US20060272347A1 - Refrigerator - Google Patents
Refrigerator Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20060272347A1 US20060272347A1 US11/431,020 US43102006A US2006272347A1 US 20060272347 A1 US20060272347 A1 US 20060272347A1 US 43102006 A US43102006 A US 43102006A US 2006272347 A1 US2006272347 A1 US 2006272347A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- ice
- discharge opening
- cubes
- discharge
- shaving device
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
- F25C1/00—Producing ice
- F25C1/22—Construction of moulds; Filling devices for moulds
- F25C1/24—Construction of moulds; Filling devices for moulds for refrigerators, e.g. freezing trays
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
- F25C5/00—Working or handling ice
- F25C5/02—Apparatus for disintegrating, removing or harvesting ice
- F25C5/04—Apparatus for disintegrating, removing or harvesting ice without the use of saws
- F25C5/12—Ice-shaving machines
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
- F25C5/00—Working or handling ice
- F25C5/20—Distributing ice
- F25C5/24—Distributing ice for storing bins
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
- F25C2500/00—Problems to be solved
- F25C2500/02—Geometry problems
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2400/00—General features of, or devices for refrigerators, cold rooms, ice-boxes, or for cooling or freezing apparatus not covered by any other subclass
- F25D2400/06—Refrigerators with a vertical mullion
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator including an ice shaving device to make shaved ice.
- a refrigerator is a device for keeping food stored therein fresh for a long time using air exchanged by an evaporator in a cooling cycle.
- the refrigerator includes a freezing compartment for keeping frozen food such as meat, fish, or the like at freezing temperature or below and a refrigerating compartment for keeping food such as fruit, vegetable, or the like chilled at freezing temperature or higher. Further, the two compartments are separated from each other by a partition wall.
- an ice cube maker to make ice cubes by providing water from a water supplier.
- an ice cube storage storing the ice cubes separated from the ice cube maker.
- the ice cubes in the ice cube storage are discharged as ice cubes or crushed ice to the outside according to selection by a user.
- An ice discharge pattern of the ice cube storage is disclosed in the Korean Utility Model Application No. 1997-003500 and the Korean Patent First Publication No. 1998-0049615.
- the ice shaving device is a means for shaving the ice cubes from the ice cube storage into shaved ice using a knife or the like.
- a conventional refrigerator does not include an ice shaving device, it is not easy to get the shaved ice at home.
- the ice shaving device is provided in the freezing compartment door, despite the refrigerator with the ice shaving device, which makes a manufacturing process complicated and space efficiency inside the freezing compartment lower since an inner case of the freezing compartment door protrudes toward the freezing compartment to contain the volume of the ice shaving device.
- the ice cubes are not discharged in proper quantity, which is not adequate for the ice shaving device which requires ice to be provided in a certain quantity.
- Another aspect of the present invention provides a refrigerator capable of providing ice cubes to an ice shaving device in a certain quantity.
- a refrigerator including an ice-making tray, an ice storage receiving ice cubes from the ice-making tray and storing the ice cubes, and a dispenser supplied with the ice from the ice storage and providing the ice to the outside of the refrigerator
- the ice storage includes an ice storage receptacle storing the ice cubes separated from the ice-making tray; a discharge opening formed on the ice storage receptacle so as to discharge the ice cubes to the outside; a rotatable member conveying the ice cubes toward the discharge opening; and an ice shaving device, which is coupled to the discharge opening, receiving ice cubes discharged through the discharge opening, shaving the ice cubes into shaved ice, and discharging it.
- the ice shaving device is coupled to the lower part of the discharge opening.
- the bottom of the ice storage receptacle and the rotatable member are upwardly slanted from the opposite side of the discharge opening to the discharge opening.
- the rotatable member includes a driving motor provided in the ice storage receptacle; a rotatable axis of which one side is coupled to the driving motor and of which the other side is extended toward the discharge opening; and spiral wings rotating by being coupled to the rotatable axis and conveying the ice to the discharge opening.
- the rotatable axis thickens in diameter thereof gradually from one side thereof to the other side thereof.
- the refrigerator further includes a guide leading the shaved ice discharged from the ice shaving device to the dispenser.
- a refrigerator including an ice-making tray, an ice storage receiving ice cubes from the ice-making tray and storing the ice cubes, and a dispenser supplied with the ice cubes from the ice storage and providing the ice cubes to the outside of the refrigerator
- the ice storage includes an ice storage receptacle storing the ice cubes separated from the ice-making tray; a plurality of discharge openings formed on the ice storage receptacle so as to discharge the ice cubes to the outside; a plurality of rotatable members conveying the ice cubes toward the discharge openings; and an ice shaving device, which is coupled to one of the discharge openings, receiving the ice cubes discharged through the discharge opening, shaving the ice into shaved ice, and discharging it.
- the discharge opening includes a first discharge opening to discharge ice cubes to the ice shaving device and a second discharge opening to discharge the ice cubes as they are or crushed ice which is crushed from the ice cubes into pieces, and the ice shaving device is coupled to the lower part of the first discharge opening.
- the ice storage receptacle is divided into a first supplier supplying the ice to the ice shaving device and a second supplier supplying the ice cubes to the dispenser, and the bottom of the first supplier is upwardly slanted from the opposite side of the first discharge opening to the first discharge opening.
- a divider wall is provided between the first supplier and the second supplier at a predetermined height.
- the refrigerator further includes a driving part driving the ice shaving device, where the driving part is disposed under the bottom of the first supplier.
