Abstract:
A dispenser and a refrigerator including the same are disclosed. The dispenser includes a first section of ice discharge duct that receives ice supplied from an ice supplier, a second section of ice discharge duct that receives the ice guided by the first section, and a third section of ice discharge duct that receives the ice guided by the second section. The third section guides the ice through an outlet positioned in front of a surface of a door of the refrigerator. The dispenser also includes a first coupling mechanism located at the second section and a second coupling mechanism located at the third section. The first and second coupling mechanisms are configured to engage and disengage with each other to enable removal of the third section from the second section and attachment of the third section to the second section.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0067005, filed on Jul. 4, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to dispenser technology. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A dispenser may be mounted to a refrigerator, to selectively supply, to a user, a certain content, such as ice made by an ice maker included in the refrigerator or liquid water cooled or heated by the refrigerator. An interior of a dispenser may be difficult for a user to clean because the interior of the dispenser may not be easily visible or accessible to the user. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, a refrigerator dispenser includes a first section of ice discharge duct that defines a first portion of an ice flow passage configured to receive ice supplied from an ice supplier and guide the ice. At least a portion of the first section of ice discharge duct is positioned behind a surface of a door of an refrigerator. The refrigerator dispenser also includes a second section of ice discharge duct that is configured to receive the ice guided by the first portion of the ice flow passage defined by the first section of ice discharge duct and further guide the ice along a second portion of the ice flow passage. At least a portion of the second section of ice discharge duct is positioned in front of the surface of the door of the refrigerator. The refrigerator dispenser further includes a third section of ice discharge duct that is configured to receive the ice guided by the second portion of the ice flow passage defined by the second section of ice discharge duct and further guide the ice along a third portion of the ice flow passage through an outlet of the third section of ice discharge duct that is positioned in front of the surface of the door of the refrigerator and configured to guide the ice to a position outside of the ice flow passage in front of the surface of the door of the refrigerator. The refrigerator dispenser includes a first coupling mechanism located at the second section of ice discharge duct and a second coupling mechanism located at the third section of ice discharge duct, the first and second coupling mechanisms being configured to engage and disengage with each other to enable removal of the third section of ice discharge duct from the second section of ice discharge duct and attachment of the third section of ice discharge duct to the second section of ice discharge duct. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the dispenser may include a button and tray combination device that is configured to control the dispenser to dispense ice through the outlet of the third section of ice discharge duct and that is configured to receive and store residual content discharged from the outlet of the third section of ice discharge duct after a container used in actuating the button and tray combination device is moved from beneath the outlet of the third section of ice discharge duct. In another example, the dispenser may include a door handle provided below the outlet of the third section of ice discharge duct, and a tray secured to the door handle and positioned to receive ice dispensed from the outlet of the third section of ice discharge duct. 
     In some implementations, the first section of ice discharge duct may be embedded in a refrigerator door and the second section of ice discharge duct may be configured to move from a stored position in which an outlet of the second section of ice discharge duct is positioned behind a surface of the refrigerator door to an operable position in which the outlet of the second section of ice discharge duct is positioned in front of the surface of the refrigerator door. In these implementations, the dispenser may include a fixed guide that is attached to the first section of ice discharge duct, positioned within the first section of ice discharge duct, and configured to guide the content to the second section of ice discharge duct. 
     The second section of ice discharge duct may include a moving body rotatable or slidable with respect to the refrigerator door such that the moving body is configured move from a stored position in which a portion of the moving body is positioned behind the surface of the refrigerator door to an operable position in which the portion of the moving body is positioned in front of the surface of the refrigerator door, the moving body including a seat configured to receive the third section of ice discharge duct when the third section of ice discharge duct is attached to the second section of ice discharge duct. A discharger may be arranged between the fixed guide and the supplier. The discharger may include a member configured to open and close the discharger to selectively supply content from the supplier to the fixed guide. 
