A refrigerator is described that includes a slim refrigerator door. The refrigerator includes a storage compartment, a refrigerator door to open and close the storage compartment, and an ice maker to generate ice cubes. The refrigerator further includes an ice bin—at the refrigerator door to receive
A refrigerator is described that includes a slim refrigerator door. The refrigerator includes a storage compartment, a refrigerator door to open and close the storage compartment, and an ice maker to generate ice cubes. The refrigerator further includes an ice bin—at the refrigerator door to receive the ice cubes generated in the ice maker and having a discharge opening—for discharging the ice cubes. The refrigerator further includes a motor—at the refrigerator—and at least one blade—within the ice bin and connected to the—motor. The at least one ice cube directly drops onto the at least one blade. The at least one blade moves the at least one ice cube to the discharge and discharges the at least one ice cube from the ice bin by an operation of the motor.
대표청구항▼
1. A refrigerator, comprising: a cabinet that defines a refrigerating compartment;a refrigerating compartment door configured to open and close the refrigerating compartment;an ice compartment located at the refrigerating compartment door and configured to maintain a freezing temperature;an ice make
1. A refrigerator, comprising: a cabinet that defines a refrigerating compartment;a refrigerating compartment door configured to open and close the refrigerating compartment;an ice compartment located at the refrigerating compartment door and configured to maintain a freezing temperature;an ice maker located within the ice compartment and configured to generate ice cubes;an ice bin located below the ice maker;a blade assembly located in the ice bin, configured to bi-directionally rotate in a first direction or a second direction that is opposite of the first direction, and configured to selectively discharge ice in a cubed state or in a crushed state;an ice compartment door hinged to the refrigerating compartment door;a dispenser located on the refrigerating compartment door; andan ice duct located at a lower side of the ice compartment and having an inlet configured to communicate with an ice opening located at a lower side of the ice compartment;wherein the ice bin includes: a front wall defining a front surface of the ice bin when the ice refrigerating compartment door is in an opened position;a rear wall defining a rear surface of the ice bin and attached to a rear surface of the refrigerating compartment door;a first side wall and a second side wall, each defining a portion of both side surfaces of the ice bin;a first inclined guide surface extending downward from a lower part of the first side wall and inclined towards the blade assembly;a second inclined guide surface extending downward from a lower part of the second side wall and inclined towards the blade assembly;a third inclined guide surface extending downward from a position of the rear wall and inclined towards the blade assembly;a fourth inclined guide surface extending downward from a position of the front wall and inclined towards the blade assembly; anda discharge guide wall extending downwardly from a lower end of the first inclined guide surface and curved along a predetermined curvature,wherein an inner space of the ice bin includes: an ice storage part that is formed by the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, the second side wall, the first inclined guide surface, and the second inclined guide surface and configured to store the ice cubes generated in the ice maker when the blade assembly is stopped;an ice discharge part that is formed below the ice storage part, wherein the ice cubes in the ice storage part are moved by the blade assembly to the ice discharge part only when the blade assembly rotates in the first direction or the second direction;a discharge inlet formed at a boundary plane between a lower end of the ice storage part and an upper end of the ice discharge part and configured to allow the ice cubes in the ice storage part to move to the ice discharge part; anda discharge outlet formed at a lower end of the ice discharge part, wherein the moved ice cubes in the ice discharge part are discharged through the discharge outlet in the cubed state or in the crushed state and moves to the inlet of the ice duct,wherein the blade assembly is located in the discharge inlet, and includes: a rotation axis extending horizontally from the rear wall of the ice bin to the front wall of the ice bin;a plurality of rotation blades arranged to be a predetermined distance away from each other along the rotation axis and configured to rotate about the rotation axis, each rotation blade having a plurality of extension parts extending radially from the rotation axis; anda plurality of fixed blades arranged between adjacent rotation blades, each fixed blade having one end connected to the rotation axis and another end fixed to a lower end of the discharge guide wall, wherein an upper portion of the blade assembly is located in the ice storage part and a lower portion of the blade assembly is located in the ice discharge partwherein each extension part includes: a first side surface having one or more crush parts protruding in the first direction; anda second side surface that is an opposite side of the first side surface, the second side surface having a hook part located at a radial end thereof and protruding in the second direction,wherein the first side surface and the second side surface of the adjacent extension parts are configured to face each other, curve in opposite direction, and define a holding space to receive the ice cubes,wherein an upper portion of the blade assembly is located in the ice storage part and a lower portion of the blade assembly is located in the ice discharge part. 2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein only the blade assembly is located in the discharge inlet of the ice bin and configure to move the ice cubes. 