- the refrigerator further includes a guide leading the shaved ice discharged from the ice shaving device and the ice discharged from the second discharge opening to the dispenser.
- the rotatable member includes a driving motor provided in the ice storage receptacle; a rotatable axis of which one side is coupled to the driving motor and of which the other side is extended toward the discharge opening; and a spiral wing rotating by being coupled to the rotatable axis and conveying the ice cubes to the discharge opening.
- the rotatable axis thickens in diameter thereof gradually from the one side thereof to the other side thereof.
- FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator of which doors are open according to the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a freezing compartment of the refrigerator in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an ice storage according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an ice storage according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 5 shows how shaved ice is made in an ice shaving device according to the present invention.
- a refrigerator in the present invention includes a refrigerating compartment 10 and a freezing compartment 20 which are separated from each other by a vertical wall.
- a refrigerating compartment door 11 and a freezing compartment door 21 are provided at the front of the refrigerating compartment 10 and the freezing compartment 20 .
- a refrigerating compartment door 11 and a freezing compartment door 21 are provided at the front of the refrigerating compartment 10 and the freezing compartment 20 .
- a refrigerating compartment door 11 and a freezing compartment door 21 respectively, to open and close the refrigerating compartment 10 and the freezing compartment 20 .
- door guides 23 disposed up and down to keep a bottle or the like.
- a plurality of shelves 13 to divide the inside of the refrigerating compartment 10 in the upper part thereof and a plurality of drawers in the lower part thereof.
- an ice-making compartment 40 in which an ice maker is equipped in the upper part thereof and a plurality of shelves 13 and drawers up and down in the lower part thereof. Further, on the front of the freezing door 21 , there is provided a dispenser part 50 to be supplied with ice made in the ice-making compartment 40 and water stored in a water tank (not shown).
- the dispenser part 50 includes a water dispenser 51 to supply the water and an ice dispenser 53 to supply the ice.
- an operation panel 55 including a plurality of buttons for a user to select crushed ice, ice cubes, or shaved ice. Ice is guided from the ice-making compartment 40 to the dispenser part 50 through a guide 27 .
- an ice-making tray 41 supplied with water from an external water supply.
- an ice storage 100 to store ice cubes made therein.
- an ice separating motor 45 to separate the ice cubes from the ice-making tray 41 .
- an ice detecting lever 43 to measure quantity of the ice cubes stored in the ice storage 30 .
- the ice storage 100 includes an ice storage receptacle 110 storing the ice cubes, a discharge opening 120 formed on the ice storage receptacle 110 to discharge the ice cubes, rotatable members 111 and 112 conveying the ice cubes to the discharge opening 120 , and an ice shaving device 130 coupled to the discharge opening 120 and making the shaved ice with the ice cubes discharged from the discharge opening 120 .
- the ice storage receptacle 110 stores the ice cubes separated from the ice cube-making tray 41 .
- the discharge opening 120 to discharge the ice cubes.
- the ice storage receptacle 110 may further include the rotatable members 111 and 112 to convey the ice cubes in the receptacle to the discharge opening 120 .
- a plurality of discharge openings 120 may be provided in order to discharge the ice cubes through different openings according to their use. For example, there may be provided a first discharge opening 121 to discharge the ice cubes to the ice shaving device 130 and a second discharge opening 122 to discharge the ice cubes without shaving them or to discharge the ice cubes by shaving them into pieces. Also, three of more discharge openings may be provided.
- the ice storage receptacle 110 When a plurality of discharge openings 120 are provided, in the ice storage receptacle 110 , there may be provided a divider wall 113 dividing the inside of the receptacle corresponding to each discharge opening 121 and 122 .
- the ice storage receptacle 110 includes a first supplier 115 including the first discharge opening 121 and a second supplier 117 including the second discharge opening 123 , which are divided by the divider wall 113 from each other.
- the first supplier 115 and the second supplier 117 there are respectively provided the rotatable members 111 and 112 conveying the ice to the discharge opening 121 and 122 .
- the divider wall 113 may have various heights or may not be provided.
- the discharge opening 120 may be formed in various shapes.
- the first discharge opening 121 is formed nearly in a circle shape and the second discharge opening 123 is formed nearly in a half circle shape, as shown in FIG. 3 .
- the discharge opening 120 may be disposed in various locations.
- the first discharge opening 121 is disposed in the upper part as high as the height of the ice shaving device 130 from the bottom, since the ice shaving device 130 is provided in the lower side thereof (refer to FIG. 3 ).
- the ice shaving device 130 when the ice shaving device 130 is disposed in the lower part than the bottom of the receptacle, the ice shaving device 130 may be protruded more downwardly than the bottom of the ice storage 100 and interfere with the inner case of the freezing compartment door 21 .
- the ice shaving device 130 may be disposed in the same position as the bottom of the receptacle or in higher position than the bottom of the receptacle, as shown in FIG. 2 , so as not to protrude more downwardly than the ice storage 100 .
- the bottom of the first supplier 115 is provided to be upwardly slanted toward the first discharge opening 121 (refer to FIG. 2 ).
- the bottom of the first supplier 115 is upwardly slanted toward the first discharge opening 121 , it prevents the ice cubes from needlessly sliding down from the ice storage receptacle 110 to the ice shaving device 130 by oscillation when the rotatable member 111 stops operating or external impact applies, thereby preventing troubles caused by the ice cubes pooled in the ice shaving device 130 .
- the ice shaving device 130 disposed in the ice storage receptacle 110 , crushes the ice cubes received from the receptacle into the shaved ice and provides it.