     In some examples, the first section of ice discharge duct may be embedded in a refrigerator door, the dispenser may define, in front of the surface of the refrigerator door, a dispensing area configured to receive a container, and the first section of ice discharge duct, the second section of ice discharge duct, and the third section of the ice discharge duct may be configured to guide content to the dispensing area. In these examples, the second section of ice discharge duct may include a seat configured to receive the third section of ice discharge duct when the third section of ice discharge duct is attached to the second section of ice discharge duct. In addition, a discharger may be arranged between the second section of ice discharge duct and the supplier. The discharger may include a member configured to open and close the discharger to selectively supply content from the supplier to the second section of ice discharge duct. 
     In some implementations, the second section of ice discharge duct may be coupled to a surface of the door of the refrigerator such that the second section of ice discharge duct is positioned outside of the surface of the door on a side opposite of a compartment opened and closed by the door. In these implementations, the second section of ice discharge duct may include a seat configured to receive the third section of ice discharge duct when the third section of ice discharge duct is attached to the second section of ice discharge duct. 
     The first coupling mechanism may include a slide groove, and the second coupling mechanism may include a slide fit that is configured to engage with the slide groove such that the slide fit slides along the slide groove. The slide fit may include a slide rail, and a hook provided at an end of the slide rail, and the slide groove may include a first groove configured to engage with the slide rail and an engagement groove provided at an end of the first groove and configured to engage with the hook. 
     The first coupling mechanism may include a female thread, and the second coupling mechanism may include a male thread configured to engage with the female thread to attach the third section of ice discharge duct to the second section of ice discharge duct. The first coupling mechanism also may include a swing groove configured to guide the third section of ice discharge duct along a spiral path of a predetermined angle, and the second coupling mechanism may include a swing protrusion configured to engage with the swing groove such that the swing protrusion rotates spirally along the spiral path. The swing groove comprises may include a spiral groove configured to receive the swing protrusion and guide the swing protrusion along the spiral path, and a stopper configured to engage with swing protrusion to attach the third section of ice discharge duct to the second section of ice discharge duct. 
     The dispenser may include a coupling protrusion provided at one of the second section of ice discharge duct and the door, and a coupling groove provided at the other of the second section of ice discharge duct and the door, the coupling groove being configured to engage with the coupling protrusion. The second section of ice discharge duct may be removable from and replaceable to the refrigerator door. 
     In another aspect, a refrigerator includes a refrigerator body defining a cooling compartment, a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the cooling compartment, and a first section of ice discharge duct that defines a first portion of an ice flow passage configured to receive ice supplied from an ice supplier and guide the ice. At least a portion of the first section of ice discharge duct is positioned behind a surface of the door. The refrigerator also includes a second section of ice discharge duct that is configured to receive the ice guided by the first portion of the ice flow passage defined by the first section of ice discharge duct and further guide the ice along a second portion of the ice flow passage. At least a portion of the second section of ice discharge duct is positioned in front of the surface of the door. The refrigerator further includes a third section of ice discharge duct that is configured to receive the ice guided by the second portion of the ice flow passage defined by the second section of ice discharge duct and further guide the ice along a third portion of the ice flow passage through an outlet of the third section of ice discharge duct that is positioned in front of the surface of the door and configured to guide the ice to a position outside of the ice flow passage in front of the surface of the door. The refrigerator includes a first coupling mechanism located at the second section of ice discharge duct and a second coupling mechanism located at the third section of ice discharge duct. The first and second coupling mechanisms are configured to engage and disengage with each other to enable removal of the third section of ice discharge duct from the second section of ice discharge duct and attachment of the third section of ice discharge duct to the second section of ice discharge duct. The refrigerator also includes a door handle provided below the outlet of the third section of ice discharge duct, and a tray secured to the door handle and positioned to receive ice dispensed from the outlet of the third section of ice discharge duct. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the first coupling mechanism may include a slide groove, and the second coupling mechanism may include a slide fit that is configured to engage with the slide groove such that the slide fit slides along the slide groove. The slide fit may include a slide rail, and a hook provided at an end of the slide rail, and the slide groove may include a first groove configured to engage with the slide rail and an engagement groove provided at an end of the first groove and configured to engage with the hook. 
