Patent Application
20250155177
This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0155325 filed on Nov. 10, 2023 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and all the benefits accruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. 119, the contents of which in its entirety are herein incorporated by reference.
The present disclosure relates to an ice maker and a refrigerator including the same.
A refrigerator is an electrical appliance that supplies cold air made by circulating refrigerant to a storage compartment to keep various types of objects fresh for a long period of time in the storage compartment.
The refrigerator may include an ice maker that makes ice using cold air.
The ice maker may make ice by receiving water supplied from a water source or a water tank into an ice tray.
Ice made in the ice maker may be removed from the ice maker using various schemes, such as a heating scheme of heating the ice tray or a twisting scheme of changing a shape of the ice tray.
The ice tray may include one or more ice chambers configured to have a shape corresponding to a desired shape of ice to be made.
Ice may be made as the water introduced into the ice chamber is cooled by the cold air flowing through the ice tray.
When a plurality of ice chambers are provided, cooling speeds of the ice chambers may be different from each other because amounts of the cold air applied to the ice chambers are different from each other.
For example, when a direction in which the cold air is introduced into the ice tray is biased to one side, it may be difficult to supply the cold air evenly to the plurality of ice chambers.
Furthermore, when the number of ice chambers is increased to produce a larger number of smaller sized ices, a difference between cooling speeds of the ice chambers at different locations may be increased.
In addition, as the number of ice chambers increases, the cooling efficiency of the ice chamber that may produce ice may also decrease.
When the difference between the cooling speeds of the ice chambers is increased or the cooling efficiency decreases, an overall ice production time may be increased, and an ice production amount may decrease.
Furthermore, shapes of the ices respectively made in the ice chambers of the same shape may be different from each other, or the ice of a different shape from the shape of the ice chamber may be made.
A purpose of the present disclosure is to provide an ice maker which may improve the cooling efficiency of the ice chamber while minimizing cold air flow path resistance, and a refrigerator including the same.
Furthermore, a purpose of the present disclosure is to provide an ice maker which may increase a contact area between a cooling fin and cold air in an area where a cold air flow amount is large, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the ice chamber, and a refrigerator including the same.
Furthermore, a purpose of the present disclosure is to provide an ice maker which may increase a contact area between the ice chamber located in a cold air flow path and the cold air, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the ice chamber while minimizing the cold air flow path resistance, and a refrigerator including the same.
Furthermore, a purpose of the present disclosure is to provide an ice maker which may reduce a volume of an ice tray itself while increasing a contact area thereof with the cold air, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the ice chamber, and a refrigerator including the same.
Furthermore, a purpose of the present disclosure is to provide an ice maker which may guide a cold air ejection direction so that the cold air ejected from the ice maker may be efficiently supplied to an ice bin where the ice is stored, and a refrigerator including the same.
An ice maker according to one embodiment of the present disclosure for achieving the purpose as described above includes: an upper tray including a plurality of upper chambers; and a lower tray including a plurality of lower chambers, wherein the upper tray includes: an upper plate; the plurality of upper chambers extending downwardly of the upper plate and arrange in a plurality of rows, each row extending along a first direction; a plurality of inlet guides respectively communicating with the plurality of upper chambers and extending upwardly of the upper plate, wherein the plurality of inlet guides include first-row inlet guide arranged in a first row and second-row inlet guides arranged in a second row; and a plurality of first cooling fins, each first cooling fin being disposed between the first-row inlet guide and the second-row inlet guides, wherein each first cooling fin extends from each first-row inlet guide along a second direction intersecting the first direction.
The plurality of inlet guides may be arranged alternately with each other in a zigzag manner.
One second-row inlet guide may be disposed between the first-row inlet guides that are adjacent to each other in the first direction, and one first-row inlet guide may be disposed between the second-row inlet guides that are adjacent to each other in the first direction.
The ice maker may be constructed such that cold air flowing into the ice maker flows from a position in rear of the second-row inlet guide, flows through an area between adjacent ones of the second-row inlet guides, and then flows through an area between adjacent ones of the first-row inlet guides and may be discharged to an outside out of the ice maker.
The first cooling fin may extend rearwardly from a rear surface of the first-row inlet guide.
The first cooling fin may be disposed between the second-row inlet guides adjacent to each other in the first direction.
At least a portion of the first cooling fin may protrude upwardly beyond an uppermost surface of the upper plate, wherein a height of the first cooling fin may be smaller than a height of the inlet guide.
The first cooling fin may include an inclined surface having a height decreases as the first cooling fin extends rearwardly.
Each of the plurality of first cooling fins may extend obliquely toward a side from which cold air is introduced into the ice maker.
The upper chamber may be depressed downwardly beyond an uppermost surface of the upper plate, wherein an upper surface of the upper chamber may include a curved surface.
The upper tray may further include a heating wire receiving groove and extending along at least a portion of an outer circumference of each of the inlet guides, wherein the heating wire receiving groove may be defined by an outer sidewall and an inner sidewall respectively extending along outer and inner side surfaces of the heating wire receiving groove, wherein one end of the first cooling fin may be connected to the inner sidewall.
The upper tray may further include a plurality of second cooling fins, each second cooling fin being disposed between the first-row inlet guides adjacent to each other.
The first cooling fins and the second cooling fins may be arranged alternately with each other in the first direction.
The second cooling fin may not protrude upwardly beyond an uppermost surface of the upper plate, wherein a height of the second cooling fin may be smaller than a height of the first cooling fin.
Each of at least some of the plurality of second cooling fins may extend to a front surface of the second-row inlet guide.
The upper tray may further include a heating wire receiving groove and extending along at least a portion of an outer circumference of each of the inlet guides, wherein the heating wire receiving groove may be defined by an outer sidewall and an inner sidewall respectively extending along outer and inner side surfaces of the heating wire receiving groove, wherein one end of the second cooling fin may be connected to the inner sidewall.
A height of the second cooling fin may be equal to a height of the inner sidewall.