3. A refrigerator, comprising: a cabinet that defines a refrigerating compartment;a refrigerating compartment door configured to open and close the refrigerating compartment; an ice compartment located at the refrigerating compartment door and configured to maintain a freezing temperature; an ice maker located within the ice compartment and configured to generate ice cubes;an ice bin located below the ice maker;a blade assembly located in the ice bin, configured to bi-directionally rotate in a first direction or a second direction that is opposite of the first direction, and configured to selectively discharge ice in a cubed state or in a crushed state;an ice compartment door hinged to the refrigerating compartment door; a dispenser located on the refrigerating compartment door; andan ice duct located at a lower side of the ice compartment and having an inlet configured to communicate with an ice opening located at a lower side of the ice compartment;wherein the ice bin includes: a front wall defining a front surface of the ice bin when the ice refrigerating compartment door is in an opened position;a rear wall defining a rear surface of the ice bin and attached to a rear surface of the refrigerating compartment door;a first side wall and a second side wall, each defining a portion of both side surfaces of the ice bin;a first inclined guide surface extending downward from a lower part of the first side wall and inclined towards the blade assembly;a second inclined guide surface extending downward from a lower part of the second side wall and inclined towards the blade assembly;a third inclined guide surface extending downward from a position of the rear wall and inclined towards the blade assembly;a fourth inclined guide surface extending downward from a position of the front wall and inclined towards the blade assembly; anda discharge guide wall extending downwardly from a lower end of the first inclined guide surface and curved along a predetermined curvature,wherein the ice bin includes: an ice storage part that is formed by the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, the second side wall, the first inclined guide surface, and the second inclined guide surface and configured to store ice cubes when the blade assembly is stopped;an ice discharge part that is formed below the ice storage part, wherein ice cubes in the ice storage part are moved by the blade assembly to the ice discharge part only when the blade assembly rotates in the first direction or the second direction;a discharge inlet formed at a boundary plane between a lower end of the ice storage part and an upper end of the ice discharge part and configured to allow the ice cubes in the ice storage part to move to the ice discharge part; anda discharge outlet formed at a lower end of the ice discharge part, wherein the moved ice cubes in the ice discharge part are discharged through the discharge outlet in the cubed state or in the crushed state and moves to the inlet of the ice duct,wherein the blade assembly is located in the discharge inlet, and includes: a rotation axis extending horizontally from the rear wall of the ice bin to the front wall of the ice bin;a plurality of rotation blades arranged to be a predetermined distance away from each other along the rotation axis and configured to rotate about the rotation axis; anda plurality of fixed blades arranged between adjacent rotation blades, each fixed blade having one end connected to the rotation axis and another end fixed to the ice bin,wherein the rotation axis of the blade assembly is located below the lower end of the first inclined guide surface,wherein each rotation blade includes: a central portion through which the rotation axis passes; and a plurality of extension parts radially extending from the central portion,wherein each extension part has a width gradually increasing from the central portion towards an outer end, and includes:a first side surface having one or more crush parts protruding in the first direction;a second side surface located opposite the first side surface and having a hook part located at a radial end of the second side surface and protruding in the second direction,wherein the second side surface of each extension part is concavely curved toward the first side surface and configured to hold the ice cubes while the rotation blade rotates. 4. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein an upper portion of the blade assembly is located in the ice storage part and a lower portion of the blade assembly is located in the ice discharge part. 5. The refrigerator of claim 4, further comprising a guide member rotatably coupled to an inside of the ice bin, wherein the guide member includes: a first guide surface that is rounded; anda second guide surface extending from an upper end of the first guide surface, and inclined to form a continuous surface with the second inclined guide surface. 