Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage space, a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the storage space, a first ice maker provided in the door, a second ice maker provided in the storage space and configured to face the first ice maker when the door is closed, and a cold air passage that guides cold air toward a space between the first ice maker and the second ice maker.

Description

[0001] This invention is a divisional application of the following patent application: Application No.: 202210409807.5, Application Date: April 19, 2022, Invention Title: Refrigerator Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure relates to a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0003] Typically, a refrigerator is a household appliance used to store food at low temperatures in a storage compartment covered by a door. To this end, a refrigerator is constructed to keep the stored food in optimal condition by using cold air to cool the interior of the storage space, which is generated through heat exchange with the refrigerant circulating in a refrigeration cycle.

[0004] Recently, in response to changes in dietary habits and a growing preference for luxury goods, refrigerators have become larger and more functional. For example, a refrigerator with various structures and convenient features has been disclosed to facilitate user convenience and efficient use of internal space.

[0005] In particular, modern refrigerators are equipped with automatic ice makers that can automatically make and store ice. In some cases, the ice maker is located in the freezer compartment. In refrigerators with this structure, the cold air vent can be formed at the rear of the ice maker to ensure its ice-making performance. However, in this configuration, at least part of the vent may be covered by the ice maker. As a result, cold air may not be effectively supplied to the space in front of the ice maker. Furthermore, if the cold air does not circulate in the space in front of the ice maker and becomes stagnant, frost may form in that space. This can cause inconvenience to the user and lead to a deterioration in cooling performance. Summary of the Invention

[0006] One embodiment of this disclosure aims to provide an ice maker and a refrigerator capable of smoothly supplying cold air to the front of the ice maker.

[0007] One embodiment of this disclosure aims to provide a refrigerator that can be applied to refrigerators of various depths and that can uniformly supply cold air therein.

[0008] One embodiment of this disclosure aims to provide a refrigerator capable of uniformly supplying cold air to two ice makers located in the freezer compartment.

[0009] One embodiment of this disclosure aims to provide a refrigerator with two ice makers capable of uniformly supplying cold air to multiple freezer compartments.

[0010] A refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include: a cabinet defining a storage space, to which cold air is supplied through a cold air vent; a door for opening or closing the storage space; an ice maker disposed in the storage space for making ice; an ice maker cover installed to the ice maker and defining a cold air passage bypassing the ice maker and leading to the front of the ice maker; and a distribution channel disposed between the cold air vent and the ice maker to supply cold air discharged from the cold air vent, wherein the distribution channel may include a cooling guide and an ice-making guide, the cooling guide communicating with the ice maker cover and defining a cooling passage for guiding cold air to the ice maker cover, and the ice-making guide branching off from the cooling guide and communicating with the ice maker to define an ice-making passage for guiding cold air to the ice maker.

[0011] The cold air exhaust vent can be located on the rear surface of the storage space, and the ice maker can shield the cold air exhaust vent from the front.

[0012] The ice maker cover can be positioned between the upper surface of the storage space and the upper surface of the ice maker, and can define a cover channel through which the cooling guide and the front of the ice maker communicate with each other.

[0013] The ice maker lid may include a lid body that covers the upper surface of the ice maker, and the lower surface of the lid body may be opened to define a space that accommodates the upper surface of the ice maker.

[0014] The upper surface of the cover body may be provided with an upwardly extending sidewall that can contact the upper surface of the storage space and define the cover channel, and the rear end of the sidewall may communicate with the cooling guide.

[0015] The upper surface of the cover body may be provided with a guide surface that defines the bottom surface of the cover channel, and the guide surface may be inclined.

[0016] The refrigerator may also include an exhaust guide that protrudes from the inside of the lid passage and guides the flow direction of cold air flowing along the lid passage.

[0017] The discharge guide can be tilted toward the side closer to the door's pivot axis, either on the left or right.

[0018] An ice maker may include: an ice maker housing including an upper housing surface and a circumferential housing surface, the upper housing surface defining an upper surface, the circumferential housing surface extending downward along the periphery of the upper housing surface and defining a downwardly open space; and an ice tray installed inside the ice maker housing and forming multiple units in which ice is made, and an ice maker lid may be attached to cover the upper surface of the ice maker housing.

[0019] The rear end of the upper surface of the housing may be provided with a housing inlet that communicates with the ice-making guide to allow cold air to flow into the ice maker.

[0020] The front end of the upper surface of the housing may be provided with a housing outlet, through which cold air flowing into the housing inlet is discharged, and the plurality of units may be arranged between the housing inlet and the housing outlet.

[0021] The cooling guide may include: a guide base extending from a cold air outlet and defining the bottom of a cooling channel; and a guide side extending upward from both ends of the guide base and contacting the upper surface of the storage space.

[0022] The base and sides of the guide section can be connected to the entrance of the cover channel.

[0023] The ice-making channel may include a pipe extension that extends from a base opening defined in a guide base and extends to communicate with the interior of the ice maker to define the ice-making channel.

[0024] The base opening may include a vertical extension that extends upward and directs a portion of the cold air flowing into the cooling channel into the ice-making channel.

[0025] The door may be equipped with a first ice maker, and a door duct may be provided on the upper surface of the storage space. The door duct extends upward to the upper side of the first ice maker and supplies cold air to the first ice maker when the door is closed. The outlet of the cover duct may be open at the position facing the first ice maker.

[0026] A front cover can be installed at the front of the ice maker to shield it from the front, and the front discharge port connected to the cover channel can be confined within the front cover.

[0027] The front vents can be positioned between the upper surface of the storage space and the upper end of the front cover.

[0028] The cold air exhaust port can be confined within a grille pan that shields the evaporator, and the distribution guide can be fixedly mounted to the grille pan to communicate with the cold air exhaust port.

[0029] The storage space can be divided into left and right sections to define the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment. The ice maker can be formed inside the freezer compartment with dimensions corresponding to the width of the freezer compartment, and the spherical ice-making units can be continuously arranged inside the ice maker in the left and right direction. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1 This is a front view of an example refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] Figure 2 A front view showing an example state where the refrigerator door is open.

[0032] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the upper part of the freezer compartment of the refrigerator.

[0033] Figure 4 This is a front perspective view of an example grille disk according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] Figure 5 for Figure 4 The rear 3D view of the grille disc in the image.

[0035] Figure 6 This is a partial perspective view according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, showing the arrangement of the ice maker components and the arrangement of the door pipes and guide pipes disposed in the inner shell of the freezing chamber.

[0036] Figure 7 This is a partial perspective view from below, showing the interior of the freezer compartment where the ice-making components are installed.

[0037] Figure 8 An exploded perspective view showing the connection structure of the ice maker components, door pipes, and guide pipes.

[0038] Figure 9 This is a 3D view of the ice maker components.

[0039] Figure 10 This is an exploded view of the ice maker components when viewed from the front.

[0040] Figure 11 This is an exploded view of the ice maker components when viewed from the rear.

[0041] Figure 12 This is a front perspective view of a distribution pipe according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0042] Figure 13 A 3D view of the pipes when viewed from behind.

[0043] Figure 14 This is a view showing the state of the installed distribution pipes according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] Figure 15 This is a cross-sectional view of the ice maker components.

[0045] Figure 16 This is a cross-sectional view showing the structure used to supply water to the ice maker.

[0046] Figure 17 This is a 3D view of an ice maker.

[0047] Figure 18 This is a perspective view of an ice maker lid according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from the front.

