Abstract:
A refrigerator has an ice bin that can break ice piece agglomerates therein. The ice bin includes a breaking unit rotatably installed in a discharge port of the ice bin, the breaking unit including a stationary blade and rotatable blade. The ice bin also includes a separation blade rotatably installed parallel the breaking unit and configured to strike and separate ice pieces agglomerates into smaller pieces for discharging.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is based on and claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0045094, filed on Apr. 12, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference for all purposes. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to refrigerators, and more particularly, to ice making and dispensing mechanisms in refrigerators. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In general, a refrigerator is an electronic appliance used for storing food or other items at low temperature. A cold air supply system in the refrigerator operates to supply cold air for circulation in the storage space therein. A storage compartment is usually disposed in a main body with an open front which can be sealed by a door. 
         [0004]    Some refrigerators have an ice maker installed in a door, which are called door-type ice makers. In such a configuration, ambient air is often undesirably introduced into the refrigerator whenever the door is opened, causing the temperature in an ice storage box (hereinafter referred to as “ice bin”) to rise. As a result, ice pieces stored in the ice bin may become melted partially. When the melted ice pieces in the ice-bin freeze again, they may adhere to each other, thereby forming a large lump or agglomerate which likely congests the discharge port disposed in the ice bin and ice cannot be dispensed. 
         [0005]    One approach to solve the ice agglomeration problem is to enhance heat insulation of the refrigerator door, such as increasing the heat insulation thickness of the door or using a vacuum heat insulation material. 
         [0006]    Unfortunately, increasing the heat insulation thickness of the door has a structural limit and using a vacuum heat insulation material not only increases the manufacturing cost of the refrigerator, but also fails to provide satisfactory effectiveness in preventing ice agglomeration in the ice bin. 
       PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS 
     Patent Documents 
       [0007]    Patent Document 1: Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2009-74984 (published on Jul. 8, 2009) 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    Therefore, embodiments of the present disclosure provide an ice bin capable of effectively breaking ice agglomerates for discharging, 
         [0009]    According to one embodiment, an ice bin having improved ice separating performance is disclosed. The ice bin includes a housing configured to store ice pieces therein and provided with a discharge port for discharging the ice pieces; a breaking unit rotatably installed in the discharge port and rotatable about the first rotary shaft; a second rotary shaft operatively coupled to the first rotary shaft and disposed above the first rotary shaft; and a separation blade coupled to the second rotary shaft in a parallel relationship with the breaking unit and configured to strike and separate ice pieces agglomerates responsive to rotation of the second rotary shaft. 
         [0010]    Further, the breaking unit may include a breaking blade coupled to the first rotary shaft and rotatable in a forward direction and a reverse direction and configured to break or not to break the ice pieces depending on a rotation direction of the breaking blade; and a fixed blade fixed to one side of the housing and positioned in an ice breaking direction of the breaking blade and operable to provide a supporting reaction force when breaking the ice pieces. 
         [0011]    Further, the second rotary shaft may be provided with a driven gear meshing with a driving gear of the first rotary shaft, and the second rotary shaft is coupled to a rotation center of the driven gear. 
         [0012]    Further, the second rotary shaft may be disposed in a position shifted from an immediately upward position of the first rotary shaft toward one side. The ice pieces can then be transferred toward the breaking unit. 
         [0013]    Further, the separation blade may include a coupling portion removably coupled to the second rotary shaft and having a substantially C-shaped bent structure; and striking portions extending from the opposite ends of the coupling portion in a radial direction of the second rotary shaft and configured to strike and separate ice pieces agglomerates. 
         [0014]    Further, the separation blade may include one or more separation blades. 
         [0015]    Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to the problem that the ice pieces stored in an ice bin may agglomerate and thus cannot be discharged efficiently. One embodiment of the present disclosure may provide an ice bin having improved ice separating performance and a refrigerator comprising the ice bin, which are advantageously capable of separating and discharging ice pieces stored in the ice bin despite formation of ice agglomerate. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator provided with an exemplary ice bin according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a side view illustrating the structure of the exemplary ice bin according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a front view illustrating the structure of the exemplary ice bin according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is an assembled perspective view illustrating a separation blade, a second rotary shaft and a driven gear installed in the exemplary ice bin according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is another view of the components illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a front view illustrating the assembled state of the second rotary shaft and the driven gear shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not intended to be limiting. Other embodiments may he utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. 
         [0023]    One or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which one or more exemplary embodiments of the disclosure can be easily determined by those skilled in the art. As those skilled in the art will realize, the described exemplary embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure, which is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein. 