The upper tray may further include depressed patterns respectively formed in rear of the plurality of inlet guides, wherein the depressed pattern may be depressed downwardly beyond the upper plate.
Each depressed pattern may be disposed so as to overlap each inlet guide adjacent thereto in the second direction.
A width of the depressed pattern may decrease as the pattern extends away from the inlet guide.
The cool air may flow into the ice maker from one side of the upper tray, and the depressed area of the depressed pattern may increase as the pattern extends away from one side of the upper tray from which the cold air flows into the ice maker.
The ice maker may further include an upper cover disposed on top of the upper tray such that a cold air flow path is defined between the upper tray and the upper cover, wherein an air guide into which cold air flows is formed on one side of the upper cover, and the cold air flowing from the air guide may flow through an area between adjacent ones of the plurality of inlet guides and be discharged through a cold air discharge spacer formed in a front area and between the upper tray and the upper cover to the outside out of the ice maker.
The upper cover may include a guide receiving boss hollow in a vertical direction so that an upper end of the inlet guide is inserted into the guide receiving boss, wherein the guide receiving boss may include a boss guide that protrudes in an upward direction.
The upper cover may include a front guide extending along an upper surface of the cold air outlet spacer so as to protrude in a frontward direction beyond the cold air outlet spacer.
A refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes one or more storage compartments, one or more doors that open and close the storage compartments, and the ice maker according to one embodiment of the present disclosure mounted into the storage compartment or the door.
Each of the ice maker and the refrigerator according to the present disclosure includes the first cooling fin extending from the first-row inlet guide along the second direction intersecting the first direction in which the inlet guides are arranged, so that the cooling fin extends along the direction in which cold air is introduced, thereby minimizing the cold air flow path resistance and improving the cooling efficiency of the ice chamber. Accordingly, the ice making may be promoted and thus the ice-making amount may be increased.
Furthermore, in each of the ice maker and the refrigerator according to the present disclosure, the cold air introduced into the ice maker may be introduced from a position in rear of the second-row inlet guide, and may flow through the area between adjacent ones of the second-row inlet guides. In this regard, the first cooling fin is disposed between adjacent ones of the second-row inlet guides. Thus, the contact area between the first cooling fin and the cold air increases in an area where the amount of cold air flow is large, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the ice chamber. Accordingly, the ice making may be promoted and, thus, the ice-making amount may be increased.
Furthermore, in each of the ice maker and the refrigerator according to the present disclosure, the ice chamber of the ice tray is depressed downwardly beyond the top surface of the plate of the ice tray, and the upper surface of the ice chamber includes the curved surface. Thus, the contact area between the cold air and the ice chamber located within the cold air flow path may increases, so that the cold air flow amount may be increased while minimizing the cold air flow resistance. Accordingly, the ice making may be promoted and, thus, the ice-making amount may be increased.
Furthermore, each of the ice maker and the refrigerator according to the present disclosure includes the second cooling fin that does not protrude upwardly beyond the uppermost surface of the plate of the ice tray and has a height smaller than a height of the first cooling fin. Thus, the contact area between the second cooling fin and the cold air in an arca where the cold air flow amount is large may be increased while minimizing the cold air flow path resistance, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the ice chamber. Accordingly, the ice making may be promoted and thus, the ice-making amount may be increased.
Furthermore, inn each of the ice maker and the refrigerator according to the present disclosure, the ice tray includes each of the depressed patterns formed in rear of each of the plurality of inlet guides and depressed downwardly beyond the upper plate, so that the volume of the ice tray itself is reduced while increasing the contact area with the cold air, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the ice chamber. Accordingly, the ice making may be promoted and thus, the ice-making amount may be increased.
Furthermore, in each of the ice maker and the refrigerator according to the present disclosure, the front guide may be formed along the upper surface of the cold air discharge spacer defined in the front area and between the ice tray and the cover having the cold air flow path defined therebetween such that the front guide protrudes in the frontward direction beyond the cold air discharge spacer through which the cold air is discharged. Thus, the front guide may guide the cold air ejection direction so that the cold air ejected from the ice maker may be efficiently supplied to the ice bin where the ice is stored. As the cold air is efficiently ejected to the ice bin as the space where the ice is stored, the ice stored in the ice bin may be prevented from melting.
Hereinafter, an ice maker according to some embodiments of the present disclosure and a refrigerator including the same will be described.
First, with reference to
With reference to
The present disclosure describes a refrigerator of a type in which the refrigerating compartment is disposed on top of the freezing compartment. However, the concept of the present disclosure may also be applied to a refrigerator of a type in which the refrigerating compartment is disposed under the freezing compartment, or a refrigerator including only the freezing compartment, or a refrigerator of a type in which the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment are arranged in a horizontal direction. Furthermore, the present disclosure describes an example in which the ice maker 30 is mounted into the first door 11. However, the concept of the present disclosure may also be applied to a case in which the ice maker 30 is disposed in the storage compartment such as the freezing compartment or the refrigerating compartment.
A dispenser 13 capable of dispensing water and/or ice may be disposed at a front surface of either the first door 11 or the second door 12.
The first door 11 may include an outer casing 21 and a door liner 22 coupled to the outer casing 21. The door liner 22 may define a back surface of the first door 11 and may define an ice-making compartment 14 in which an ice maker 30 is disposed. The ice-making compartment 14 may be opened and closed by an ice-making compartment door 24 that is pivotably connected to the door liner 22 via a hinge 23.
