is driven with the ice cubes in this frozen together state, the
ice pieces will remain frozen together within the ice bucket, while
the ice ejector 200 performs an idle rotation such that the ice
cubes cannot be ejected to the outside, thus disabling the ice
dispensing function. Furthermore, the frozen ice pieces would have
to be manually separated or broken into pieces, causing user
dissatisfaction.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an ice bucket in accordance
with an embodiment as broadly described herein, and FIG. 5 is a
sectional view of the ice bucket shown in FIG. 4.
[0021] An ice bucket 1 capable of automatically breaking
apart/separating ice pieces for dispensing may include a case main
body 100 forming an internal ice storage space and having an ice
discharge port 121 formed at a lower portion thereof. An ice
ejector 200 may be rotatably disposed at one end of the case main
body 100. The ice ejector 200 may include a motor rotation shaft
220, a blade mounting shaft 240, and a plurality of blades 230
protruding from the blade mounting shaft 240 in a radial direction
and with spaced distances therebetween. The ice bucket 1 may also
include an ice separating device 300 for preventing ice cubes
located above the ice ejector 200 from being frozen together into a
cluster.
[0022] The case main body 100 may include an upper case 110 formed
of a transparent or semi-transparent material so that an amount of
ice cubes received therein may be viewed from an outside of the
case main body 100, and a lower case 120 having the ice ejector 200
mounted therein for connection to an external driving motor.
[0023] The ice discharge port 121 may be formed through the lower
portion of the lower case 120 to communicate with a dispenser of
the refrigerator. The ice ejector 200 may be installed within the
lower case 120. The ice separating device 300 may be mounted on one
side surface of the ice bucket 1, for example, the side surface
thereof which is mounted on the refrigerator, so that the opposite
side of the ice bucket 1 may be visible through the transparent or
semi-transparent upper case 110, and not obstructed by the ice
separating device 300.
[0024] The ice ejector 200 may be rotatable in response to a
rotational force transferred thereto by an external driving motor
installed in the refrigerator. The ice ejector 200 may include the
motor rotation shaft 220 fixed to a shaft of the external driving
motor, and a motor rotational force transfer device 260 for
transferring the rotational force received from the external
driving motor.
[0025] The ice ejector 200 may include the blade mounting shaft 240
integrally or fixedly connected to the motor rotation shaft 220 in
a lengthwise direction to be inserted into the ice bucket 1. The
plurality of blades 230 may be provided on an outer circumferential
surface of the blade mounting shaft 240 so as to transfer ice cubes
from the ice maker above the ice bucket 1 to a dispenser below the
ice bucket 1 via the ice discharge port 121.
[0026] The ice separating device 300 may include a rotational shaft
320 rotatably installed on an upper portion of the case main body
100, and an auger 330 protruding into an upper portion of the
storage space within the case main body 100 to separate ice cubes
that have been frozen into a cluster and/or to maintain ice cubes
in a separated state in response to rotation of the rotational
shaft 320.
[0027] The auger 330 may protrude in a lateral direction of the ice
separating device 300, and may include a plurality of augers 330
installed in parallel each other, and in parallel to the rotational
shaft 320, performing a circular motion within the ice bucket 1 in
response to the rotation of the rotational shaft 320. Accordingly,
the augers 330 may stir the ice cubes received in the upper portion
of the case main body 100, to separate and/or maintain the
separated state of the ice cubes.
[0028] The ice separating device 300 may include a rotational cam
310 rotatably centered on the rotational shaft 320, and the
plurality of augers 330 may be installed on the rotational cam 310
in parallel to the rotational shaft 310. The rotational cam 310 may
be formed as a circular plate having a predetermined thickness, and
may be rotatable based upon rotation of the rotational shaft 310.
The plurality of augers 330 may protrude from one surface of the
rotational cam 310, in an axial direction of the cam 310, to be in
parallel to the rotational shaft 310.