     The first coupling mechanism may include a female thread, and the second coupling mechanism may include a male thread configured to engage with the female thread to attach the third section of ice discharge duct to the second section of ice discharge duct. The first coupling mechanism may include a swing groove configured to guide the third section of ice discharge duct along a spiral path of a predetermined angle, and the second coupling mechanism may include a swing protrusion configured to engage with the swing groove such that the swing protrusion rotates spirally along the spiral path. The swing groove may include a spiral groove configured to receive the swing protrusion and guide the swing protrusion along the spiral path, and a stopper configured to engage with swing protrusion to attach the third section of ice discharge duct to the second section of ice discharge duct. 
     The tray may be adapted between the surface of the door and the door handle. At least a portion of the tray may be mounted to the door handle in a manner such that the portion of the tray may be removed from the door handle by lifting the tray in a vertical direction. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a view illustrating a refrigerator. 
         FIG. 2  is a lateral sectional view illustrating a dispenser. 
         FIG. 3  is a view illustrating a separated state of a guide member included in the dispenser shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the dispenser shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a separated state of a guide member included in a dispenser. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a separated state of a guide member included in a dispenser. 
         FIG. 7  is a view illustrating a dispenser. 
         FIG. 8  is a lateral sectional view of the dispenser shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a view illustrating a separated state of a guide member included in the dispenser shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a view illustrating a dispenser. 
         FIG. 11  is a lateral sectional view of the dispenser shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a view illustrating a separated state of a guide member included in the dispenser shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a dispenser is installed at a front surface of a door of a refrigerator. The dispenser also may be provided as an independent appliance, may be positioned at a different portion of a refrigerator, or may be provided in another type of appliance. For example, the dispenser may be installed in the interior of the refrigerator. Also, the dispenser may be provided in various appliances, for example, a cooler, an ice dispenser, etc. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the refrigerator includes a body  100  defining an outer appearance of the refrigerator, and at least one cooling compartment within the body  100 . The refrigerator also includes a door  101  that opens or closes at least a portion of the cooling compartment. As shown, the refrigerator may include multiple doors that open and close the cooling compartment. 
     A dispenser  200  is installed at a door of the refrigerator. The dispenser  200  may include any kind of dispenser. 
     For example, the dispenser  200  may include a dispenser of a type in which the dispenser is embedded in the door of the refrigerator such that the dispenser is substantially flush with the door, and is tilted out upon being pressed by the user, as shown in  FIGS. 2 to 6 . 
     The dispenser  200  may also include a dispenser of a type in which the dispenser is embedded in the door of the refrigerator such that a certain space is formed inside the door (e.g., a dispensing cavity). The space (e.g., the dispensing cavity) enables the user to take out a content through the dispenser. 
     Also, the dispenser  200  may include a dispenser of a type in which the dispenser attached to a front surface of the door of the refrigerator and an outlet of the dispenser remains outside of the front surface of the door. 
     The dispenser may include dispensers of types other than the above-described types. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a dispenser. The dispenser illustrated in  FIG. 2  is of the type in which the dispenser is embedded in a door of a refrigerator such that the dispenser is substantially flush with the door, and is tilted out upon being pressed by the user. This dispenser includes a body  201  and a guide member  210 . 
     The body  201  is embedded in a refrigerator door  101  such that it may be tilted in or out between a stored position and an operable position, respectively. The body  201  is defined with a passage for discharging a certain content (e.g., liquid water or ice). 
     The guide member  210  is mounted to the body  201  at the inside of the body  201 , and is configured to guide the discharge of content. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a content supplier is arranged at the inside of the door  101  or in the cooling compartment, to supply the content. 
     In  FIG. 2 , the content supplier includes an ice supplier  300  for supplying ice, and a water tank  400  for supplying water. The content supplier may also dispense various drinking contents such as drinking water, slush, and other types of beverages. 
     Ice supplied from the ice supplier  300  is guided to the body  201  via a discharger. Water supplied from the water tank  400  is supplied via a water supply tube  410 . 
     The discharger includes a discharging member  240  that guides movement of ice, and an opening/closing member  241  for opening or closing an open end of the discharging member  240 , to allow the discharging member  240  to selectively discharge the ice. 