6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the ice discharge part includes: an intermediate opening located between a lower end of the discharge guide wall and the lower end of the guide member, the intermediate opening configured to be controlled based on the rotation of the guide member;an upper part located between the discharge inlet and the intermediate opening; anda lower part located between the intermediate opening and the discharge outlet. 7. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the lower portion of the blade assembly is located in the upper part of the ice discharge part. 8. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the second inclined guide surface includes: an outer side inclined guide surface; andan inner side inclined guide surface of which a first inclined angle with respect to a horizontal plane is smaller than a second inclined angle of the outer side inclined guide surface with respect to the horizontal plane,wherein the second guide surface forms a continuous surface with the inner side inclined guide surface. 9. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the plurality of rotation blades are misaligned along the rotation axis, the extension parts of adjacent rotation blades being located at a predetermined angle to a circumferential direction of the rotation trajectory of the rotation blades from each other. 10. A refrigerator, comprising: a cabinet that defines a refrigerating compartment;a refrigerating compartment door configured to open and close the refrigerating compartment;an ice compartment located at the refrigerating compartment door and configured to maintain a freezing temperature;an ice maker located within the ice compartment and configured to generate ice cubes; an ice bin located below the ice maker;a blade assembly located in the ice bin, configured to bi-directionally rotate in a first direction or a second direction that is opposite of the first direction, and configured to selectively discharge ice in a cubed state or in a crushed state;an ice compartment door hinged to the refrigerating compartment door;a dispenser located on the refrigerating compartment door; and an ice duct located at a lower side of the ice compartment and having an inlet configured to communicate with an ice opening located at a lower side of the ice compartment;wherein the ice bin includes: a front wall defining a front surface of the ice bin when the ice refrigerating compartment door is in an opened position;a rear wall defining a rear surface of the ice bin and attached to a rear surface of the refrigerating compartment door;a first side wall and a second side wall, each defining at least a portion of both side surfaces of the ice bin;a first inclined guide surface extending downward from a lower end of the first side wall and inclined towards the blade assembly;a second inclined guide surface extending downward from a lower end of the second side wall and inclined towards the blade assembly;a third inclined guide surface extending downward from a predetermined position of the rear wall and inclined towards the blade assembly;a fourth inclined guide surface extending downward from a predetermined position of the front wall and inclined towards the blade assembly; anda discharge guide wall extending downwardly from a lower end of the first inclined guide surface and curved along a predetermined curvature,wherein an inner space of the ice bin includes: an ice storage part that is formed by the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, the second side wall, the first inclined guide surface, and the second inclined guide surface and configured to store ice cubes when the blade assembly is stopped;an ice discharge part that is formed below the ice storage part, wherein ice cubes in the ice storage part are moved by the blade assembly to the ice discharge part only when the blade assembly rotates in the first direction or the second direction;a discharge inlet formed at a boundary plane between a lower end of the ice storage part and an upper end of the ice discharge part and configured to allow ice cubes in the ice storage part to move to the ice discharge part in the cubed state;and a discharge outlet formed at a lower end of the ice discharge part, wherein cubed ice in the ice discharge part is discharged through the discharge outlet in the cubed state or in the crushed state and moves to the inlet of the ice duct,wherein the blade assembly is located in the discharge inlet, and includes:a rotation axis extending horizontally from the rear wall of the ice bin to the front wall of the ice bin;a plurality of rotation blades arranged along the rotation axis separated by a predetermined distance and configured to rotate about the rotation axis; anda plurality of fixed blades arranged between adjacent rotation blades,each fixed blade having one end connected to the rotation axis and another end fixed to the ice bin,wherein the rotation axis of the blade assembly is located below the lower end of the first inclined guide surface,wherein each rotation blade includes: a central portion through which the rotation axis passes; anda plurality of extension parts radially extending from the central portion, each extension part having a width gradually increasing from the central portion towards an outer end of the extension part,wherein each extension part includes: a first side surface; and asecond side surface that is opposite side of the first side surface,wherein the first side surface and the second side surface of adjacent extension parts are configured to face each other, curved in opposite directions, and define a holding space to receive ice cubes;one or more crushing parts protruding from the first side surface and configured to crush ice cubes when the rotation blades rotate in the first direction; anda hook part protruding from an end of the second side surface and configured to prevent ice cubes in the holding space from being dispensed from the ice bin when the rotation blades rotate in the second direction. 