[0029] When so configured, as the ice separating device 300 is
rotated, the plurality of augers 330 protruding into the case main
body 100 in parallel to the rotational shaft 320 may separate
and/or maintain the separated states of the ice cubes. That is, as
the rotational cam 310 rotates, the augers 330 may perform a
circular motion to break apart ice cubes located above the ice
ejector 200 into individual pieces even when the ice cubes are
frozen together into a cluster.
[0030] The case main body 100 may include an ejector mount 122
formed through one side of the lower case 120 for installation of
the ice ejector 200 thereat. A separating device mount 123 may be
formed above the ejector mount 122 for installation of the ice
separating device 300 thereat. The ejector mount 122 may be formed
as a circular through hole to be connected to an external driving
motor. The separating device mount 123 may be formed through the
case main body 100 to be connected to an external driving motor
when the external driving motor is provided separately. However, as
shown in the exemplary embodiment, the separating device mount 123
may not have to be formed as a separate through hole when being
rotated by receiving the rotational force of the ice ejector
200.
[0031] The ice separating device 300 may perform a rotary motion
based on rotation of the rotational shaft 320. This rotary motion
may be performed by receiving an external rotational force. In this
case, rotational forces may be separately applied to the ice
ejector 200 and to the ice separating device 300, respectively,
allowing independent operation of the ice ejector 200 and the ice
separating device 300.
[0032] In certain embodiments, both functions of separating and
ejecting ice cubes may be implemented in response to a single
rotational force. When a rotational force is applied only to the
ice ejector 200, the ice separating device 300 may simultaneously
be rotated by receiving the rotational force of the ice ejector
200. On the other hand, when the rotational force is applied only
to the ice separating device 300, the ice ejector 200 may
simultaneously be rotated so that the ice ejector 200 may be
rotated in response to rotational force applied to the ice
separating device 300 without a separate external rotational force
applied to the ice ejector 200.
[0033] When a single rotational force is applied, the ice ejector
200 and the ice separating device 300 may receive a rotational
force via a driving force transfer device 400.
[0034] The motor rotational force transfer device 260 may transfer
a received rotational force directly to the blades 230 of the ice
ejector 200. The motor rotational force transfer device 260 may be
connected to a driving motor at an outer wall of the lower case
120. The motor rotational force transfer device 260 may be
installed on an outer circumference of the motor rotation shaft 220
of the ice ejector 200, receiving the rotational force of the
motor.
[0035] Accordingly, the ice ejector 200 may include a rotational
cam 210 rotatable in response to a rotational force of an external
driving motor via the motor rotational force transfer device 260.
The ice separating device 300 may include the rotational cam 310
rotatable in response to a rotational force from the rotational cam
210 of the ice ejector 200. The rotational cam 210 of the ice
ejector 200 and the rotational cam 310 of the ice separating device
300 may be allowed to mutually transfer their rotational forces by
virtue of the driving force transfer device 400. The driving force
transfer device 400 may employ a variety of rotational force
transfer elements, such as gears, pulleys and belts and the
like.
[0036] For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when a rotational force
transfer element having a gear-like structure is employed as the
driving force transfer device 400, teeth 211 formed on an outer
circumferential surface of the rotational cam 210 of the ice
ejector 200 may engage teeth 311 formed on an outer circumferential
surface of the rotational cam 310 of the ice separating device 300.
The rotational cams 210 and 310 having the gear-like structure with
the mutually engaged teeth 211 and 311 may allow a rotational force
applied to one of the ejector 200 or the ice separating device 3000
to also be applied to the other of the ejector 200 or the
separating device 300. For example, the ice separating device 300
may be rotatable in response to the rotational force transferred
from the ice ejector 200 by the mutually engaged teeth 211 and 311
of the driving force transfer device 400 of the embodiment shown in
FIG. 4. Therefore, when the ice ejector 200 is driven, the ice
separating device 300 may operate simultaneously. Accordingly, ice
cubes which may be frozen together in a cluster above the blades
330 due to being stored for a long time, may be separated into
pieces. The separated ice cubes may be transferred downward, and
ejected by the ice ejector 200 via the ice discharge port 121 to a
dispenser.