     The water supply tube  410  is connected, at one end thereof, to the water tank  400 , and is fixed to one side of the guide member  210 . The water supply tube  410  is provided, at the other end thereof, with a nozzle  411 , to supply water through the nozzle  411 . 
     The body  201  includes a moving body  220  configured to rotate about a rotating shaft  223  between a tilted-in state (e.g., a stored position) and a tilted-out state (e.g., an operable position). A front panel  221  is provided at a front side of the moving body  220 . The front panel  221  provides a user interface enabling the user to input a command or to adjust the condition of the dispenser. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the moving body  220  is separably coupled with the guide member  210 . That is, the guide member  210  may be separated from the moving body  220  in the tilted-out state of the moving body  220 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  show the separation of the guide member  210  in the tilted-out state of the moving body  220 . The guide member  210  may be easily coupled to and separated from the body  201 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the moving body  220  includes a seat  222 , to seat the guide member  210  in the seat  222 . The seat  222  and guide member  210  have couplings, respectively. 
     That is, one of the guide member  210  and seat  222  has a first coupling, whereas the other of the guide member  210  and seat  222  has a second coupling which is coupled with the first coupling to couple the guide member  210  to the seat  222 . 
     In  FIGS. 2 to 4 , slide fits  213  are illustrated as an example of the first coupling, and slide grooves  224  are illustrated as an example of the second coupling. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , each slide fit  213  includes a slide rail  213   a  and a hook  213   b . Each slide groove  224  includes a groove  224   a  engaging with the associated slide rail  213   a , to guide the sliding of the slide fit  213 , and an engagement groove  224   b  engaging with the associated hook  213   b , to couple the guide member  210  to the seat  222 . 
     Thus, the guide member  210  may be easily coupled to and separated from the seat  222  of the moving body  220  by the slide fits  213  and slide grooves  224 . Accordingly, a user may clean the dispenser after separating the guide member  210  from the seat  222 . In this example, access to the interior of the body and the visibility of the interior of the body may be improved, so that a user&#39;s ability to clean the dispenser is improved. 
     Meanwhile, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the guide member  210  also has an inlet  211  configured to receive ice, and an outlet  212  configured to discharge ice received through the inlet  211 . 
     A fixed guide  230  is arranged between the inlet  211  of the guide member  210  and the opening/closing member (“ 241 ” in  FIG. 3 ) of the discharger, to guide ice supplied through the discharger (“ 240 ” in  FIG. 3 ) toward the inlet  211  of the guide member  210 . 
     The fixed guide  230  is provided, at an upper end thereof, with an opening  231 . A connector  232  is provided at one side of the fixed guide  230 . In accordance with this structure, ice supplied through the discharger (“ 240 ” in  FIG. 3 ) is introduced into the fixed guide  230  through the opening  231 , and is discharged from the fixed guide  230  through the connector  232 . Thus, the ice is supplied to the inlet  211  of the guide member  210  via the fixed guide  230 . 
     A plurality of fixing members  233  may be provided at the fixed guide  230  around the opening  231 . The fixing members  233  are coupled to the body (“ 201 ” in  FIG. 3 ) at certain positions within the body  201  to attach the fixed guide  230  to the body  201 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , an actuator  250  is arranged at a lower portion of the body  201 . The actuator  250  is operated by the user, to enable the dispenser to dispense a certain content (e.g., liquid water or ice). 
     The actuator  250  may have various structures. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the dispenser includes a button tray as an example of the actuator  250 . 
     The button tray performs two functions, namely, a function to receive a residue discharged through the guide member  210  after the dispensing of the content, and a function to actuate the dispense. 
     For example, when the user tilts out the moving body  220 , the button tray is moved simultaneously with the tilt-out of the moving body  220 . When the user pushes the button tray by a certain distance, using, for example, a cup held by the user, ice or water is discharged into the cup through the guide member  210 . 
