REFRIGERATOR

The present invention relates to a refrigerator and, more specifically, to a refrigerator comprising: a main body having a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment formed therein; an ice making compartment delimited as a separate thermal insulation space inside the refrigerator compartment, the ice making compartment having an ice maker and an ice storage bucket; and a door for opening/closing at least a part of the refrigerator compartment, the door having a dispenser installed thereon such that same communicates with the ice making compartment. The ice making compartment has an ice discharge port formed therein. The dispenser comprises: an ice transfer duct configured to communicate with the ice discharge port when the door is closed; and a gasket positioned on the periphery of the entrance of the ice transfer duct such that, when the door is closed, the upper end thereof contacts the periphery of the ice discharge port. The periphery of the ice outlet of the ice making compartment is formed to slope downwards as same extends from the front side toward the rear side. The upper end of the gasket is also formed to slope downwards as same extends from the front side toward the rear side. The above configuration improves the degree of sealing between the dispenser of the door and the ice storage bucket of the ice making compartment, and ensures that the door is opened/closed smoothly.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to a refrigerator for improving a sealing force between a dispenser of a door and an ice storage bucket of an ice making compartment and smoothly opening and closing the door.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a refrigerator is a home appliance for storing food in a refrigerated or frozen state in a storage compartment opened and closed by a door. The refrigerator generally includes a refrigerator compartment for storing food in a refrigerated state at a low temperature and a freezer compartment for freezing and storing food in a frozen state.

The refrigerator may additionally include an ice making compartment that makes and stores ice for the convenience of a user. A technology of the refrigerator provided with the ice making compartment is disclosed in patent document 1 (Korean Patent No. 10-0674573).

Refrigerators that have been recently released have a tendency to provide a refrigerator compartment, that is used relatively more frequently than a freezer compartment, at an upper part of a main body and to provide the freezer compartment, that is used relatively less than the refrigerator compartment, at a lower part of the main body. In particular, French door refrigerators, in which a refrigerator compartment is opened and closed by two pivot doors that are respectively hinged and coupled to the left and right sides of a main body and are arranged side by side from left to right, and a freezer compartment is opened and closed by a drawer door slidably installed, have been recently in the spotlight.

If the refrigerator includes an ice making compartment inside the refrigerator compartment for convenience, the ice making compartment may include an ice maker and an ice storage bucket to which ice made by the ice maker is transferred. The ice storage bucket can be taken into and out of the ice making compartment. The pivot door may be provided with a dispenser including an ice transfer duct and a gasket for sealing. Thus, when the pivot door is closed, ice stored in the ice storage bucket may be directly transferred to the ice transfer duct. Therefore, ice stored in the ice making compartment can be taken out of the refrigerator through an outlet port without opening the pivot door.

In the related art refrigerator, when the pivot door is closed, the gasket and an ice discharge port of the ice maker contacting each other are formed side by side in front and back, that is, so as not to incline to one side, and the gasket has a constant thickness. Hence, when the pivot door is closed, there were problems that the gasket and the ice discharge port are caught in each other, or the pivot door does not close well due to the catching, or a sealing force is reduced due to poor adhesion between the gasket and the ice storage bucket.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

An object of the present disclosure is to address the above-described and other problems. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a refrigerator capable of smoothly opening and closing a door provided with a dispenser connected to an ice making compartment and improving a sealing force between the door and an ice storage bucket of the ice making compartment.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a refrigerator.

Technical Solution

In order to achieve the above-described and other objects, in one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a refrigerator comprising a main body provided with a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment; an ice making compartment formed in the main body as a separate thermal insulation space from the refrigerator compartment, the ice making compartment including an ice maker; and a door configured to open and close the ice making compartment and the refrigerator compartment, the door including a dispenser communicating with the ice making compartment, wherein the ice making compartment is provided with an ice discharge port from which an ice made by the ice maker is discharged, wherein the dispenser is provided with an ice transfer duct communicating with the ice discharge port, wherein a gasket is installed at a perimeter of the ice transfer duct, and an upper surface of the gasket contacts a lower surface of the ice discharge port, and wherein the lower surface of the ice discharge port and the upper surface of the gasket are formed to be inclined downward as they go from a front side to a rear side.

A separation distance in an up-down direction between the perimeter of the ice transfer duct and a perimeter of the ice discharge port decreases as it goes from the front side to the rear side. A thickness of the gasket positioned at the perimeter of the ice transfer duct decreases as it goes from the front side to the rear side.