The cabinet 2 may include a cold air supply duct hole 2a that communicates with an evaporator (not shown) and supplies cold air to the ice-making compartment 14, and a cold air collection duct hole 2b that collects the cold air from the ice-making compartment 14. A door supply duct 25 and a door collection duct 26 may be mounted on the first door 11. The door supply duct 25 may have a cold air inlet hole 25a positioned at one end thereof and a door supply duct hole 25h positioned at the other end thereof and communicating with the ice-making compartment 14. The door collection duct 26 may have a cold air outlet hole 26a positioned at one end thereof and a door collection duct hole 26h positioned at the other end thereof and communicating with the ice-making compartment 14. When the first door 11 has closed the refrigerating compartment, the cold air inlet hole 25a of the door supply duct 25 may be aligned with and communicate with the cold air supply duct hole 2a, while the cold air outlet hole 26a of the door collection duct 26 may be aligned with and communicate with the cold air collection duct hole 2b. Each of the door supply duct 25 and the door collection duct 26 may extend from an outer sidewall 28 of the door liner 22 to an inner sidewall 27 thereof defining the ice-making compartment 14.
The ice maker 30, an ice bin 20 in which ice discharged from the ice maker 30 is stored, and a support mechanism 40 may be disposed within the ice-making compartment 14. The support mechanism 40 may include a support body 41 that supports and fixes the ice maker 30, and an ice opening 40h through which ice from the ice bin 20 is discharged. The ice opening 40h may communicate with an ice duct hole 15h formed in the inner sidewall 27. For example, when a user manipulates the dispenser 13 to withdraw the ice, the ice removed from the ice maker 30 and stored in the ice bin 20 may pass through the ice duct 15 communicating with the ice opening 40h and the ice duct hole 15h and be discharged to an outside through an ice chute 16 of the dispenser 13. Furthermore, the user may open the first door 11 to directly obtain ice from the ice bin 20. An ice discharge module 50 that guides the stored ice to be easily discharged and crushes the ice may be additionally disposed in the ice bin 20.
Referring to
The lower assembly 32 may be pivotably connected to the upper assembly 31 via a connection shaft 850 so as to pivot about one axis. The lower assembly 32 together with the upper assembly 31 may make a spherical ice while being in contact with the upper assembly 31. The upper assembly 31 has hemispherical upper chambers 220, and the lower assembly 32 has hemispherical lower chambers 420. The lower assembly 32 and the upper assembly 31 may be combined with each other to constitute ice chambers 33, wherein cach ice chamber is composed of each hemispherical upper and lower chambers. Thus, a spherical ice may be made in each ice chamber 33. Hereinafter, an example will be described in which the ice chambers 33 are arranged in a matrix manner including a first row and a second row, wherein five ice chambers 33 are arranged in the first row and six ice chambers 33 are arranged in the second row. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
When the upper assembly 31 and the lower assembly 32 have been combined with each other to constitute the ice chamber 33, water may be supplied to the ice chamber 33 through a water supply 130 formed in the upper cover 100. When the lower assembly 32 pivots after the ice is made, the spherical ice made between the upper assembly 31 and the lower assembly 32 may be removed from the ice chamber 33. The lower assembly 32 may be pivotable in both directions under an operation of a driving unit 800 connected to one side of the upper tray 200.
An upper ejector 600 including upper ejecting pins 620 may be disposed on top of the upper assembly 31 so that the ice may be removed from the upper assembly 31 using the upper ejector 600. The number of the upper ejecting pins 620 may be equal to the number of the ice chambers 33. When the upper ejecting pin 620 extends through the upper assembly 31 and is inserted into the ice chamber 33 to press the ice therein, the pressed ice may be removed from the upper assembly 31.
Furthermore, a lower ejector 700 including lower ejecting pins 720 may be further included so that ice closely contacting the lower assembly 32 may be removed therefrom using the lower ejector. The number of the lower ejecting pins 720 may be equal to the number of the ice chambers 33. For example, the lower ejector 700 may be fixed to the upper assembly 31. When the lower assembly 32 pivots, the lower ejector 700 may press a lower surface of the lower chamber 420 to deform the lower chamber to remove the ice from the lower chamber 420.
During a pivot movement of the lower assembly 32 for the ice removal, the pivotal force of the lower assembly 32 may be transmitted to the upper ejector 600. For this purpose, the ice maker 30 may further include a connection unit 830 that connects the lower assembly 32 and the upper ejector 600 to each other.
In one example, when the lower assembly 32 pivots in one direction, the upper ejector 600 may be lowered by the connection unit 830 connected to the lower assembly so that the upper ejecting pin 620 may press the ice. When the lower assembly 32 pivots in an opposite direction, the upper ejector 600 may be raised by the connection unit 830 so as to return to an original position.
Hereinafter, each of the components constituting the ice maker 30 will be described in more detail.
The upper cover 100 may include a cover body 110 including a front portion 111 extending in the vertical direction and sidewalls 112 respectively formed on both opposing sides of the front portion 111, an inclined portion 113 disposed in rear of the cover body 110, and a rear portion 114 extending from a rear end of the inclined portion 113. A unit guide 140 as an opening extending in the vertical direction may be formed in the sidewall 112 to guide vertical movement of the upper ejector 600. An air guide 120 including an air guide hole 120h that communicates with the door supply duct hole 25h and receive the cold air may be formed in one side of the cover body 110. The air guide 120 may communicate with a bottom of the water supply 130. The cold air supplied through the air guide 120 may flow along a lower surface of the inclined portion 113 toward the front portion 111. Since the cover body 110, the air guide 120, and the water supply 130 of the upper cover 100 are integrated into an integral body, not only the number of parts may be reduced, but also the occurrence of assembly tolerances may be reduced.
The upper ejector 600 may be disposed on top of the upper cover 100. The upper ejector 600 may include an upper ejector body 610 extending in one direction and the plurality of upper ejecting pins 620 protruding in a downward direction from the upper ejector body 610. An upper rib 611 extending in one direction may be formed on a top of the upper ejector body 610. An upper ejector guide 640 may be formed on each of both opposing side surfaces of the upper ejector body 610 so that the upper ejector 600 may move up and down along the unit guide 140 of the upper cover 100. Furthermore, a removal prevention protrusion 630 may be disposed on each of both opposing side surfaces of the upper ejector body 610. The removal prevention protrusion 630 may prevent the connection unit 830 from being removed from the upper ejector body 610 while the upper ejector body 610 is coupled to the connection unit 830. One or more pin guides 150 that extend upwardly and are disposed around an inlet guide 230 of the upper tray 200 may be formed on the upper cover 100. The pin guide 150 may guide the upper ejecting pin 620 so as to be correctly inserted into the inlet guide 230.