         [0024]    It is noted that the drawings are illustrative and are not necessarily to scale. Relative sizes and proportions of parts in the drawings may be exaggerated or reduced in size, and a predetermined size is merely exemplary. The same reference numerals designate the same structures, elements, or parts illustrated in two or more drawings in order to exhibit similar characteristics. 
         [0025]    The exemplary drawings of the present disclosure illustrate ideal exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure in more detail. As a result, various modifications of the drawings are expected. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments are not limited to a specific form of the illustrated region, and for example, include a modification due to manufacturing. 
         [0026]    The configuration and operation according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator provided with an exemplary ice bin according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 2  is a side view illustrating the structure of the exemplary ice bin according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 3  is a front view illustrating the structure of the exemplary ice bin according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0028]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , the refrigerator  1  according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a main body  10 , a door  20 , an ice maker  30  and an ice bin  40 . 
         [0029]    The main body  10  defines the outer body of the refrigerator  1 . A plurality of storage compartments  11  may be included in the main body  10 . The storage compartments  11  may be divided into a freezer compartment disposed at one side of the main body  10  and a refrigeration compartment disposed at the other side of the main body  10 . A partition wall for dividing the storage compartments  11  into left and right compartments may be disposed in the storage compartments  11 . Shelves  12  may be disposed along an up-down direction. 
         [0030]    The door  20  is rotatably installed in the main body  10  for sealing the storage compartments  11 . One door  20  may be disposed in the main body  10 . Alternatively, there may be separate doors for the refrigeration compartment, the freezer and other storage compartments  11 , respectively. 
         [0031]    The ice maker  30  may be disposed at one side of the door  20  to produce ice pieces. The ice maker  30  can be implemented in any suitable manner that is well known in the art. 
         [0032]    The ice bin  40  is disposed in the door  20 , for example under the ice maker  30 , for storing ice pieces produced in the ice maker  30 . The ice pieces produced at a predetermined size in the ice maker  30  may stick to each other and may form a large lump or agglomerate when they are stored in the ice bin  40 . The ice bin  40  according to the present embodiment is configured to easily separate an ice agglomerate. The ice bin  40  may then discharge ice pieces in small size, e.g., in the same size when the ice pieces are initially made. 
         [0033]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the ice bin  40  according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a housing  100 , a breaking unit  200 , a first rotary shaft  210 , a second rotary shaft  300  and a separation blade  400 . 
         [0034]    The housing  100  may accommodate ice pieces therein. A discharge port  110  for discharging ice pieces therethrough may be disposed in a lower portion of the housing  100 . The ice pieces produced in the ice maker  30  may fall into the housing  100  through an upper portion of the housing  100  and may be stored within the housing  100 . Ice pieces may be discharged from the ice bin  40  through the discharge port.  110  at the lower portion of the housing  100 . A guide part  120  inside the housing  100  can guide ice pieces toward the discharge port  110 . 
         [0035]    The breaking unit  200  may be disposed in the discharge port  110  and may rotate about the first rotary shaft  210 . The breaking unit  200  may break the ice pieces into fine pieces before they are discharged out of the housing  100  through the discharge port  110 . The breaking unit may also directly discharge ice pieces without breaking them. Thus, the first rotary shaft  210  may be rotated in a forward direction or a reverse direction, 
         [0036]    For example, if the first rotary shaft  210  is rotated in the forward direction, the breaking unit  200  may break and then discharge the ice pieces. If the first rotary shaft  210  is rotated in the reverse direction, the ice pieces may be discharged without being broken. The first rotary shaft  210  may extend from a rotary shaft of an auger or may be the rotary shaft of the auger. The first rotary shaft  210  may rotated by a torque transmitted from an auger motor (not shown). 
         [0037]    More specifically, the breaking unit  200  may include a plurality of breaking blades  220  and a fixed blade  230 . 
         [0038]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the breaking blades  220  may be coupled to the first rotary shaft  210  and may be rotated in the forward direction or the reverse direction. Depending on the rotation direction, the breaking blades  220  may break the ice pieces or may discharge the ice pieces without breaking them. Breaking projections (e.g., breaking teeth)  221  may be formed on one surface of each of the breaking blades  220 . 
         [0039]    The fixed blade  230  may he fixed to one side of the housing  100 . The fixed blade  230  may be disposed in the ice breaking direction of the breaking blades  220 . The fixed blade  230  may provide a supporting reaction force when the breaking blades  220  are rotated in a certain direction (e.g., in the forward direction) for breaking the ice pieces. Breaking projections (or breaking teeth)  221  may also be formed in the fixed blade  230 . The breaking teeth of the fixed blade  230  face those of the breaking blade  220  when the breaking blade  220  rotates to break the ice pieces, e.g., in the forward direction. 