The gasket includes a case contact portion having an upper end in close contact with a gasket contact portion and extending to an outside, a reduction portion connected to a lower end of the case contact portion and extending downwardly, and a coupling portion connected to a lower end of the reduction portion and coupled to the ice transfer duct. A thickness of the reduction portion decreases as it goes from the front side to the rear side.

Advantageous Effects

A refrigerator according to the present disclosure has the following effects.

The present disclosure can smoothly open and close a pivot door since a thickness of a gasket decreases as it goes to the rear side, and a gasket contact portion contacting the gasket is inclined as it goes to the rear side when the pivot door is closed.

The present disclosure can also improve a sealing force between a gasket and a gasket contact portion when a pivot door is closed since an upper surface of the gasket and a lower surface of the gasket contact portion are disposed to be inclined downwardly and to be opposite to each other as they go to the rear side

MODE FOR INVENTION

In embodiments of the present disclosure to be described below, reference for the same structure and components as those of a related art is made to the related art, and a detailed description thereof is omitted.

The technical terms disclosed herein are used to merely refer to a specific embodiment and does not intend to limit the present disclosure. A singular expression used in embodiments can include a plural expression as long as it does not have an apparently different meaning in context. In the present disclosure, terms “include” and “comprise” should be understood to be intended to designate that illustrated features, areas, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts and/or combinations thereof are present and not to preclude the existence of one or more different features, areas, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts and/or combinations thereof, or the possibility of the addition thereof.

When any component is described as “being connected” or “being coupled” to other component, this should be understood to mean that another component may exist between them, although any component may be directly connected or coupled to the other component.

FIG.1is a perspective view of a refrigerator applied to the present disclosure.FIG.2is a perspective view illustrating an ice transfer duct and a compartment600in a state where a pivot door of a refrigerator10illustrated inFIG.1is opened.FIG.3is a perspective view illustrating an ice transfer duct331and a case contact portion383of a first pivot door illustrated inFIG.2.FIG.4is a perspective view illustrating an ice discharge port6113and a gasket contact portion6119when viewed from a lower side of the compartment600illustrated inFIG.2.FIG.5illustrates the compartment600.FIG.6illustrates a part of the compartment600illustrated inFIG.5.FIG.7illustrates a part of the compartment600when viewed in a different direction from a direction illustrated inFIG.6.FIG.8is a perspective view of an ice storage bucket800installed in the compartment600.FIG.9ais a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where a first pivot door310is closed as illustrated inFIG.1.FIG.9bis an enlarged view of a portion indicated inFIG.9a.FIG.9cis a cross-sectional view while the first pivot door310is being closed.FIG.10illustrates a partition of storage spaces11and12and an ice making compartment60of a main body of a refrigerator.

For reference, as illustrated inFIG.9a, a cooling unit for supplying a cool air to the ice making compartment60is separately present outside the ice making compartment60.

FIG.9aillustrates a circulation of cool air in the ice making compartment60by arrows.

Referring toFIGS.1,2and4, a main body10is configured to form an appearance of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The main body10is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped box shape. The main body10includes an outer case100, an inner case200, a refrigerator compartment11provided at an upper part, a freezer compartment12provided at a lower side of the refrigerator compartment11, and an ice making compartment60formed as an independent space.

The outer case100is configured to form an appearance of the main body10, i.e., substantially form the appearance of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The outer case100is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape with an opened front and a space formed therein.

The inner case200is coupled to the outer case100by being accommodated and assembled in an inner space of the outer case100. The inner case200is coupled to the outer case100while providing a space portion102between the outer case100and the inner case200so that various wires can be accommodated and a thermal insulation material110to be described later can be injected and foamed.

The inner case200has an opened front, and the refrigerator compartment11and the refrigerator compartment11can be selectively shielded by doors300and400, respectively.

The refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a main body10including a refrigerator compartment11, a freezer compartment12, and a special compartment13; an ice making compartment60formed in the main body10as a separate thermal insulation space from the refrigerator compartment11, the freezer compartment12, and the special compartment13, the ice making compartment60including an ice maker700; and a door310that opens and closes the refrigerator compartment11and is provided with a dispenser330communicating with the ice making compartment60. The ice making compartment60is provided with an ice discharge port6113from which ice made by the ice maker700is discharged, and the dispenser330is provided with an ice transfer duct331communicating with the ice discharge port6113. A gasket332is formed along a perimeter of the ice transfer duct331, and an upper surface of the gasket332contacts a lower surface of the ice discharge port6113. The lower surface of the ice discharge port6113and the upper surface of the gasket332are formed to be inclined downward as they go from a front side to a rear side.