     If the user determines that the content is sufficiently filled in the cup, the user releases the cup from the button tray (e.g., releases the pushing force applied to the button tray). Releasing the force applied to the button tray causes the button tray to move to a position aligned with an outlet of the guide member  210 . In this position, a residue discharged through the guide member  210  is captured and stored into the button tray  250 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a separated state of a guide member included in a dispenser. The dispenser shown in  FIG. 5  is different from the dispenser shown in  FIG. 4 , in terms of the coupling structure of the guide member  210  and seat  222 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the guide member  210  has swing protrusions  214  as the first coupling, and the seat  222  has swing grooves  227  as the second coupling. 
     Each swing protrusion  214  engages with the associated swing groove  227  such that the swing protrusion  214  slides along the swing groove  227 . In accordance with the sliding of the swing protrusions  214 , the guide member  210  rotates by a certain angle, to be seated in the seat  222 . 
     Each swing groove  227  includes a spiral groove  227   a , and a stopper  227   b  positioned at an inner end of the spiral groove  227   a.    
     The swing grooves  227  are located at opposite inner surfaces of the seat  222 , respectively. The swing groove  227  located at one inner surface of the seat  222  extends spirally in an upward direction, whereas the swing groove  227  located at the other inner surface of the seat  222  extends spirally in a downward direction. 
     Accordingly, when the swing protrusions engage with the spiral grooves  227   a  formed at the opposite inner surfaces of the seat  222 , and slide spirally along the spiral grooves  227   a , the guide member  210  rotates by a certain angle, and is then seated in the seat  222 . 
     As each swing protrusion  214  slides along the associated spiral groove  227   a , it reaches the associated stopper  227   b , and comes into contact with the stopper  227   b . As the swing protrusion  214  further slides against the resistance of the stopper  227   b , it moves over the stopper  227 , so that it is engaged between the end of the spiral groove  227   a  and the stopper  227   b . As a result, the rotation of the guide member  210  is stopped and the guide member  210  is seated in the seat  222 . 
     In this example, the positions of the swing protrusions  214  and the lengths of the spiral grooves  227   a  may be appropriately determined such that the inlet  211  and outlet  212  of the guide member  210  are directed in desired directions, respectively. 
     That is, although the guide member  210  rotates by a certain angle after being fitted in the seat  222  in an inclined state, it is arranged in a dispensing position configured to guide content being dispensed after being completely seated in the seat  222 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a separated state of a guide member included in a dispenser. The dispenser shown in  FIG. 6  is different from of the dispensers shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in terms of the coupling structure of the guide member  210  and seat  222 . 
     In the dispenser shown in  FIG. 6 , the guide member  210  has a male thread  215  as the first coupling, and the seat  222  has a female thread  228  as the second coupling. 
     The seating of the guide member  210  in the seat  222  is achieved by fitting the guide member  210  into the seat  222  such that the male thread  215  engages with the female thread  228 , and then rotating the guide member  210  by a certain angle. 
     In this example, positions and lengths of the male thread  215  and female thread  228  may be appropriately determined such that the inlet  211  and outlet  212  of the guide member  210  are arranged in position. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a dispenser. The dispenser  200  shown in  FIG. 7  is installed at a refrigerator door  101  in an embedded state, and defines a certain space or dispensing cavity S to allow a user to receive content form the dispenser  200 . 
     A front panel  221  is arranged on the front side of the dispenser  200  at an upper portion of the dispenser  200 , to provide a user interface. A space S is defined beneath the front panel  221 , to allow the user to position a cup or the like on the bottom of the space S beneath an outlet of the dispenser  200 . 
     A rear wall  202  is arranged at the rear side of the space S, to partition the interior of the dispenser  200  into an inner portion and an outer portion. A bottom wall  204  is arranged at a lower end of the dispenser  200 . The bottom wall  204  may be a tray configured to receive a residue discharged from the dispenser. 
     A button or a lever may be mounted at one side of the rear wall  202 , as an actuator  250 . The actuator  250  functions to control the discharge of the content through the guide member  210 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates the dispenser shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 9  illustrates a separated state of a guide member included in the dispenser shown in  FIG. 8 . The dispenser shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9  includes a body  201  and a guide member  210 . 