[0048] Figure 19 This is a three-dimensional view of the ice maker lid when viewed from the rear.

[0049] Figure 20 This is a view illustrating an exemplary flow of cold air in a freezer compartment.

[0050] Figure 21 for Figure 20 An enlarged view of part A. Detailed Implementation

[0051] In the following, specific embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the scope of this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments presented herein, and other regressive disclosures or other embodiments that are included within the spirit and scope of this disclosure can be easily proposed by adding, changing, or deleting other elements.

[0052] Furthermore, in one embodiment of this disclosure, for ease of explanation and understanding, a side-by-side (or double-door) refrigerator with a pair of doors on the left and right sides will be described as an example, and it should be noted that this disclosure can be applied to any refrigerator equipped with a dispenser.

[0053] Before proceeding with the description, let's define the direction for clarity. Figure 1 and Figure 2 In this context, the direction relative to the cabinet facing the door can be defined as "front" or "forward," the direction relative to the door facing the cabinet can be defined as "back" or "rear," the direction towards the floor where the refrigerator is installed can be defined as "downward," and the direction away from the floor where the refrigerator is installed can be defined as "upward."

[0054] Figure 1 This is a front view of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Furthermore, Figure 2 It is a front view showing the refrigerator door with the door open. Furthermore, Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the upper part of the freezer compartment of the refrigerator.

[0055] As shown in the figure, the appearance of the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can be defined by a cabinet 10 that defines the storage space and a door 20 connected to the cabinet 10 to open or close the storage space.

[0056] The cabinet 10 may include an outer shell 101 defining the appearance and an inner shell 102 disposed inside the outer shell 101 to define storage space. Insulation material 103 may be filled between the outer shell 101 and the inner shell 102.

[0057] A barrier 11 may be formed in the inner housing 102. The barrier 11 can divide the storage space inside the cabinet 10 from left to right, so that the freezer compartment 12 and the refrigerator compartment 13 are defined side by side. The inner housing 102 can define the inner surfaces of the freezer compartment 12 and the refrigerator compartment 13. If necessary, the inner housing 102 defining the refrigerator compartment 13 and the inner housing 102 defining the freezer compartment can be formed independently.

[0058] Storage components (such as drawers and shelves) can be installed inside the freezer compartment 12 and the refrigerator compartment 13.

[0059] The evaporator 14 may be located at the rear of the freezer compartment 12, and the evaporator 14 may be shielded by a grille 15. The grille 15 may define the rear wall surface of the refrigerator compartment 13 and the freezer compartment 12. The grille 15 may be provided with a shroud 152, which defines a channel through which the cold air generated by the evaporator 14 flows. A fan motor 154 and a blower fan 155 are disposed in the shroud 152 to allow the cold air generated by the evaporator 14 to flow along the channel of the grille 15. An exhaust port 151 through which the cold air is discharged may be defined in the grille 15.

[0060] Ice maker assembly 30 may be located in the uppermost space of freezer compartment 12. Ice maker assembly 30 may include a second ice maker 40 capable of turning automatically supplied water into ice and separating the ice.

[0061] The ice maker assembly 30 may include a distribution duct 60 that allows cold air discharged from the grille 15 to be diverted and directed into and above the second ice maker 40. The ice maker assembly 30 may also include an ice maker cover 50 that allows the cold air diverted by the distribution duct 60 to pass over the upper side of the second ice maker 40 and be directed toward the front of the ice maker assembly 30. Furthermore, the ice maker assembly 30 may also include a front cover 31 that can cover a portion of the space defined at the upper end of the freezer compartment 12.

[0062] An ice bin 70 can be installed below the second ice maker 40. Ice produced by the second ice maker 40 can fall and be stored in the ice bin 70.

[0063] Doors 20 can be arranged side-by-side on the left and right sides of the refrigerator. Doors 20 can be configured to rotate to open or close the freezer compartment 12 and refrigerator compartment 13 located on the left and right sides. Doors 20 can define the front appearance of the refrigerator 1 when closed. Doors 20 may include a freezer door 21 for opening or closing the freezer compartment 12 and a refrigerator door 22 for opening or closing the refrigerator compartment 13.

[0064] The refrigerator door 22 may have an opening at the rear of the door that communicates with the receiving space, and may also have a secondary door 23 for opening or closing the opening. At least a portion of the secondary door 23 may have a viewing portion 231 through which the interior can be seen.

[0065] The first ice-making assembly 25 may be located at the freezer door 21. The first ice-making assembly 25 may include a first ice maker 253 located on the upper rear surface of the freezer door 21. The first ice maker 253 may be configured to make ice using automatically supplied water and separate the made ice into an ice storage box 254.

[0066] In detail, the first ice maker 253 may include an ice tray 253a for containing water and making ice, and a drive unit 253d disposed on one side of the ice tray 253a. The ice tray 253a may have an open upper surface, and the interior of the ice tray 253a may be divided into multiple units 253c. The units 253c may have a cube or semi-circular shape, and may have a different shape and size than the spherical ice made in the second ice maker 40. The spherical ice is generally larger in volume than the ice made in the unit 253c.

[0067] The rotation shaft 253b of the ice tray 253a can be connected to the drive unit 253d and can rotate according to the operation of the drive unit 253d. That is, the ice tray 253a can be configured to rotate when ice making is complete for separating ice. The first ice maker 253 with this structure can be called a torsion-type ice maker. In some cases, the ice tray 253a can have a structure that maintains a fixed state, and the discharge device can be rotated by the rotation shaft 253b connected to the drive unit 253d to separate ice from the unit 253c.

[0068] The first ice maker 253 can extend horizontally (left-right). Therefore, the rotation axis 253b of the ice tray 253a can also extend horizontally, and the units 253c can be arranged continuously in the horizontal direction.

[0069] Compared to the rotation axis 431 of the second ice maker 40, the rotation axis 253b of the first ice maker 253 can extend in the same direction. That is, the rotation axis 431 of the second ice maker 40 and the rotation axis 253b of the first ice maker 253 can be arranged side by side. In this case, the rotation axis 253b of the first ice maker 253 can be positioned slightly higher than the rotation axis 431 of the second ice maker 40.

[0070] The multiple units C formed in the second ice maker 40 can be arranged continuously in the horizontal direction, and the multiple units 253c formed in the first ice maker 253 can also be arranged continuously in the horizontal direction. That is, the units C of the second ice maker 40 and the units 253c of the first ice maker 253 can be arranged continuously in a parallel direction.

[0071] The second ice maker 40 and the first ice maker 253 can be installed in the same freezer compartment. When the freezer compartment door 21 is closed, the second ice maker 40 and the first ice maker 253 can be positioned facing each other.

[0072] In other words, the front surface of the ice maker assembly 30 can be formed at a position facing the rear surface of the first ice maker assembly 25. The front surface of the ice maker assembly 30 and the rear surface of the first ice maker assembly 25 can be positioned at a distance from each other. The lighting device 19 for illuminating the interior of the freezer compartment 12 can be disposed in the area between the ice maker assembly 30 and the first ice maker assembly 25.

[0073] Both the second ice maker 40 and the first ice maker 253 can be located at the top of the freezer compartment 12. Therefore, the second ice maker 40 and the first ice maker 253 can fill the upper space of the freezer compartment 12 in a side-by-side refrigerator, a space that is narrower in the left-right direction compared to other types of refrigerators. Furthermore, the remaining space in the freezer compartment 12 can be used entirely for food storage.

