US-20260126242-A1 - REFRIGERATOR

US20260126242A1US 20260126242 A1US20260126242 A1US 20260126242A1US-20260126242-A1

Abstract

A refrigerator according to the present embodiment comprises: a cabinet having a storage compartment; a door for opening and closing the storage compartment; a dispenser, which is provided on the door, for dispensing water or ice to an external space; a first space which is formed in the door and at least partially disposed above the dispenser and stores ice; and a second space which is formed in the door, separated from the first space, and at least partially disposed below the first space and stores ice. The dispenser includes a passage forming a flow path through which the ice stored in the first space is discharged to the outside, and a cap duct for opening and closing the passage. The passage includes a first passage disposed between the first space and the cap duct. When the cap duct is open, the ice in the first space can pass through the first passage and then pass the cap duct so as to be discharged to the outside.

Inventors

Donghoon Lee
Donghoon Lee
Changho SEO
Wookyong LEE

Assignees

LG ELECTRONICS INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20230824
Priority Date: 20221013

Claims (18)

1 . A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet having a storage space; a door configured to open and close the storage space; a dispenser provided on the door for discharging water or ice to an external space; a first space formed on the door and having at least a portion disposed at an upper side of the dispenser to store ice; and a second space formed on the door and separated from the first space and having at least a portion disposed at a lower side of the first space to store ice, wherein the dispenser includes a path configured to form a passage through which the ice stored in the first space is discharged to an outside, and a cap duct configured to open and close the path, wherein the path includes a first path disposed between the first space and the cap duct, wherein in a state in which the cap duct is opened, the ice in the first space passes through the first path and then is discharged to an outside after passed the cap duct.
2 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein a first ice maker for generating ice is disposed in the first space.
3 . The refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein a second ice maker that generates a different type of ice from ice generated by the first ice maker is disposed in the second space.
4 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the first path includes: a first through hole disposed at an upper portion in the first path and fluidly connected to the first space, a second through hole disposed at a lower portion in the first path and that is opened and closed by the cap duct, wherein a rotation center of the cap duct is disposed so as not to overlap the first through hole in a vertical direction.
5 . The refrigerator of claim 4 , wherein a rotation center of the cap duct is disposed in front of the first through hole.
6 . The refrigerator of claim 4 , wherein the first path includes: a first part disposed to face a front surface of the door, and a second part disposed to face the second space, wherein a path formed by the second part extends from the first through hole in a direction toward the front surface of the door.
7 . A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet having a storage space; a door configured to open and close the storage space; a dispenser provided on the door for discharging water or ice to an external space; a first space formed on the door and having at least a portion disposed at an upper side of the dispenser to store ice; and a second space formed on the door and separated from the first space and having at least a portion disposed at a lower side of the first space to store ice, wherein the dispenser includes a path configured to form a passage through which the ice stored in the first space is discharged to an outside, and a cap duct configured to open and close the path, wherein the path includes a second path provided between the cap duct and the external space, and wherein in a state in which the cap duct is opened, the ice in the first space is discharged to an outside through the second path after passed an opened portion of the cap duct.
8 . The refrigerator of claim 7 , wherein a first ice maker that generates ice is disposed in the first space.
9 . The refrigerator of claim 7 , wherein a second ice maker that generates a different type of ice from the ice generated by the first ice maker is disposed in the second space.
10 . The refrigerator of claim 7 , wherein the second path includes a first portion disposed adjacent to a front surface of the door and provided at an upper portion in the second path, a third portion disposed further away from the front surface of the door than the first portion and provided at a lower portion in the second path, and a second portion provided between the first portion and the third portion, wherein an imaginary square connecting edges formed at both ends of the second portion is provided so that a height is smaller than a width.
11 . The refrigerator of claim 7 , wherein in a state in which the cap duct is opened, the cap duct is in contact an upper surface of the second portion.
12 . The refrigerator of claim 7 , wherein an electrical component is provided at a lower side of the second portion.
13 . The refrigerator of claim 12 , wherein the electrical component includes at least one of a display or a printed circuit board.
14 . A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet having a storage space; a door configured to open and close the storage space; a dispenser provided on the door for discharging water or ice to an external space; a first space formed on the door and having at least a portion disposed at an upper side of the dispenser to store ice; and a second space formed on the door and separated from the first space and having at least a portion disposed at a lower side of the first space to store ice, wherein the dispenser includes a path configured to form a passage through which the ice stored in the first space is discharged to an outside, and a cap duct configured to open and close the path, wherein the path includes a first path provided between the cap duct and the first space, and wherein in a state in which the cap duct is opened, the ice in the first space is discharged to an outside through the second path after passed the first path and the cap duct.
