Dispenser for refrigerator and method for manufacturing dispenser assembly

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention provides a dispenser for a refrigerator and the dispenser includes a dispenser housing, a removable plate mounted to a top portion of the dispenser housing, an ice chute mounted to a bottom surface of the plate and configured to supply ice, a water outlet mounted to the bottom surface of the plate while being located in front of the ice chute, at a predetermined distance therefrom, and configured to supply water, a first lever mounted to the bottom surface of the plate while being located in front of the ice chute, a second lever mounted to the bottom surface of the plate while being located behind the ice chute, a first switch mounted to a top surface of the plate and configured to be turned on/off by the first lever, a second switch mounted to the top surface of the plate and configured to be turned on/off by the second lever and a control unit for controlling supply of water or ice by receiving a sensing signal from the first switch or the second switch.

Claims

1. A dispenser for a refrigerator, the dispenser comprising: a dispenser housing; a plate removably mounted to a top portion of the dispenser housing; an ice chute mounted to a bottom surface of the plate and configured to supply ice; a water outlet mounted to the bottom surface of the plate and located in front of the ice chute, at a predetermined distance therefrom, and configured to supply water; a first lever mounted to the bottom surface of the plate and located in front of the ice chute; a second lever mounted to the bottom surface of the plate and being located behind the ice chute; a first switch mounted to a top surface of the plate and configured to be activated by the first lever; a second switch mounted to the top surface of the plate and configured to be activated by the second lever; and a control unit for controlling a supply of water or ice by receiving a sensing signal from the first switch or the second switch.

2. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the first switch is operable to transmit a first sensing signal to the control unit responsive to the first lever being pressed, and wherein the control unit is operable to drive a water purifying unit to supply water from the water outlet responsive to receive the first sensing signal.

3. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the second switch is operable to transmit a second sensing signal to the control unit responsive to the second lever being pressed, and the control unit operable to drive an ice maker to supply ice from the ice chute responsive to receiving the second sensing signal.

4. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the first switch and the first lever are vertically aligned with each other.

5. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the second switch and the second lever are vertically aligned with each other.

6. A method for manufacturing a dispenser assembly for a refrigerator, the method comprising: mounting an ice chute for supplying ice to a bottom surface of a plate; mounting a water outlet for supplying water in front of the ice chute, at a predetermined distance therefrom, on the bottom surface of the plate; mounting a first lever in front of the ice chute on the bottom surface of the plate; mounting a first switch to a top surface of the plate, directly above the first lever, and connecting the first lever and the first switch; mounting a second lever behind the ice chute on the bottom surface of the plate; mounting a second switch to the top surface of the plate, directly above the second lever, and connecting the second lever and the second switch; and mounting a control unit electrically connected to the first switch or the second switch to receive a sensing signal from the first switch or the second switch.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the first switch transmitting a first sensing signal to the control unit responsive to the first lever being pressed, and the control unit driving a water purifying unit to supply water from the water outlet responsive to receiving the first sensing signal.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the second switch transmitting a second sensing signal to the control unit responsive to the second lever being pressed, and the control unit driving an ice maker to supply ice from the ice chute responsive to receiving the second sensing signal.

9. A refrigerator comprising: a cooling chamber; doors for closing the cooling chamber; a dispenser, comprising: a dispenser housing; a plate removably mounted to a top portion of the dispenser housing; an ice chute mounted to a bottom surface of the plate and configured to supply ice; a water outlet mounted to the bottom surface of the plate and located in front of the ice chute, at a predetermined distance therefrom, and configured to supply water; a first lever mounted to the bottom surface of the plate and located in front of the ice chute; a second lever mounted to the bottom surface of the plate and being located behind the ice chute; a first switch mounted to a top surface of the plate and configured to be activated by the first lever; a second switch mounted to the top surface of the plate and configured to be activated by the second lever; and a control unit for controlling a supply of water or ice by receiving a sensing signal from the first switch or the second switch.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the first switch is operable to transmit a first sensing signal to the control unit responsive to the first lever being pressed, and wherein the control unit is operable to drive a water purifying unit to supply water from the water outlet responsive to receive the first sensing signal.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the second switch is operable to transmit a second sensing signal to the control unit responsive to the second lever being pressed, and the control unit operable to drive an ice maker to supply ice from the ice chute responsive to receiving the second sensing signal.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the first switch and the first lever are vertically aligned with each other.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the second switch and the second lever are vertically aligned with each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a conventional dispenser mounted to a refrigeration apparatus;