[0037] In an alternative embodiment, the driving force transfer
device 400 may be implemented such that the transfer of a
rotational force between a pulley formed at the ice ejector 200 and
a pulley formed at the ice separating device 300 is enabled via
belts. Therefore, the rotational cams 210 and 310 of the ice
ejector 200 and the ice separating device 300 may be formed as
pulleys having belts mounted thereon.
[0038] Hereinafter, description of a refrigerator having an ice
bucket 1 according to an exemplary embodiment will be provided.
[0039] A refrigerator as embodied and broadly described herein may
include doors 25 and 35 for opening and closing a cooling chamber,
an ice maker 40 disposed in the cooling chamber, an ice bucket 1
disposed below the ice maker 40, and a dispenser 27 connected to
the ice bucket 1. The ice bucket 1 may include a case main body 100
forming an ice storage space therein and having an ice discharge
port 121 at a lower portion thereof. An ice ejector 200 may be
rotatably disposed at one side of the case main body 100 and may
include a plurality of blades 330. The ice bucket 1 may also
include an ice separating device 300 having a rotational shaft 320
and augers 330 performing a circular motion in response to rotation
of the rotational shaft 320 to prevent ice cubes located above the
ice ejector 200 from being frozen together.
[0040] The ice separating device 300 may include a rotational cam
310 rotatably centered on the rotational shaft 320, and the
plurality of augers 330 may be installed on the rotational cam 310,
spaced apart from the rotational shaft 320, and in parallel to each
other.
[0041] The ice ejector 200 and the ice separating device 300 may
receive a rotational force transferred by a driving force transfer
device 400.
[0042] The driving force transfer device 400 may have a gear-like
structure such that teeth 211 formed on an outer circumferential
surface of the rotational cam 210 of the ice ejector 200 engage
teeth 311 formed on an outer circumferential surface of the
rotational cam 310 of the ice separating device 300. The ice
separating device 300 may be rotated in response to a rotational
force transferred from the ice ejector 200.
[0043] Alternatively, the driving force transfer device 400 may be
implemented such that the rotational cam 210 of the ice ejector 200
and the rotational cam 310 of the ice separating device 300 are
formed as pulleys to transfer a rotational force by the use of
belts.
[0044] An ice bucket is provided having a function of unlaying ice
curdling, or separating and maintaining separation of ice pieces.
The ice bucket may be capable of allowing an ice ejecting member to
eject ice cubes to outside by unlaying, or separating, the ice
cubes frozen in a curdled, or frozen together, state into
individual ice pieces by use of augers. The augers may be rotated
within a storage space of the ice bucket to unlay, or separate, the
ice cubes, upon ejecting the ice cubes from an ice dispensing
apparatus installed in a refrigerator or a water purifier.
[0045] An ice bucket as embodied and broadly described herein may
include a case main body forming an ice storage space therein and
having an ice discharge port formed at a lower portion thereof. The
ice bucket may include an ice ejecting member rotatably disposed at
one side of the main body and having a motor rotation shaft, a
blade mounting shaft, and a plurality of blades protruding from the
blade mounting shaft in a radial direction and disposed in a
circumferential direction with spaced distances. The ice bucket may
include an ice curdling unlaying member configured to prevent ice
cubes located above the ice ejecting member from being frozen in a
curdled state.
[0046] In another embodiment, the ice curdling unlaying member may
include a rotational shaft rotatably installed at an upper portion
of one side of the main body. The ice curdling unlaying member may
include an auger protruding from an upper portion within the main
body in an axial direction of the rotational shaft to unlay the
upper curdled ice cubes in response to rotation of the rotational
shaft.
[0047] In certain embodiments, the auger may be installed by being
spaced apart from the rotational shaft and performs a circular
motion in response to the rotation of the rotational shaft to
prevent ice curdling at an upper portion with the main body, and
provided in plurality.
[0048] The ice curdling unlaying member may include a rotational
cam rotatable centering on the rotational shaft, and the auger may
be installed in plurality on the rotational cam to be in parallel
to the rotation shaft.
