Abstract:
Provided is a cooling apparatus that quickly cools beverages such as drinks or alcohols, can be installed on a refrigerator or a freezer, and reduces cooling time.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to a cooling apparatus and a refrigerator including the cooling apparatus. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    A refrigerator is a home appliance providing a low-temperature storage that can be opened and closed by a door for storing foods at a low temperature. To this end, the storage of the refrigerator is cooled by using air which is cooled by heat exchange with refrigerant in a refrigeration cycle. 
         [0003]    Along with the change of people&#39;s eating patterns and preference, large and multifunctional refrigerators have been introduced, and various comfortable structures have been added to refrigerators. 
         [0004]    For example, the consumer&#39;s needs for a cooling apparatus that can quickly cool beverages such as drinks or alcohols which exist at room temperature are being increased. For this, various types of cooling apparatuses disposed at a side in a refrigerator to quickly cool drinks or alcohols are proposed. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0005]    Embodiments provide a cooling apparatus, in which cool air colliding with a movable beverage container is re-directed to the beverage container, thereby quickly cooling a beverage in the beverage container. 
         [0006]    Embodiments also provide a refrigerator including a cooling apparatus, in which cool air colliding with a movable beverage container is re-directed to the beverage container, thereby quickly cooling a beverage in the beverage container. 
       Technical Solution 
       [0007]    In one embodiment, a cooling apparatus includes: a case forming an accommodating space for a beverage container, cool air being introduced to and discharged from the case; a fan motor assembly for supplying the cool air into the case; an air hole disposed at a side of the case, and opened to discharge the cool air in a direction crossing a side surface of the beverage container; an agitating member rotatably disposed in the case, the beverage container being placed on the agitating member; a driving assembly connected to the agitating member, and swing the agitating member to agitate a beverage in the beverage container; and an air guide disposed at both sides of the beverage container to surround a portion of the beverage container and guide the cool air toward the beverage container. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, a cooling apparatus includes: a case forming a space accommodating a beverage container; a fan motor assembly disposed on the case, and moving cool air for cooling the beverage container; a plurality of air holes provided to the case, and discharging the cool air to the beverage container; an agitating member disposed in the case, the beverage container being placed on the agitating member; and a driving assembly connected to the agitating member, and providing power for swing the agitating member, wherein the agitating member includes a holder shaft that provides a seating space for the beverage container, and that includes indents continuously recessed and protruding at positions corresponding to the air holes. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, a cooling apparatus includes: a case having air holes through which cool air is introduced; a fan motor assembly disposed on the case, and generating a flow of the cool air for quickly cooling a beverage container; an agitating member disposed in the case, the beverage container being placed on the agitating member; and a driving assembly connected to the agitating member, and reciprocating the agitating member, wherein the agitating member includes: a front support forming a front surface; a rear support forming a rear surface; a plurality of holder shafts connecting the front support to the rear support, and forming a space in which the beverage container is seated; and an air guide installed on the holder shaft, and guiding the cool air from the air holes to the beverage container. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, a refrigerator includes: a cabinet forming at least one storing space; a door opening and closing the storing space; a cooling apparatus disposed in the refrigerator, and accommodating a beverage container; and a passage communicating with the cooling apparatus, and supplying cool air generated from an evaporator, to the cooling apparatus, wherein the cool apparatus includes: a case disposed at a side in the refrigerator; a fan motor assembly disposed on the case, and generating a flow of the cool air into the case; an agitating member rotatably disposed in the case, the beverage container being placed on the agitating member; a driving assembly connected to the agitating member, and rotating the agitating member to agitate a beverage in the beverage container; and an air guide disposed in the case, and having a predetermined curved surface to guide the cool air to a surface of the beverage container. 
       Advantageous Effect 
       [0011]    The cooling apparatus configured as described above and the refrigerator including the cooling apparatus have the following effects. 
         [0012]    First, the driving assembly of the refrigerator swings the agitating member on which the beverage container is placed. Thus, a beverage is agitated in the beverage container to reduce a temperature variation of the beverage and quickly cool the beverage. 
         [0013]    Secondly, the refrigerator includes the suction fan to increase a flow rate of cool air, thus, improving heat exchange between the beverage container and the cool air. Accordingly, heat exchange efficiency is improved. 
         [0014]    Cool air supplied into the case has a high flow rate, and perpendicularly collides with the beverage container, so as to increase the amount of heat exchange per unit time, thereby improving heat exchange efficiency. 
         [0015]    Thirdly, cool air discharged to a beverage container collides with the beverage container, and then, is re-directed to the beverage container by the air guides. Thus, a contact area of the beverage container with the cool air is increased, and the beverage container can be secondarily cooled, thereby improving cooling efficiency. 
         [0016]    Fourthly, the holder shafts on which a beverage container is placed have indents corresponding to the air holes through which cool air is discharged, so as to prevent the cool air discharged from the air holes from colliding with the holder shafts, thereby minimizing dispersion of the cool air. Accordingly, a loss of the cool air is minimized, and thus, a beverage in the beverage container can be cooled more efficiently. 
         [0017]    In addition, the holder shafts may be provided with the air guides for guiding cool air such that cool air dispersed to the outside of the holder shafts is guided to the beverage container, thereby further improving the cooling efficiency for the beverage. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a front view illustrating refrigerator doors when being opened according to an embodiment. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating an inner structure of a refrigerator including a cooling apparatus according to an embodiment. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 - 3 ′ of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a cooling apparatus according to an embodiment. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 - 5 ′ of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a cut-away perspective view taken along line  6 - 6 ′ of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the front part of the cooling apparatus. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating the agitating member. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the agitating member of the cooling apparatus. 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view illustrating an air guide member of the agitating member. 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view illustrating a state in which beverage containers are placed on an agitating member. 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  is a schematic view illustrating flows of cool air in the state where the beverage containers are placed on the agitating member. 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  is a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) image illustrating flows of cool air when the cooling apparatus operates. 