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a dispenser for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a dispenser for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an exemplary operation of taking out water using a dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

(5) FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for manufacturing a dispenser assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(6) The features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and may be embodied in different ways. The following embodiments are given by way of illustration to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Hence, it should be understood that other embodiments will be evident based on the present disclosure, and that system, process or mechanical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

(7) In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may obscure the subject matter of the present invention. Also, the terms used in the following description are terms defined taking into consideration the functions obtained in accordance with the present invention. The definitions of these terms should be determined based on the whole content of this specification because they may be changed in accordance with the option of a user or chip designer or a usual practice.

(8) Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

(9) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a dispenser for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a dispenser for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(10) Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a dispenser for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention may comprise a dispenser housing 21, a plate 22, an ice chute 23, a water outlet 24, a first lever 25, a second lever 26, a first switch 27, a second switch 28, and a control unit (not shown). However, this combination is merely illustrative, and according to embodiments, at least one of the above components may be omitted or other components may be added.

(11) The dispenser housing 21 can be a case formed with a dispenser cavity 29, which is a concave space formed to a predetermined depth in the front surface of the door. The ice chute 23, the water outlet 24, the first lever 25, the second lever 26, the first switch 27 and the second switch 28 are assembled with the plate 22, and the plate 22 may be disposed at the top portion of the dispenser housing 21.

(12) In detail, the removable plate 22 is mounted to the top portion of the dispenser housing 21, and may form a dispenser assembly together with the ice chute 23, the water outlet 24, the first lever 25, the second lever 26, the first switch 27 and the second switch 28. According to embodiments, the control unit (not shown), which receives a sensing signal from the first switch or the second switch and drives a water purifying unit (not shown) or an ice maker (not shown) according to the sensing signal in order to supply water or ice, may also be assembled with the plate 22.

(13) In this way, the dispenser assembly is modularized by integrally placing the ice chute 23, the water outlet 24, the first and second levers 25 and 26 for generating the water or ice supply signal when pressed, and the first and second switches 27 and 28 configured to be turned on/off by the first and second levers 25 and 26, on the plate 22. Therefore, the dispenser mounting time may be shortened, and when the dispenser malfunctions, disassembly and repair may be less cumbersome.

(14) The ice chute 23 is an outlet for supplying ice to a user when the second lever 26 is pressed by the user. Describing the process of discharging ice from the ice chute 23 in detail, if the second lever 26 is pressed by the user, the second switch 28 senses the press and transmits a second sensing signal to the control unit (not shown). If the control unit (not shown) receives the second sensing signal, the control unit. (not shown) drives the ice maker so as to supply ice from the ice chute 23.

(15) The ice chute 23 is mounted on the bottom surface of the plate 22. The first lever 25 is arranged in front of the ice chute 23, and the second lever 26 is arranged behind the ice chute 23.

(16) The water outlet 24, similarly to the ice chute 23, is also mounted on the bottom surface of the plate 22, and is disposed at the outermost portion of the dispenser cavity 29 formed in the dispenser housing 21. When observed from the user's standpoint, the water outlet 24 is located at the closest position to the user, for greater usability. This makes it easy to even get water in, for example, a large-volume container such as, for example, a sports water bottle. If the water outlet 24 were disposed at a relatively deep inner portion of the dispenser cavity 29, it would be very inconvenient to get water in a tall water bottle that may not be accommodated in the dispenser cavity 29.

(17) The water outlet 24 is an outlet for supplying water for the user when the first lever 25 is pressed by the user. Describing the process of discharging water from the water outlet 24 in detail, if the first lever 25 is pressed by the user, the first switch 27 senses the interaction and transmits a first sensing signal to the control unit. (not shown). If the control unit (not shown) receives the first sensing signal, the control unit (not shown) drives the water purifying unit (not shown) to supply water from the water outlet 24.

(18) The first lever 25 is mounted on the bottom surface of the plate 22, and is arranged in front of the ice chute 23. If the first lever 25 is pressed by the user, water is discharged from the water outlet 24. The first lever 25 may be arranged close to the water outlet 24 so that the user can obtain or dispense water in a cup or water bottle from the water outlet 24 while pressing the first lever 25 with the outer side surface of the cup or water bottle.