The refrigerator compartment11and the ice making compartment60are simultaneously formed as independent spaces by foaming.

The freezer compartment12may be formed as an independent space at the same time as the refrigerator compartment11and the ice making compartment60by foaming.

The refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is configured such that the refrigerator compartment11, the freezer compartment12, and the special compartment13are partitioned from each other in an up-down direction by a partition wall.

The partition wall is provided through integral injection and foamed integrally, but may be composed of a separate thermal insulation wall and assembled.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a pivot door300is formed at a front surface of the refrigerator compartment11.

The pivot door300includes a first pivot door310and a second pivot door320. As a left upper end and a left lower end of the first pivot door310are respectively hinge-coupled to a left upper end and a left central part of the main body10, and the first pivot door310pivots clockwise or counterclockwise, the first pivot door310opens and closes an opened front left part of the refrigerator compartment11. As a right upper end and a right lower end of the second pivot door320are respectively hinge-coupled to a right upper end and a right central part of the main body10, and the second pivot door320pivots counterclockwise or clockwise, the second pivot door320opens and closes an opened front right part of the refrigerator compartment11. That is, the first pivot door310and the second pivot door320are respectively installed on the left and right sides of the main body10and are disposed side by side in the left-right direction.

The first pivot door310includes a first door outer case310aforming an appearance of the first pivot door310and a first door inner case310bcoupled to a rear end of the first door outer case310a.

The pivot door300is provided with the dispenser330.

The dispenser330is configured such that water stored in a water supply tank (not shown) or ice stored in the ice making compartment60can be taken out of the refrigerator through an outlet port without opening the pivot door300in a state in which the pivot door300is closed. In the present embodiment, the dispenser330is provided in the first pivot door310installed on the left side of the main body10.

Specifically, the dispenser330may be provided with an operation unit333such as a button, a lever, and the like. The user may take out the water stored in the water supply tank (not shown) or the ice stored in the ice making compartment60through the dispenser330by manipulating the operation unit333, if necessary or desired.

The dispenser330includes an ice transfer duct331that is formed at the first pivot door310in the up-down direction, and a lower end of the ice transfer duct331communicates with the outlet port. When the first pivot door310is closed as illustrated inFIG.9a, an upper end of the ice transfer duct331communicates with the ice making compartment60, and thus the outlet port of the dispenser330and the ice making compartment60communicate with each other. Hence, even when the first pivot door310is closed, the ice stored in the ice making compartment60can be taken out of the refrigerator through the outlet port of the dispenser330.

The ice transfer duct331includes an ice inlet pipe330asupporting the gasket332

The ice inlet pipe330ais partially spaced apart from and coupled to the ice transfer duct331so that the ice inlet pipe330acan support a coupling portion389to be described later.

The ice inlet pipe330aincludes an upper end flange3301inserted into the coupling portion389to be described later, and a tube-shaped body3303extending to a lower side of the upper end flange3301.

The upper end flange3301is an upper end perimeter of the ice transfer duct331.

The gasket332is formed along the upper end perimeter of the ice transfer duct331, i.e., at the upper flange3301and can maintain airtightness between the ice making compartment60and the refrigerator compartment11when the ice transfer duct331and the ice making compartment60communicate with each other.

The gasket332is formed to have a decreasing inclination as an upper end of the gasket332goes from a front side332ato a rear side332b. Detailed configuration of the gasket332is described later.

More specifically, the gasket332is entirely formed in an obliquely inclined shape so that a front end of the upper end is positioned higher than a rear end of the upper end.

The gasket332is formed to have a gradually decreasing inclination as it goes from the entire perimeter of the upper end to the outside of the center of the gasket332.

A compartment600provided separately may be assembled at an upper corner of one side of the inner case200.

The inner case200includes the compartment600.

Unlike the present embodiment, the inner case200may be integrally formed with the compartment600through injection.

The compartment600may be a wall that serves as a right thermal insulation wall and a lower thermal insulation wall for forming the ice making compartment60.

Configuration such as the ice maker700making ice and an ice storage bucket800storing the ice made by the ice maker700is accommodated inside the compartment600.