- the ice shaving device 130 may include a case in which an ice shaving part and an ice discharging part are disposed, a rotative body disposed rotatably in the case and conveying the ice cubes to the ice shaving part, and a driving part 137 rotating the rotative body.
- the driving part 137 of the ice shaving device 130 may be disposed in this space, as shown in FIG. 2 .
- the driving part 137 is disposed close to the ice shaving device 130 , thereby improving driving efficiency.
- the rotatable member 111 and 112 include a driving motor 111 c and 112 c provided in the ice storage receptacle 110 ; a rotatable axis 111 a and 112 a of which one side is coupled to the driving motor 111 c and 112 c and of which the other side is extended toward the discharge opening 121 and 122 ; and spiral wings 111 b and 112 b rotating by being coupled to the rotatable axis 111 a and 112 a and conveying the ice to the discharge opening 121 and 122 .
- the rotatable axis 111 a disposed in the first supplier 115 , as shown in FIG.
- the ice shaving device 130 may thicken in diameter thereof gradually from the rotatable axis 111 a to the discharge opening 121 .
- an ice crushing part 119 to crush the ice cubes in the ice cube storage receptacle 110 into pieces of crushed ice.
- the ice storage receptacle 110 disposed in the freezing compartment 20 there are saved the ice separated from the ice-making tray 41 .
- the rotatable member 111 in the first supplier 115 of the ice storage receptacle 110 is driven and discharges the ice cubes in the first supplier 115 to the first discharge opening 121 .
- the driving part 137 of the ice shaving device 130 is driven at the same time as the rotatable member 111 rotates or at intervals of predetermined time and the ice shaving device 130 crushes the ice cubes discharged through the first discharge opening 121 into the shaved ice and discharges it to the dispenser 50 .
- the rotatable member 112 in the second supplier 117 is driven, thereby discharging the ice cubes in the second supplier 117 to the second discharge opening 123 .
- ice cubes are selected, they are discharged as is, and when crushed ice is selected, it is discharged by being crushed by a knife (not shown) or the like provided in the second discharge opening 122 .
- the aforementioned refrigerator includes the ice shaving device disposed in the ice storage, not in one side of the freezing compartment door. Accordingly, there are advantages of easily designing the freezing compartment door, simplifying a manufacturing process since it is not necessary to mount the ice shaving device before the inner case is formed, and improving space efficiency of the freezing compartment since by preventing the inner case in the side of the freezing compartment door from protruding toward inside of the freezing compartment due to the volume of the ice shaving device.
- a certain quantity of the ice may be discharged by adjusting quantity of the ice.
Abstract
A refrigerator includes an ice-making tray, an ice storage receiving ice cubes from the ice-making tray and storing the ice cubes, and a dispenser supplied with the ice from the ice storage and providing the ice to the outside of the refrigerator, where the ice storage includes an ice storage receptacle storing the ice cubes separated from the ice-making tray; a discharge opening formed on the ice storage receptacle so as to discharge the ice cubes to the outside; a rotatable member conveying the ice toward the discharge opening; and an ice shaving device, which is coupled to the discharge opening, receiving ice cubes discharged through the discharge opening, shaving the ice cubes into shaved ice, and discharging it. Thus, the refrigerator having a freezing compartment with a simplified design and manufacturing process is provided that is equipped with an ice shaving device in which space efficiency is improved.
Description
- This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2005-47272, filed on Jun. 2, 2005, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator including an ice shaving device to make shaved ice.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- In general, a refrigerator is a device for keeping food stored therein fresh for a long time using air exchanged by an evaporator in a cooling cycle. The refrigerator includes a freezing compartment for keeping frozen food such as meat, fish, or the like at freezing temperature or below and a refrigerating compartment for keeping food such as fruit, vegetable, or the like chilled at freezing temperature or higher. Further, the two compartments are separated from each other by a partition wall.
- In the freezing compartment, there is provided an ice cube maker to make ice cubes by providing water from a water supplier. Under the ice cube maker, there is provided an ice cube storage storing the ice cubes separated from the ice cube maker. The ice cubes in the ice cube storage are discharged as ice cubes or crushed ice to the outside according to selection by a user. An ice discharge pattern of the ice cube storage is disclosed in the Korean Utility Model Application No. 1997-003500 and the Korean Patent First Publication No. 1998-0049615.
- Recently, a refrigerator equipped with an ice shaving device has been developed in order to be used at home for making red-bean sherbet or the like, for example. The ice shaving device is a means for shaving the ice cubes from the ice cube storage into shaved ice using a knife or the like.
- However, since a conventional refrigerator does not include an ice shaving device, it is not easy to get the shaved ice at home. Further, the ice shaving device is provided in the freezing compartment door, despite the refrigerator with the ice shaving device, which makes a manufacturing process complicated and space efficiency inside the freezing compartment lower since an inner case of the freezing compartment door protrudes toward the freezing compartment to contain the volume of the ice shaving device.
- Also, in a conventional ice cube storage, the ice cubes are not discharged in proper quantity, which is not adequate for the ice shaving device which requires ice to be provided in a certain quantity.
- Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.
- Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a refrigerator having a freezing compartment with a simplified design and manufacturing process that is equipped with an ice shaving device in which space efficiency is improved.
- Another aspect of the present invention provides a refrigerator capable of providing ice cubes to an ice shaving device in a certain quantity.