     The body  201  is embedded in a refrigerator door  101 , and has a space or dispensing cavity defined by the rear wall  202  and bottom wall  204 . 
     The guide member  210  is mounted in the interior of the body  201 , and configured to guide content to dispensed from the dispenser  200 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a content supplier is arranged at the inside of the door  101  or in the cooling compartment, and configured to supply the content (e.g., water or ice). 
     In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the content supplier includes an ice supplier  300  for supplying ice, and a water tank  400  for supplying water. In addition to ice, the content supplier may also dispense various drinking contents such as drinking water, slush, and other types of beverages. 
     Ice supplied from the ice supplier  300  is guided to the body  201  via a discharger. Water supplied from the water tank  400  is supplied via a water supply tube  410 . 
     The discharger includes a discharging member  240  for guiding the movement of ice, and an opening/closing member  241  for opening or closing an open end of the discharging member  240 , to allow the discharging member  240  to selectively discharge ice. 
     The water supply tube  410  is connected, at one end thereof, to the water tank  400 , and is fixed to one side of the guide member  210 . The water supply tube  410  is provided, at the other end thereof, with a nozzle  411 , and is configured to supply water through the nozzle  411 . 
     The guide member  210  may be separable from the body  201 . That is, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the guide member  210  may be easily coupled to and separated from the body  201 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the body  201  includes a seat  222  that seats the guide member  210  in the seat  222 . The seat  222  and guide member  210  have couplings, respectively. 
     The body  201  may be coupled to the door  101  by a coupling protrusion  201  a provided at one of the second section of ice discharge duct and the door  101  and a coupling groove  201   b  provided at the other of the second section of ice discharge duct and the door  101 , the coupling groove being configured to engage with the coupling protrusion. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the coupling protrusion  201   a  is provided at the body  201  and the coupling groove  201   b  is provided at the door  101 . 
     That is, one of the guide member  210  and seat  222  has a first coupling, whereas the other of the guide member  210  and seat  222  has a second coupling which is coupled with the first coupling to couple the guide member  210  to the seat  222 . 
     In  FIG. 9 , slide fits  213  are illustrated as an example of the first coupling, and slide grooves  224  are illustrated as an example of the second coupling. 
     Each slide fit  213  includes a slide rail  213   a , and a hook  213   b . On the other hand, each slide groove  224  includes a groove  224   a  engaging with the associated slide rail  213   a , to guide the slide rail  213   a , and an engagement groove  224   b  that engages with the associated hook  213   b , to couple the guide member  210  to the seat  222 . 
     Thus, the guide member  210  may be easily coupled to and separated from the seat  222  of the body  201  by the slide fits  213  and slide grooves  224 . Accordingly, a user may clean the dispenser after separating the guide member  210  from the seat  222 . In this example, access to the interior of the body and the visibility of the interior of the body may be improved, so that a user&#39;s ability to clean the dispenser may be improved. 
     The guide member  210  also has an inlet  211  for receiving ice, and an outlet  212  for discharging ice received through the inlet  211 . Accordingly, ice supplied through the discharging member  240  is guided to the inlet  211  of the guide member  210 , and is then outwardly discharged through the outlet  212 . 
     The first and second couplings also may be configured using swing protrusions and swing grooves, or a male thread and a female thread. 
     The configuration of the swing protrusions and swing grooves and the configuration of the male thread and female thread has been described above with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Configurations similar to those described above may be used in the dispenser  200  described with respect to  FIGS. 7-9 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a dispenser. The dispenser  200  shown in  FIG. 10  is installed at a refrigerator door  101  in a position in which an outlet of the dispenser  200  remains outside of a front surface of the refrigerator door  101 . 
     That is, the dispenser includes a body  201  installed at the refrigerator door such that it is positioned outside of the refrigerator door by a certain length. A front panel  221  is arranged on the front side of the dispenser  200 , to provide a user interface. The body  201  has an open end to allow the content to be outwardly discharged through the guide member  210 . 
