Refrigerator related technology
AssigneeLG Electronics Inc.
InventorSeung-Hwan OH
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a refrigerator includes a main body having a cooling chamber. The refrigerator also includes a dispenser having an accommodation portion positioned at a front side of the refrigerator and configured to provide ice through the accommodation portion without opening a door of the refrigerator. The refrigerator further includes a chute having an outlet, coupled to the dispenser, and configured to transfer ice stored in an ice container to the dispenser. In addition, the refrigerator includes an opening and closing member positioned at the outlet of the chute and configured to open or close the outlet of the chute in response to a driving signal, wherein the opening and closing member and the outlet of the chute have a circular shape.
Claims20
A refrigerator, comprising:
- a main body having a cooling chamber;
- a dispenser having an accommodation portion positioned at a front side of the refrigerator and configured to provide ice through the accommodation portion without opening a door of the refrigerator;
- a chute having an outlet, coupled to the dispenser, and configured to transfer ice stored in an ice container to the dispenser;
- an opening and closing member positioned at the outlet of the chute and configured to open or close the outlet of the chute;
- a motor configured to generate a driving force to move the opening and closing member;
- a guide protrusion defined at a shaft of the opening and closing member;
- and
- a driving unit configured to be driven by the motor and configured to apply force to the guide protrusion to open and close the opening and closing member.
A refrigerator, comprising:
- a main body having a cooling chamber;
- a dispenser having an accommodation portion positioned at a front side of the refrigerator and configured to provide ice through the accommodation portion without opening a door of the refrigerator;
- a chute having an outlet, coupled to the dispenser, and configured to transfer ice stored in an ice container to the dispenser, wherein a plane of the outlet of the chute is configured to be perpendicular to a central line of the chute;
- and
- an opening and closing member positioned at the outlet of the chute and configured to open or close the outlet of the chute.
A refrigerator comprising:
- a main body having a cooling chamber;
- a dispenser having an accommodation portion positioned at a front side of the refrigerator and configured to provide ice through the accommodation portion without opening a door of the refrigerator;
- a chute having an outlet, coupled to the dispenser, and configured to transfer ice stored in an ice container to the dispenser;
- an opening and closing member positioned at the outlet of the chute and configured to open or close the outlet of the chute;
- a driving motor configured to generate a driving force to open or close the opening and closing member;
- and
- a driving unit configured to move the opening and closing member in response to the driving force generated by the driving motor,
- wherein the driving unit is configured to enable adjustment of a position of the opening and closing member without moving the driving motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.