- The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are achieved by providing a refrigerator including an ice-making tray, an ice storage receiving ice cubes from the ice-making tray and storing the ice cubes, and a dispenser supplied with the ice from the ice storage and providing the ice to the outside of the refrigerator, where the ice storage includes an ice storage receptacle storing the ice cubes separated from the ice-making tray; a discharge opening formed on the ice storage receptacle so as to discharge the ice cubes to the outside; a rotatable member conveying the ice cubes toward the discharge opening; and an ice shaving device, which is coupled to the discharge opening, receiving ice cubes discharged through the discharge opening, shaving the ice cubes into shaved ice, and discharging it.
- According to the embodiment of the present invention, the ice shaving device is coupled to the lower part of the discharge opening.
- According to the embodiment of the present invention, the bottom of the ice storage receptacle and the rotatable member are upwardly slanted from the opposite side of the discharge opening to the discharge opening.
- According to the embodiment of the present invention, the rotatable member includes a driving motor provided in the ice storage receptacle; a rotatable axis of which one side is coupled to the driving motor and of which the other side is extended toward the discharge opening; and spiral wings rotating by being coupled to the rotatable axis and conveying the ice to the discharge opening.
- According to the embodiment of the present invention, the rotatable axis thickens in diameter thereof gradually from one side thereof to the other side thereof.
- According to the embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator further includes a guide leading the shaved ice discharged from the ice shaving device to the dispenser.
- The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are also achieved by providing a refrigerator including an ice-making tray, an ice storage receiving ice cubes from the ice-making tray and storing the ice cubes, and a dispenser supplied with the ice cubes from the ice storage and providing the ice cubes to the outside of the refrigerator, where the ice storage includes an ice storage receptacle storing the ice cubes separated from the ice-making tray; a plurality of discharge openings formed on the ice storage receptacle so as to discharge the ice cubes to the outside; a plurality of rotatable members conveying the ice cubes toward the discharge openings; and an ice shaving device, which is coupled to one of the discharge openings, receiving the ice cubes discharged through the discharge opening, shaving the ice into shaved ice, and discharging it.
- According to the embodiment of the present invention, the discharge opening includes a first discharge opening to discharge ice cubes to the ice shaving device and a second discharge opening to discharge the ice cubes as they are or crushed ice which is crushed from the ice cubes into pieces, and the ice shaving device is coupled to the lower part of the first discharge opening.
- According to the embodiment of the present invention, the ice storage receptacle is divided into a first supplier supplying the ice to the ice shaving device and a second supplier supplying the ice cubes to the dispenser, and the bottom of the first supplier is upwardly slanted from the opposite side of the first discharge opening to the first discharge opening.
- According to the embodiment of the present invention, a divider wall is provided between the first supplier and the second supplier at a predetermined height.
- According to the embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator further includes a driving part driving the ice shaving device, where the driving part is disposed under the bottom of the first supplier.
- According to the embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator further includes a guide leading the shaved ice discharged from the ice shaving device and the ice discharged from the second discharge opening to the dispenser.
- According to the embodiment of the present invention, the rotatable member includes a driving motor provided in the ice storage receptacle; a rotatable axis of which one side is coupled to the driving motor and of which the other side is extended toward the discharge opening; and a spiral wing rotating by being coupled to the rotatable axis and conveying the ice cubes to the discharge opening.
- According to the embodiment of the present invention, the rotatable axis thickens in diameter thereof gradually from the one side thereof to the other side thereof.
- The above and/or other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
-
FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator of which doors are open according to the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a freezing compartment of the refrigerator inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an ice storage according to an embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an ice storage according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and -
FIG. 5 shows how shaved ice is made in an ice shaving device according to the present invention. - Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.
- Hereinbelow, a side by side type refrigerator will be described as an example of the present invention.
- With reference to
FIGS. 1 and 2 , a refrigerator in the present invention includes a refrigeratingcompartment 10 and afreezing compartment 20 which are separated from each other by a vertical wall. At the front of the refrigeratingcompartment 10 and thefreezing compartment 20, there are provided a refrigeratingcompartment door 11 and afreezing compartment door 21, respectively, to open and close the refrigeratingcompartment 10 and thefreezing compartment 20. Inside of eachdoor door guides 23 disposed up and down to keep a bottle or the like. Here, in the refrigeratingcompartment 10 disposed right of a main body 1, there are provided a plurality ofshelves 13 to divide the inside of the refrigeratingcompartment 10 in the upper part thereof and a plurality of drawers in the lower part thereof. - In the
freezing compartment 20, there are disposed an ice-makingcompartment 40 in which an ice maker is equipped in the upper part thereof and a plurality ofshelves 13 and drawers up and down in the lower part thereof. Further, on the front of the freezingdoor 21, there is provided adispenser part 50 to be supplied with ice made in the ice-makingcompartment 40 and water stored in a water tank (not shown). Thedispenser part 50 includes awater dispenser 51 to supply the water and anice dispenser 53 to supply the ice. On the upper part of thedispenser part 50, there is disposed anoperation panel 55 including a plurality of buttons for a user to select crushed ice, ice cubes, or shaved ice. Ice is guided from the ice-makingcompartment 40 to thedispenser part 50 through aguide 27. - In the ice-making
compartment 40, there is installed an ice-makingtray 41 supplied with water from an external water supply. Under the ice-makingtray 41, there is provided anice storage 100 to store ice cubes made therein. Here, on one side of the ice-makingtray 41 in the lengthwise direction, there is provided anice separating motor 45 to separate the ice cubes from the ice-makingtray 41. Under the ice-makingtray 41, there is disposed anice detecting lever 43 to measure quantity of the ice cubes stored in the ice storage 30. - As shown in
