An ice bank for a refrigerator, comprises: an ice bank body having an ice-crushing unit and a discharging passage; and a mode conversion apparatus disposed in the ice bank body for guiding ice cubes to the ice-crushing unit, or guiding the ice cubes to the discharging passage for discharge in a non-
An ice bank for a refrigerator, comprises: an ice bank body having an ice-crushing unit and a discharging passage; and a mode conversion apparatus disposed in the ice bank body for guiding ice cubes to the ice-crushing unit, or guiding the ice cubes to the discharging passage for discharge in a non-crushed state, wherein the mode conversion apparatus comprises: a guide member rotatably disposed in the ice bank body for guiding ice cubes to the ice-crushing unit, or to the discharging passage for discharge in a non-crushed state; an elastic member for elastically supporting the guide member; and a driving unit for generating a driving force so as to rotate the guide member. Accordingly, ice cubes can be dispensed in a non-crushed state or in a crushed state, and limitations in installation places of the ice bank can be reduced.
대표청구항▼
1. A refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerator main body having a cooling chamber;a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the cooling chamber, the door having a cavity on a rear surface thereof;an ice maker mounted on the door;a base member in the cavity of the door, the base member
1. A refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerator main body having a cooling chamber;a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the cooling chamber, the door having a cavity on a rear surface thereof;an ice maker mounted on the door;a base member in the cavity of the door, the base member including a vertical base portion and a horizontal base portion;an ice bank detachably mountable on the base member below the ice maker while horizontally sliding on the horizontal base portion; anda detachable-mounting apparatus configured to detachably mount the ice bank to the base member,wherein the ice bank comprises: a rear wall having a bottom edge slidably contactable with the horizontal base portion of the base member;side walls; anda front wall,wherein the detachable-mounting apparatus comprises: a rotation shaft portion rotatably coupled to the base member in a vertical direction;a cover that has a plate-like shape, and that has one surface connected with the rotation shaft portion;an elastic member configured to return the cover to an initial position, the elastic member being a torsion spring; anda detachable-mounting unit configured to detachably mount the ice bank to the base member by interworking with the cover when the ice bank is inserted into or separated from the base member;wherein the rotation shaft portion and the cover are integrally formed with each other,wherein the rotation shaft portion is provided with an insertion portion for inserting the elastic member,wherein a first end of the elastic member is supported by the cover and a second end of the elastic member is supported by the base member, the first end of the elastic member being opposite of the second end of the elastic member,wherein a recess portion is located at one of the side walls of the ice bank such that the cover is disposed in the recess portion, andwherein the detachable-mounting unit is configured to allow the ice bank to be separated from the base member based on the cover being rotated to an inside of the recess portion. 2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the horizontal base portion of the base member is provided with a horizontal supporting portion configured to support the bottom edge of the ice bank when the bottom edge is horizontally inserted into the base member, the horizontal supporting portion being implemented as a linear guide groove formed on an upper surface of the horizontal base portion, and wherein the bottom edge of the ice bank is provided with a first insertion supporting portion, the first insertion supporting portion supported by being inserted into the horizontal supporting portion. 3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the vertical base portion of the base member is provided with a vertical supporting portion configured to support the ice bank, and wherein the ice bank is provided with a second insertion supporting portion such that the vertical supporting portion of the horizontal base portion is inserted therein. 4. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the vertical supporting portion comprises a left supporting portion and a right supporting portion formed on the horizontal base portion of the base member, wherein the left supporting portion has a first protrusion portion protruding from one side of the vertical base portion in a hexahedron shape, and a second protrusion portion extending from an upper surface of the first protruding portion,wherein the right supporting portion has a first protrusion portion protruding from other side of the vertical base portion, and a second protrusion portion protruding from one side of the first protrusion portion of the right supporting portion, andwherein the second insertion supporting portion comprises a stepped protrusion portion relatively protruding with respect to both sides of the ice bank, and one-step concaved surface portions formed at both sides of the stepped protrusion portion such that the left and right supporting portions are inserted therein. 5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the detachable-mounting unit comprises: a curved-line guide groove penetratingly formed at a lower surface of the base member in the form of a curved-line;a guide rod curvedly-extending from one side of the rotation shaft portion in the form of a curved-line, and having a locking guide protrusion at one side thereof, the locking guide protrusion protruding so as to be inserted into the curved-line guide groove; anda guide locking portion disposed on a lower surface of the ice bank, and locked by or unlocked from the locking guide protrusion in response to the locking guide protrusion being moved when the ice bank is inserted into or separated from the base member. 6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the guide locking portion comprises an opening groove formed at a lower surface of the one-step concaved surface portion such that the locking guide protrusion is inserted therein, and a locking protrusion formed in the ice bank to be contactable with the inserted locking guide protrusion. 7. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the locking guide protrusion is formed such that a sectional surface thereof has a semi-circular shape, and wherein the locking protrusion has a triangular sectional surface such that the locking protrusion comes in contact with the locking guide protrusion to prevent separation of the ice bank. 8. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the detachable-mounting unit comprises: an elastic hook curvedly-protruding from one side surface of the cover, and having an elastic force; anda curved-line shaped locking protrusion protruding from one side of the ice bank in the form of a curved-line, and engaged with the elastic hook. 9. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the elastic hook comprises: a first curved-line portion protruding from one side surface of the cover;a second curved-line portion curvedly-extending from the first curved-line portion;a third curved-line portion curvedly-extending from the second curved-line portion by a predetermined length; anda locking portion curvedly-extending from the third curved-line portion. 10. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the curved-line shaped locking protrusion is formed in a shape corresponding to the first curved-line portion. 11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the curved-line shaped locking protrusion is configured such that an end portion thereof comes in contact with the locking portion to restrict a motion of the elastic hook. 12. A refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerator main body having a cooling chamber;a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the cooling chamber;an ice maker mounted on the door;an ice bank detachably mountable below the ice maker; anda detachable-mounting apparatus configured to detachably mount the ice bank to the door,wherein the ice bank comprises: an ice bank body having an ice-crushing unit and a discharging passage; anda mode conversion apparatus disposed in the ice bank body and configured to guide ice cubes to the ice-crushing unit or to the discharging passage for discharge in a non-crushed state,wherein the mode conversion apparatus comprises: a guide member rotatably disposed in the ice bank body configured to guide ice cubes to the ice-crushing unit or to the discharging passage for discharge in a non-rushed state;an elastic member configured to elastically support the guide member;a driving unit configured to generate a driving force so as to rotate the guide member, the driving unit comprising an actuator mounted to a rear surface of a base member and a hook coupled to a shaft of the actuator; anda curved lever rotatably disposed between the driving unit and the guide member, and configured to rotate the guide member in a manner of changing a linear motion of the driving unit into a rotation motion and transfer rotation force to the guide member,wherein the actuator is configured to push or pull the curved lever,wherein the curved lever comprises: a coupling shaft portion having a predetermined length and outer diameter, the coupling shaft portion being rotatably coupled to one side of the ice bank body in a horizontal direction;a first curved shaft portion curvedly-extending from one side of the coupling shaft portion;a locking shaft portion curvedly-extending from the first curved shaft portion, and connected to the hook of the driving unit;a second curved shaft portion curvedly-extending from another side of the coupling shaft portion; anda connection shaft portion curvedly-extending from the second curved shaft portion, and connected to the guide member,wherein the locking shaft portion is disposed in an insertion direction of the ice bankwherein the elastic member is a torsion spring, has a first end supported by the guide member and a second end supported by the ice bank body, the first end being opposite of the second end,wherein the hook is configured to detachably insert one end of the locking portion of the curved lever therein,wherein the guide member comprises: a guide portion for guiding ice cubes;a rotatable coupling portion formed at one side of the guide portion, and rotatably coupled to the ice bank body; anda locking portion extending from the guide portion and configured to lock a part of the connection shaft portion of the curved lever,wherein the locking shaft portion is disposed in the ice bank body in a mounting direction of the ice bank,wherein the coupling shaft portion rotates based on the locking shaft portion being moved up and down by the actuator, andwherein the guide member rotates to guide ice cubes to the discharging passage in a non-crushed state based on the locking shaft portion being moved upward by the actuator. 13. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein the connection shaft portion is moved perpendicular to the moving direction of the locking shaft portion. 14. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein a position limitation portion configured to limit a motion of the guide portion is provided at one side of the guide portion. 15. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein a body coupling portion configured to moveably couple the guide member is provided at one side of the ice bank body, and wherein the body coupling portion comprises two fixed plate portions protruding from one side of the ice bank body with a gap therebetween;pin holes penetratingly formed at the fixed plate portions; anda through hole penetratingly formed between the two fixed plate portions, for inserting one side of the guide member. 16. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein the door is provided with a base member, the base member comprising a vertical base portion and a horizontal base portion, wherein the ice maker is provided at the vertical base portion, andwherein the ice bank is detachably mountable on the base member below the ice maker while horizontally sliding on the horizontal base portion. 17. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the driving unit is provided at a rear surface of the vertical base portion of the base member, and wherein the vertical base portion of the base member is provided with a through hole such that an end of the locking shaft portion of the curved lever is inserted therein. 18. The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the ice bank comprises a transfer unit for transferring ice cubes, an ice crushing unit for crushing ice cubes, and a rotation shaft simultaneously coupled to the transfer unit and ice crushing unit, wherein the base member is provided with a driving motor for driving the rotation shaft,wherein the rotation shaft is provided with a first connection unit, andwherein a shaft of the driving motor is provided with a second connection unit detachably connected to the first connection unit when the ice bank is connected to the base member.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (5)
Chung,Eui Yeop; Lee,Wook Yong; Oh,Seung Hwan; Lee,Myung Ryul, Ice bank of ice-making device for refrigerator.
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