[0049] In another embodiment, the case main body may include an
upper case formed of a transparent or semi-transparent material to
allow a stored state of ice cubes to be viewed from outside, and a
lower case having an ice ejecting member mounted onto one side
therein and allowing the ice ejecting member to be connected to an
external driving motor.
[0050] In certain embodiments, the ice discharge port may be formed
at a lower portion of the lower case, and the ice curdling unlaying
member may be formed on one side within the lower case.
[0051] In another embodiment, the ice ejecting member and the ice
curdling unlaying member may receive a rotational force transferred
by a driving force transfer unit. The ice ejecting member may
include a rotational cam rotatable by receiving the rotational
force of an external driving motor, and the ice curdling unlaying
member may include a rotational cam rotatable by receiving a
rotational force transferred from the rotational cam of the ice
ejecting member.
[0052] The driving force transfer unit may have a gear-like
structure that teeth formed on an outer circumferential surface of
the rotational cam of the ice ejecting member and teeth formed on
an outer circumferential surface of the rotational cam of the ice
curdling unlaying member are engaged with each other. The ice
curdling unlaying member may be rotatable by the rotational force
of the ice ejecting member.
[0053] The case main body may include an ejecting member mounting
portion formed through one side thereof for installation of the ice
ejecting member thereon, and a curdling unlaying member mounting
portion formed above the ejecting member mounting portion for
installation of the ice curdling unlaying member thereon.
[0054] In another embodiment, the driving force transfer unit may
be implemented such that transfer of a rotational force between a
pulley formed on the ice ejecting member and a pulley formed on the
ice curdling unlaying member is enabled via belts.
[0055] A refrigerator as embodied and broadly described herein may
include a refrigerator main body having a cooling chamber therein,
a door to open or close the cooling chamber, an ice maker disposed
in the cooling chamber, an ice bucket disposed below the ice maker,
and a dispenser connected to the ice bucket.
[0056] In certain embodiments, the ice bucket may include a case
main body forming an ice storage space therein and having an ice
discharge port formed at a lower portion thereof, an ice ejecting
member rotatably disposed on one side of the main body and having a
plurality of blades, and an ice curdling unlaying member having a
rotational shaft and an auger rotatable with performing a circular
motion in response to rotation of the rotational shaft and
configured to prevent ice cubes located above the ice ejecting
member from being frozen in a curdled state.
[0057] The ice curdling unlaying member may include a rotational
cam rotatable centering on the rotational shaft, and the auger may
be provided in plurality disposed on the rotational cam to be in
parallel to the rotational shaft. The ice ejecting member and the
ice curdling unlaying member may receive a rotational force
transferred by a driving force transfer unit.
[0058] The driving force transfer unit may have a gear-like
structure that teeth formed on an outer circumferential surface of
the ice ejecting member and teeth formed on an outer
circumferential surface of the ice curdling unlaying member are
engaged with each other, and the ice curdling unlaying member may
be rotatable by the rotational force of the ice ejecting
member.
[0059] Upon ejecting ice cubes from an ice dispensing apparatus
installed in a refrigerator, a water purifier and the like, ice
cubes in a frozen together, clustered state may be separated by
augers provided within a storage space of an ice bucket, and the
separated ice cubes may be ejected to outside by an ice
ejector.
[0060] Also, when ice cubes are stored for a long time in the
storage space of the ice bucket without being ejected out of an ice
dispending apparatus, even if the ice ejecting member is driven,
ice cubes which are attached to each other may still exist at an
upper portion of the storage space of the ice bucket. To overcome
this problem, the ice cubes may be separated into pieces so as to
prevent mis-operation of the ice ejector, resulting in enhanced
user convenience, reliability and economical efficiency.
[0061] Any reference in this specification to "one embodiment," "an
embodiment," "example embodiment," etc., means that a particular
feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with
the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the
invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the
specification are not necessarily all referring to the same
embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or
characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it
is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the
art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in
connection with other ones of the embodiments.
[0062] 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.
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