FIG. 3 , theice storage 100 includes anice storage receptacle 110 storing the ice cubes, adischarge opening 120 formed on theice storage receptacle 110 to discharge the ice cubes,rotatable members discharge opening 120, and anice shaving device 130 coupled to thedischarge opening 120 and making the shaved ice with the ice cubes discharged from thedischarge opening 120. - The
ice storage receptacle 110 stores the ice cubes separated from the ice cube-makingtray 41. In theice storage receptacle 110, there is provided the discharge opening 120 to discharge the ice cubes. Meanwhile, theice storage receptacle 110 may further include therotatable members discharge opening 120. - A plurality of
discharge openings 120 may be provided in order to discharge the ice cubes through different openings according to their use. For example, there may be provided a first discharge opening 121 to discharge the ice cubes to theice shaving device 130 and a second discharge opening 122 to discharge the ice cubes without shaving them or to discharge the ice cubes by shaving them into pieces. Also, three of more discharge openings may be provided. - When a plurality of
discharge openings 120 are provided, in theice storage receptacle 110, there may be provided adivider wall 113 dividing the inside of the receptacle corresponding to eachdischarge opening ice storage receptacle 110 includes afirst supplier 115 including thefirst discharge opening 121 and asecond supplier 117 including the second discharge opening 123, which are divided by thedivider wall 113 from each other. In this case, in thefirst supplier 115 and thesecond supplier 117, there are respectively provided therotatable members discharge opening divider wall 113 may have various heights or may not be provided. - The
discharge opening 120 may be formed in various shapes. For example, thefirst discharge opening 121 is formed nearly in a circle shape and the second discharge opening 123 is formed nearly in a half circle shape, as shown inFIG. 3 . Further, thedischarge opening 120 may be disposed in various locations. For example, thefirst discharge opening 121 is disposed in the upper part as high as the height of theice shaving device 130 from the bottom, since theice shaving device 130 is provided in the lower side thereof (refer toFIG. 3 ). Here, when theice shaving device 130 is disposed in the lower part than the bottom of the receptacle, theice shaving device 130 may be protruded more downwardly than the bottom of theice storage 100 and interfere with the inner case of the freezingcompartment door 21. Therefore, theice shaving device 130 may be disposed in the same position as the bottom of the receptacle or in higher position than the bottom of the receptacle, as shown inFIG. 2 , so as not to protrude more downwardly than theice storage 100. - Here, when the
first discharge opening 121 is disposed more upwardly than theice shaving device 130, the bottom of thefirst supplier 115 is provided to be upwardly slanted toward the first discharge opening 121 (refer toFIG. 2 ). When the bottom of thefirst supplier 115 is upwardly slanted toward thefirst discharge opening 121, it prevents the ice cubes from needlessly sliding down from theice storage receptacle 110 to theice shaving device 130 by oscillation when therotatable member 111 stops operating or external impact applies, thereby preventing troubles caused by the ice cubes pooled in theice shaving device 130. - The
ice shaving device 130, disposed in theice storage receptacle 110, crushes the ice cubes received from the receptacle into the shaved ice and provides it. Theice shaving device 130 may include a case in which an ice shaving part and an ice discharging part are disposed, a rotative body disposed rotatably in the case and conveying the ice cubes to the ice shaving part, and a drivingpart 137 rotating the rotative body. - When the
ice shaving device 130 is disposed in the lower part of thefirst discharge opening 121 and the bottom of thefirst supplier 115 is upwardly slanted toward thefirst discharge opening 121, there is formed a space in the lower part of thefirst supplier 115 due to the upward slant of the bottom. Therefore, the drivingpart 137 of theice shaving device 130 may be disposed in this space, as shown inFIG. 2 . In this case, the drivingpart 137 is disposed close to theice shaving device 130, thereby improving driving efficiency. Further, there is no need to provide an additional space for the drivingpart 137 at the rear of theice storage receptacle 110, thereby using space at the rear of theice storage receptacle 110 for some other use, for example, for a space to mount a freezing compartment lamp. - The
rotatable member motor ice storage receptacle 110; arotatable axis motor discharge opening spiral wings rotatable axis discharge opening rotatable axis 111 a disposed in thefirst supplier 115, as shown inFIG. 4 , may thicken in diameter thereof gradually from therotatable axis 111 a to thedischarge opening 121. As therotatable axis 111 a thickens in diameter thereof little by little, area of the spiral wings decrease gradually. Therefore, the amount of the ice which is conveyed decreases as closer to thedischarge opening 121. Accordingly, a certain quantity of the ice may be discharged to theice shaving device 130. - Meanwhile, inside of the second discharge opening 122, there is provided an
ice crushing part 119 to crush the ice cubes in the icecube storage receptacle 110 into pieces of crushed ice. - In the following, it is described how the shaved ice is made in the aforementioned refrigerator by referring to
FIG. 5 . - First, in the
ice storage receptacle 110 disposed in the freezingcompartment 20, there are saved the ice separated from the ice-makingtray 41. When the user selects the shaved ice using theoperation panel 55 disposed on thedispenser 50 and pushes theice dispenser 53 using a cup or the like, therotatable member 111 in thefirst supplier 115 of theice storage receptacle 110 is driven and discharges the ice cubes in thefirst supplier 115 to thefirst discharge opening 121. The drivingpart 137 of theice shaving device 130 is driven at the same time as therotatable member 111 rotates or at intervals of predetermined time and theice shaving device 130 crushes the ice cubes discharged through the first discharge opening 121 into the shaved ice and discharges it to thedispenser 50. - When the user selects the ice cubes or the pieces of the crushed ice through the
operation panel 55, therotatable member 112 in thesecond supplier 117 is driven, thereby discharging the ice cubes in thesecond supplier 117 to the second discharge opening 123. Here, when ice cubes are selected, they are discharged as is, and when crushed ice is selected, it is discharged by being crushed by a knife (not shown) or the like provided in thesecond discharge opening 122. - Likewise, the aforementioned refrigerator includes the ice shaving device disposed in the ice storage, not in one side of the freezing compartment door. Accordingly, there are advantages of easily designing the freezing compartment door, simplifying a manufacturing process since it is not necessary to mount the ice shaving device before the inner case is formed, and improving space efficiency of the freezing compartment since by preventing the inner case in the side of the freezing compartment door from protruding toward inside of the freezing compartment due to the volume of the ice shaving device.
