초록 ▼

An ice dispenser for a refrigerator includes an ice reservoir mounted inside the refrigerator, an ice supplier disposed within the ice reservoir, a cavity mounted in a refrigerator door, an ice supply tube communicating the ice reservoir with the cavity, a damper door for opening and closing the ice

An ice dispenser for a refrigerator includes an ice reservoir mounted inside the refrigerator, an ice supplier disposed within the ice reservoir, a cavity mounted in a refrigerator door, an ice supply tube communicating the ice reservoir with the cavity, a damper door for opening and closing the ice supply tube, and an elastic member biasing the damper door toward the ice supply tube closing position. A mounting lever pivotally fixed on the cavity, a damper door opening lever extending from an extreme end of the mounting lever to one side of the damper door, a switch operating lever extending from the extreme end of the mounting lever, and a switch operated by a pivotal movement of the switch operating lever are provided. A retardation means for retarding the return of the damper door to the closed position for a predetermined time after pieces of ice are dispensed out of the cavity and the switch is turned OFF is also provided. A retardation release means for releasing the retardation of the return of the damper door after the predetermined time has elapsed is further provided.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A through-the-door ice dispenser for a refrigerator, comprising:a refrigerator door having a cavity in the front of the door;an ice reservoir mounted inside the refrigerator;an ice supplier disposed within the ice reservoir;an ice supply tube connecting the ice reservoir

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A through-the-door ice dispenser for a refrigerator, comprising:a refrigerator door having a cavity in the front of the door;an ice reservoir mounted inside the refrigerator;an ice supplier disposed within the ice reservoir;an ice supply tube connecting the ice reservoir with the cavity of the refrigerator door;a damper door in the cavity of the refrigerator door, for closing the ice supply tube when ice is not being dispensed;an elastic member biasing the damper door toward a position closing the ice supply tube;a switch disposed in the cavity of the refrigerator door, for operating the ice supplier when the switch is depressed;a microprocessor electrically connected to the switch;a switch operating lever in the cavity of the refrigerator door, for contacting the switch when the switch operating lever is pushed for the dispensing of ice;mechanical opening means for opening the damper door in response to pushing of the switch operating lever;mechanical stopping means for stopping the damper door in the open position after the damper door is opened; andelectrical releasing means for releasing the mechanical stopping means in response to a signal from the microprocessor.