     A tray  203  is arranged at a position spaced apart from the lower end of the body  201  and secured by a handle of the refrigerator door  101 . The tray  203  is configured to receive a residue outwardly discharged through the guide member  210 . 
     A button or a lever is arranged between the body  201  and the tray  203 , as an actuator  250 . The actuator  250  may be a lever rotatably mounted to the body  201 , or may be a button. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates the dispenser shown in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 12  illustrates a separated state of a guide member included in the dispenser shown in  FIG. 11 . The dispenser according to the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12  includes a body  201  and a guide member  210 . 
     The body  201  is installed at a refrigerator door  101  such that it is forwardly protruded from the door  101  by a certain length. 
     The guide member  210  is mounted in the interior of the body  201 , and configured to guide the content to be outwardly discharged. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , a content supplier is arranged at the inside of the door  101  or in the cooling compartment, and configured to supply content. 
     In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the content supplier includes an ice supplier  300  for supplying ice, and a water tank  400  for supplying water. In addition to ice, the content supplier may also dispense various drinking contents such as drinking water, slush, and other types of beverages. 
     Ice supplied from the ice supplier  300  is guided to the body  201  via a discharger. Water supplied from the water tank  400  is supplied via a water supply tube  410 . 
     The discharger includes a discharging member  240  for guiding the movement of ice, and an opening/closing member  241  for opening or closing an open end of the discharging member  240 , to allow the discharging member  240  to selectively discharge the ice. 
     The water supply tube  410  is connected, at one end thereof, to the water tank  400 , and is fixed to one side of the guide member  210 . The water supply tube  410  is provided, at the other end thereof, with a nozzle  411 , to supply water through the nozzle  411 . 
     The guide member  210  may be separable from the body  201 . That is, as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the guide member  210  may be easily coupled to and separated from the body  201 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the body  201  includes a seat  222 , to seat the guide member  210  in the seat  222 . The seat  222  and guide member  210  have couplings, respectively. 
     That is, one of the guide member  210  and seat  222  has a first coupling, whereas the other of the guide member  210  and seat  222  has a second coupling which is coupled with the first coupling to couple the guide member  210  to the seat  222 . 
     In  FIGS. 11 and 12 , slide fits  213  are illustrated as an example of the first coupling, and slide grooves  224  are illustrated as an example of the second coupling. 
     Each slide fit  213  includes a slide rail  213   a  and a hook  213   b . Each slide groove  224  includes a groove  224   a  engaging with the associated slide rail  213   a , to guide the slide rail  213   a , and an engagement groove  224   b  engaging with the associated hook  213   b , to couple the guide member  210  to the seat  222 . 
     Thus, the guide member  210  may be easily coupled to and separated from the seat  222  of the body  201  by the slide fits  213  and slide grooves  224 . Accordingly, a user may clean the dispenser after separating the guide member  210  from the seat  222 . In this example, access to the interior of the body and the visibility of the interior of the body may be improved, so that a user&#39;s ability to clean the dispenser may be improved. 
     The guide member  210  also has an inlet  211  for receiving ice, and an outlet  212  for discharging ice received through the inlet  211 . Accordingly, ice supplied through the discharging member  240  is guided to the inlet  211  of the guide member  210 , and is then outwardly discharged through the outlet  212 . 
     The first and second couplings also may be configured using swing protrusions and swing grooves, or a male thread and a female thread. 
     The configuration of the swing protrusions and swing grooves and the configuration of the male thread and female thread has been described above with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Configurations similar to those described above may be used in the dispenser  200  described with respect to  FIGS. 10-12 . 
     As apparent from the above description, in a refrigerator including a dispenser, a guide member may be easily coupled to and separated from a body of the dispenser. Accordingly, access to the interior of the body and visibility of the interior of the body may be improved, so that the dispenser may be easily cleaned. 
     A dispenser capable of securing a desired visibility of the interior thereof and an easy access to the interior thereof maybe provided, and easy cleaning of the interior thereof may be achieved. 
     It will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. For example, advantageous results still could be achieved if steps of the disclosed techniques were performed in a different order and/or if components in the disclosed systems were combined in a different manner and/or replaced or supplemented by other components. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.