- Furthermore, when the
rotatable axis 111 b thickens in diameter thereof gradually toward thefirst discharge opening 121, a certain quantity of the ice may be discharged by adjusting quantity of the ice. - Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims (22)
1. A refrigerator, comprising:
an ice-making tray;
an ice storage receiving ice cubes from the ice-making tray and storing the ice cubes; and
a dispenser supplied with the ice from the ice storage and providing the ice to the outside of the refrigerator,
wherein the ice storage comprises:
an ice storage receptacle storing the ice cubes separated from the ice-making tray;
a discharge opening formed on the ice storage receptacle so as to discharge the ice to the outside;
a rotatable member conveying the ice toward the discharge opening; and
an ice shaving device, which is coupled to the discharge opening, receiving the ice cubes discharged through the discharge opening, shaving the ice cubes into shaved ice, and discharging it.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the ice shaving device is coupled to the lower part of the discharge opening.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 2 , wherein the bottom of the ice storage receptacle and the rotatable member are upwardly slanted from the opposite side of the discharge opening to the discharge opening.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the rotatable member comprises:
a driving motor provided in the ice storage receptacle;
a rotatable axis of which one side is coupled to the driving motor and of which the other side is extended toward the discharge opening; and
spiral wings rotating by being coupled to the rotatable axis and conveying the ice to the discharge opening.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 4 , wherein the rotatable axis thickens in diameter thereof gradually from one side thereof to the other side thereof.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising a guide leading the shaved ice discharged from the ice shaving device to the dispenser.
7. A refrigerator, comprising:
an ice-making tray;
an ice storage receiving ice cubes from the ice-making tray and storing the ice cubes; and
a dispenser supplied with the ice cubes from the ice storage and providing the ice cubes to the outside of the refrigerator,
wherein the ice storage comprises:
an ice storage receptacle storing the ice separated from the ice-making tray;
a plurality of discharge openings formed on the ice storage receptacle so as to discharge the ice to the outside;
a plurality of rotatable members conveying the ice toward the discharge openings; and
an ice shaving device, which is coupled to one of the discharge openings, receiving the ice cubes discharged through the discharge opening, shaving the ice into shaved ice, and discharging it.
8. The refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein the discharge opening comprises a first discharge opening to discharge ice cubes to the ice shaving device and a second discharge opening to discharge the ice cubes as they are or crushed ice which is crushed from the ice cubes into pieces, and the ice shaving device is coupled to the lower part of the first discharge opening.
9. The refrigerator according to claim 8 , wherein the ice storage receptacle is divided into a first supplier supplying the ice to the ice shaving device and a second supplier supplying the ice to the dispenser, and the bottom of the first supplier is upwardly slanted from the opposite side of the first discharge opening to the first discharge opening.
10. The refrigerator according to claim 9 , wherein a divider wall is provided between the first supplier and the second supplier at a predetermined height.
11. The refrigerator according to claim 10 , further comprising a driving part driving the ice shaving device, wherein the driving part is disposed under the bottom of the first supplier.
12. The refrigerator according to claim 8 , further comprising a guide leading the shaved ice discharged from the ice shaving device and the ice discharged from the second discharge opening to the dispenser.
13. The refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein the rotatable member comprises:
a driving motor provided in the ice storage receptacle;
a rotatable axis of which one side is coupled to the driving motor and of which the other side is extended toward the discharge opening; and
a spiral wing rotating by being coupled to the rotatable axis and conveying the ice to the discharge opening.
14. The refrigerator according to claim 13 , wherein the rotatable axis thickens in diameter thereof gradually from the one side thereof to the other side thereof.
15. An ice storage tray containing ice cubes, comprising:
an ice storage receptacle storing the ice cubes;
a plurality of discharge openings formed in the ice storage receptacle to discharge the ice cubes;
a plurality of rotatable members conveying the ice toward the discharge openings; and
an ice shaving device to crush the ice into shaved ice,
wherein the ice shaving device is coupled to one of the discharge openings and discharges the shaved ice.
16. The ice storage tray of claim 15 , wherein the discharge opening comprises a first discharge opening to discharge ice cubes to the ice shaving device and a second discharge opening to discharge the ice cubes as they are or crushed ice which is crushed from the ice cubes into pieces to a dispenser, and
the ice shaving device is coupled to the lower part of the first discharge opening.
17. The ice storage tray of claim 15 , wherein the ice storage receptacle is divided into a first supplier supplying the ice to the ice shaving device and a second supplier supplying the ice to a dispenser, and
the bottom of the first supplier is upwardly slanted from the opposite side of the first discharge opening to the first discharge opening.