The upper tray 200 may be disposed under the upper cover 100. The upper tray 200 may include a plurality of upper chambers 220 extending in the downward direction from upper plate 210. A driving unit support 260 that supports and is coupled to the driving unit 800 may be formed at one side of the upper tray 200. The driving unit support 260 may include a bent portion 261 that extends upwardly and outwardly from one side of the upper plate 210 and a coupling portion 262 that is coupled to the driving unit 800.
A pair of inserts 805 formed in an upper area of the driving unit 800 so as to protrude toward the coupling portion 262 may be respectively inserted into a pair of receiving holes 262h formed in the coupling portion 262, thereby guiding the driving unit 800 to be easily coupled to the coupling portion 262. A fixing portion 804 may protrude upwardly from a top of the driving unit 800 and include a fixing hole 804h defined therein. The driving unit 800 may be fixed to the coupling portion 262 via a separate fastening member that passes through the fixing hole 804h of the fixing portion 804 and is fastened to a coupling portion 263 formed in an upper area of the coupling portion 262. The driving unit 800 may include a first rotating shaft 801 that provides a driving force to pivot the lower assembly 32 and a second rotating shaft 802 that provides a driving force to pivot a full-ice detection lever 870.
A pair of coupling portions 240 that extend rearwardly and are bent upwardly may be respectively formed on both opposing sides of a rear portion of the upper plate 210 of the upper tray 200. A pair of coupling holes 240h may be respectively formed in the pair of coupling portions 240. The ice maker 30 may be fixed to the support mechanism 40 via the pair of coupling portions 240 of the upper tray 200. Referring to
A pair of protrusions 280 protruding in a frontward direction may be formed on a front surface of the upper plate 210 of the upper tray 200. The pair of protrusions 280 may secure a spacing of the ice maker 30 from a structure located in front of the ice maker 30. A pair of hinge supporters 270 protruding downwardly and respectively having hinge holes 270h extending in a left-right direction may be respectively disposed on both opposing sides of a lower surface of the upper plate 210 of the upper tray 200. A tray bushing 840 may be coupled to cach hinge supporter 270.
The upper tray 200 may be made of a metal material. For example, the upper tray 200 may being manufactured using a die casting scheme using a metal material and thus be formed to have high rigidity. In this way, the upper tray 200 may be made of a material having high rigidity and thus may minimize deformation of the upper chamber 220, and may also serve as a supporting member supporting the driving unit 800.
The lower assembly 32 may include a lower tray 400 including a plurality of lower chambers 420, a lower supporter 500 supporting a bottom of the lower tray 400, and a lower cover 300 that fixes the lower tray 400 and the lower supporter 500.
Referring further to
The lower tray 400 may include the plurality of lower chambers 420. The plurality of lower chambers 420 may be arranged in a plurality of rows. For example, a plurality of first row lower chambers may be arranged along a first row, and a plurality of second row lower chambers may be arranged along a second row.
An inserted protrusion 440 protruding in a downward direction may be formed between adjacent lower chambers 420. The inserted protrusion 440 may be formed between the first row lower chamber and the second row lower chamber. The inserted protrusion 440 may be formed to extend in an elongate manner in the left-right direction. The inserted protrusion 440 may pass through a slot 540 of the lower supporter 500 in a fastened manner thereto, thereby constituting a fixing structure that fastens the lower tray 400 and the lower supporter 500 to each other. The inserted protrusion 440 may be fastened to the slot 540 of the lower supporter 500 in a hook-coupling scheme, so that the lower tray 400 and the lower supporter 500 may be fastened to each other without a separate fastening member.
In one example, the lower supporter 500 may include a plurality of chamber receiving portions 520 for respectively accommodating therein the plurality of lower chambers 420 of the lower tray 400. Each chamber receiving portion 520 may be formed in a shape corresponding to a shape of a lower surface of the lower chamber 420. A lower opening 521 may be formed in an inner central area of the chamber receiving portion 520 such that the lower ejector 700 passes through the lower opening 521 during the ice-removal process. Therefore, the lower opening 521 may be formed in each chamber receiving portion 520. The lower surface of the lower chamber 420 of the lower tray 400 may be exposed to the outside through the lower opening 521. The slot 540 extending in the left-right direction may be formed in a central area of the lower supporter 500. The inserted protrusion 440 of the lower tray 400 may be inserted into the slot 540. The slot 540 may be disposed at a position corresponding to the position of the inserted protrusion 440 and may be formed in an opening shape so that the inserted protrusion 440 may be fixedly inserted into the slot 540.
A front wall 310 extending in a downward direction may constitute a front portion of the lower cover 300, and a rear wall 320 extending in a downward direction may constitute a rear portion thereof. In a lower area of the rear wall 320, a first rear stopping step portion 321 extending in one direction in which the rear wall 320 extends may be formed to protrude inwardly of the lower cover 300 from an inner surface of the rear wall. In an upper area of the rear wall 320, a second rear stopping step portion 322 extending in one direction in which the rear wall 320 extend may be formed to protrude inwardly of the lower cover 300 from the inner surface of the rear wall. When the lower cover 300 is combined with the lower tray 400 and the lower supporter 500, a rear surface of the lower supporter 500 may be fixedly fitted in between the first rear stopping step portion 321 and the second rear stopping step portion 322 in a hooked or caught manner.
In a lower area of the front wall 310, one or more first front surface stopping step portions 311 may be formed to protrude inwardly of the lower cover 300 from an inner surface of the front wall. In an upper area of the front wall 310, one or more second front surface stopping step portions 312 may be formed to protrude inwardly of the lower cover 300 from the inner surface of the front wall. When the lower cover 300 is combined with the lower tray 400 and the lower supporter 500, a front surface of the lower supporter 500 may be fixedly fitted in between the first front surface stopping step portion 311 and the second front surface stopping step portion 312 in a hooked or caught manner.