           [0031]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view illustrating a cooling apparatus according to another embodiment. 
           [0032]      FIG. 15  is perspective view illustrating an agitating member of the cooling apparatus. 
           [0033]      FIG. 16  is a plan view illustrating the agitating member. 
           [0034]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view illustrating an agitating member coupled to guide members according to another embodiment. 
           [0035]      FIG. 18  is a plan view illustrating the agitating member. 
           [0036]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view illustrating a flow of cool air in the agitating member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
       [0037]    Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
         [0038]      FIG. 1  is a front view illustrating refrigerator doors when being opened according to an embodiment.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating an inner structure of a refrigerator including a cooling apparatus according to an embodiment.  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 - 3 ′ of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0039]    A cooling apparatus according to an embodiment may be disposed in a storing space of a refrigerator for storing a food at low temperature. 
         [0040]    In detail, the cooling apparatus is disposed in the refrigerator to perform a quick cooling operation with cool air generated in the refrigerator. 
         [0041]    Although the cooling apparatus is disposed in the refrigerator in the following embodiment, the cooling apparatus may be installed on any apparatus for generating cool air, as well as the refrigerator. 
         [0042]    A refrigerator  1  according to an embodiment includes an outer case  102  constituting the appearance, an inner case  101  installed on the inner portion of the outer case  102  and forming an inner storing space, and an insulating member filling a space between the inner case  101  and the outer case  102 , thereby forming a main body. 
         [0043]    The inner storing space may include a refrigerator compartment  103  for refrigerating a food, and a freezer compartment  104  for freezing a food. The refrigerator compartment  103  is opened and closed by rotations of a pair of refrigerator compartment doors, and the freezer compartment  104  is opened and closed by sliding of a freezer compartment door. In the current embodiment, the storing space is divided into upper and lower portions by a partition  105 , and the refrigerator compartment  103  is disposed over the freezer compartment  104  to form a bottom freezer type refrigerator. 
         [0044]    Furthermore, the cooling apparatus may be installed on a top mount type refrigerator in which a freezer compartment is disposed over a refrigerator compartment, a side-by-side type refrigerator in which a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment are disposed side by side, and a refrigerator having one of a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment. 
         [0045]    In detail, an evaporating compartment  107  is formed on the rear surface of the freezer compartment  104  by an evaporating compartment wall  106 , and the evaporating compartment  107  accommodates an evaporator  108 . The evaporating compartment wall  106  may be provided with a cool air discharge opening  106   a  for discharging cool air into the freezer compartment  104 , and a cool air suction opening  106   b  disposed in a rear surface of the bottom of the freezer compartment  104  to return cool air from the freezer compartment  104  to the evaporating compartment  107 . 
         [0046]    A refrigerator compartment duct  109  vertically extends on the rear surface of the refrigerator compartment  103 , and the lower end of the refrigerator compartment duct  109  communicates with the evaporating compartment  107 . The front surface of the refrigerator compartment duct  109  may be provided with cool air discharge openings  109   a  to supply cool air from the evaporating compartment  107  to the refrigerator compartment  103 . An upper surface of the partition  105  may be provided with a cool air suction opening (not shown) to return cool air from the freezer compartment  103  to the evaporating compartment  107 . 
         [0047]    A cooling apparatus  10  for quickly cooling a beverage or alcohol may be disposed at a side on the top surface of the partition  105 . The cooling apparatus  10  may include a passage connecting to the evaporating compartment  107  and/or the freezer compartment  104  to fluidly communicate with the evaporating compartment  107  and/or the freezer compartment  104 . For example, the cool air generated in the evaporating compartment  107  may be supplied into the cooling apparatus  10 . A beverage container  2  received in the cooling apparatus  10  may be cooled by the cool air supplied into the cooling apparatus  10 . The cool air which is increased in temperature by heat-exchanging with the beverage container  2  in the cooling apparatus  10  may return to the evaporating compartment  107 . Here, the fluidic communication may represent that the cool air can be circulated between the evaporating compartment  107  and the cooling apparatus  10  by a passage structure such as a duct. Also, the beverage container  2  used in the current embodiment may include various containers including bottles or cans in which water, a beverage, or alcohol is contained. Also, the cooling apparatus  10  may include a cooling compartment defining a space for receiving the beverage container  2  and/or a passage connecting the cooling compartment, the freezer compartment  104 , and the evaporating compartment  107  to each other. 
         [0048]    Hereinafter, a configuration, an operation, and a function of the cooling apparatus  10  will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the cooling apparatus  10  receives cool air from the evaporating compartment  107  through the separate passage, and discharges cool air to the freezer compartment  104 . A more detailed description will be made with reference to other accompanying drawings. 
         [0049]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a cooling apparatus according to an embodiment.  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 - 5 ′ of  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 6  is a cut-away perspective view taken along line  6 - 6 ′ of  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the front part of the cooling apparatus. 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 to 7 , the cooling apparatus  10  may include a cooling compartment and a cool air passage connected to the cooling compartment. 
         [0051]    In detail, the cooling compartment may include: a case  20  forming a storing space for the beverage container  2 ; a cover  60  opening and closing an inlet of the case  20 ; an agitating member  50  selectively accommodated in the case  20 , the beverage container  2  being placed on the agitating member  50 ; a fan motor assembly  30  installed on the case  20  to forcibly move cool air; and a driving assembly  40  coupled to the case  20  to drive the agitating member  50 . 
         [0052]    In more detail, the case  20  has front and rear openings, and has a space accommodating the agitating member  50  and the beverage container  2 . The rear opening of the case  20  may be provided with the driving assembly  40 , and the driving assembly  40  may close the rear opening of the case  20 . 
         [0053]    The front surface of the case  20  is provided with an inlet  21  for receiving the beverage container  2 . The inlet  21  is inclined to increase in length downward, thereby more facilitating access with the beverage container  2 . The inlet  21  is opened and closed by the cover  60  having a corresponding shape to the inlet  21 . A gasket  61  may be disposed at the edge of the cover  60  or the front end of the case  20 . When the cover  60  is closed, the gasket  61  prevents leakage of cool air from the case  20 . 
         [0054]    Cover fixing parts  211  are disposed at the front end of the case  20  provided with the inlet  21 . Fixing members  62  provided to the cover  60  are inserted in and fixed to the cover fixing parts  211  to maintain closing of the cover  60 . The cover fixing parts  211  and the fixing members  62  are disposed at the left and right sides of the cooling apparatus  10  to stably maintain closing of the cover  60 . 
         [0055]    The lower end of the inlet  21  is provided with cover coupling parts  212 . The cover coupling part  212  is coupled to the lower end of the cover  60  through a shaft. Thus, the cover  60  may rotate about the cover coupling part  212  as an axis, to open and close the inlet  21 . 
         [0056]    An opening  22  is disposed in the top surface of the case  20  to check the inside of the case  20  and assemble and repair inner parts. The opening  22  may be covered by an opening cover  221 . The position of the opening  22  may be varied on the case  20 . 
         [0057]    A suction grill  23  may be removably attached to the bottom surface of the case  20 , and be disposed at an outlet of a suction duct  11 . The suction grill  23  is installed on a cool air introduction opening  24  in the bottom surface of the case  20 . 
         [0058]    The cool air introduction opening  24  is disposed at a set position of the case  20 . In this case, the set position of the cool air introduction opening  24  may be a position corresponding to the position of one beverage container  2  placed on the agitating member  50 . Accordingly, cool air passing through the suction grill  23  is entirely directed to the outer surface of the beverage container  2  to cool the beverage container  2 . 
         [0059]    The bottom surface of the suction grill  23  may be provided with a plurality of air holes  231 . In detail, since the air holes  231  have a small diameter, a flow rate of cool air quickly increases, passing through the outlet of the suction duct  11 , that is, the suction grill  23 . Thus, since cool air passing through the air holes  231  forms a jet stream, the air holes  231  may be called jet holes. The air holes  231  are spaced a constant distance from one another, and uniformly distributed in a surface of the suction grill  23 . 
         [0060]    The upper end of the suction grill  23  is bent outward and extends to be hung on the bottom of the case  20 , so that the suction grill  23  can be removably attached to the bottom of the case  20 . In this case, a locking structure may be provided to prevent a removal of the suction grill  23  from the bottom of the case  20  due to sucked air. 
         [0061]    Cool air is vertically discharged from the air holes  231  of the suction grill  23  to a large area of the beverage container  2  placed on the agitating member  50 , that is, to a side surface thereof. When cool air discharged from the air holes  231  perpendicularly contacts the beverage container  2 , cooling efficiency for the beverage container  2  is maximized. 
         [0062]    The agitating member  50  is disposed in the case  20 , and is installed on an agitating member support  25  disposed in the bottom of the case  20 . The agitating member  50  can swing left and right about the agitating member support  25  as an axis in the case  20 , and is connected to the driving assembly  40  to repeatedly and continuously swing a predetermined angle, thereby agitating a beverage in the beverage container  2 . A detailed configuration of the agitating member  50  will be described later. 
         [0063]    The cooling compartment may include the driving assembly  40  to provide driving force to the agitating member  50  that repeatedly rotates left and right in the case  20 . 
         [0064]    The fan motor assembly  30  may include: a suction fan  31  for forcibly moving air; a fan housing  32  accommodating the suction fan  31  and installed on the rear surface of the case  20 ; and a fan motor  33  disposed behind the fan housing  32  and providing torque to the suction fan  31 . 
         [0065]    In detail, cool air generated from the evaporating compartment  107  is sucked with great suction force by the suction fan  31 . Air introduced along the cool air passage into the case  20  is moved at high speed to the rear side of the case  20  by great suction force of the suction fan  31 . At this point, the air contacts the outer surface of the beverage container  2  disposed in the case  20 , to exchange heat. A flow rate of air sucked by the suction fan  31  is higher than that of air blown by a blower. This is because pressure difference between the front and rear sides of the suction fan  31  is quickly increased. In addition, since the flow rate of the air sucked by the suction fan  31  increases, the amount of heat exchange between the beverage container  2  and the air increases. Accordingly, heat exchange efficiency is improved. 
         [0066]    Cool air sucked by the suction fan  31  exchanges heat with the beverage container  2  in the case  20  before the fan motor  33  driving the suction fan  31 . Accordingly, the amount of heat exchange between the cool air and the beverage container  2  relatively increases, and thus, heat exchange efficiency is improved. If a blower blows air, the air blown by the blower passes through a fan motor for driving the blower, and then, exchanges heat with the beverage container  2 . That is, the blown cool air absorbs heat, passing through the fan motor, and then, exchanges heat with the beverage container  2 . Thus, heat exchange efficiency of the suction fan  31  is higher than that of a blower. 
         [0067]    The suction fan  31  may be a centrifugal fan that axially sucks air to radially discharge the air. Air passing through the case  20  horizontally flow as a whole, and should moves downward to return to the evaporating compartment  107 . That is, the direction of the air passing through the case  20  crosses the direction of the air discharged from the suction fan  31 . Thus, a centrifugal fan is appropriated to a passage in which the directions of air cross each other. 
         [0068]    Pneumatic resistance of the suction fan  31  is smaller than that of a blower. For example, air blown by a blower cannot pass through a narrow gap or an obstacle in an air passage, and is spread or flows back. On the contrary, the suction fan  31  sucks air at the inlet thereof to cause pressure difference. Thus, air at the front side of a narrow gap or an obstacle can easily pass through the narrow gap or the obstacle by pressure difference between the front and rear sides thereof. As a result, under the same condition, pneumatic resistance of air sucked by the suction fan  31  is smaller than that of air blown by a blower, and a flow rate of air sucked by the suction fan  31  is larger than that of air blown by a blower. 
         [0069]    In addition, although the suction fan  31  is a centrifugal fan, the structure of the suction fan  31  is different from that of a typical centrifugal fan. In detail, the suction fan  31  includes: a back plate  311  having a circular plate shape; blades  312  disposed on the front surface of the back plate  311 ; and a suction guide  313  disposed on the front end of the blades  312 . The blades  312  having a predetermined width protrude forward from the front surface of the back plate  311 , and are rounded with a predetermined curvature in a radial direction from the center of the back plate  311 . The suction guide  313  functions as a combination of a typical bell mouth and a typical orifice. That is, the suction guide  313  smoothly guides an air flow from the front side of the fan housing  32  into the suction fan  31 , and prevents a backflow of air discharged in the radial direction along the surfaces of the blades  312 . 
         [0070]    In detail, the suction guide  313  protrudes forward from a circular bottom, and gradually decreases in diameter. In other words, a vertical cross section of the suction guide  313  may have a rounded structure where the suction guide  313  gradually decreases in diameter on a horizontal cross-section from the bottom to the upper end, and has a constant diameter on a horizontal cross-section at a predetermined position. As such, since the outer surface of the suction guide  313  is smoothly rounded, pneumatic resistance applied on sucked air can be minimized, thereby providing a function of an orifice. In addition, the suction guide  313  has a barrel shape extending a predetermined length from the bottom of the suction guide  313  to minimize a back flow of air sucked through an inlet of the suction guide  313 , thereby providing a function of a bell mouth. A grill  314  may be disposed at the front side of the suction guide  313  to prevent introduction of a foreign substance. 
         [0071]    The cool air passage may include the suction duct  11  for supplying cool air from the evaporating compartment  107  to the case  20 , and a return duct  12  for discharging cool air from the case  20  to the freezer compartment  104 . In detail, an inlet (or suction opening) of the suction duct  11  may communicate with the evaporating compartment  107 , and the outlet (or discharge opening) thereof may communicate with the bottom of the case  20 . An inlet of the return duct  12  may be connected to the bottom of the fan housing  32 , an outlet (or discharge opening)  121  thereof may be connected to the freezer compartment  104 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , the discharge opening  121  of the return duct  12  may be disposed on the rear surface of the freezer compartment  104 . 
         [0072]    The driving assembly  40  may include a driving motor  41  generating torque, and a transmission unit  42  connecting the driving motor  41  to the agitating member  50  to rotate the agitating member  50 , which will be described later. 
         [0073]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating the agitating member according to the current embodiment.  FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the agitating member.  FIG. 10  is a perspective view illustrating an air guide member of the agitating member. 
         [0074]    Referring to  FIGS. 8 to 10 , the agitating member  50  accommodates the beverage container  2  to shake the beverage container  2 . In detail, the agitating member  50  may include: a front support  51  forming a front surface of the agitating member  50 ; a rear support  52  forming a rear surface of the agitating member  50 ; and a plurality of holder shafts  53  connecting the front support  51  to the rear support  52 . The beverage container  2  is placed on the holder shafts  53 . 
         [0075]    The front support  51  and the rear support  52  have the same shape, and are coupled to the holder shafts  53 . The front support  51  and the rear support  52  may be installed on the bottom of the case  20  to swing left and right. Since the front support  51  and the rear support  52  have the same shape, the front support  51  will be mainly described hereinafter. 
         [0076]    The front support  51  may include a coupling portion  511  coupled to a coupling member  513 , and extensions  512  extending upward from the left and right sides of the coupling portion  511  and coupled to the holder shafts  53 . 
         [0077]    The coupling portion  511  is disposed in the middle of the front support  51 , and extends downward. The coupling member  513  has a shaft shape, and is coupled to the coupling portion  511  to cross the coupling portion  511 . The coupling member  513  passes through the coupling portion  511  and the agitating member support  25  of the case  20 , so that the front support  51  can rotate left and right about the coupling member  513  as an axis. 
         [0078]    The extensions  512  are disposed at the upper end of the coupling portion  511 . The extensions  512  are disposed at the left and right sides of the front support  51 , and each of the extensions  512  is coupled to two of the holder shafts  53 , so that the beverage container  2  can be placed on the holder shafts  53 . 
         [0079]    The holder shaft  53  horizontally extends in the form of a shaft or a bar, and is connected to the front support  51  and the rear support  52 . The holder shafts  53  are provided in a pair on the upper and lower portions of the extension  512 , and are spaced a predetermined distance from each other, so that the beverage container  2  can be accommodated in a space defined by the holder shafts  53 . Cool air can efficiently flow into the space defined by the holder shafts  53 . Since a distance between the holder shafts  53  at the lower side is smaller than a distance between the holder shafts  53  at the upper side, the beverage container  2  can be more stably placed on the holder shafts  53 . The holder shafts  53  may be disposed at edges of the front support  51  and the rear support  52 . 
         [0080]    A neck holder  54  may be installed on the holder shafts  53  to support the neck of a beverage container such as a wine bottle. The neck holder  54  can move along the holder shafts  53  according to the size of a bottle. 
         [0081]    The neck holder  54  is installed on the holder shafts  53  at the lower side, and includes a first member  541  and a second member  542  spaced apart from each other, and elastic members  543  disposed between the first and second members  541  and  542 . Thus, when the second member  542  moves with the first member  541  fixed, the elastic members  543  are compressed. 
         [0082]    The second member  542  is disposed at a position corresponding to the rear end of the suction grill  23 . Thus, when the beverage container  2  is placed on the agitating member  50 , the beverage container  2  contacts the second member  542 , and the suction grill  23  is disposed at a position corresponding to the beverage container  2 , thereby effectively cooling the beverage container  2 . 
         [0083]    When a long bottle as the beverage container  2  is placed on the agitating member  50 , or when two cans as the beverage container  2  are placed thereon, the neck holder  54  may be moved, or the second member  542  may be moved to dispose the beverage container  2  at an appropriate position. When the elastic members  543  are compressed, the second member  542  may press and fix the beverage container  2 . Accordingly, the beverage container  2  can be stably fixed to the agitating member  50 . 
         [0084]    The agitating member  50  is provided with air guides  55 . The air guide  55  guides cool air discharged from the air holes  231  of the suction grill  23  to prevent dispersion of the cool air after colliding with the beverage container  2 , so that the cool air flows along the beverage container  2  to cool the beverage container  2  again. 
         [0085]    The air guides  55  are disposed at the left and right sides of the agitating member  50 . The air guide  55  may have a length corresponding to or greater than the length of the suction grill  23 , and have a predetermined vertical width. Thus, the air guides  55  are installed on the holder shafts  53  disposed at the upper side. so that the beverage container  2  placed on the agitating member  50  can be surrounded by the air guides  55  at the left and right sides. 
         [0086]    The air guides  55  are rounded to surround the outer surface of the beverage container  2 . The air guides  55  are disposed at the left and right sides to correspond to the suction grill  23 , thereby guiding cool air discharged from the suction grill  23 . The lower ends of the air guides  55  extend out of the left and right ends of the suction grill  23  to guide all cool air discharged from the suction grill  23  into the space between the air guides  55 . 
         [0087]    Air guide installation parts  551  are disposed on the upper ends of the air guides  55  to install the air guides  55 . The air guide installation part  551  is recessed from the upper end of the air guide  55 , and extends from an end of the air guide  55  to the other end. Thus, the air guide installation part  551  can be fixed to the holder shaft  53 . The air guide installation part  551  may be coupled to the holder shaft  53  disposed at the upper side, and be press-fit coupled to the holder shaft  53 , or be fixed by a fixing member such as adhesive. 
         [0088]    A guide  552  is disposed under the air guide installation part  551 . The guide  552  has a predetermined curvature to guide cool air along the outer surface of the beverage container  2 . 
         [0089]    The guide  552  is provided with guide plates  553  spaced a predetermined distance from one another. The guide plates  553  guide cool air to flow uniformly on the entire surface of the air guide  55 , and thus, the cool air can flow uniformly on the entire surface of the beverage container  2 . 
         [0090]    In detail, the guide plates  553  may have a plate shape vertically extending, and be laterally arrayed with a predetermined gap therebetween. Thus, a passage  554  for passing cool air is disposed between neighboring ones of the guide plates  553 . The guide plate  553  may extend from a side of the guide  552  to the air guide installation part  551 , and have an inclined or rounded protrusion. 
         [0091]    The agitating member  50  can be swung by the driving assembly  40 . The driving assembly  40 , which swings the agitating member  50  to agitate the beverage in the beverage container  2 , is connected to a side of the agitating member  50 . 
         [0092]    Hereinafter, the driving assembly will now be described in more detail. 
         [0093]    The driving assembly  40  may include the driving motor  41  generating torque, and the transmission unit  42  transmitting the torque from the driving motor  41  to rotate the agitating member  50   
         [0094]    In detail, the driving motor  41  has the same structure as that of a typical electric motor, and may be disposed on the outside of the case  20 . A rotation shaft  411  of the driving motor  41  passes through the case  20 , extends into the case  20 , and is coupled to the transmission unit  42  in the case  20 . Although the driving motor  41  may be disposed in the case  20 , the driving motor  41  is disposed out of the case  20  to prevent degradation of cooling efficiency of the cooling apparatus  10  due to heat from the driving motor  41 . 
         [0095]    The driving motor  41  may be a typical DC motor. Torque from the driving motor  41  is converted by the transmission unit  42  to swing the agitating member  50 . The driving motor  41  may be a stepping motor that can rotate forward and reverse by a constant angle. Thus, the driving motor  41  can repeatedly rotate forward and reverse by a constant angle, so that the agitating member  50  can swing. 
         [0096]    The transmission unit  42  is installed on the driving motor  41 . The transmission unit  42  includes a rotation member  421  connected to the rotation shaft  411  of the driving motor  41 , and a connecting member  422  connecting the rotation member  421  to the holder shaft  53 . The rotation shaft  411  of the driving motor  41  is parallel to an extension line of the holder shafts  53 . 
         [0097]    In detail, the rotation member  421  is coupled to the rotation shaft  411  of the driving motor  41 , and rotates together with the rotation shaft  411  when the rotation shaft  411  rotates. The rotation member  421  and the rotation shaft  411  extend in the same direction. The rotation member  421  may include a shaft coupler  421   a  coupled to the rotation shaft  411 , and an extension  421   b  extending from an end of the shaft coupler  421   a  in a direction crossing the rotation shaft  411 . 
         [0098]    The connecting member  422  crosses extension directions of the rotation shaft  411  and the holder shafts  53 , and may have a rod shape with a predetermined length. An end of the connecting member  422  is rotatably coupled through a link or shaft member to the extension  421   b  of the rotation member  421 , and the other end thereof is connected to the holder shaft  53 . The connecting member  422  is adjacent to the rear support  52 , and is coupled to the holder shaft  53  at the lower side. 
         [0099]    Thus, when the driving motor  41  repeatedly rotates forward and backward through a predetermined angle, the rotation member  421  also repeatedly rotates through the predetermined angle, and the connecting member  422  reciprocates. While the connecting member  422  reciprocates, the agitating member  50  repeatedly rotates, that is, swings through a predetermined angle. 
         [0100]    Hereinafter, an operation of a cooling apparatus will now be described according to an embodiment. 
         [0101]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view illustrating a state in which beverage containers are placed on an agitating member.  FIG. 12  is a schematic view illustrating flows of cool air in the state where the beverage containers are placed on the agitating member.  FIG. 13  is a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) image illustrating flows of cool air when the cooling apparatus operates. 
         [0102]    Referring to  FIGS. 11 to 13 , the bottom of the cooling compartment, particularly, the bottom of the case  20  is connected to the discharge end of the suction duct  11 . The suction grill  23  is disposed on the bottom of the case  20  connected to the discharge end of the suction duct  11 , and the speed of air sucked through the suction duct  11  increases while passing through the suction grill  23 . As described above, this is because the air holes  231  are disposed in the suction grill  23 . 
         [0103]    The cool air passing through the suction grill  23  at high speed may be discharged in a direction perpendicular to the outer surface of the beverage container  2 . Since the beverage container  2  has a cylindrical shape, when the cool air passing through the suction grill  23  perpendicularly collides with the outer surface of the beverage container  2 , heat exchange efficiency is maximized. When a flow direction of cool air passing through the suction grill  23  is not perpendicular to the outer surface of the beverage container  2 , a portion of the cool air may be discharged out of the case  20 , without colliding with the beverage container  2 . That is, cool air sucked through the suction grill  23  may perpendicularly collide with the outer surface of the beverage container  2  to minimize the amount of cool air discharged without heat exchange. 
         [0104]    Most of cool air passing through the suction grill  23  perpendicular collides with the outer surface of the beverage container  2 . The cool air perpendicularly colliding with the outer surface of the beverage container  2 , and the cool air flowing out of the beverage container  2  are guided by the air guides  55 . 
         [0105]    In detail, the cool air perpendicularly colliding with the outer surface of the beverage container  2  moves along the guides  552  of the air guides  55 , and contacts again the out surface of the beverage container  2 . That is, the cool air contacting the outer surface of the beverage container  2  to primarily cool the beverage container  2  contacts again the outer surface of the beverage container  2  to secondarily cool the beverage container  2 . The cool air passing through the suction grill  23  and flowing out of the beverage container  2  are guided to the outer surface of the beverage container  2  by the air guides  55  to cool the beverage container  2 . The cool air guided by the air guides  55  is provided uniformly on the beverage container  2  by the guide plates  553 , so that the beverage container  2  can be uniformly cooled. 
         [0106]    The suction fan  31  axially sucks the cool air to radially discharge the cool air, and the fan housing  32  guides the cool air to the freezer compartment  104  through the return duct  12 . 
         [0107]    While the suction fan  31  rotates, the agitating member  50  swings. To this end, the driving motor  41  is rotated. The driving motor  41  may be continuously rotated, or be rotated forward and reverse by a constant angle. The agitating member  50  repeatedly swings according to an operation of the transmission unit  42  connected to the rotation shaft  411  of the driving motor  41 . 
         [0108]    In detail, when the rotation shaft  411  of the driving motor  41  rotates, the rotation member  421  coupled to the rotation shaft  411  also rotates, and the connecting member  422  extending from a side of the rotation member  421  reciprocates to move the holder shaft  53  of the agitating member  50 . Since the lower end of the agitating member  50  is shaft-coupled to the agitating member support  25 , the agitating member  50  swings left and right through a predetermined angle about the agitating member support  25  as an axis. 
         [0109]    When the suction fan  31  sucks the cool air, and the agitating member  50  swings to agitate the beverage in the beverage container  2 , thereby quickly cooling the beverage. Due to the air guide  55 , the cool air discharged from the suction grill  23  effectively cools the outer surface of the beverage container  2 , thereby more quickly and effectively cooling the beverage in the beverage container  2 . 
         [0110]    A refrigerator according to the present disclosure may be described according to various embodiments. Hereinafter, a refrigerator will now be described according to another embodiment. 
         [0111]    In the current embodiment, holder shafts of an agitating member have indents to minimize an interference between the holder shafts and cool air passing through a suction grill, thereby improving a flow of the cool air. 
         [0112]    Thus, in the current embodiment, the rest parts except for the shape of the holder shafts are the same as those of the previous embodiments, and thus, a description thereof will be omitted, and like reference numerals denote like elements. 
         [0113]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view illustrating a cooling apparatus according to the current embodiment.  FIG. 15  is perspective view illustrating an agitating member of the cooling apparatus.  FIG. 16  is a plan view illustrating the agitating member. 
         [0114]    Referring to  FIGS. 14 to 16 , a cooling apparatus  10  includes a fan motor assembly  30  to forcibly suck and circulate cool air, and a suction grill  23  for passing cool air is disposed in a case  20 . The suction grill  23  includes air holes  231  to discharge cool air in a direction crossing an outer surface of a beverage container  2 . The case  20  is opened and closed by a cover  60 , so that the beverage container  2  to be cooled can be disposed in the case  20 . 
         [0115]    The agitating member  50 , which is repeatedly swung by a driving assembly  40 , may be disposed in the case  20  of the cooling apparatus  10 . The agitating member  50  may include: a front support  51  forming a front surface of the agitating member  50 ; a rear support  52  forming a rear surface of the agitating member  50 ; and a plurality of the holder shafts  53  connecting the front support  51  to the rear support  52 . The beverage container  2  is placed on the holder shafts  53 . 
         [0116]    The holder shafts  53  are provided in a pair at each of the left and right sides of the agitating member  50 . A distance between the holder shafts  53  at the lower side of the agitating member  50  is smaller than a distance between the holder shafts  53  at the upper side, so that the beverage container  2  can be stably placed on the holder shafts  53 . 
         [0117]    The holder shafts  53  at the lower side include a series of indents  531  for facilitating a flow of cool air. The indents  531  are continuously arrayed in a region corresponding to the suction grill  23  to minimize an interference of the holder shafts  53  and cool air discharged from the lower side. 
         [0118]    In detail, each of the indents  531  is disposed at a position to correspond to each of the air holes  231  of the suction grill  23 . Neighboring ones of the indents  531  are indented to opposite sides to each other. The indents  531  are alternately disposed at a position close to the air hole  231  and a position far from the air hole  231 . 
         [0119]    Cool air discharged through the air holes  231  collides with the beverage container  2  and flows along the outer surface of the beverage container  2 . A portion of the cool air flowing along the outer surface of the beverage container  2  passes through the holder shafts  53  disposed at the lower side. A portion of the cool air is guided to the inside of the holder shaft  53  by the indents  531  disposed inside the holder shaft  53 , and the other of the cool air is guided to the outside of the holder shaft  53  by the indents  531  disposed outside the holder shaft  53 . That is, cool air from the air holes  231  can be discharged through the inside and outside of the indents  531 , without colliding with the holder shafts  53 . 
         [0120]    Thus, cool air discharged through the air holes  231  corresponding to the indents  531  disposed at the inside of the holder shaft  53  is discharged through the inside of the indents  531 , and cool air discharged through the air holes  231  corresponding to the indents  531  disposed at the outside of the holder shaft  53  is discharged through the outside of the indents  531 . The indents  531  disposed inside the holder shafts  53  contact the outer surface of the beverage container  2  placed on the agitating member  50 , so that the beverage container  2  can be stably placed on the agitating member  50 . That is, the indents  531  of the holder shaft  53  stably fix the beverage container  2 , and facilitate a flow of cool air discharged through the air holes  231 . 
         [0121]    The holder shafts  53  are provided with a movable neck holder  54 , so that the beverage container  2  having an arbitrary size can be placed on the agitating member  50 . The neck holder  54  includes a first member  541 , a second member  542 , and elastic members  543  disposed between the first and second members  541  and  542 , so as to stably fix a beverage container having an arbitrary size or a plurality of beverage containers. 
         [0122]    A transmission unit  42  is connected to a side of the holder shaft  53 . The transmission unit  42  includes a rotation member  421  connected to a rotation shaft  411  of a driving motor  41 , and a connecting member  422  connecting the rotation member  421  to the holder shafts  53 . Accordingly, torque from the driving motor  41  is converted to repeatedly swing the agitating member  50 . 
         [0123]    Thus, the fan motor assembly  30  is driven to move cool air in the case  20 , thereby cooling the beverage container  2 . At this point, the driving assembly  40  is driven to swing the agitating member  50 , so that the beverage in the beverage container  2  can be agitated while being cooled. Since a portion of the cool air passing through the suction grill  23  and flowing along the outer surface of the beverage container  2  passes through the indents  531  of the holder shafts  53 , the cool air efficiently flows, thereby more effectively cooling the beverage container  2 . 
         [0124]    A refrigerator according to the present disclosure may be described according to various embodiments. Hereinafter, a refrigerator will now be described according to another embodiment. 
         [0125]    In the current embodiment, holder shafts of an agitating member have indents, and guide members are disposed outside the indents to guide cool air, to improve a flow of cool air in a cooling apparatus. 
         [0126]    Thus, in the current embodiment, the rest parts except for the shape of the holder shafts are the same as those of the previous embodiments, and thus, a description thereof will be omitted, and like reference numerals denote like elements. 
         [0127]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view illustrating an agitating member and guide members according to the current embodiment.  FIG. 18  is a plan view illustrating the agitating member.  FIG. 19  is a perspective view illustrating a flow of cool air in the agitating member. 
         [0128]    Referring to  FIGS. 17 to 19 , a cooling apparatus  10  includes a fan motor assembly  30  to forcibly suck and circulate cool air, and a suction grill  23  for passing cool air is disposed in a case  20 . The suction grill  23  includes air holes  231  to discharge cool air in a direction crossing an outer surface of a beverage container  2 . The case  20  is opened and closed by a cover  60 , so that the beverage container  2  to be cooled can be disposed in the case  20 . 
         [0129]    The agitating member  50 , which is repeatedly swung by a driving assembly  40 , may be disposed in the case  20  of the cooling apparatus  10 . The agitating member  50  may include: a front support  51  forming a front surface of the agitating member  50 ; a rear support  52  forming a rear surface of the agitating member  50 ; and a pair of holder shafts  53  connecting the front support  51  to the rear support  52 . The beverage container  2  is placed on the holder shafts  53 . 