18. The ice storage tray of claim 17 , wherein a divider wall is provided between the first supplier and the second supplier at a predetermined height.
19. The ice storage tray of claim 17 , further comprising a driving part driving the ice shaving device, wherein the driving part is disposed under the bottom of the first supplier.
20. The ice storage tray of claim 16 , further comprising a guide leading the shaved ice discharged from the ice shaving device and the ice discharged from the second discharge opening to the dispenser.
21. The ice storage tray of claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of rotatable members comprise:
a driving motor provided in the ice storage receptacle;
a rotatable axis of which one side is coupled to the driving motor and of which the other side is extended toward the discharge opening; and
a spiral wing rotating by being coupled to the rotatable axis and conveying the ice to the discharge opening.
22. The ice storage tray of claim 21 , wherein the rotatable axis thickens in diameter thereof gradually from the one side thereof to the other side thereof.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
KR2005-47272 | 2005-06-02 | ||
KR1020050047272A KR20060125302A (en) | 2005-06-02 | 2005-06-02 | Refrigerator |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20060272347A1 true US20060272347A1 (en) | 2006-12-07 |
Family
ID=37483896
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/431,020 Abandoned US20060272347A1 (en) | 2005-06-02 | 2006-05-10 | Refrigerator |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20060272347A1 (en) |
KR (1) | KR20060125302A (en) |
CN (1) | CN1873353A (en) |
Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20080295538A1 (en) * | 2007-05-28 | 2008-12-04 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Auger in ice bin and refrigerating machine having the same |
US20100037631A1 (en) * | 2008-08-13 | 2010-02-18 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Ice maker and method, and refrigerator having the same |
US20110138836A1 (en) * | 2009-12-14 | 2011-06-16 | Whirlpool Corporation | Three functions in a single well |
US20120204592A1 (en) * | 2011-02-11 | 2012-08-16 | General Electric Company | Ice dispenser for dispensing cubed and crushed ice and related refrigeration appliance |
CN102798182A (en) * | 2012-08-03 | 2012-11-28 | 任俊 | Ice storage device of dynamic energy storage device |
US20140033758A1 (en) * | 2012-08-01 | 2014-02-06 | Whirlpool Corporation | Oscillating and gyrating stir stick for an ice container |
WO2018041523A1 (en) * | 2016-09-01 | 2018-03-08 | Arcelik Anonim Sirketi | A cooling device comprising an ice dispensing mechanism |
US10393421B2 (en) | 2015-12-24 | 2019-08-27 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Ice maker and refrigerator having the same |
US10837690B2 (en) | 2017-12-08 | 2020-11-17 | Midea Group Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator icemaking system with tandem storage bins and/or removable dispenser recess |
US10852046B2 (en) | 2018-12-10 | 2020-12-01 | Midea Group Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator with door-mounted fluid dispenser |
US11293680B2 (en) | 2019-06-14 | 2022-04-05 | Midea Group Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator with multiple ice movers |
US11525615B2 (en) | 2017-12-08 | 2022-12-13 | Midea Group Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator icemaking system with tandem storage bins and/or removable dispenser recess |
Families Citing this family (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
KR101415760B1 (en) * | 2007-05-28 | 2014-07-09 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Auger in ice bin and refrigerator having this |
CN101749907B (en) * | 2008-12-19 | 2015-03-25 | 博西华家用电器有限公司 | Refrigerator |
CN102226615B (en) * | 2011-05-31 | 2013-04-17 | 合肥美的荣事达电冰箱有限公司 | Refrigerator |
WO2013183890A1 (en) * | 2012-06-07 | 2013-12-12 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator |
KR101479860B1 (en) * | 2013-10-15 | 2015-01-09 | 이기춘 | A complex ice making machine |
KR102573774B1 (en) * | 2016-07-13 | 2023-09-04 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Refrigerator |
CN113465245B (en) * | 2018-09-28 | 2023-03-17 | 海尔智家股份有限公司 | Refrigerator door body and refrigerator |
CN110645748B (en) * | 2019-09-25 | 2021-08-17 | 安徽苏立新能源科技研究院有限公司 | Muddy ice slurry with high ice content and preparation method thereof |
Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3824805A (en) * | 1973-04-09 | 1974-07-23 | Gen Electric | Combination ice cube and crushed ice dispenser selector means |
US3889888A (en) * | 1973-04-09 | 1975-06-17 | Gen Electric | Combination ice cube and crushed ice dispenser |
US4189063A (en) * | 1977-11-07 | 1980-02-19 | Matthiesen Ralph F | Ice dispenser |
US5050809A (en) * | 1990-03-23 | 1991-09-24 | Rupp Carl A | Flavored shaved cube ice machine |
US6904765B2 (en) * | 2003-05-28 | 2005-06-14 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Structure for dispensing ice in refrigerator |
US6973802B1 (en) * | 2004-05-31 | 2005-12-13 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Ice supply device and refrigerator having the same |
US7017363B2 (en) * | 2003-08-26 | 2006-03-28 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Ice supply system of refrigerator |
US7257962B2 (en) * | 2004-01-30 | 2007-08-21 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Ice transfer device for refrigerator |
US7278275B2 (en) * | 2005-03-15 | 2007-10-09 | Whirlpool Corporation | Mechanism for dispensing shaved ice from a refrigeration appliance |
US7278277B2 (en) * | 2004-04-28 | 2007-10-09 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Ice transfer device for refrigerator, and control circuit thereof |
-
2005