[0074] Therefore, by arranging the second ice maker 40 horizontally, the ice maker assembly 30 can be formed with dimensions corresponding to the widths of the left and right ends of the freezer compartment 12. Due to the horizontal arrangement of the second ice maker 40, the forward protrusion of the ice maker assembly 30 can be minimized. Therefore, the arrangement space for the first ice maker assembly 25 to protrude from the rear surface of the freezer compartment door 21 can be ensured as much as possible.

[0075] By arranging the second ice maker 40 and the first ice maker 253 side by side at the front and rear of the upper part inside the freezer compartment 12, the cold air discharged from the rear of the second ice maker 40 can be effectively transferred to the second ice maker 40 and the first ice maker 253, and the ice-making performance can be ensured.

[0076] In other words, the second ice maker 40 can make ice using cold air supplied by the distribution pipe 60. The first ice maker 253 can make ice using cold air supplied by the door pipe 16 located on the upper surface of the inner housing 102.

[0077] A first ice maker cover 251 may be disposed above a first ice maker 253. The first ice maker cover 251 has a cover inlet 252 defined at a position corresponding to the pipe outlet 161 of the door pipe 16, and cold air supplied through the door pipe 16 is supplied to the first ice maker 253.

[0078] An ice bank 254, which stores ice produced by the first ice maker 253, may be located below the first ice maker 253. The ice bank 254 may be equipped with a crushing device 255 for crushing the discharged ice. An ice trough 26, which communicates with the dispenser 24, may be formed at the lower end of the ice bank 254.

[0079] Dispenser 24 can be disposed on the front surface of freezer door 21. Dispenser 24 can be configured to remove purified water or ice from the outside while freezer door 21 is closed. Dispenser 24 can be connected to ice storage box 254 via ice tray 26. Therefore, when dispenser 24 is operated, ice stored in ice storage box 254 can be removed.

[0080] The structure of the grid disk 15 will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0081] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of a grille disk according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from the front. Furthermore, Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional view of the grille when viewed from the rear.

[0082] As shown in the figure, the grid plate 15 can be installed inside the inner housing 102 that defines the freezer compartment 12, and can be formed as a space that separates the freezer compartment 12 from front to back.

[0083] The grille plate 15 may include a grille plate 150 defining a front surface and a cover 152 attached to a rear surface of the grille plate 150.

[0084] The grille 150 may form at least a portion of the rear wall surface of the freezer compartment 12, and an exhaust port 151 through which cold air is discharged may be defined in the grille 150. A cold air exhaust port (also referred to as a second exhaust port) 153 may be defined at the upper end of the grille 150, through which cold air is discharged to supply cold air to the second ice maker 40. The cold air exhaust port 153 may be formed with a corresponding size that allows the inlet of the distribution duct 60 to be inserted.

[0085] A front guide portion 156 extending upward and forward can be formed at the upper end of the grid plate 150 so as to open downward and guide cold air forward.

[0086] The cold air outlet 153 can be defined on the front surface of the front guide 156. At least a portion of the inner surface of the front guide 156 can be formed as a circle, such that the downwardly introduced cold air is guided forward, i.e., the cold air outlet 153.

[0087] A shroud 152 can be mounted on the rear surface of the grille 150 and can define a passage for the cold air generated by the evaporator 14 to flow through. A shroud opening 152a can be defined within the shroud 152, and a blower fan 155 can be disposed inside the shroud opening 152a. A fan motor 154 can be disposed at the rear of the shroud 152, and the rotation shaft of the fan motor 154 can be connected to the blower fan 155. The blower fan 155 rotates inside the shroud 152, causing the cold air generated by the evaporator 14 to be introduced into the shroud 152 and subsequently exhausted.

[0088] The open upper end of the shield 152 can communicate with the front guide portion 156 provided at the upper end of the grille plate 150. Therefore, the cold air forced by the blower fan 155 can pass through the upper end of the shield 152, be guided forward by the front guide portion 156, and be discharged to the cold air discharge port 153.

[0089] An upwardly extending upper guide portion 157 may be formed in the cover 152. The upper guide portion 157 may be formed at a position offset to one of the left and right sides, and may be located at a position corresponding to the door pipe 16.

[0090] The upper guide portion 157 may be formed separately from the front guide portion 156 and may extend further upward than the upper end of the front guide portion 156. The upper guide portion 157 may define a channel having an open upper surface. The lower surface of the upper guide portion 157 may communicate with the interior of the cover 152, and the upper surface of the upper guide portion 157 may communicate with the door conduit 16. An open first discharge port 158 ​​may be defined at the upper end of the upper guide portion 157, and the first discharge port 158 ​​may be connected to the pipe inlet 162 of the door conduit 16. Therefore, a portion of the cold air forced by the blower fan 155 may flow into the door conduit 16 along the upper guide portion 157.

[0091] A damper mounting portion 159 may be formed at one end of the cover 152. The damper mounting portion 159 may also be formed on the side adjacent to the refrigerator compartment 13, and the damper may be disposed therein. One surface of the damper mounting portion 159 may be open to connect to the open side of the partition 11 and may communicate with the refrigerator compartment 13. Therefore, a portion of the cold air forced by the blower fan 155 according to the opening and closing of the damper can flow into the refrigerator compartment 13 through the damper mounting portion 159.

[0092] The internal structure of the freezer compartment 12 and the arrangement of the ice maker assembly 30 will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0093] Figure 6 This is a partial perspective view according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, showing the arrangement of the ice maker components and the arrangement of the door pipes and guide pipes disposed in the inner housing of the freezing chamber. Furthermore, Figure 7 This is a partial perspective view of the interior of the freezer compartment where the ice-making components are installed, viewed from below. Furthermore, Figure 8 An exploded perspective view showing the connection structure of the ice maker components, door pipes, and guide pipes.

[0094] As shown in the figure, the upper surface inlet 102a and the upper surface outlet 102b can be defined on the upper surface of the inner housing 102, which defines the upper surface of the freezer compartment 12. The upper surface inlet 102a can be opened to communicate with the space where the evaporator 14 is provided, and the upper surface outlet 102b can be opened at the front end of the upper surface of the freezer compartment 12. With the freezer compartment door 21 closed, the upper surface outlet 102b can be located on the upper side facing the first ice maker cover 251.

[0095] The door duct 16 can be disposed on the upper surface of the inner housing 102. The door duct 16 can extend in the front-to-back direction, and its front and rear ends can be open, thus defining a passage for cold air to flow through. The door duct 16 can be embedded in the insulation material 103 while installed in the inner housing 102.

[0096] Pipe outlet 161 and pipe inlet 162 can be defined at the front and rear ends of the door pipe 16, respectively. Pipe inlet 162 can communicate with the first discharge port 158 ​​exposed through the upper surface inlet 102a, and pipe outlet 161 can communicate with the upper surface outlet 102b. Therefore, a portion of the cold air generated by the evaporator 14 can be supplied to the first ice maker 253 through the door pipe 16.

[0097] A lighting mounting portion 102d may also be defined on the upper surface of the inner housing 102, to which the lighting device 19 is mounted. The lighting mounting portion 102d may be located at the front of the ice maker assembly 30 to illuminate the interior of the freezer compartment 12.

[0098] A water supply pipe opening 102c may be defined on the upper surface of the inner housing 102. The water supply pipe opening 102c may be open above the water supply component 49 (described below), and the water supply pipe 174 may lead to the second ice maker 40.