(19) The first lever 25 may be pushed by a user when he or she wants to dispense water. If the first lever 25 is pressed by the user, the first switch 27 transmits the sensing signal related thereto to the control unit (not shown), and the control unit (not shown) controls the water purifying unit. (not shown) so that the user can dispense water from the water outlet 24.

(20) The second lever 26 is mounted on the bottom surface of the plate 22, and is arranged behind the ice chute 23. If the second lever 26 is pressed by the user, ice is discharged from the ice chute 23. The second lever 26 may be arranged close to the ice chute 23 so that the user dispense ice in a cup or water bottle from the ice chute 23 while pressing the second lever 26 with the outer side surface of the cup or water bottle.

(21) The second lever 26 may be pushed by a user when he or she wants to obtain ice. If the second lever 26 is pressed by the user, the second switch 28 transmits the sensing signal related thereto to the control unit (not shown), and the control unit (not shown) controls the ice maker (not shown) so that the user can get ice from the ice chute 23.

(22) The first switch 27 is disposed on the top surface of the plate 22 and is positioned directly above the first lever 25. That is, when observed lengthwise, the first lever 25, the plate 22 and the first switch 27 are arranged in order from the bottom.

(23) If the first switch 27 senses that the user is pressing the first lever 25, the first switch 27 transmits the first sensing signal, indicating that the user is pressing the first lever 25, to the control unit (not shown). If the control unit (not shown) receives the first sensing signal, the control unit (not shown) controls the water purifying unit. (not shown) so that the user can receive water from the water outlet 24. In other words, the first switch 27 functions to determine whether the user is pressing the first lever 25 to obtain water, and if the first lever 25 is pressed, the first switch 27 generates the first sensing signal and transmits the same to the control unit. (not shown).

(24) The second switch 28 is disposed on the top surface of the plate 22 and is positioned directly above the second lever 26. That is, when observed lengthwise, the second lever 26, the plate 22 and the second switch 28 are arranged in order from the bottom.

(25) If the second switch 28 senses that the user is pressing the second lever 26, the second switch 28 transmits the second sensing signal, indicating that the user is pressing the second lever 25, to the control unit (not shown). If the control unit not shown) receives the second sensing signal, the control unit (not shown) controls the ice maker (not shown) so that the user can receive ice from the ice chute 23. In other words, the second switch 28 functions to determine whether the user is pressing the second lever 26 to obtain ice, and if the second lever 26 is pressed, the second switch 28 generates the second sensing signal and transmits the same to the control unit (not shown).

(26) The dispenser cavity 29 refers to a concave space in the dispenser housing 21, which is formed to a predetermined depth in the front surface of the door.

(27) If the user presses the first lever 25 or the second lever 26, the first switch 27 or the second switch 28 senses the user's interaction and transmits the first sensing signal or the second sensing signal to the control unit (not shown), and then the control unit (not shown) performs processes corresponding thereto. That is, if the control unit (not shown) receives the first sensing signal, the control unit (not shown) drives the water purifying unit (not shown) to supply water from the water outlet 24. If the control unit (not shown) receives the second sensing signal, the control unit (not shown) drives the ice maker (not shown) so that the user can receive ice from the ice chute 23.

(28) Although not shown in the drawings, the control unit (not shown) may be disposed on the top surface of the plate 22, or may be disposed apart from the dispenser assembly arranged on the top surface of the plate. Because the control unit (not shown) is only electrically connected to the first switch 27 or the second switch 28, the control unit (not shown) does not need to be mounted on the top surface of the plate 22 and physically integrated with the dispenser assembly. Because the control unit. (not shown) is also electrically connected to the water purifying unit (not shown) or the ice maker (not shown), the control unit (not shown) can transmit control signals to the water purifying unit (not shown) or the ice maker (not shown) in order to control the same as needed.

(29) As described above, the dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention is constituted such that the dispenser assembly is modularized by integrally placing on the plate 22 the following: the ice chute 23; the water outlet 24; the first and second levers 25 and 26 for generating the water or ice supply signal when pressed; and the first and second switches 27 and 28 configured to be turned on/off by the first and second levers 25 and 26. Therefore, the dispenser mounting time may be shortened, and when the dispenser malfunctions, disassembly and repair may be facilitated.