         [0130]    The holder shafts  53  are provided in a pair at each of the left and right sides of the agitating member  50 . A distance between the holder shafts  53  at the lower side of the agitating member  50  is smaller than a distance between the holder shafts  53  at the upper side, so that the beverage container  2  can be stably placed on the holder shafts  53 . 
         [0131]    The holder shafts  53  at the lower side include a series of indents  531  for facilitating a flow of cool air. The indents  531  are continuously arrayed in a region corresponding to the suction grill  23  to minimize an interference of the holder shafts  53  and cool air discharged from the lower side. 
         [0132]    In detail, each of the indents  531  is disposed at a position to correspond to each of the air holes  231  of the suction grill  23 . Neighboring ones of the indents  531  are indented to opposite sides to each other. The indents  531  are alternately disposed at a position close to the air hole  231  and a position far from the air hole  231 . 
         [0133]    Cool air discharged through the air holes  231  collides with the beverage container  2  and flows along the outer surface of the beverage container  2 . A portion of the cool air flowing along the outer surface of the beverage container  2  passes through the holder shafts  53  disposed at the lower side. A portion of the cool air is guided to the inside of the holder shaft  53  by the indents  531  disposed inside the holder shaft  53 , and the other of the cool air is guided to the outside of the holder shaft  53  by the indents  531  disposed outside the holder shaft  53 . That is, cool air from the air holes  231  can be discharged through the inside and outside of the indents  531 , without colliding with the holder shafts  53 . 
         [0134]    Thus, cool air discharged through the air holes  231  corresponding to the indents  531  disposed at the inside of the holder shaft  53  is discharged through the inside of the indents  531 , and cool air discharged through the air holes  231  corresponding to the indents  531  disposed at the outside of the holder shaft  53  is discharged through the outside of the indents  531 . The indents  531  disposed inside the holder shafts  53  contact the outer surface of the beverage container  2  placed on the agitating member  50 , so that the beverage container  2  can be stably placed on the agitating member  50 . That is, the indents  531  of the holder shaft  53  stably fix the beverage container  2 , and facilitate a flow of cool air discharged through the air holes  231 . 
         [0135]    Air guides  56  may be installed on the holder shafts  53  provided with the indents  531 . Cool air flowing through the inside and outside of the indents  531  is guided to the beverage container  2  by the air guides  56 . 
         [0136]    In detail, the air guide  56  is installed on the outer portion of the holder shaft  53 , and has a length corresponding to the entire length of a series of the indents  531 . Thus, the air guide  56  entirely covers the indents  531 . The inner surface of the air guide  56  is provided with recesses  564 . Thus, when being installed, the air guide  56  closely contacts the outer surface of the holder shaft  53 . The recesses  564  are arrayed from an end of the air guide  56  to the other end, so as to contact all the indents  531 . Accordingly, the air guides  56  can be more stably installed on the holder shafts  53 . 
         [0137]    The inner surface of the air guide  56  has a predetermined curvature to guide cool air contacting the air guide  56  toward the beverage container  2 . The inner portion of the air guide  56  is divided into a plurality of spaces to independently guide cool air passing through each of the indents  531 . 
         [0138]    In detail, the inner surface of the air guide  56  is provided with inner guides  561  and outer guides  562  that are disposed at positions to correspond to the indents  531 . The inner guides  561  contact the outer surfaces of the indents  531  disposed outside the holder shaft  53 , to guide cool air passing through the inside of the indents  531 . The outer guides  562  contact the outer surfaces of the indents  531  disposed inside the holder shaft  53 , and support the outer surfaces of the indents  531 , and spaces  563  for passing cool air are disposed between the indents  531  and the air guide  56 . Thus, cool air passing through the outside of the indents  531  can be guided through the spaces  563  defined by the outer guides  562 . Then, the cool air passing through the spaces  563  are guided toward the beverage container  2  along the curvature of the inner surface of the air guide  56 . 
         [0139]    Thus, a portion of cool air passing through the suction grill  23  collides with the outer surface of the beverage container  2  and moves along the outer surface. Then, the cool air flows through the inside and outside of the indents  531 , and is guided toward the beverage container  2  through the inner guides  561  and the outer guides  562 , thereby cooling the beverage container  2  again. 
         [0140]    The holder shafts  53  are provided with a movable neck holder  54 , so that the beverage container  2  having an arbitrary size can be placed on the agitating member  50 . The neck holder  54  includes a first member  541 , a second member  542 , and elastic members  543  disposed between the first and second members  541  and  542 , so as to stably fix a beverage container having an arbitrary size or a plurality of beverage containers. 
         [0141]    A transmission unit  42  is connected to a side of the holder shaft  53 . The transmission unit  42  includes a rotation member  421  connected to a rotation shaft  411  of a driving motor  41 , and a connecting member  422  connecting the rotation member  421  to the holder shafts  53 . Accordingly, torque from the driving motor  41  is converted to repeatedly swing the agitating member  50 . 
         [0142]    Thus, the fan motor assembly  30  is driven to move cool air in the case  20 , thereby cooling the beverage container  2 . At this point, the driving assembly  40  is driven to swing the agitating member  50 , so that the beverage in the beverage container  2  can be agitated while being cooled. The air guides  56  guide cool air, colliding with the beverage container  2  and the holder shafts  53 , to the outer surface of the beverage container  2 , thereby more effectively cooling the beverage container  2 . 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE SYMBOLS 
       [0000]    
       
           10 : Cooling Apparatus 
           20 : Case 
           30 : Fan Motor Assembly 
           40 : Driving Assembly 
           50 : Agitating Member 
           55 : Air Guide 
           60 : Cover