[0099] The guide pipe 17 can define a channel through which the water supply pipe 174 for supplying water to the second ice maker 40 is guided. Both ends of the guide pipe 17 can be provided with a front bracket 172 and a rear bracket 171.

[0100] The front bracket 172 can be in close contact with the upper surface of the inner housing 102 and can cover the water supply pipe opening 102c. The end of the guide pipe 17 can pass through the front bracket 172 and can be open toward the second ice maker 40. A pipe support 173 can be provided on the front bracket 172, which protrudes upward to support the guide pipe 17 from below.

[0101] The rear bracket 171 can be connected to the rear surface of the cabinet 10. The end of the pipe 17 can be exposed to the rear surface of the cabinet 10 through the rear bracket 171. Therefore, the water supply pipe 174 arranged along the rear surface of the cabinet 10 can be introduced into the guide pipe 17 through the rear bracket 171 and guided to the second ice maker 40 through the front bracket 172.

[0102] Ice maker assembly 30 can be disposed on the inner upper surface of the inner housing 102. Ice maker assembly 30 can be located at the upper end of the freezer compartment 12 and can be spaced apart at a position higher than the receiving member disposed at the uppermost part of the freezer compartment 12. An ice container 70 containing ice made by the second ice maker 40 can be located below the ice maker assembly 30. Ice container 70 can define an ice-containing space 71 with an open upper surface and can be mounted on a receiving member (such as a shelf). An empty handle 72 can be formed on the front surface of ice container 70, allowing ice container 70 to be pulled out or lifted and moved.

[0103] The horizontal width of the ice maker assembly 30 can be configured to correspond to the horizontal width of the freezer compartment 12. Therefore, when the ice maker assembly 30 is installed, the cold air vent 153 and the distribution pipe 60 located at the rear of the ice maker assembly 30 can be covered by the ice maker assembly 30. In particular, when viewed from the front of the freezer compartment, only the front cover 31 can be exposed, and all rear components can be concealed by the front cover 31.

[0104] The ice maker assembly 30 may include: a second ice maker 40 for making ice, an ice maker cover 50 for shielding the upper surface of the second ice maker 40, and a distribution duct 60 for distributing and supplying cold air to the second ice maker 40. The ice maker assembly 30 may also include a front cover 31 for shielding the second ice maker 40 and the ice maker cover 50 from the front.

[0105] The structure of the ice maker assembly 30 will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0106] Figure 9 This is a 3D view of the ice maker components. Furthermore, Figure 10This is an exploded view of the ice maker components as seen from the front. Furthermore, Figure 11 This is an exploded view of the ice maker components when viewed from the rear.

[0107] As shown in the figure, the ice maker assembly 30 may include a second ice maker 40. The second ice maker 40 automatically receives supplied water and produces spherical ice. The second ice maker 40 may include an ice maker housing 41 defining its appearance, an ice tray 45 containing water for making ice, a drive device 42 for rotating the ice tray 45, a discharge device 46 for separating detached ice from the ice tray 45, and an ice full detection lever 47 for detecting whether the ice chamber 70 is full.

[0108] The second ice maker 40 may be referred to as the main ice maker, cabinet ice maker, or spherical ice maker to distinguish it from the first ice maker 253.

[0109] The ice maker housing 41 may include an upper housing surface 411 defining the upper surface of the ice maker housing 41, and a circumferential housing surface 412 extending downward along the periphery of the upper housing surface 411. The ice tray 45, the drive unit 42, and the ice full detection rod 47 may be disposed within the space defined by the circumferential housing surface 412. The produced ice can be separated from the ice tray 45 by the discharge device 46, fall downward, and be stored in the ice chamber 70.

[0110] A tray opening 442a communicating with the ice-making unit C inside the ice tray 45 can be exposed on the upper surface 411 of the housing. The tray opening 442a can be provided in each of the plurality of units C, and water supplied via the water supply pipe 174 can be introduced into the unit C through the tray opening 442a. Ice made in the unit C can be discharged when the discharge pin 461 of the discharger 46 enters and exits above the tray opening 442a.

[0111] The housing inlet 415 and housing outlet 414 can be defined at the front and rear ends of the housing upper surface 411. Cold air flows into the second ice maker 40 through the housing inlet and flows out of the second ice maker 40 through the housing outlet via the housing upper surface 411.

[0112] A front cover 31 may be disposed at the front of the ice maker housing 41. The front cover 31 defines the front surface of the ice maker assembly 30 and can cover all components disposed at the rear.

[0113] The front cover 31 may include a front portion 311 and an edge portion 312 extending rearward along the periphery of the front portion 311.

[0114] The front end of the ice maker housing 41 can be inserted into the open rear surface of the front cover 31. The housing connecting part 314 can be provided on the left and right sides of the edge portion 312 and can be connected to the two side surfaces of the ice maker housing 41.

[0115] The front vent (exhaust opening) 313 may be defined on the upper surface of the front cover 31, that is, on the upper surface of the edge portion 312. The front vent 313 may be defined by making the upper surface of the front cover 31 recessed downwards, and may be connected to the front end of the cover channel 530 of the ice maker cover 50 to define a channel through which cold air guided forward by the cover channel 530 is exhausted.

[0116] A mounting groove 316 may also be defined on the upper surface of the edge portion 312, in which the cover mounting portion 54 of the ice maker cover 50 is accommodated. The mounting groove 316 may be formed at a position corresponding to the cover mounting portion 54 with a corresponding size. The mounting groove 316 may be defined on both sides of the front outlet 313, thereby exposing the cover mounting portion 54. Therefore, screws fastened to the ice maker housing 41 pass through the cover mounting portion 54 and are fastened to the upper surface of the inner housing 102 or to a bracket provided on the inner housing 102, thereby fixing the ice maker assembly 30 in place.

[0117] The ice maker cover 50 can be disposed on the upper surface of the second ice maker 40 to cover the upper surface of the second ice maker 40, and can define the passage of cold air so that cold air passes over the second ice maker 40 and bypasses it to reach the front of the freezer compartment 12.

[0118] The distribution pipe 60 can be located at the rear of the second ice maker 40, so that the cold air discharged into the freezer compartment 12 is diverted and supplied to the second ice maker 40 and the ice maker cover 50.

[0119] The distribution pipe 60 will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0120] Figure 12 This is a front perspective view of a distribution pipe according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Furthermore, Figure 13 This is a three-dimensional view of the distribution pipes when viewed from behind. Furthermore, Figure 14 This is a view showing the state of the installed distribution pipes according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0121] As shown in the figure, the distribution pipe 60 can be located at the rear of the second ice maker 40 and can be installed on the rear wall surface of the freezer compartment 12 or the front surface of the grid plate 15. The distribution pipe 60 connects the second ice maker 40 to the cold air exhaust port 153 on the rear wall surface of the freezer compartment 12, so that the cold air generated by the evaporator 14 is supplied to the interior of the second ice maker 40 and the ice maker cover 50. The distribution pipe 60 can be in close contact with the rear wall surface and the top surface of the freezer compartment 12.

[0122] The distribution conduit 60 may include a cooling guide 61 and an ice-making guide 62 as a whole. Since the cooling guide 61 is located above, it may be referred to as the upper guide or the first guide, and may define a cooling channel 615 connected to the ice maker cover 50. Since the ice-making guide 62 is located below the cooling guide 61, it may be referred to as the lower guide or the second guide, and may define an ice-making channel 624 connected to the interior of the ice maker housing 41.