The lower tray 400 and the lower supporter 500 may be combined with each other, and then the lower cover 300 may be assembled with the lower tray 400 and the lower supporter 500 in a swing scheme, such that the lower assembly 32 may be assembled. In assembling the lower cover 300 with the lower tray 400 and the lower supporter 500 in the swing scheme, the rear wall 320 of the lower cover 300 first comes into contact with the lower tray 400 and the lower supporter 500, and then a rear area of each of the lower tray 400 and the lower supporter 500 is pressed into an area between the first rear stopping step portion 321 and the second rear stopping step portion 322 and fixedly fitted in therebetween. Afterwards, the front wall 310 of the lower cover 300 may pivot in a downward direction around the rear wall 320 of the lower cover 300 as a pivot axis, and then, a front area of each of the lower tray 400 and the lower supporter 500 is pressed into an area between the first front surface stopping step portion 311 and the second front surface stopping step portion 312 formed on the front wall 310 of the lower cover 300 and fixedly fitted in therebetween.
Respective shaft connection portions 811 and 821 of a first link 810 and a second link 820 may pass through both opposing side portions of the lower supporter 500, respectively. A connection shaft 850 extending in one direction may be disposed between the shaft connection portion 811 of the first link 810 and the shaft connection portion 821 of the second link 820 facing each other. A rotational shaft connection portion 813 may be formed on one side of the first link 810 disposed adjacent to the driving unit 800, and may be connected to a rotation protrusion portion 803 formed on the first rotational shaft 801 of the driving unit 800, thereby transmitting the driving force of the driving unit 800 to the lower assembly 32.
Each of both opposing side portions of the lower supporter 500 may be coupled to each supporter connection hole 832 defined in one side surface of each of the pair of connection units 830. An ejector connection hole 831 coupled to the removal prevention protrusion 630 of the upper ejector 600 may be formed in the other side of each connection unit 830. The removal prevention protrusion 630 of the upper ejector 600 may be connected to the ejector connection hole 831 of the connection unit 830 while being located out of the unit guide 140 of the upper cover 100. When the lower assembly 32 pivots, the pivot force of the lower assembly 32 is transmitted to the upper ejector 600 via the connection unit 830, such that the upper ejector 600 may move up and down along the unit guide 140 of the upper cover 100.
The first link 810 and the second link 820 may be connected to the lower supporter 500 via a pair of elastic members 860, respectively. For example, the elastic member 860 may be embodied as a coil spring. One end of each of the elastic members 860 may be connected to each of respective spring connection holes 812 and 822 of the first link 810 and the second link 820, while the other end of each of the elastic members 860 may be connected to each of both opposing sides of the lower supporter 500. The elastic members 860 may provide an elastic force to the lower supporter 500 so that a state in which the upper tray 200 and the lower tray 400 are in contact with each other is maintained.
The lower ejector 700 may be disposed under the lower assembly 32. The lower ejector 700 may press the lower assembly 32 so that the ice closely contacting the lower assembly 32 is removed from the lower assembly 32. The lower ejector 700 may include a lower ejector body 710 and a plurality of lower ejecting pins 720 protruding from the lower ejector body 710. The number of the lower ejecting pins 720 may be equal to the number of the ice chambers 33. The lower ejector 700 may be fixed to the upper assembly 31. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the lower ejector 700 may be fixed to the support mechanism 40. In the ice-removal process, when the lower assembly 32 pivots toward the lower ejector 700, a lower surface of the lower chamber 420 formed in the lower tray 400 of the lower assembly 32 is pressed and deformed by the lower ejector 700, so that the ice closely contacting the lower chamber 420 may be removed therefrom.
Each protrusion 750 protruding outwardly may be formed on each of both opposing side surfaces of the lower ejector body 710. Each protrusion 750 may be fixed by a support holder 43 formed on a front surface of the support mechanism 40. Furthermore, a groove 751 may be formed in one side surface of each protrusion 750. A protrusion formed on the support mechanism 40 may be inserted into the groove 751 so that the movement of the lower ejector 700 in the left-right direction may be more strongly restricted. Furthermore, a fastening boss 740 extending from a rear surface of the lower ejector body 710 backwardly may be formed. The fastening boss 740 may be fastened to a coupling hole formed in the support mechanism 40 via a separate fastening member such as a screw. Accordingly, the lower ejector body 710 may be fixed so that the movement in the forward and backward directions of the lower ejector body 710 is restricted by the support mechanism 40.
A pair of coupling portions 730, each having a coupling hole 730h defined therein, may be respectively formed on both opposing sides of a top of the lower ejector body 710. A pair of ejector connection portions 290 may be formed on a rear surface of the upper tray 200 and may extend outwardly and be bent so as to respectively cover the coupling portions 730 of the lower ejector body 710. Each ejector connection portion 290 has a coupling hole 290h defined therein. The coupling hole 290h may be coupled to the coupling hole 730h formed in the coupling portion 730 of the lower ejector body 710 via a separate fastening member such as a screw. Accordingly, the lower ejector 700 may be fixed to the upper assembly 31.
An amount of ices stored in the ice bin 20 may be detected using the full-ice detection lever 870. The full-ice detection lever 870 may include a detection portion 871 that extends in an elongate manner in one direction and is bent at both ends thereof, and a pair of hooks 872 respectively formed at both ends of the bent detection portion 871. The hook 872 formed at one end may be connected to the first rotation shaft 801 of the driving unit 800 and may receive the driving force from the driving unit 800. The hook 872 formed at the other end may be inserted into and caught with a lever receiving portion 121 extending downwardly from the air guide 120 of the upper cover 100. However, the lever receiving portion 121 may be formed as a separate structure from the upper cover 100 rather than being integral with the upper cover 100, and may be mounted on the inner sidewall 27 of the first door 11. Alternatively, a through hole may be defined in the inner sidewall 27 of the first door 11 itself such that the hook 872 may be caught with the through hole.