FIGS.6and7illustrate partial configuration of the compartment600. The compartment600includes a first lower plate611, a first side plate612extending upward over an entire right end of the first lower plate611, a first coupling plate613extending to the left over a part of an upper end of the first side plate612, a first front plate614that has a rectangular shape and is formed such that a lower end and a right end of the first front plate614are respectively formed integrally at an entire front end of the first lower plate611and an entire front end of the first side plate612, and a first rear plate615formed integrally over rear ends of the first lower plate611, the first side plate612, and the first coupling plate613.

The first front plate614includes a first opening6141penetrated in the front-rear direction so that the ice storage bucket800to be described later can be taken into and out of the ice making compartment60.

The first lower plate611is configured to form the bottom of the compartment600. The first lower plate611is formed to extend in the front-rear direction.

As illustrated inFIG.6, the first lower plate611includes an inclination plate6111having an inclination θ1 that is inclined downward as a front side goes from the front to the rear. A rear side of the inclination plate6111is formed as a horizontal plate6112.

An ice discharge port6113penetrated in the up-down direction is formed on the front side of the first lower plate611, i.e., the inclination plate6111to be spaced apart from a front surface of the first front plate614to be described later.

The ice discharge port6113is a hole from which ice made by the ice maker700and stored in the ice storage bucket800is discharged. The ice discharge port6113is provided at the lower part of the compartment600to be spaced apart from the rear side of an ice making compartment door810to be described later.

As the ice discharge port6113is provided at the lower part of the compartment600, a joint portion between the ice making compartment door810and the compartment600, i.e., a detachable portion for opening and closing between the ice making compartment door810and the compartment600is positioned to be spaced apart from the ice discharge port6113at the front side of the ice discharge port6113. Hence, a loss of cool air on a movement path of ice stored in the ice storage bucket800can be minimized.

A gasket contact portion6119convexly protruding downward is formed at a perimeter of a lower end of the ice discharge port6113.

The gasket contact portion6119is formed on a lower surface of the compartment600, i.e., on a lower surface of the inclination plate6111of the first lower plate611. The gasket contact portion6119is formed in a ring shape along the perimeter of the lower end of the ice discharge port6113.

The gasket contact portion6119is inclined to have a decreasing inclination as it goes from the front to the rear.

The gasket contact portion6119is a portion that is in close contact with the gasket332provided at the upper end of the ice transfer duct331formed in the dispenser330. The gasket contact portion6119intensively applies a pressure to the gasket332to increase a sealing force and prevent a loss of cool air.

A separation distance in the up-down direction between the perimeter of the ice transfer duct331and the perimeter of the ice discharge port6113decreases as it goes from the front side to the rear side. A thickness of the gasket332positioned at the perimeter of the ice transfer duct331decreases as it goes from the front side332ato the rear side332b.

Specifically, based on the ice discharge port6113, a separation distance in the up-down direction between the front side of the ice transfer duct331and the gasket contact portion6119is greater than a separation distance in the up-down direction between the rear side of the ice transfer duct331and the gasket contact portion6119. Thus, the thickness of the gasket332needs to decrease as it goes from the front side to the rear side, in order to perform the sealing between the ice discharge port6113and the ice transfer duct331. That is, the gasket332needs to be inclined so that it has a decreasing inclination as the upper end of the gasket332goes from the front side332ato the rear side.

Hence, the gasket contact portion6119smoothly pressurizes the entire perimeter of the upper end of the gasket332along the inclination formed in the gasket332when the first pivot door310closes the main body10, and at the same time, is in close contact with the entire perimeter of the upper end of the gasket332, thereby maintaining airtightness between the ice making compartment60and the refrigerator compartment11.

Since the gasket332and the gasket contact portion6119smoothly contact each other along the inclination formed in the gasket332when the first pivot door310closes the main body10, twisting or pushing of the gasket332can be prevented without adding a separate lubricating material to the gasket332.

When the ice making compartment60is formed by the compartment600, an entrance wall630and an installation wall640may be further included in addition to the compartment600.

As illustrated inFIG.5, the entrance wall630is coupled to a front part of the compartment600.

The entrance wall630is configured to form an entrance portion of the ice making compartment60. The entrance wall630is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole and includes a second opening6301that is penetrated in the front-rear direction in a central portion.

An ice guide portion6319protruding downward is formed on a front lower plate of the entrance wall630.