(30) FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an exemplary operation of taking out water using the dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, when the user wants to fill a water bottle 30 from the dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention, he or she presses the first lever 25 with the outer side surface of the water bottle 30. If the first switch 27 senses that the first lever 25 is being pressed, the first switch 27 generates the first sensing signal and transmits the same to the control unit (not shown). If the control unit (not shown) receives the first sensing signal, the control unit (not shown) drives the water purifying unit (not shown) to supply water from the water outlet 24.

(31) In order to get water in the water bottle 30 while pressing the first lever 25 with the outer side surface of the water bottle 30, the user tilts the water bottle 30 toward the water outlet 24 so that the opening of the water bottle 30 faces the water outlet 24. In order to allow the user to fill the water bottle 30 with water while pressing the first lever 25 with the outer side surface of the water bottle 30, the first lever 25 should be located sufficiently close to the water outlet 24. Since the dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention is structured such that the water outlet 24 and the first lever 25 are located sufficiently close to each other on the bottom surface of the plate 22, it is easy for the user to get water in the water bottle 30 while pressing the first lever 25 with the outer side surface of the water bottle 30. Further, since the water outlet 24 is located at the outermost portion of the dispenser cavity 29 formed in the dispenser housing 21, it is easy to get water even when the user uses a large-volume sports water bottle as the water bottle 30 for instance as shown in FIG. 4.

(32) FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for manufacturing the dispenser assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, the ice chute 23 for supplying ice is first assembled to the bottom surface of the plate 22 (step 51). Next, the water outlet 24 for supplying water is assembled to the bottom surface of the plate 22 while being located in front of the ice chute 23, at a predetermined distance therefrom (step 52). Since the water outlet 24 is located at the outermost portion of the dispenser cavity 29 formed in the dispenser housing 21 so as to be closest to the user, usability may be increased.

(33) Then, the first lever 25 is mounted to the bottom surface of the plate 22 while being located in front of the ice chute 23 (step 53). The first switch 27 is mounted on the top surface of the plate 22 while being located directly above the first lever 25 (step 54), and the first lever 25 and the first switch 27 are connected to each other (step 55). By this structure, in which the first lever 25 and the first switch 27 are located close to e other and are mechanically connected to each other, when the user presses the first lever 25 to obtain water, the first switch 27 senses that the user is pressing the first lever 25, generates the first sensing signal related thereto, and transmits the same to the control unit (not shown).

(34) Next, the second lever 26 is mounted to the bottom surface of the plate 22 while being located behind the ice chute 23 (step 56). The second switch 28 is mounted on the top surface of the plate 22 while being located directly above the second lever 26 (step 57), and the second lever 26 and the second switch 28 are connected to each other (step 58). By this structure, in which the second lever 26 and the second switch 28 are located close to each other and are mechanically connected to each other, when the user presses the second lever 26 obtain ice, the second switch 28 senses that the user is pressing the second lever 26, generates the second sensing signal related thereto, and transmits the same to the control unit (not shown).

(35) Next, the control unit, which is electrically connected to the first switch 27 or the second switch 28 to receive the sensing signal therefrom, is mounted (step 59). The control unit (not shown) may be mounted to the top surface of the plate 22. However, because the control unit (not shown), which is electrically connected to the first switch 27 or the second switch 28, does not need to be mechanically connected to the switch 27 or 28, the control unit (not shown) is not, necessarily mounted to the top surface of the plate 22.

(36) As described above, the method for manufacturing the dispenser assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention provides a dispenser assembly that is modularized by integrally placing on a single plate 22 the ice chute 23, the water outlet 24, the first and second levers 25 and 26 for generating the water or ice supply signal when pressed, and the first and second switches 27 and 28 configured to be turned on/off by the first and second levers 25 and 26. Such a modularized dispenser assembly is simply mounted to the dispenser housing, which results in a reduction of the required time. Advantageously, when the dispenser malfunctions, only the dispenser assembly needs to be disassembled and repaired, without the necessity of disassembling the entire dispenser housing. Accordingly, disassembly and repair of the broken dispenser may be facilitated.

(37) Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. Therefore, the embodiment disclosed in the present invention is intended to illustrate the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited by the embodiment.

(38) The scope of the present invention shall be construed on the basis of the accompanying claims, and it shall be construed that all of the technical ideas included within the scope equivalent to the claims belong to the present invention.