Hereinafter, with reference to
The upper tray 200 may include the upper plate 210 constituting a body thereof. The upper plate 210 may have a rectangular plate shape having a long side and a short side. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The long side of the upper plate 210 may extend in a first direction, and the short side of the upper plate 210 may extend in a second direction. The first direction used in the present disclosure may mean an x-axis direction, and the second direction used in the present disclosure may mean a y-axis direction. Furthermore, the left-right direction of each of the ice maker 30 and the upper tray 200 as described in the present disclosure may mean the first direction and the x-axis direction, a front-back direction as described in the present disclosure may mean the second direction and the y-axis direction, and an up-down or vertical direction may mean a z-axis direction. In addition, a rear position of each of the ice maker 30 and the upper tray 200 described in the present disclosure may mean a position adjacent to a place where the support mechanism 40 is disposed or a place into which the cold air is introduced, while a front position of each of the ice maker 30 and the upper tray 200 described in the present disclosure may mean a position adjacent to a place from the cold air is discharged to the ice bin 20.
The cold air may be introduced from one side of the upper plate 210 in the first direction. For example, the cold air introduced into the ice maker 30 through the air guide 120 disposed on one side of the upper cover 100 may flow through the cold air flow path formed between the upper cover 100 and the upper plate 210. Therefore, the cold air introduced into the ice maker 30 may flow on and along an upper surface of the upper plate 210 of the upper tray 200. The driving unit support 260 may be formed on the other side of the upper plate 210 in the first direction.
The plurality of upper chambers 220 arranged in a plurality of rows, cach row extending along the first direction, may be formed in the upper plate 210. In the present disclosure, an example in which the upper chambers 220 are arranged in two rows, that is, the first row and the second row are described. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto and the upper chambers 220 may be arranged in at least three rows. Each of the upper chambers 220 may be formed to extend in the downward direction from the upper plate 210. The upper chambers 220 arranged in the same row may be constructed so that side surfaces thereof contact each other. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and adjacent upper chambers 220 may be spaced from each other by a predetermined spacing.
For example, the upper chamber 220 may be depressed downwardly relative to the uppermost surface of the upper plate 210. Accordingly, a total volume of the upper tray 200 to be cooled may be reduced, thereby improving the cooling efficiency. An upper surface of the upper chamber 220 may be formed to include a curved surface. Therefore, the upper chamber 220 may be combined with the lower chamber 420 to form a spherical ice chamber, and may have an increased contact surface that may come into contact with the cold air, thereby improving the cooling efficiency. The plurality of upper chambers 220 may be positioned closer to a front end rather than to a rear end of the upper plate 210.
Each of a plurality of inlet guides 230 may be formed on each of the upper chambers 220 and may communicate with each upper chamber 220 and may extend upwardly of the upper plate 210. Each inlet guide 230 may have a pin inlet opening 230h defined therein into which the upper ejecting pin 620 is inserted. Furthermore, since the inlet guide 230 is formed in a shape extending upwardly in an clongate manner, water may be prevented from flowing into the pin inlet opening 230h of the inlet guide 230 when supplying the water to the ice maker 30. The plurality of inlet guides 230 may include a plurality of first-row inlet guides 230a arranged in the first row and a plurality of second-row inlet guides 230b arranged in the second row. Therefore, the plurality of first-row inlet guides 230a arranged along the first row may be arranged along the first direction, and the plurality of second-row inlet guides 230b arranged along the second row may be arranged along the first direction. An array of the first-row inlet guides 230a and an array of the second-row inlet guides 230b may be arranged along the second direction intersecting the first direction. The first-row inlet guides 230a adjacent to each other may be spaced, by a predetermined distance, from each other. The second-row inlet guides 230b adjacent to each other may be spaced, by the predetermined distance, from each other.
The plurality of inlet guides 230 may be alternately arranged with each other in a zigzag manner. For example, in a front side view of the upper tray 200, one second-row inlet guide 230b may be disposed between the first-row inlet guides 230a adjacent to each other in the first direction. Similarly, one first-row inlet guide 230a may be disposed between the second-row inlet guides 230b adjacent to each other in the first direction. In this way, the first-row inlet guides 230a and the second-row inlet guides 230b may be arranged so as to non-overlap each other in the front-back direction, thereby increasing space efficiency.
One inlet guide 230 among the plurality of inlet guides 230 may include a water-supply guide 231. That is, a partial area of one inlet guide 230 may be cut away so as to be open toward the water supply 130 to form the water-supply guide 231 so that water having flowed through the water supply 130 may flow through the water-supply guide 231 into the ice chamber 33. For example, the water-supply guide 231 may generally include a semi-cylindrical structure, and a supplied-water inlet 232 that generally includes a right square prism shape and is disposed in rear of the semi-cylindrical shape. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Only one of the second-row inlet guides 230b inlet guide may include the water-supply guide 231 including the supplied-water inlet 232. Therefore, one inlet guide 230a including the water-supply guide 231 may be formed to protrude rearwardly beyond other second-row inlet guides 230b arranged in the same first row. The water-supply guide 231 may have an open top and thus may have a water-supply path 231h through which water is supplied.
As described above, the cold air flowing into the ice maker 30 may flow into one side of the ice maker 30 and be discharged to a position in front of the ice maker 30 through the cold air flow path formed between the upper cover 100 and the upper tray 200. For example, the cold air flowing from the air guide 120 of the upper cover 100 may flow through an arca between adjacent ones of the plurality of inlet guides 230 and be discharged to the outside through a cold air discharge spacer 170 formed in a front area and between the upper tray 200 and the upper cover 100. Specifically, the cold air flowing into the ice maker 30 may flow in from a position in rear of the second-row inlet guides 230b, and may flow through an arca between adjacent ones of the ones of the second-row inlet guides 230b, and then flow through an area between adjacent ones of the first-row inlet guides 230a and then be discharged to the outside. In this way, the cold air flow path formed between the upper tray 200 and the upper cover 100 may flow through the area between adjacent ones of the second-row inlet guides 230b and the area between adjacent ones of the first-row inlet guides 230a. Therefore, the cold air flowing into the ice maker may be introduced along the first direction and may discharged to the outside along the second direction intersecting the first direction. However, in the present disclosure, the cold air flowing along each of the first direction and the second direction generally means that the cold air flows along the above-mentioned direction, and may not exclude that the cold air may flow in a direction other than the first direction and the second direction.