[0123] In detail, the cooling guide 61 may include a guide base 611 and a guide side 612. The guide base 611 may define the bottom surface of the cooling guide 61 and may be formed in a plate shape. The rear end of the guide base 611 may be formed to correspond to or be greater than the width of the cold air exhaust port 153 at the rear of the freezer compartment 12, and may be formed to narrow as the rear end of the guide base 611 extends forward. The front end of the guide base 611 may be formed to have a width corresponding to the inlet of the cover channel 530 defined on the upper surface of the ice maker cover 50, and may be connected to the inlet of the cover channel 530.

[0124] Multiple rearwardly extending base protrusions 613 may be provided at the rear end of the guide base 611. The multiple base protrusions 613 may be spaced apart from each other along the rear end of the guide base 611, thus defining base grooves between the base protrusions 613. The rear ends of the base protrusions 613 may be inserted into the cold air exhaust port 153 and may be supported inside the grille disk 15. Therefore, cold air flowing from the lower to the upper side can flow into the cooling guide 61 through the base grooves between the base protrusions 613.

[0125] The guide side portion 612 can extend upward from the left and right ends of the guide base 611. The guide side portion 612 can extend to contact the upper surface of the inner housing 102, and the cooling channel 615 can be defined between the inner housing 102 and the guide base 611. The guide side portion 612 can be connected to the sidewall 533 formed in the cover channel 530, such that the cooling channel 615 and the cover channel 530 communicate with each other.

[0126] The base opening 614 can be defined at the center of the guide base 611. The base opening 614 can communicate with the ice-making guide 62 and can be used as the entrance to the ice-making channel 624. Therefore, the base opening 614 can be referred to as the ice-making channel entrance.

[0127] The upwardly extending vertical extension 622 can be defined along the periphery of the base opening 614. The vertical extension 622 guides cold air flowing into the cooling guide 61 toward the ice-making guide 62, and can be defined along the front surface and a side surface of the base opening 614. The vertical extension 622 can be integrally formed with the ice-making guide 62, or it can be formed in a shape that extends upward through the base opening 614.

[0128] Therefore, a portion of the cold air flowing into the cooling guide section 61 can be guided to the ice-making guide section 62 via the vertical extension section 622, and can be supplied to the second ice maker 40.

[0129] The ice-making guide 62 can communicate with and extend downward from the base opening 614, and can extend to the inlet of the ice maker housing 41. That is, with the dispensing pipe 60 and the second ice maker 40 installed, the ice-making guide 62 can communicate with the interior of the second ice maker 40.

[0130] In detail, the ice-making guide 62 may be provided with a downwardly extending pipe extension 621, and the pipe extension 621 may define an ice-making channel 624 communicating with the base opening 614 therein. In addition, the open lower surface of the pipe extension 621 may be open to the front, and the outlet of the ice-making channel 624 may communicate with the housing inlet 415.

[0131] The pipe extension 621 can extend downwards and forwards. The inclined surface 623 of the forward-facing downward extension can be provided inside the pipe extension 621. Therefore, the cold air flowing through the inlet of the ice-making guide 62 can flow smoothly to the second ice maker 40 through the pipe extension 621.

[0132] The duct extension 621 can extend to be inserted into the housing inlet 415. Therefore, cold air flowing through the ice-making passage 624 can be efficiently supplied to the second ice maker 40. The ice-making guide 62 can be formed to be narrower than the cooling guide 61 to supply cold air to a specific area below the second ice maker 40.

[0133] The structure of the second ice maker 40 and the flow of cold air in the second ice maker 40 will be described in more detail below.

[0134] Figure 15 This is a cross-sectional view of the ice maker components, and it is along... Figure 9A cross-sectional view taken by line XV-XV'. Furthermore, Figure 16 A cross-sectional view is shown to illustrate the structure used to supply water to the ice maker, and it is along... Figure 6 A cross-sectional view taken by line XVI-XVI'. Furthermore, Figure 17 This is a 3D view of an ice maker.

[0135] As shown in the figure, the second ice maker 40 may include an ice maker housing 41 and an ice tray 45 disposed inside the ice maker housing 41. An ice maker cover 50 may be disposed on the upper surface of the ice maker housing 41, and the ice maker cover 50 may define a cooling space 600 of the second ice maker 40 and a space 53 above the second ice maker 40 through which cold air can pass. Furthermore, with the ice maker cover 50 installed, a front cover 31 is installed at the front of the second ice maker 40 to shield the second ice maker 40 from the front. With the ice maker cover 50 installed, a distribution pipe 60 may be disposed at the rear of the second ice maker 40, and the cold air diverted by the distribution pipe 60 may be diverted and supplied to the space inside the second ice maker 40 and the space above the ice maker cover 50.

[0136] The structure of the second ice maker 40 will be described in more detail. The second ice maker 40 may be provided with an ice tray 45 disposed inside the ice maker housing 41. The ice tray 45 may include multiple units C, which contain water and are capable of making ice. For example, the units C may be formed in a spherical shape, so the second ice maker 40 may be configured to produce spherical ice.

[0137] The ice tray 45 may include an upper tray 44 and a lower tray 43. Multiple units C within the ice tray 45 can be arranged consecutively. In this case, the units C can be arranged horizontally or vertically depending on the arrangement direction of the ice tray 45. For example, as... Figure 16 As shown, the plurality of units C can be arranged continuously in the horizontal direction, and the ice tray 45 can be arranged in the horizontal direction (left-right direction). Of course, the ice tray 45 can be arranged in the front-back direction according to the size and arrangement of the space where the ice maker assembly 30 is located.

[0138] The upper tray 44 can be fixedly mounted on the upper surface 411 of the housing, and at least a portion of the upper surface 411 of the housing can be exposed. The upper tray 44 can be provided with an upper mold 442 that defines the upper part of the unit C, and the upper mold 442 can be made of silicone resin. A tray opening 442a communicating with the unit C can be defined at the upper end of the upper mold 442. A discharge pin 461 can enter and exit through the tray opening 442a to separate the produced ice, and water can be supplied through the water supply member 49.

[0139] The water supply component 49 can be positioned at a location corresponding to a unit C formed at one end of a plurality of units C arranged continuously in the horizontal direction. Therefore, water supplied through the water supply component 49 can be introduced through one unit C and can sequentially fill the plurality of units C arranged continuously in the horizontal direction.

[0140] Specifically, the water supply component 49 can extend to project laterally beyond the ice tray 45, and the water supply component 49 can be positioned corresponding to the end of the water supply pipe 174 located on one side of the upper surface of the inner housing 102. The bottom surface of the water supply component 49 is inclined, so that water is smoothly supplied to the tray opening at the upper end of the unit C.

[0141] The lower tray 43 can be disposed below the upper tray 44 and can be rotatably mounted by a drive device 42 including a combination of a motor and gears. The lower mold 432 defining the lower part of the unit C can be disposed inside the lower tray 43. When the lower tray 43 and the upper tray 44 are connected and closed, the upper mold 442 and the lower mold 432 contact each other to form a spherical unit C and are capable of making ice.

[0142] The drive unit 42 can be mounted on one side of the ice maker housing 41, and can be connected to the rotation shaft 431 of the lower tray 43 to rotate the lower tray 43. An ice full detection lever 47 can detect whether the ice compartment 70 is full and can be connected to the drive unit 42. When the drive unit 42 is driven, the ice full detection lever 47 can be operated, and the ice full detection lever can be associated with the operation of the lower tray 43.

[0143] The lower discharge device 48 can be disposed on the rear surface of the ice maker housing 41. The lower discharge device 48 can be located on the track of the lower tray 43 and can protrude forward. Therefore, when the lower tray 43 rotates after ice is made in the ice tray 45, the lower tray 43 can squeeze the lower mold 432 to separate the ice from the lower tray 43.

[0144] The ice tray 45 can be housed inside the ice maker housing 41 and ice can be made inside the unit C by supplying cold air to the second ice maker 40.

[0145] Therefore, the ice-making guide section of the distribution pipe 60 can communicate with the space 500 defined by connecting the ice maker housing 41 and the ice maker cover 50, and the cold air introduced through the ice-making guide section 62 can cause ice making when passing through the second ice maker 40.

[0146] Specifically, the recessed housing outlet 414 may be defined at the front end of the upper surface 411 of the housing. A rearwardly rising front guide 413 may be provided on the lower surface of the housing outlet 414. The front guide 413 may be inclined or circular, and guides the cool air passing through the upper surface 411 of the housing to flow smoothly to the housing outlet 414.

[0147] A recessed housing inlet 415 may be defined at the rear end of the upper surface 411 of the housing. A forward-rising rear guide 416 may be provided on the lower surface of the housing inlet 415. The housing inlet 415 may be connected to a distribution pipe 60 to serve as an inlet for cold air to be introduced into the second ice maker 40.

[0148] Therefore, the cold air flowing into the housing inlet 415 can flow forward while being guided upward by the rear guide 416, and can flow forward while being guided downward by the front guide 413, and can be discharged to the housing outlet 414. That is, the supplied cold air passes through the upper surface 411 of the housing and through the upper position separated from the upper surface 411 of the housing. Therefore, it is possible to ensure a smooth flow of cold air and minimize interference with the components protruding upward from the upper surface 411 of the housing.

[0149] Of course, a portion of the cold air flowing to the upper surface 411 of the housing can flow into the ice maker housing 41 through multiple openings defined on the upper surface 411 of the housing (such as tray opening 442a and opening through which the exhaust device 46 passes), and can cool the ice tray 45 which is located as a whole inside the ice maker housing 41.

[0150] Cold air is guided to the top of the ice maker cover 50 through the cooling guide 61 of the distribution pipe 60, and can be discharged into the space in front of the ice maker assembly 30 through the ice maker cover 50 without flowing into the second ice maker 40.

[0151] The ice maker lid 50 will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0152] Figure 18 This is a perspective view of an ice maker lid according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from the front. Furthermore, Figure 19 This is a three-dimensional view of the ice maker lid when viewed from the rear.

[0153] As shown in the figure, the ice maker cover 50 can be formed to cover the upper surface of the second ice maker 40. With the ice maker assembly 30 installed, the ice maker cover 50 can be disposed on the upper surface of the freezer chamber 12, that is, disposed between the inner housing 102 and the second ice maker 40.

[0154] The ice maker cover 50 can cover the second ice maker 40 from above, and can also define a cold air passage above the second ice maker 40 that is separate from the interior of the second ice maker 40. Therefore, the cold air supplied by the distribution duct 60 can be guided by the ice maker cover 50 without passing through the second ice maker 40, and can be supplied to the front of the ice maker assembly 30, that is, the front space facing the freezer compartment 12 and the freezer compartment door 21.

[0155] The ice maker lid 50 may include a lid body 52 having an open lower surface and a lid edge 51 formed along the periphery of the lid body 52.

[0156] The lid edge 51 can protrude outward from the lower end of the lid body 52 and can contact the periphery of the upper surface of the ice maker housing 41. When the lid edge 51 is attached to the ice maker housing 41, a space is defined above the upper surface 411 of the housing to accommodate the cold air introduced through the ice-making guide 62.

[0157] The cover mounting portion 54 can be defined at the front end of the cover edge 51. The cover mounting portion 54 can protrude upward and can be formed on the left and right sides of the ice maker cover 50. The cover mounting portion 54 can pass through the mounting portion receiving groove 316 to contact the upper surface of the freezer compartment 12, and can be fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the freezer compartment 12 by screws. Therefore, with the front cover 31 and the ice maker cover 50 connected to the ice maker housing 41, the cover mounting portion 54 can be fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the freezer compartment 12.

[0158] The cover body 52 can be connected to the second ice maker 40, thereby defining a space above the second ice maker 40 for supplying cold air. A recessed space is provided so that components above the second ice maker 40 (including the exhaust device 46) do not interfere with each other.

[0159] A guide surface 53 for guiding the flow of cold air can be defined on the upper surface of the lid body 52. ​​Side walls 533 can protrude upwards on the left and right sides of the guide surface 53. The side walls 533 can have a height corresponding to the lid mounting portion 54 and can contact the upper surface of the freezer chamber 12, i.e., the inner housing 102. Therefore, when the ice maker lid 50 is installed, the lid passage 530 through which cold air flows can be defined by the inner housing 102, the side walls 533, and the guide surface 53.

[0160] The guide surface 53 may include a front guide surface 532 that rises from the front end of the upper surface of the cover body 52 toward the rear and a rear guide surface 531 that rises from the rear end of the upper surface of the cover body 52 toward the front. The front guide surface 532 and the rear guide surface 531 may be formed to have the same height and may be connected to each other.

[0161] The rear guide surface 531 can be connected to the open front end of the cooling guide section 61, and the end of the front guide surface 532 can communicate with the front exhaust port 313 of the front cover 31. Therefore, cold air supplied through the cooling guide section 61 can pass sequentially through the rear guide surface 531 and the front guide surface 532, and can be discharged forward through the front exhaust port 313. In this case, the inclined structure of the rear guide surface 531 and the front guide surface 532 allows the cold air to flow smoothly.

[0162] Discharge guides 535 and 536 can be provided on the guide surface 53 to guide the flow direction of cold air through the cover channel 530. Discharge guides 535 and 536 can be formed on the rear guide surface 531 and the front guide surface 532, respectively, and the cold air passing through the cover channel 530 can flow in a directional manner.

[0163] In detail, a rear exhaust guide 535 may be formed on a rear guide surface 531. The rear exhaust guide 535 may be formed at an off-center position on one of the left or right sides relative to the center of the cover passage 530, and may be formed to protrude to a height corresponding to the height of the sidewall 533. For example, the rear exhaust guide 535 may be formed as a protrusion or rib extending in the longitudinal direction.

[0164] The flow of cold air into the cover passage 530 can be partially restricted by the rear exhaust guide 535, or the flow rate of cold air can be controlled. Therefore, more cold air can flow to the entire area of ​​the rear guide surface 531 where the rear exhaust guide 535 is not formed on the left side (in...). Figure 9 middle).

[0165] A front exhaust guide 536 may be formed on the front guide surface 532. The front exhaust guide 536 may extend obliquely in one direction from the center of the front guide surface 532. Therefore, due to the front exhaust guide 536, the cold air guided to the front guide surface 532 via the rear guide surface 531 can flow more to the left side of the left and right sides (in the left and right sides respectively). Figure 9 middle).

[0166] With this structure, the flow rate of cold air through the cover passage 530 can be increased in one direction, on the left and right sides, due to the rear exhaust guide 535 and the front exhaust guide 536. For example, the location with a larger flow rate of cold air can be a location near the left and right walls of the refrigerator 1, and the growth of condensation or frost can be prevented by preventing air from stagnating near the left and right walls of the refrigerator 1.