         [0040]    Thus, if the breaking blades  220  are rotated in the forward direction, the ice pieces are broken between the breaking blades  220  and the fixed blade  230  and are discharged through the discharge port  110 . If the breaking blades  220  are rotated in the reverse direction, the ice pieces may be discharged to the outside through the discharge port  110  without being broken. 
         [0041]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the second rotary shaft.  300  is operatively connected to the first rotary shaft  210  and may be rotated by a torque transmitted from the first rotary shaft  210 . In this case, the second rotary shaft  300  may be disposed above the first rotary shaft  210 . 
         [0042]    To transfer a torque from the first rotary shaft  210  to the second rotary shaft, various implementations may be used, such as using a chain and a sprocket, using a belt and pulleys, etc. In the present embodiment, a driving gear  211  may be disposed at one side of the first rotary shaft  210 ; and a driven gear  310  may be disposed at one side of the second rotary shaft  300  and mesh with the driving gear  211 . 
         [0043]    The driving gear  211  and the driven gear  310  include spur gears externally meshing with each other or may include helical gears which produce reduced operational noise. 
         [0044]    As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the second rotary shaft  300  is not eccentric and is fitted to the rotation center of the driven gear  310  to rotate stably. 
         [0045]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the second rotary shaft  300  may not be installed immediately above the first rotary shaft  210 . Rather, it may be disposed in a position shifted from an immediately upward position toward one side to facilitate ice pieces entrance toward the breaking unit  200 . If the second rotary shaft  300  is disposed immediately above the first rotary shaft  210  (namely, in an immediately upward position), the second rotary shaft  300  may become an obstacle when the ice pieces move toward the breaking unit  200 . Thus, the second rotary shaft  300  is disposed in a position shifted toward one side so that the second rotary shaft  300  does rot become an obstacle when the ice pieces move toward the breaking unit  200 . The shift position of the second rotary shaft  300  may be adjusted by a user. In  FIG. 3 , the second rotary shaft  300  is disposed in a position shifted to the left side. 
         [0046]    The separation blade  400  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 4  is an assembled perspective view illustrating the configurations of the separation blade, the second rotary shaft and the driven gear in the ice bin according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of these components. 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 , the separation blade  400  may include a flat plate and may be fitted to the second rotary shaft  300 . The separation blade  400  may be disposed parallel to the breaking blades  220  of the breaking unit  200  and may be configured to strike and separate ice piece lumps along with the rotation of the second rotary shaft  300 . The ice pieces thus separated can be easily transferred toward the breaking unit  200 . 
         [0049]    More specifically, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the separation blade  400  may include a coupling portion  410  and striking portions  420 . 
         [0050]    The coupling portion  410  may be removably coupled to the second rotary shaft  300  and may have a substantially C-shaped shaped bent structure. To facilitate installation or detachment of the separation blade  400  from the second rotary shaft  300 , e.g., for maintenance or replacement of the separation blade  400 , an external thread is formed in an end portion of the second rotary shaft  300  and a nut  320  is tightened to the external thread. In this configuration, the coupling portion  410  is removably coupled to the second rotary shaft  300 . 
         [0051]    The striking portions  420  may extend from the opposite ends of the coupling portion  410  in the radial direction of the second rotary shaft  300  and may be a flat structure generally. The striking portions  420  may rotate together with the second rotary shaft  300  to strike and separate the ice piece lumps in the housing  100 , 
         [0052]    In the illustrated example, only one separation blade  400  is installed on the second rotary shaft  300 . However, e.g., depending on the amount of the ice pieces stored in the housing  100 , two or more separation blades may be installed on the second rotary shaft  300 .  FIGS. 2 and 4  illustrate, by way example, a state in which one separation blade  400  is installed on the second rotary shaft  300 . In different embodiments, the number of the separation blades  400  may vary, e.g., in proportion to the storage capacity of the housing  100 . 
         [0053]    Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will understand that the present disclosure may be implemented in various ways without changing the necessary features or the spirit of the present disclosure. 
         [0054]    Therefore, it should be understood that the exemplary embodiments described above are not limiting, but only an example in all respects. The scope of the present disclosure is expressed by claims below, not the detailed description, and it should be construed that all changes and modifications achieved from the meanings and scope of claims and equivalent concepts are included in the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0055]    From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. The exemplary embodiments disclosed in the specification of the present disclosure do not limit the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure will be interpreted by the claims below, and it will be construed that all techniques within the scope equivalent thereto belong to the scope of the present disclosure.