- 2005-06-02 KR KR1020050047272A patent/KR20060125302A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
2006
- 2006-05-10 US US11/431,020 patent/US20060272347A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2006-06-01 CN CNA2006100887010A patent/CN1873353A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3824805A (en) * | 1973-04-09 | 1974-07-23 | Gen Electric | Combination ice cube and crushed ice dispenser selector means |
US3889888A (en) * | 1973-04-09 | 1975-06-17 | Gen Electric | Combination ice cube and crushed ice dispenser |
US4189063A (en) * | 1977-11-07 | 1980-02-19 | Matthiesen Ralph F | Ice dispenser |
US5050809A (en) * | 1990-03-23 | 1991-09-24 | Rupp Carl A | Flavored shaved cube ice machine |
US6904765B2 (en) * | 2003-05-28 | 2005-06-14 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Structure for dispensing ice in refrigerator |
US7017363B2 (en) * | 2003-08-26 | 2006-03-28 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Ice supply system of refrigerator |
US7257962B2 (en) * | 2004-01-30 | 2007-08-21 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Ice transfer device for refrigerator |
US7278277B2 (en) * | 2004-04-28 | 2007-10-09 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Ice transfer device for refrigerator, and control circuit thereof |
US6973802B1 (en) * | 2004-05-31 | 2005-12-13 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Ice supply device and refrigerator having the same |
US7278275B2 (en) * | 2005-03-15 | 2007-10-09 | Whirlpool Corporation | Mechanism for dispensing shaved ice from a refrigeration appliance |
Cited By (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20080295538A1 (en) * | 2007-05-28 | 2008-12-04 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Auger in ice bin and refrigerating machine having the same |
US8459055B2 (en) * | 2007-05-28 | 2013-06-11 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Auger in ice bin and refrigerating machine having the same |
US9188377B2 (en) * | 2008-08-13 | 2015-11-17 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Ice maker and method, and refrigerator having the same |
US20100037631A1 (en) * | 2008-08-13 | 2010-02-18 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Ice maker and method, and refrigerator having the same |
US20110138836A1 (en) * | 2009-12-14 | 2011-06-16 | Whirlpool Corporation | Three functions in a single well |
EP2333462A3 (en) * | 2009-12-14 | 2015-04-01 | Whirlpool Corporation | Three forms of ice from a single well |
US20120204592A1 (en) * | 2011-02-11 | 2012-08-16 | General Electric Company | Ice dispenser for dispensing cubed and crushed ice and related refrigeration appliance |
US20140033758A1 (en) * | 2012-08-01 | 2014-02-06 | Whirlpool Corporation | Oscillating and gyrating stir stick for an ice container |
CN102798182A (en) * | 2012-08-03 | 2012-11-28 | 任俊 | Ice storage device of dynamic energy storage device |
US10393421B2 (en) | 2015-12-24 | 2019-08-27 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Ice maker and refrigerator having the same |
WO2018041523A1 (en) * | 2016-09-01 | 2018-03-08 | Arcelik Anonim Sirketi | A cooling device comprising an ice dispensing mechanism |
US10837690B2 (en) | 2017-12-08 | 2020-11-17 | Midea Group Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator icemaking system with tandem storage bins and/or removable dispenser recess |
US11525615B2 (en) | 2017-12-08 | 2022-12-13 | Midea Group Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator icemaking system with tandem storage bins and/or removable dispenser recess |
US11573041B2 (en) | 2017-12-08 | 2023-02-07 | Midea Group Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator icemaking system with tandem storage bins and/or removable dispenser recess |
US10852046B2 (en) | 2018-12-10 | 2020-12-01 | Midea Group Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator with door-mounted fluid dispenser |
US11293680B2 (en) | 2019-06-14 | 2022-04-05 | Midea Group Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator with multiple ice movers |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
KR20060125302A (en) | 2006-12-06 |
CN1873353A (en) | 2006-12-06 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US20060272347A1 (en) | Refrigerator | |
US20060059939A1 (en) | Refrigerator having a shaved ice supplying device | |
US8336330B2 (en) | Refrigerator with icemaker compartment having an improved air flow | |
US9188377B2 (en) | Ice maker and method, and refrigerator having the same | |
US7934389B2 (en) | Ice tray assembly for refrigerator | |
US7797961B2 (en) | Refrigerator having improved ice-making unit configuration | |
US9212841B2 (en) | Refrigerator | |
US7571619B2 (en) | Refrigerator | |
US20020083731A1 (en) | Refrigerator having freezer compartment | |
US7360377B2 (en) | Refrigerator | |
US20080034779A1 (en) | Refrigerator | |
EP2808627B1 (en) | Refrigerator | |
KR20100020897A (en) | Ice maker and refrigerator having the same | |
KR20100138108A (en) | Ice maker and refrigerator having the same | |
EP2021706B1 (en) | Refrigerator | |
KR20150058760A (en) | Ice bin and ice transferring method using the same | |
US20220282904A1 (en) | Refrigerator | |
US11573043B2 (en) | Refrigerator | |
CN111164361B (en) | Refrigerator with a door | |
US7765828B2 (en) | Method and apparatus for forming asymmetrical ice cubes | |
EP4220043A1 (en) | Refrigerator comprising an ice maker | |
KR100920983B1 (en) | Mode changing device of ice bank for refrigerator | |
KR20060128070A (en) | Refrigerator | |
KR20070034395A (en) | Refrigerator |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., KOREA, REPUBLIC OF Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:PARK, SANG-MIN;REEL/FRAME:017887/0459 Effective date: 20060502 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |