Abstract:
An ice making system for a refrigerator is provided. The ice making system includes an ice maker body, an ejector rotatably coupled to the ice maker body that drops ice pieces made by the ice maker body, an ice bank drawably disposed below the ice maker body that stores the ice pieces dropped by the ejector, an ice sensing lever that senses an amount of the ice pieces stored in the ice bank, a lever holding device that elastically supports and couples the ice sensing lever, and a driving force transmitting device that transmits a rotation force received from the ejector to the lever holding device, thereby rotating the lever holding device. The ice sensing lever may move within a predetermined range when an external force is applied to the ice sensing lever.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
   The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in priority Korean Application No. 10-2006-0027254, filed on Mar. 27, 2006 and No. 10-2006-0086376, filed on Sep. 7, 2006, which are herein expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to an ice making system for a refrigerator. 
   2. Description of the Background Art 
   Generally, a refrigerator serves to store food items such as meat, fish, vegetable, fruit, beverage, etc. with a fresh state. The refrigerator includes a body having a freezing chamber, a cooling chamber, a vegetable chamber, etc., and a door provided at one side of the body for opening and closing the freezing chamber and the cooling chamber. 
   The body includes a refrigerating cycle apparatus having a compressor, a condenser, a capillary tube, an evaporator, etc., a blowing fan for forcibly blowing cool air generated by the evaporator, and a circulation path for guiding cool air generated by the evaporator to be introduced into the evaporator via the freezing chamber and the cooling chamber. 
   When the temperature of the freezing chamber or the cooling chamber is increased by a predetermined degree, the refrigerating cycle apparatus is operated. As the refrigerating cycle apparatus is operated, cool air is generated by the evaporator. Then, the cool air circulates the freezing chamber and the cooling chamber by the blowing fan. Accordingly, the freezing chamber, the cooling chamber, and the vegetable chamber provided at the cooling chamber maintain each preset temperature. 
   The refrigerator is classified into various types according to a method for circulating cool air, each position of the freezing chamber and the cooling chamber, and a configuration of the evaporator. 
   For instance, the refrigerator includes a refrigerator in which the freezing chamber is disposed above the cooling chamber, a refrigerator in which the freezing chamber and the cooling chamber are disposed in parallel with each other, a refrigerator in which the freezing chamber is disposed below the cooling chamber. 
   The size of the refrigerator is being increased according to a user&#39;s demand, and various functions are implemented so as to enhance the user&#39;s convenience. 
   As one example, the door is provided with a home bar by which beverage, etc. stored in the cooling chamber can be taken out without opening the door. 
   Also, the door is provided with a dispenser by which water or ice can be taken out without opening the door. 
   The refrigerator having the dispenser includes an ice maker for making ice, and an ice bank for storing ice pieces made by the ice maker. In order to use ice pieces stored in the ice bank, a user has to draw out the ice bank and then mount the ice bank below the ice maker. 
   When ice pieces made by the ice maker are stored in the ice bank, an amount of the ice pieces stored in the ice bank has to be precisely measured. If the amount of the ice pieces stored in the ice bank is not precisely measured, the ice pieces made by the ice maker are excessively supplied to the ice bank thus to overflow from the ice bank. 
   Furthermore, when a user mounts the ice bank below the ice maker, the ice bank and other components may be damaged by colliding with one another. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an ice making system for a refrigerator capable of preventing an ice bank for storing ice pieces made by an ice maker from being damaged by colliding with other components, and capable of precisely measuring an amount of the ice pieces stored in the ice bank. 
   To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided an ice making system for a refrigerator, comprising: an ice maker body; an ejector rotatably coupled to the ice maker body, for dropping ice pieces made by the ice maker body; an ice bank drawably disposed below the ice maker body, for storing the ice pieces dropped by the ejector; an ice sensing lever for sensing an amount of the ice pieces stored in the ice bank; a lever holding unit for elastically supporting and coupling the ice sensing lever so that the ice sensing lever can move within a predetermined range when an external force is applied to the ice sensing lever; and a driving force transmitting unit for transmitting a rotation force received from the ejector to the lever holding unit thereby rotating the lever holding unit. 
   According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ice making system for a refrigerator, comprising: an ice maker disposed in a refrigerator for making ice; an ice bank for storing the ice pieces made by the ice maker; an ice sensing lever for sensing an amount of the ice pieces stored in the ice bank; a lever holding unit for elastically supporting and coupling the ice sensing lever so that the ice sensing lever can move within a predetermined range when an external force is applied to the ice sensing lever; and a driving unit for rotating the lever holding unit. 
   According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ice making system for a refrigerator, comprising: an ice maker disposed in a refrigerator for making ice; an ice bank for storing the ice pieces made by the ice maker; an ice sensing lever rotated in the ice bank; and an ice sensing plate provided at the ice sensing lever and rotated together with the ice sensing lever, for sensing an amount of the ice pieces stored in the ice bank. 
   The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
     In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an ice making system for a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing a lever holding unit of the ice making system for a refrigerator; 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  are front and side sectional views of the lever holding unit, respectively; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing an ice sensing lever of the ice making system for a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the ice sensing lever and an ice sensing plate; and 
       FIGS. 7 ,  8 ,  9  and  10  are side sectional views showing an operation state of the ice making system for a refrigerator, respectively. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
   Hereinafter, an ice making system for a refrigerator according to the present invention will be explained with reference to the attached drawings. 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an ice making system for a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
   As shown, the ice making system for a refrigerator comprises an ice maker  100  disposed in a refrigerator, and an ice bank  200  detachably mounted below the ice maker  100  for storing ice pieces. 
   The ice maker  100  includes an ice maker body  110  having a predetermined length; an ejector  120  for ejecting ice pieces made by the ice maker body  110  into the ice bank  200 , a stripper  130  for guiding the ice pieces ejected by the ejector  120  to be dropped into the ice bank  200 ; a water supplying unit for supplying water into the ice maker body  110 ; and a housing  140  disposed at a lateral side of the ice maker body  110 , and having a controlling unit, a driving force generating unit, etc, therein. 
   An ice tray (not shown) for forming a plurality of ice pieces is disposed in the ice maker body  110 , and a base plate  111  having a predetermined area is disposed at one side of the ice maker body  110 . Water supplied from the water supplying unit is contained in the ice tray, and then is frozen thus to form ice. A mounting portion  112  is disposed at one side of the base plate  111 , and is mounted at an inner wall of the refrigerator. 
   The ejector  120  includes an ejector shaft  121  rotatably coupled to the ice maker body  110  and connected to the driving force generating unit, and a plurality of ejector fins fixedly-coupled to the ejector shaft  121  with a predetermined gap. The ejector  120  is disposed above the ice tray. 
   The stripper  130  has a predetermined width and length, and is disposed to be inclined at the ice maker body  110  with a predetermined gap. Each ejector fin  122  is disposed between the strippers  130 . 
   As the ejector shaft  121  is rotated, the ejector fins  122  are together rotated thus to dispose ice pieces made in the ice tray onto the strippers  130 . Then, the ice pieces disposed on the strippers  130  are slid thus to be dropped into the ice bank  200 . 
   The water supplying unit includes a water supplying hopper  151  mounted at one side of the ice maker body  110 , and a water supplying tube (not shown) for connecting the water supplying hopper and a water supplying source with each other. 
   The water supplying hopper  151  is disposed above the ice tray, and the water supplying hopper  151  provides water supplied from the water supplying source to the ice tray. 
   The housing  140  is coupled to one side of the ice maker body  110  so as to be positioned at an opposite side to the water supplying hopper  151 . The housing  140  may be integrally formed with the ice maker body  110 , or may be coupled to the ice maker body  110  after being formed of a different material from the ice maker body  110 . 
   A fixing plate  141  is disposed in the housing  140 . A driving force generating unit for generating a driving force, and a driving force transmitting unit for transmitting a driving force to another component are mounted at the fixing plate  141 . 
   Preferably, the driving force generating unit is implemented as a motor M mounted at the fixing plate  141  and generating a rotation force. 
   As one example, the driving force transmitting unit includes a gear train GT to which a plurality of gears are connected, and a lever L connected to the gear train GT. The lever L is connected to the ejector  120 , and a gear portion formed at one side of the lever L is connected to the gear train GT. The motor M is connected to the ejector  120 , and a magnet (not shown) is disposed at one side of the lever L. 
   A printed circuit board  142  having electric components including a hole sensor is mounted in the housing  140 . A part of the electric components constitutes a controlling unit. A switch  143  for turning on/off the ice maker is mounted at one side of the housing  140 . 
   The lever holding unit H is disposed in the housing  140  so as to be connected to the gear train GT. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 , the lever holding unit H includes a gear member  160  connected to the gear train GT, a holder  170  inserted into the gear member  160  so as to be movable within a predetermined range, and an elastic member  180  for elastically connecting the holder  170  and the gear member  160  with each other. 
   The gear member  160  includes a body  161  having a bar shape of a predetermined length, gear teeth  162  disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the body  161 , a through hole  163  penetratingly formed in the body  161 , and a guiding groove  164  formed at an inner circumferential surface of the through hole  163  with a predetermined depth. The guiding groove  164  is formed within an approximate range of 180° in a circumferential direction, and is provided with a first stepped portion  165  and a second stepped portion  166  at both ends thereof. 
   The holder  170  includes a cylindrical portion  171  having a bar shape of a predetermined length, a stopping protrusion  172  protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion  171  with a predetermined width and length, a hook portion  173  extending from one side of the cylindrical portion  171 , a fixing hole  174  formed at another side of the cylindrical portion  171  with a predetermined depth, and a stopper  175  formed at one side of the cylindrical portion  171  with a predetermined thickness and height and having a ring shape. An outer diameter of the cylindrical portion  171  corresponds to an inner diameter of the through hole  163 , and a height of the stopping protrusion  172  corresponds to a depth of the guiding groove  164  of the gear member  160 . 
   The hook portion  173  is composed of two hooks having each elastic force. 
   The cylindrical portion  171  of the holder  170  is inserted into the through hole  163  of the gear member  160 , and the stopping protrusion  172  is disposed at the guiding groove  164 . Herein, one surface of the stopper  175  of the holder  170  faces one surface of the gear member  160 , and the hook portion  173  of the holder  170  is protruding outside the gear member  160 . 
   Preferably, the elastic member  180  is a torsion spring. The torsion spring includes a turn portion  181  on which a wire is wound many times, and fixing portions  182  straightly extending from both ends of the turn portion  181 . The fixing portions  182  are preferably disposed on the same line when an external force is not applied thereto. 
   The cylindrical portion  171  of the holder  170  is inserted into the turn portion  181  of the torsion spring, one fixing portion  182  is inserted into a pin hole  167  formed at one surface of the gear member  160 , and another fixing portion  182  is inserted into a pin hole  176  formed at the stopper  175  of the holder  170 . 
   Under a state that the gear member  160 , the torsion spring  180  and the holder  170  are coupled to one another, the stopping protrusion  172  of the holder  170  is supported at the first stepped portion  165  by an elastic force of the torsion spring  180 . When a torque is applied to the holder  170  towards the second stepped portion  166  of the gear member  160  under a state that the gear member  160  is in a fixed state, the holder  170  receives an elastic force by the torsion spring  180  thus to be angle-rotated. Then, if the torque applied to the holder  170  is removed, the holder  170  is angle-rotated in a reverse direction by a restoration force of the torsion spring  180 . Accordingly, the stopping protrusion  172  of the holder  170  is locked by the first stepped portion  165  of the gear member  160 . Herein, the holder  170  can be movable up to the second stepped portion  166 . 
   Under a state that the gear member  160 , the torsion spring  180  and the holder  170  are coupled to one another, the gear teeth  162  of the gear member  160  are engaged with the gears of the gear train GT. Under this state, the hook portion  173  of the holder  170  is inserted into a through hole (not shown) of the fixing plate  141 , and one side of the holder  170  is inserted into through holes  144  formed at the housing  140 . The hook portion  173  of the holder  170  is inserted into the through hole of the fixing plate  141  thus to be prevented from being separated therefrom. Under a state that the holder  170  has been inserted into the through hole  144  of the housing  140 , one end of the holder  170  is protruding to outside the housing  140  and the fixing hole  174  formed at the end is exposed to outside of the housing  140 . 
   When the gears of the gear train GT are rotated, the rotation force is transmitted to the gear teeth  162  of the gear member  160  thus to rotate the gear member  160 . As the result, the lever holding unit H is rotated. 
   An ice sensing lever  310  for sensing an amount of the ice pieces stored in the ice bank  200  is coupled to the lever holding unit H. 
   As one example, the ice sensing lever  310  is formed as a wire is curved with a multi-step. The wire includes a coupling portion  311  having a predetermined length and fixedly-coupled to the holder fixing hole  174  of the lever holding unit H, a perpendicular portion  312  curvedly-extending from the coupling portion  311  with a predetermined length, and a measuring portion  313  curvedly-extending from the perpendicular portion  312  with a predetermined length. 
   Under a state that the coupling portion  311  of the ice sensing lever  310  has been coupled to the holder fixing hole  174  of the lever holding unit H, the measuring portion  313  is disposed in the same direction to the ejector shaft  121 . Only one side of the ice sensing lever  310  is fixed to the lever holding unit H. 
   As the lever holding unit H is rotated, the measuring portion  313  of the ice sensing lever  310  is angle-rotated centering around the coupling portion  311  thus to measure an amount of the ice pieces contained in the ice bank  200 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 5  according to another embodiment, the ice sensing lever  310  is implemented as a wire having a polygonal shape. One side of the ice sensing lever  310  is fixedly-coupled to the holder fixing hole  174  of the lever holding unit H, and another side thereof is rotatably coupled to one side of the ice maker body  110 . 
   As the lever holding unit H is rotated, a middle part of the ice sensing lever  310  is angle-rotated in the ice bank  200  with making both ends of the ice sensing lever  310  as a reference shaft, thereby measuring an amount of the ice pieces contained in the ice bank  200 . 
   In order to more precisely measure the ice pieces contained in the ice bank  200 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , an ice sensing plate  320  having a predetermined area is coupled to the ice sensing lever  310 . 
   The ice sensing plate  320  is formed to have a predetermined thickness and area, and is detachably coupled to the ice sensing lever  310 . A groove  321  is detachably disposed at the ice sensing lever  310  formed of the wire at a side surface of the ice sensing plate. 
   The ice sensing plate  320  may be integrally formed with the ice sensing lever  310 . 
   When the ice sensing plate  320  is coupled to the ice sensing lever  310 , it measures an amount of the ice pieces contained in the ice bank  200 . Accordingly, the amount of the ice pieces can be more precisely measured. 
   Hereinafter, an operation of the ice making system for a refrigerator according to the present invention will be explained. 
   The ice making system for a refrigerator according to the present invention may be installed inside a freezing chamber or at a door of the freezing chamber. 
   Once water is contained in the ice tray of the ice maker body  110  through the water supplying unit, the water is frozen by cool air supplied to the freezing chamber. 
   As the result, the driving force generating unit generates a rotation force by the controlling unit. The rotation force is transmitted to the ejector  120  and the ice sensing lever  310  through the driving force transmitting unit. As the ice sensing lever  310  is moved together with the ejector  120 , it measures the amount of the ice pieces contained in the ice bank  200 . At the same time, the ejector  120  ejects the frozen ice pieces in the ice tray to the ice bank  200 . 
   The ice pieces in the ice tray are dropped into the ice bank  200  as follows. 
   As shown in  FIG. 7 , the ice sensing lever  310  is initially positioned in an inclined state based on a perpendicular direction. The ice bank  200  is disposed below the ice maker body  110  or is drawn out by being horizontally moved. 