15 . The refrigerator of claim 14 , wherein a first ice maker that generates ice is disposed in the first space, a second ice maker that generates a different type of ice from the ice generated by the first ice maker is disposed in the second space.
16 . The refrigerator of claim 14 , wherein in a state in which the cap duct is opened, an edge of the cap duct is disposed rearward of a second portion of the second path.
17 . The refrigerator of claim 14 , wherein the second path includes a first portion disposed adjacent to a rear surface of the door and provided at an upper portion in the second path, and a third portion disposed further from the rear surface of the door than the first portion and provided at a lower portion in the second path.
18 . The refrigerator of claim 17 , wherein the first path includes a first through hole positioned at an upper portion in the first path and fluidly connected to the first space, and a second through hole positioned at a lower portion in the first path and fluidly connected to the cap duct, wherein the third portion is positioned in front of the first through hole in a vertical direction.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator. BACKGROUND ART In general, a refrigerator is a home appliance for storing food at a low temperature in a storage space that is covered by a door. The refrigerator is configured to keep stored food in in a refrigerated state or frozen state by cooling an inside of the storage space using cold air. The refrigerator may be a side-by-side type refrigerator in which a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber are arranged left and right, a top mount type refrigerator in which the freezing chamber is located above the refrigerating chamber, or a bottom freezer type refrigerator in which the refrigerating chamber is located above the freezing chamber. Typically, an ice maker is provided in the freezing chamber of a refrigerator to make ice. The ice maker receives water supplied from a water source or a water tank in a tray and cools the water to generate ice. The ice generated by the ice maker may be stored in an ice bin. The ice stored in the ice bin can be discharged through a dispenser provided in the door, or the user can open a freezing chamber door, approach the ice bin, and take out the ice in the ice bin. A refrigerator is disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2016-0136659 that is a prior art document. The refrigerator of the prior art document comprises a cabinet in which a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber below the refrigerating chamber are formed; a pair of refrigerating chamber doors arranged on the left and right sides to open and close the refrigerating chamber, and an ice maker and a dispenser being provided on one side; a main water tank provided in the refrigerating chamber and cooling the supplied water; a water purifier provided in the cabinet and purifying supplied water; a sub water tank provided in the refrigerating chamber door and additionally cooling the supplied water; a water supply path connecting the water purifier, the main water tank, the sub water tank, the dispenser and the ice maker; and a branch valve provided on the water supply path of the refrigerating chamber door to selectively supply purified water to the dispenser or the ice maker. However, in the case of the prior document, since the sub-water tank and the branch valve are provided at a rear of the dispenser, there is a disadvantage that a space at the rear of the dispenser cannot be used as a separate storage space or an ice making chamber. Even in the case of the prior document, if an additional space is formed at the rear of the dispenser, a thickness of the door becomes thicker, so there is a disadvantage that a volume of the refrigerating chamber decreases by the thickness of the thickened door. DISCLOSURE Technical Problem One embodiment provides a refrigerator having a slim dispenser. Alternatively or additionally, one embodiment provides a refrigerator having a reduced radius of rotation of a cap duct, thereby minimizing cold air leakage. Alternatively or additionally, one embodiment provides a refrigerator having ice chips prevented from accumulating in an ice guide forming an ice path during an ice discharge process. Alternatively or additionally, one embodiment provides a refrigerator capable of forming an ice storage chamber or storage space at a rear side of a slim dispenser. Technical Solution In one embodiment, a refrigerator may include a cabinet having a storage space. The refrigerator may include a door for opening and closing the storage space. The refrigerator may further include a dispenser provided on the door for discharging water or ice to an external space. The refrigerator may further include a first space formed on the door and having at least a portion disposed at an upper side of the dispenser, where ice is stored. The refrigerator may further include a second space formed on the door and separated from the first space. The second space may have at least a portion disposed at a lower side of the first space, where ice is stored. The dispenser may include a path configured to form a passage through which the ice stored in the first space is discharged to an outside. The dispenser may include a cap duct configured to open and close the path. The path may include a first path disposed between the first space and the cap duct. In a state in which the cap duct is opened, ice in the first space may pass through the first path and then be discharged to an outside after passed the cap duct. A first ice maker for generating ice may be disposed in the first space. A second ice maker that generates a different type of ice from ice generated by the first ice maker may be disposed in the second space. The first path may include a first through hole disposed at an upper portion in the first path and fluidly connected to the first space. The first path may further include a second through hole disposed at a lower portion in the first path and that is opened and closed by the cap duct. A rotation center of the cap duct ma