초록 ▼

An ice dispenser apparatus includes an ice making mechanism (1) and, an ice storage box (5) for storing ice pieces produced by the ice making mechanism. When the ice pieces are dispensed a discharge port shutter (9) normally closing a discharge port (5c) provided in the ice storage box (5) at a lowe

An ice dispenser apparatus includes an ice making mechanism (1) and, an ice storage box (5) for storing ice pieces produced by the ice making mechanism. When the ice pieces are dispensed a discharge port shutter (9) normally closing a discharge port (5c) provided in the ice storage box (5) at a lower portion thereof is opened by a discharge port shutter actuator (11). A transient storage chamber (13) is provided in communication with the discharge port (5c), the chamber having a normally closed aperture for transiently storing a predetermined amount of ice pieces discharged from the ice storage box (5) through the discharge port (5c) when the discharge port shutter (9) is opened. A transient storage chamber shutter (10) is provided in association with the transient storage chamber (13) and is adapted to be actuated by a transient storage chamber shutter actuator (12) for selectively opening or closing the aperture. The discharge port shutter (9) and the transient storage chamber shutter (9) are opened and closed by the associated actuators (11, 12), respectively, in such a manner that the predetermined amount of ice pieces is temporarily stored once within the transient storage chamber (13) before being dispensed therefrom.

대표청구항 ▼

An ice dispenser apparatus comprising: an ice making mechanism for producing ice; ice storage means operatively connected to said ice making mechanism for storing ice produced by said ice making mechanism, said ice storage means having a discharge port through which the ice stored in the ice storage

An ice dispenser apparatus comprising: an ice making mechanism for producing ice; ice storage means operatively connected to said ice making mechanism for storing ice produced by said ice making mechanism, said ice storage means having a discharge port through which the ice stored in the ice storage means is discharged; a discharge port shutter mounted over said discharge port and actuatable to an open position at which said discharge port is open thereby enabling the ice to be discharged therethrough and to a closed position at which said discharge port is closed; a discharge port shutter actuating means operatively connected to said discharge port shutter for normally actuating said discharge port shutter to said closed position; transient storage chamber means in communication with said discharge port for transiently storing a predetermined amount of the ice discharged through said discharge port, said transient storage chamber means having a bottom, a front, respective side portions, and an aperture through which ice transiently stored therein is dispensed, said aperture including respective portions defined, respectively, at the bottom and the front of said transient storage chamber means; a transient storage chamber shutter movably mounted over said aperture for selectively opening and closing over said aperture, said transient storage chamber shutter comprising a pivotable L-shaped plate member having a bottom leg portion and an upstanding leg portion extending perpendicularly to said bottom leg portion, said bottom leg portion and said upstanding leg portion closing over said aperture portions, respectively, when said transient storage chamber shutter is closed over said aperture; a transient storage chamber actuating means operatively connected to said transient storage chamber shutter for selectively opening and closing said discharge port shutter over said aperture; and control means operatively connected to said discharge port shutter actuating means and said transient storage chamber shutter actuating means for controlling the same to actuate said shutters in a manner in which said predetermined amount of ice is temporarily stored once within said transient storage chamber before being disposed through said aperture.