A lower end of the ice guide portion6319is formed to have the same inclination as the inclination plate6111of the first lower plate611.

As an inside of the ice guide portion6319is formed to be penetrated in the up-down direction, an upper end of the ice guide portion6319communicates with the second opening6301, and the lower end of the ice guide portion6319communicates with the ice discharge port6113.

When the entrance wall630is coupled to the compartment600, the lower end of the ice guide portion6319is inserted into the ice discharge port6113of the compartment600.

A shape of the gasket332is described in detail below with reference toFIGS.9band9c.

The gasket332includes an inner peripheral portion381forming a passage through which ice passing through the ice discharge port6113first passes among the gaskets332, a case contact portion383that is connected to the outside of the inner peripheral portion381, has an upper end in close contact with the gasket contact portion6119, and extends to the outside, a first part385that is connected to a lower end of the case contact portion383and extends to the inside, a reduction portion387that is connected to a lower end of the first part385and extends downwardly, and a coupling portion389that is connected to a lower end of the reduction portion387and is coupled to the ice inlet pipe330a.

The inner peripheral portion381is formed to have a long length in the up-down direction and has a shape with a lower end rolled outward. Thus, ice can easily fall to the lower side without being caught in the inside of the case contact portion383of the gasket382.

The inside of the case contact portion383is connected to an upper end of the inner peripheral portion381, and the case contact portion383is formed to be inclined downward as it goes to the outside.

The outside of the first part385is connected to the lower end of the case contact portion383, and the first part385extends to the inside.

The first part385is formed to have a substantially long length in the front-rear direction.

Since a thickness of the front side of the gasket332is greater than a thickness of the rear side of the gasket332, the front side of the first part385is inclined downward as it goes from the front to the rear, and the rear side of the first part385has a shape close to being parallel to the front-rear direction as it goes from the front to the rear.

A thickness t1of the front side332aof the gasket332is greater than a thickness of the rear side332bof the gasket332by the reduction portion387. Specifically, the gasket332has a gradually decreasing thickness as it goes from the front side332ato the rear side332b.

Hence, the upper surface of the gasket332has a shape corresponding to the inclination plate6111that is inclined downwardly.

Accordingly, when the first pivot door310is opened and closed by moving in a direction of the arrow, a lower surface of the gasket contact portion6119formed on the inclination plate6111is disposed to correspond to the upper end of the gasket332, i.e., an upper end of the case contact portion383. Hence, changes in the thickness of the gasket332enable the smooth opening and closing of the first pivot door310. Further, since the gasket332contacts the gasket contact portion6119and is pressed downward, the sealing force between the gasket332and the gasket contact portion6119is improved.

Based on the left side, i.e., the front side ofFIG.9b, the reduction portion387includes a first reduction portion3871that has an upper end connected to the lower end of the first part385and is disposed to elongate in the up-down direction, a wrinkle portion that has an upper end connected to a lower end of the first reduction portion3871and forms a wrinkle in at least a part of the reduction portion387, and a fourth reduction portion3874that has an upper end connected to a lower end of the wrinkle portion and is disposed to elongate in the up-down direction.

The wrinkle portion includes a second reduction portion3872that has an upper end connected to the lower end of the first reduction portion3871and is inclined inwardly downwardly as it goes from the upper side to the lower side, and a third reduction portion3873that has an upper end connected to a lower end of the lower second reduction portion3872and a lower end connected to the fourth reduction portion3874and is inclined outwardly downwardly as it goes from the upper side to the lower side.

In this instance, the first reduction portion3871and the fourth reduction portion3874are vertically arranged substantially parallel to each other.

The second reduction portion3872and the third reduction portion3873are formed to be inclined in different directions. The second reduction portion3872and the third reduction portion3873form wrinkles in the gasket and can reduce a load applied by the gasket contact portion6119when the first pivot door310is closed.

A front thickness and a rear thickness of the gasket332are different from each other. Specifically, since the front thickness of the gasket332is greater than the rear thickness of the gasket332, the reduction portion387has a decreasing thickness as it goes from the front to the rear. Thus, as illustrated in the right side ofFIG.9b, it can be seen that a shape of the rear side of the reduction portion387is almost absent. In this instance, it can be seen that the rear side of the gasket332has the shape in which there is no reduction portion387and the first part385and the coupling portion389are connected.

An insertion space into which the upper flange3301of the ice inlet pipe330ais inserted is formed in an inner peripheral surface of the coupling portion389.