   At the time of the initial state of the ice sensing lever  310 , the holder  170  of the lever holding unit H is adhered to the gear member  160  by an elastic force of the torsion spring  180 . As the ejector shaft  121  is rotated, the lever holding unit H and the ice sensing lever  310  are moved. As shown in  FIG. 8 , if the ice pieces stored in the ice bank  200  are not locked to the ice sensing lever  310  being angle-rotated, the ejector shaft  121  is continuously rotated. Accordingly, the ejector fins  122  coupled to the ejector shaft eject the ice pieces in the ice tray thus to position on the stripper  130 . Then, the ice pieces on the stripper  130  are dropped into the ice bank  200  by being slid. A heater (not shown) is provided at the ice maker body  110 , by which the ice pieces are easily separated from the ice tray. 
   If the amount of the ice pieces contained in the ice bank  200  is more than a preset amount, the ice pieces are locked to the ice sensing lever  310  being angle-rotated in the ice bank  200 . As the result, the lever L of the driving force transmitting unit is not rotated up to a preset position. 
   Since a magnetic force of a magnet provided at the lever L is not sensed by the hole sensor of the printed circuit board  142 , the driving force generating unit, the motor M is stopped. As the motor M is stopped, the ejector  120  is stopped and thus the ice pieces made in the ice tray are not stored in the ice bank  200 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 9 , under a state that the ice sensing lever  310  is perpendicularly disposed, if the ice bank  200  is pushed into a lower side of the ice maker body  110 , the ice bank  200  is locked by the ice sensing lever  310 . If an external force is applied to the ice sensing lever  310  while the ice bank  200  is pushed into the lower side of the ice maker body  110 , as shown in  FIG. 10 , the holder  170  of the lever holding unit H to which the ice sensing lever  310  has been coupled receives an elastic force of the torsion spring. Then, the holder  170  of the lever holding unit H is rotated towards the second stepped portion  166 . Herein, the gear member  160  is in a fixed state, only the holder  170  is rotated towards the second stepped portion  166  (i.e., performs a relative motion), and the ice sensing lever  310  fixedly-coupled to the holder  170  is angle-rotated. 
   If the external force applied to the ice sensing lever  310  is released, the holder  170  is rotated towards the first stepped portion  165  by a restoration force of the torsion spring  180 . 
   Since the ice sensing lever  310  is angle-rotated when receiving an external force, the ice sensing lever  310  and the ice bank  200  are prevented from being damaged. Furthermore, the external force applied to the ice sensing lever  310  is prevented from being transmitted to the driving force transmitting unit and the motor M. 
   If an external force is applied to the ice sensing lever  310  that is in a fixed state, the external force is transmitted to the driving force transmitting unit and the motor M. Accordingly, the components may be separated from the original positions, and a load is supplied to the motor M. Furthermore, if an external force is applied to the ice sensing lever  310  that is in a fixed state, the ice sensing lever  310  and the ice bank  200  may be damaged. 
   If the ice sensing plate  320  is coupled to the ice sensing lever  310 , a contact area of the ice pieces to the ice sensing lever  310  is increased due to the ice sensing plate  320 . Accordingly, the amount of the ice pieces stored in the ice bank  200  can be more precisely sensed. 
   If the ice sensing plate  320  is coupled to the ice sensing lever  310 , the ice sensing plate  320  has a wide area thus to easily receive an external force. However, since the ice sensing lever  310  performs a relative motion, the components are prevented from being damaged. 
   As another embodiment of the present invention, the lever holding unit H can be rotated by an additional driving unit not by the driving force generating unit and the driving force transmitting unit. If an external force is applied to the ice sensing lever  310  when the ice bank  200  is pushed into a lower side of the ice maker body  110 , the ice sensing lever  310  is moved. Accordingly, the ice sensing lever  310  and other components are prevented from being damaged. 
   As aforementioned, in the ice making system for a refrigerator according to the present invention, if an external force is applied to the ice sensing lever that measures an amount of the ice pieces made by the ice maker then to be stored in the ice bank, the ice sensing lever receives an elastic force thus to perform a relative motion. Accordingly, the components are prevented from being damaged, and the product has an enhanced reliability. 
   As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.