11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the plurality of rotation blades are misaligned along the rotation axis, the extension parts of adjacent rotation blades being located at a predetermined angle to a circumferential direction of the rotation trajectory of the rotation blades from each other. 12. A refrigerator having a refrigerating compartment and a refrigerating compartment door configured to open and close the refrigerating compartment, comprising: an ice compartment located at the refrigerating compartment door having an ice compartment door;an ice maker located within the ice compartment and configured to generate ice cubes;an ice bin located below the ice maker; anda blade assembly located in the ice bin, configured to bi-directionally rotate in a first direction or a second direction that is opposite of the first direction and configured to selectively discharge ice in a cubed state or a crushed state;wherein the ice bin includes: a front wall defining a front surface of the ice bin when the refrigeration compartment door is in an opened position;a rear wall defining a rear surface of the ice bin and attached to a rear surface of the refrigerating compartment door;a first side wall and a second side wall each, defining a portion of both side surfaces of the ice bin;a first inclined guide surface extending downward from a lower part of the first side wall and inclined towards the blade assembly;a second inclined guide surface extending downward from a lower part of the second side wall and inclined towards the blade assembly; anda discharge guide wall extending downwardly from a lower end of the first inclined guide surface and curved along a predetermined curvature, andwherein the blade assembly includes: a rotation axis extending horizontally from the rear wall of the ice bin to the front wall of the ice bin and located below the lower end of the first inclined guide surface; anda plurality of rotation blades arranged along the rotation axis and configured to rotate about the rotation axis,wherein each rotation blade includes; a central portion through which the rotation axis passes; andextension parts radially extending from the central portion,wherein each extension part has a width gradually increasing from the central position towards and outer end, and includes: a first side surface having one or more crush parts protruding in the first direction; anda second side surface that is an opposite side of the first side surface, the second side surface having a hook part located at a radical end thereof and protruding in the second direction,wherein the second side surface of each extension part is concavely curved toward the first side surface and configured to hold ice cubed while the rotation blade rotates. 13. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein the first side surface of each extension part is configured to be concavely curved toward the second side surface. 14. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein an upper portion of the blade assembly is located in the ice storage part and a lower portion of the blade assembly is located in the ice discharge part. 15. The refrigerator of claim 12, further comprising a guide member rotatable coupled to the inside of the ice bin and having a first guide part that is rounded. 16. The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein the guide member further includes a second guide part extending from an upper end of the first guide part, and inclined to form a continuous surface with the second inclined guide surface. 17. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein the ice discharge part includes: includes an intermediate opening located between a lower end of the discharge guide wall and the lower end of the guide member, the intermediate opening configured to be controlled based on the rotation of the guide member. 18. The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the lower portion of the blade assembly is located above the intermediate opening. 19. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein the second inclined guide surface includes: an outer side inclined guide surface; andan inner side inclined guide surface of which a first inclined angle with respect to a horizontal plane is smaller than a second inclined angle of the outer side inclined guide surface with respect to the horizontal plane. 20. The refrigerator of claim 19, wherein the second guide surface forms a continuous surface with the inner side inclined guide surface. 21. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein the plurality of rotation blades are misaligned along the rotation axis, the extension parts of adjacent rotation blades being located at a predetermined angle to a circumferential direction of the rotation trajectory of the rotation blades from each other.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (8)
Jung,Eui Yeop; Chung,Sung Hoon; Lee,Nam Gi; Lee,Wook Yong, Ice bin of refrigerator.
Pastryk Jim J. ; Nelson Mark H. ; Myers Verne H. ; Harmon Daryl L. ; Oltman Andrew M. ; Hortin Gregory G. ; Singh Devinder, Ice delivery system for a refrigerator.
Wu,Guolian; Chase,Kevin M.; Fischer,Marcus R.; Pastryk,Jim J.; Olsson,Shawn F.; Wilcox,Michele E.; Visin,Jerry M.; Lewis,Martin D., Water spillage management for in the door ice maker.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.