Specifically, the coupling portion389includes, based on the position, a coupling upper piece3891connected to the fourth reduction portion3874or the first part385, a coupling peripheral piece3893that is connected to the outside of the coupling upper piece3891and extends downward, and a coupling lower piece3895that is connected to a lower side of the coupling peripheral piece3893and is supported on the first door inner case310b.

The coupling upper piece3891and the coupling lower piece3895are formed to extend back and forth.

The coupling peripheral piece3893is formed to extend up and down.

The coupling upper piece3891contacts an upper surface of the upper end flange3301, the coupling peripheral piece3893contacts an outer perimeter of the upper end flange3301, and the coupling lower piece3895contacts a lower surface of the upper end flange3301.

The first part385is connected to the outside rather than the center of the coupling upper piece3891.

Specifically, a portion of the coupling upper piece3891connected to the first part385is approximately ⅓ of a front-rear length of the coupling upper piece3891from the outside.

A front-rear length of the coupling lower piece3895is less than the front-rear length of the coupling upper piece3891.

A front-rear length of the coupling portion389is less than a front-rear length of the case contact portion383.

An outer end of the coupling portion389is disposed more inward than an outer end of the case contact portion383.

The above-described shape of the gasket332is merely an example, and the gasket332can have various shapes other than the shapes described in the present disclosure.

The ice storage bucket800may be installed below the ice making compartment60.

Referring toFIG.9a, the ice storage bucket800is disposed below the ice maker700and is provided to be taken into and out of the ice making compartment60.

The ice storage bucket800may include the ice making compartment door810, an ice crushing portion820, a bucket portion830, and an auger840.

The ice making compartment door810is configured to selectively open and close the opened front surface of the ice making compartment60by being detaching from a front surface of the compartment600.

When the ice storage bucket800is taken out of the ice making compartment60, the ice making compartment door810is spaced apart from the front surface of the compartment600to open the front surface of the ice making compartment60. When the ice storage bucket800is completely taken into the ice making compartment60, the ice making compartment door810is in close contact with the front surface of the compartment600to close the front surface of the ice making compartment60.

A handle811that the user can grip is provided in the ice storage bucket800.

The ice crushing portion820may be coupled to the rear surface of the ice making compartment door810.

The ice crushing portion820is configured to crush ice to be discharged according to a user's selection. The ice crushing portion820is provided at the rear surface of the ice making compartment door810to protrude rearward. A front lower part of the ice crushing portion820is opened, and the ice crushing portion820communicates with the ice discharge port6113.

The ice crushing portion820is disposed between the ice making compartment door810and the bucket portion830to connect the ice making compartment door810and the bucket unit830.

A plurality of crushers821is provided in the ice crushing portion820and is configured to crush ice by rotating together with a rotation of the auger840to be described later.

The plurality of crushers821is provided in the ice crushing portion820and is configured to crush ice while rotating.

A support member822is formed at a lower part of the crusher821.

The support member822is disposed at the lower part of the crusher821and is configured to support ice to be crushed so that the crusher821can crush the ice.

An operating shaft823is connected to the support member822.

When the support member822supports ice, the ice is crushed by the crusher821and then may be taken out to the dispenser330through the ice discharge port6113. When the support member822does not support ice, the ice as it is may be taken out to the dispenser330through the ice discharge port6113.

The bucket portion830is coupled to the rear of the ice crushing portion820.

The bucket portion830is a container in which ice made by the ice maker700is stored. The bucket portion830is formed to elongate in the front-rear direction, and an ice storage space831with an opened upper part is provided in the bucket portion830.

The auger840is provided in the bucket portion830.

The auger840is configured to transfer ice stored in the ice storage space831of the bucket portion830to the ice discharge port6113and is rotatably provided in the ice storage space831.

The ice making compartment door810, the ice crushing portion820, and the bucket portion830are coupled to each other as described above, and move together according to the opening and closing of the ice making compartment door810. Therefore, it is possible to take the ice storage bucket800into and out of the ice making compartment60as a whole.

Although the embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, numerous other modifications and embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the scope of the principles of the present disclosure. In particular, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

** Description of main reference numerals **10: refrigerator60: ice making compartment300: pivot door332: gasket383: case contact portion387: reduction portion600: compartment6113: ice discharge port6119: gasket contact portion700: ice maker800: ice storage buckett1: thickness of gasket front sidet2: thickness of gasket rear side