[0167] The water inlet 534 may be defined on the upper surface of the ice maker cover 50. The water inlet 534 is a portion through which the water supply pipe 174 extending through the inner housing 102 passes, and can be opened at a position corresponding to the water supply member 49 provided in the second ice maker 40. The water inlet 534 may be defined on a portion outside the cover passage 530, that is, on the outside of the side wall 533.

[0168] In the following description, the flow of cold air in the freezer compartment 12 of the refrigerator 1 having the above-described structure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0169] Figure 20 This is a view showing the flow of cold air in the freezer compartment. Furthermore, Figure 21 for Figure 20 A magnified view of part A.

[0170] As shown in the figure, the cold air generated in the evaporator 14 by the rotation of the blower fan 155 can flow upward through the shroud 152. The cold air flowing along the shroud 152 can be discharged into the freezer compartment 12 through the cold air outlet 153 of the grille 15 and cool the freezer compartment 12.

[0171] A portion of the cold air forced by the blower fan 155 can be introduced from the upper end of the grille plate 15 into the door duct 16 and the distribution duct 60. In this case, the door duct 16 and the distribution duct 60 can be connected to the upper end of the grille plate 15.

[0172] In other words, cold air discharged from the first discharge port 158 ​​along the upper end of the grille plate 15, i.e., the upper guide portion 157, can flow into the door pipe 16 through the pipe inlet 162, can flow along the door pipe channel 160 inside the door pipe 16, and can be discharged towards the first ice maker cover 251 through the pipe outlet 161. The cold air discharged from the door pipe 16 can flow into the first ice maker 253 through the cover inlet 252 of the first ice maker cover 251, and can allow the first ice maker 253 to make ice.

[0173] Cold air discharged through the cold air outlet 153 along the upper end of the grille plate 15, i.e. the front guide 156, can flow into the distribution pipe 60, and can be diverted in the distribution pipe 60 and supplied to the interior and exterior of the second ice maker 40.

[0174] In detail, cold air discharged from the cold air vent 153 or grille 15 on the rear wall of the freezer compartment 12 can flow into the distribution duct 60. In this case, the cold air flowing into the distribution duct 60 can be diverted and supplied to the cooling guide 61 and the ice-making guide 62.

[0175] A portion of the cold air flowing into the guide base 611 of the distribution pipe 60 is introduced into the base opening 614 through the vertical extension 622, and the cold air flowing into the base opening 614 can be introduced into the second ice maker 40 through the ice-making channel 624 of the ice-making guide 62.

[0176] Specifically, the outlet of the ice-making channel 624 at the end of the ice-making guide 62 can communicate with the housing inlet 415. Therefore, the cold air discharged from the ice-making channel 624 can be supplied to the second ice maker 40.

[0177] Cold air flowing into the upper surface 411 of the housing through the housing inlet 415 can be supplied to the space 500 covered by the ice maker cover 50, and can also be supplied to the ice tray 45 through the opening in the upper surface 411 of the housing. Ice making can be performed in the ice tray 45 using the cold air supplied around it. The cold air through the ice tray 45 is exhausted through the open lower surface of the ice maker housing 41, cooling the space below the freezer compartment.

[0178] The remaining cold air flowing into the cooling guide section 61, except for the cold air diverted to the ice-making guide section 62, can flow into the cover channel 530 above the ice maker cover 50 through the guide section base 611, i.e., the cooling channel 615.

[0179] The cold air flowing into the cover channel 530 can pass through the front guide surface 532 and the rear guide surface 531 in sequence, and can finally be discharged through the front exhaust port 313 into the space in front of the ice maker assembly 30 of the freezer compartment 12.

[0180] In this way, the cold air discharged into the freezer compartment 12 can be supplied to the first ice maker 253 through the door duct 16, and a portion of the cold air can be supplied to the second ice maker 40 through the distribution duct 60 and the ice maker cover 50. (See reference...) Figure 20 A first portion of the cold air can be discharged to the first ice maker 253 via the first cold air passage P1, and a second portion of the cold air can be discharged to the second ice maker 40 via the second cold air passage P2. Ice making can be performed in this manner. The remaining portion of the cold air can be discharged through the space between the second ice maker 40 and the upper surface of the freezer compartment 12 to the space in front of the ice maker assembly 30, i.e., the cooling space 600, without passing through the interior of the second ice maker 40. A third portion of the cold air can be discharged to the ice maker cooling space 600 via the third cold air passage P3. This third portion of the cold air can continue to flow downwards through the cooling space 600 to provide cooling to a portion of the storage space vertically below the ice maker assembly 30.

[0181] Therefore, cold air can be evenly supplied to the entire interior of the freezer compartment 12, maintaining the overall cooling performance of the freezer compartment 12 while preserving its ice-making performance. In particular, cold air can also be supplied to the upper space of the freezer compartment 12 covered by the ice maker assembly 30, that is, the space between the ice maker assembly 30 and the freezer door 21.

[0182] Therefore, uniform cold air circulation and uniform temperature distribution can be ensured throughout the entire freezer compartment 12.

[0183] Furthermore, the cold air flowing into the cover channel 530 can be guided, thereby supplying more cold air in one direction through the discharge guides 535 and 536 inside the cover channel 530. Figure 2 When the freezer door 21 is closed, the upper left end of the freezer 12 can define a cold air retention space, which is blocked by the upper and left surfaces of the freezer 12, the rear surface of the freezer door 21, the first ice maker cover 251 and the ice storage box 254.

[0184] However, the cold air supplied to the cold air stagnation space is guided by the exhaust guides 535 and 536, and the cold air is not stagnant in the cold air stagnation space but is forced to circulate, thereby preventing condensation and frost from occurring in the cold air stagnation space.

[0185] Thus, the channels for supplying cold air to the freezer compartment 12 when the blower fan 155 is driven can generally include three channels.

[0186] In detail, the cold air discharged from the first discharge port 158 ​​of the grille 15 can be supplied to the first ice maker 253 through the door duct passage 160 of the door duct 16. In this case, the distance from the first discharge port 158 ​​to the upper surface outlet 102b can be referred to as the first passage or ice-making passage 624.

[0187] Cold air discharged from the cold air outlet 153 of the grille 15 can be diverted as it passes through the cooling guide 61 of the distribution pipe 60, and can be supplied through the cover passage 530 between the ice maker cover 50 and the upper surface of the inner housing 102 to the storage space of the freezer compartment 12 located in front of the ice maker assembly 30, that is, the space between the ice maker assembly 30 and the first ice maker assembly 25. In this case, the distance from the cold air outlet 153 to the front outlet 313 can be referred to as the second passage or the storage space passage.

[0188] Cold air discharged from the cold air outlet 153 of the grille 15 can be diverted as it passes through the ice-making guide 62 of the distribution pipe 60, and can be supplied to the space between the second ice maker 40 and the ice maker cover 50 through the ice-making channel 624 inside the ice-making guide 62, where ice is made. In this case, the distance from the cold air outlet 153 to the outlet of the ice-making channel 624 can be referred to as the third channel or the ice-making channel in the refrigerator.

[0189] Thus, with the second ice maker 40 and the first ice maker 253 positioned facing each other in the upper space of the freezer compartment 12, cold air can be supplied through three channels. That is, even when the ice maker assembly 30 and the first ice maker assembly 25 are tightly arranged in the narrow space above the freezer compartment 12, cold air can be supplied to ensure the ice-making performance of each of the second ice maker 40 and the first ice maker 253, and cold air can be supplied and circulated, allowing for cold air circulation and uniform temperature distribution in the dense upper space of the freezer compartment 12.