Accordingly, a combination of the areas between adjacent ones of the second-row inlet guides 230b and the areas between adjacent ones of the first-row inlet guides 230a may act as a path along which a large amount of cold air may flow, so that the cooling efficiency may be increased in the path along which the large amount of cold air may flow. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, in order to further improve the cooling efficiency in the path along which a large amount of cold air may flow, one or more cooling fins may be disposed to increase a contact area between the cold air and the upper tray 200.
For example, each of a plurality of first cooling fins 251 may be disposed between the first-row inlet guides 230a arranged in the first row and the second-row inlet guides 230b arranged in the second row. Each first cooling fin 251 may extend from the first-row inlet guide 230a along the second direction intersecting the first direction in which the inlet guides 230 are arranged. The first cooling fin 251 may be formed integrally with the upper tray 200. The first cooling fin 251 may be disposed between the second-row inlet guides 230b adjacent to each other in the first direction. The first cooling fin 251 may extend rearwardly from a rear surface of the first-row inlet guide 230a. In this way, the first cooling fin 251 is located in the path along which the large amount of cold air may flow, such that the contact area between the cold air and the upper tray 200 may be increased. Furthermore, since the first cooling fin 251 extends along the second direction as the direction in which the cold air flows, the first cooling fin 251 may apply minimized resistance against the cold air flow.
At least a portion of the first cooling fin 251 may be formed to protrude upwardly beyond the uppermost surface of the upper plate 210. Accordingly, the contact area between the first cooling fin 251 and the cold air may be increased. However, since the height of the first cooling fin 251 is smaller than a height of the inlet guide 230, the cold air flow resistance of the first cooling fin 251 may be reduced. Furthermore, the first cooling fin 251 may be formed to include an inclined surface 251s whose a height decreases as the cooling fin extends rearwardly. Accordingly, the cold air flow path along which the cold air flows on and along the first cooling fin 251 may be secured while reducing the cold air flow resistance.
Referring to
According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, each of a plurality of second cooling fins 252 may be further disposed between the first-row inlet guides 230a adjacent to each other in order to further increase the cooling efficiency. For example, the second cooling fins 252 and the first cooling fins 251 may be alternately arranged with cach other along the first direction. Therefore, the cold air having flowed along and on the first cooling fin 251 disposed between adjacent ones of the second-row inlet guides 230b may flow on and along the second cooling fin 252 disposed between adjacent ones of the first-row inlet guides 230a and then may be discharged to the outside. At least some of the plurality of second cooling fins 252 may extend to the front surface of the second-row inlet guides 230b. The height of the second cooling fin 252 may be smaller than the height of the first cooling fin 251 and may not protrude upwardly beyond the uppermost surface of the upper plate 210 of the upper tray 200. Accordingly, the second cooling fin 252 may increase the contact area between the second cooling fin 252 and the cold air in an area where the cold air flow amount is large while applying minimized resistance to the cold air flow path, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the upper chamber 220.
A heating wire receiving groove 250 may be recessed in the upper surface of the upper tray 200 and may extend so as to surround the upper chambers 220. Referring further to
A heating wire cover 900 may be disposed on a top of the heating wire 990 to secure the heating wire 990. The heating wire cover 900 incudes a heating wire cover body 910 having a closed curve shape and composed of a flat body 912 and a curved body 911, and may be formed to have a shape similar to a shape of a circumference of a combination of the plurality of upper chambers 220. For example, the heating wire cover 900 may include an upper convex portion 930 protruding upwardly from one surface of the heating wire cover body 910 and a lower convex portion 940 protruding downwardly from the other surface thereof. In this case, the lower convex portion 940 may be inserted into the heating wire receiving groove 250 to press the upper surface of the heating wire 990. Furthermore, the heating wire cover body 910 may include an inner step portion 951 extending inwardly so as to be mounted in the heating wire receiving groove 250 and an outer step portion 952 extending outwardly so as to be mounted in the heating wire receiving groove 250. The heating wire cover 900 may be temporarily fixed by a pair of fixing hooks 281 respectively disposed on both opposing sides of the heating wire receiving groove 250 of the upper tray 200, wherein the fixing hook 281 includes a catcher 282.
The heating wire receiving groove 250 may be formed to be depressed downwardly beyond the uppermost surface of the upper plate 210. The heating wire receiving groove 250 may be formed to have at least a portion extending along at least a portion of an outer circumference of each upper chamber 220. Accordingly, the heating wire receiving groove 250 may have at least a portion extending along at least a portion of an outer circumference of each inlet guide 230. The heating wire receiving groove 250 may extend along an inner surface of the water-supply guide 231 in an area thereof corresponding to the water-supply guide 231 of one inlet guide among the inlet guides 230. For example, the heating wire receiving groove 250 may extend to surround an outer circumference of the arrangement of the plurality of inlet guides 230, but may extend along the inner circumference of the water-supply guide 231 in the area thereof corresponding to the water-supply guide 231 of one inlet guide among the inlet guides 230. The water-supply guide 231 of one inlet guide among the inlet guides 230 protrudes further rearwardly beyond the other inlet guides 230 thereof. Thus, if the heating wire receiving groove 250 extends along the outer circumference of the water-supply guide 231 in the area thereof corresponding to the water-supply guide 231 of one inlet guide among the inlet guides 230, the cold air flow resistance in the area may increase. Accordingly, according to the present disclosure, the heating wire receiving groove 250 extends along the inner circumference of the water-supply guide 231 in the area thereof corresponding to the water-supply guide 231 of one inlet guide among the inlet guides 230, such that the cold air flow resistance in the area may be reduced.