[0190] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, cold air for ice making can be smoothly supplied to an ice maker located inside the freezer compartment, and the interior of the freezer compartment can be cooled by bypassing the ice maker through a cover passage.

[0191] In some embodiments, the distribution pipe is located at the cold air exhaust port at the rear of the ice maker, and the distribution pipe is divided into supplying cold air to the ice-making guide section of the ice maker and supplying cold air to the cooling guide section of the ice maker cover above the ice maker.

[0192] Therefore, the cold air discharged from the cold air outlet is diverted and supplied to the interior of the ice maker and freezer, thereby satisfying both ice-making and cooling performance requirements.

[0193] Furthermore, even in a structure where the ice maker is configured to cover the cold air vent, cold air can bypass the ice maker lid and reach the space in front of the ice maker through the lid channel. Therefore, cold air can be supplied to the entire area of ​​the freezer compartment, resulting in a uniform temperature distribution inside the freezer compartment.

[0194] When the ice maker is one that produces spherical ice, its size may be slightly larger. Even when multiple ice-making units are arranged horizontally, the ice maker can be configured to fill all the horizontal space of the freezer compartment.

[0195] In this configuration, the cold air exhaust port can be covered by the ice maker, but cold air can be supplied to the front of the ice maker through the cover channel, thus uniformly cooling the entire freezer compartment.

[0196] Furthermore, the ice maker structure with a relatively large size can be arranged vertically in the freezer compartment, that is, in this direction, the unit is arranged in the front-to-back direction and the horizontal direction, so that the ice maker can be set up differently according to the size of the refrigerator's storage space.

[0197] Because the cover passage is confined between the upper surface of the ice maker lid and the upper surface of the storage space, there is no excessive loss of space that would otherwise form the cover passage.

[0198] Furthermore, since the ice maker lid is attached to the upper surface of the storage space to define the lid channel, the lid channel can be formed with a simple structure.

[0199] Furthermore, since the front exhaust vents are located on the upper surface of the storage space, the entire interior of the freezer compartment can be cooled by the downward-exhausting cold air.

[0200] The exhaust guide can be installed inside the cover channel, and the cold air exhausted by the exhaust guide can be concentrated to one side.

[0201] Therefore, the supply of cold air can be directed to the space between the rear surface of the freezer door and the front surface of the rotating shaft of the adjacent door of the freezer, where the cold air may be structurally trapped.

[0202] Therefore, it can solve the temperature imbalance caused by the retention of cold air and prevent condensation or frost caused by the retention of cold air.

[0203] When the first ice maker is located in front of the main ice maker, i.e., behind the door, the space between the main ice maker and the first ice maker is closed, so the supply of cold air may be uneven. Cold air that bypasses the main ice maker and is discharged forward due to the cover passage can be supplied to the space between the main ice maker and the first ice maker to allow the cold air to circulate in the narrow space.

[0204] The ice maker and the first ice maker can be positioned facing each other. In particular, the ice maker and the first ice maker are positioned facing each other in the freezer compartment area, where the width is narrow from side to side, thereby making more efficient use of the space inside the freezer compartment.

[0205] Furthermore, since the ice maker and the first ice maker are positioned at least partially facing each other, a portion of the cold air that bypasses the ice maker and is exhausted can cool the first ice maker or the area adjacent to it, thus providing an effective cold air supply structure.

[0206] Because the rotation axis of the ice maker is set in the horizontal direction (left-right direction), the protrusion of the ice maker module is minimized. Therefore, even when the freezer door is closed, it can have a structure that does not interfere with the rearward-protruding first ice maker assembly.

[0207] Furthermore, since the ice maker is located at the top of the freezer compartment, and the first ice maker is located at the top of the freezer compartment door, it facilitates the arrangement and connection of the water supply pipe to the ice maker and the first ice maker.

[0208] In the upper part of the freezer compartment, the cold air discharged from the rear of the freezer compartment is divided into three channels and supplied to the first ice maker, the second ice maker, and the space between the first ice maker and the second ice maker. The cold air can be effectively distributed and supplied to the tightly arranged upper space of the freezer compartment to ensure ice-making performance and achieve uniform temperature distribution in the narrow upper space of the freezer compartment.

[0209] The above description is merely an illustration of the technical concept of this disclosure, and those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications without departing from the basic characteristics of this disclosure.

[0210] Therefore, the embodiments of this disclosure are neither intended to limit the technical spirit of this disclosure nor to describe the technical concept of this disclosure, and the technical spirit of this disclosure is not limited by these embodiments.

[0211] The scope of protection of this disclosure shall be defined by the appended claims, and all technical concepts within the scope of equivalents shall be understood to fall within the scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, comprising: Server racks limit storage space; An ice maker is installed in the storage space; as well as A cover, used to shield one side of the ice maker; The ice maker includes: The housing has the cover provided on one side; The first tray is fixedly installed on the housing; The second tray moves between a closed position, in close contact with the first tray to make ice, and an open position, separated from the first tray to separate ice. A first discharge device moves toward the first tray to separate the produced ice from the first tray; and The second discharge device is fixed on the movement trajectory of the second tray. If the second tray moves to the open position, the second tray is squeezed to separate the ice from the second tray. The cover covers the first tray and the first discharge device, and includes multiple surfaces at different distances from the first tray; The plurality of surfaces provide recessed receiving spaces so that the first discharger does not interfere.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, In the receiving space, a portion corresponding to the location where the first discharge device is disposed protrudes away from the first tray.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, The plurality of faces includes: The first surface is positioned corresponding to the location of the first discharger; and The second side is connected to the first side; The distance in the direction of movement of the first discharger between the first surface and the first tray is greater than the distance in the direction of movement of the first discharger between the second surface and the first tray.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, The plurality of faces includes: The first surface is positioned corresponding to the location of the first discharger; and The second side is connected to the first side; The vertical distance from the contact surface between the first tray and the housing to the first surface is greater than the vertical distance from the contact surface between the first tray and the housing to the second surface.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, The cover forms a cover channel that is separate from the interior of the ice maker; At least a portion of the cold air supplied to the storage space bypasses the ice maker through the cover channel and is supplied to the front of the ice maker.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, The cover includes: The fixing part is attached to the housing; and The cover body has an opening on one side facing the direction of the housing, providing the receiving space.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein, The cover body includes: The first surface is positioned corresponding to the location of the first discharger; and The second side extends from one end of the first side toward the direction where the fixing part is provided.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, The first discharge device includes: Multiple discharge pins extend along the direction of movement of the first discharger; and The discharge device body is connected to one end of the plurality of discharge pins.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein, The accommodating space has a shape corresponding to the body of the discharge device.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein, When the first discharger is furthest from the first tray, the discharger body is housed in the receiving space.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, The housing includes a support member located between the first tray and the cover; The support member has a through opening that exposes at least a portion of the first tray. The first discharge device separates the produced ice from the first tray through the through opening.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein, The first discharge device includes: Multiple discharge pins extend along the direction of movement of the first discharger; and The discharger body is connected to one end of the plurality of discharge pins; With the plurality of discharge pins not passing through the through opening, the discharger body is accommodated in the accommodating space.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein, A portion of the first tray is exposed through the through opening.

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