The heating wire receiving groove 250 may have the depressed shape defined by an outer sidewall 255 and an inner sidewall 254 extending along outer and inner side surfaces of the heating wire receiving groove 250, respectively. Accordingly, one end of the first cooling fin 251 as described above may be connected to the inner sidewall 254, and the other end of the first cooling fin 251 may be connected to the first-row inlet guide 230a. Furthermore, one end of the second cooling fin 252 may be connected to the inner sidewall 254, and the other end of the second cooling fin 252 may be connected to the second-row inlet guide 230b. Furthermore, the second cooling fin 252 may be formed to have a height equal to a height of the inner sidewall, thereby reducing the cold air flow resistance.
In one example, the upper tray 200 may further include a plurality of depressed patterns 211 respectively formed in rear of the plurality of inlet guides 230. The depressed patterns may be depressed downwardly beyond the upper plate 210. Each depressed pattern 211 may be disposed to overlap with the inlet guide 230 adjacent thereto in the second direction. The depressed pattern 211 may have a shape in which a width decreases as the depressed pattern extends away from the inlet guide 230. For example, as the width of the depressed pattern 211 decreases as the depressed pattern extends toward a side from which the cold air flows into the ice maker 30, a path along which the cold air flows may be controlled only based on the pattern shape of the depressed pattern 211. In this way, the upper tray 200 according to the present disclosure includes the depressed patterns 211 that are respectively formed in rear of the plurality of inlet guides 230 and are depressed downwardly beyond the upper plate 210, so that the volume of the upper tray 200 itself is reduced while increasing the contact arca with the cold air, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the upper chamber 220.
Referring to
In another example, referring to
A first receiving portion 257 depressed downwardly of the upper plate 210 may be formed between adjacent ones of the plurality of inlet guides 230. For example, the first receiving portion 257 may be formed between adjacent second-row inlet guides 230b and adjacent first-row inlet guides 230a. Therefore, a spacing between adjacent ones of the plurality of second-row inlet guides 230b between which the first receiving portion 257 may be larger than a spacing between adjacent ones of other second-row inlet guides 230b between which the first receiving portion 257 is not disposed. Similarly, a spacing between adjacent ones of the plurality of first-row inlet guides 230a between which the first receiving portion 257 may be larger than a spacing between adjacent ones of other first-row inlet guides 230a between which the first receiving portion 257 is not disposed. A sensor may be accommodated in the first receiving portion 257. In one example, a temperature sensor may be accommodated therein. The first receiving portion 257 may be positioned in a biased manner toward one side of the upper plate 210, for example, to a left side.
A second receiving portion 259 depressed downwardly of the upper plate 210 may be formed in a rear area of the upper plate 210. The second receiving portion 259 may be positioned in a biased manner toward one side of the upper plate 210, for example, the left side. Accordingly, the first receiving portion 257 and the second receiving portion 259 may overlap each other in the front-back direction. A connector and an electrical wire connected to the heating wire 990 may be accommodated in the second receiving portion 259. A pair of fixing guides 243 for fixing the connector and the wire may be formed in the second receiving portion 259. In addition, a spacing guide 241 may be formed in the depressed pattern 211 located in rear of the second inlet guide 230 located at the outermost left side. A pair of electrical wires connected to the heating wire 990 may be spaced from each other via the spacing guide 241 so as not to contact each other.
Furthermore, a guide wall 242 protruding to have a predetermined height and surrounding at least a portion of the rear area of the upper plate may be formed on a rear end of the upper plate 210. The guide wall 242 may serve to prevent the cold air flowing into the inside of the upper tray 200 from being discharged in the rearward direction. One or more fastening bosses 258 protruding upwardly may be formed between adjacent ones of the plurality of inlet guides 230. For example, a pair of fastening bosses 258 may be respectively formed between the first-row inlet guides 230a and the second-row inlet guides 230b located at the outermost right side and between the first-row inlet guides 230a and the second-row inlet guides 230b located at the outermost left side.
The upper cover 100 disposed on top of the upper tray 200 may include an upper cover plate 101 corresponding to and overlapping the upper plate 210 of the upper tray 200. A plurality of guide receiving bosses 180 corresponding to and overlapping the inlet guides 230 of the upper tray 200 may be formed on the upper cover plate 101. Referring to
Each pressing portion 160 protruding downwardly of the upper cover plate 101 may be disposed adjacent to each guide receiving boss 180. The pressing portion 160 may include a plurality of pressing portions spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. The pressing portion 160 may press the upper convex portion 930 of the heating wire cover 900, so that the heating wire cover 900 may press the heating wire 990 to fix the heating wire 990. Therefore, the plurality of pressing portions 160 may be spaced apart from each other according to the shape of the heating wire cover 900. A fastening hole 163 may be formed in the upper cover plate 101 at a position corresponding to a position of the fastening boss 259 of the upper tray 200. The fastening hole 163 and the fastening boss 258 may be fastened to cach other via a fastening member such as a screw, so that the upper cover 100 and the upper tray 200 may be fastened to each other. Furthermore, a receiving portion guide 161 may be formed on the upper cover plate 101 and at a position corresponding to an outer edge of the first receiving portion 257 of the upper tray 200.
Referring to
In this way, the front guide 182 may be formed along the upper surface of the cold air discharge spacer 170 defined in the front area and between the upper tray 200 and the upper cover 100 having the cold air flow path defined therebetween such that the front guide 182 protrudes in the frontward direction beyond the cold air discharge spacer 170 through which the cold air is discharged. Thus, the front guide 182 may guide the cold air ejection direction so that the cold air ejected from the ice maker 30 may be efficiently supplied to the ice bin 20 where the ice is stored.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2023-0155325 | Nov 2023 | KR | national |
